One of the more pleasant rituals of blogging is the calendar year analysis of posts. Luckily, I’ve installed Google Analytics, so the process is relatively easy.
If there is a trend in the types of hits, it seems to suggest that readers are interested in information about writing competitions and opportunities for publication. There was continued interest in two perennial favorites, Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey, and I was pleased with the number of visits for children’s books. This is a neglected area in our writing and if I can do anything to promote the work of children’s authors such as Diane Browne and sites such as Anansesem , I will certainly do my best. For if our writing does not try to engage youngsters, from as early as possible, in the critical task of questioning identity through creative acts, then why are we writing at all?
I had a wonderful surprise with the placement of the book review of Anton Nimblett’s Sections of an Orange, which may help to explain why visitors from Trinidad and Tobago have risen to #4 on the 2010 Top Ten List and #6 on the All Time Hits. I still can’t explain why the Philippines, Germany, and China are not on the Top Ten Hits for 2010.
Top Ten Hits: Country/Territory (2010)
Country/Territory | Visits | |
1. | United States | 27838 |
2. | Jamaica | 5876 |
3. | United Kingdom | 3385 |
4. | Trinidad and Tobago | 3205 |
5. | Canada | 3156 |
6. | India | 1204 |
7. | Belize | 978 |
8. | France | 795 |
9. | Barbados | 780 |
10. | Australia | 751 |
All Time Top Ten Hits: Country/Territory (1/1/2006 to 12/1/2010)
Country/Territory | Visits | |
1. | United States | 117903 |
2. | Jamaica | 18423 |
3. | United Kingdom | 14393 |
4. | Canada | 13141 |
5. | India | 9333 |
6. | Trinidad and Tobago | 8209 |
7. | Philippines | 7566 |
8. | China | 7496 |
9. | France | 7212 |
10. | Germany | 4377 |
Based on a comparison of the All Time Top Ten Hits and the Top Ten Hits for 2010, readers are expecting information about the following topics, which I will attempt to cover in 2011 as I have done in the past:
- Caribbean authors/literature
- Bob Marley/reggae
- News about Caribbean authors and in the case of obituaries, the significance of the author’s work
- Children’s books/literature
- Writing competitions and opportunities for publishing
- New Books and Book Reviews
All Time Top Ten Hits (1/1/2006 to 12/1/2010)
Page Title | Visits | |
1. | 13400 | |
2. | 10695 | |
3. | 10429 | |
4. | 7339 | |
5. | 4134 | |
6. | 3813 | |
7. | 3523 | |
8. | 3472 | |
9. | 3039 | |
10. | 2355 |
Of course, I will continue to explore questions, which while not popular, seem to be gaining momentum:
- What are the challenges that Caribbean authors face in the new digital age?
- What are the new books/works that not only entertain, but are also engaged with the issues of expanding the moral imagination of Caribbean creole identity? What are the elements of a Caribbean creole identity?
- How does the Caribbean literary tradition inform our discourse about violence, especially toward children, the LGBT community, and ourselves?
- How do folk elements/mythology contribute to the Caribbean literary tradition?
It seems as if I have a lot of work ahead of me. But with the help of my friends, I know “every little thing’s gonna be all right.”
It’s also good to know that there are other web sites out there such as Repeating Islands, Signifying Guyana, The Caribbean Review of Books, The Caribbean Book Blog, and Jamaican Literature where readers will also get excellent information about writing from the Caribbean.
Here, then, are the Top Ten Hits for 2010 in reverse order:
Top Ten: Hits (2010)
Page Title | Visits | |
10. | 216 | |
9. | 259 | |
8. | 262 | |
7. | 289 | |
6. | 320 | |
5. | 343 | |
4. | 427 | |
3. | 432 | |
2. | 831 | |
1. | 1851 |
I wonder what the 2011 will bring? Your guess is as good as mine…
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3 comments:
Whatever 2011 brings, I hope it's all good for you, Brother G!
I wish the same for you, Brother Dave!
I love Bob Marley!!!!!
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