2023 Reading Google Map: Books I Read in 2023

Happy Tuesday, y’all! This week, Jana, over at That Artsy Reader Girl, has handed the reins to Astilbe at Long and Short Reviews. Astilbe asks us to share weird or funny things we’ve Googled because of reading. In all honesty, there isn’t a lot that I’ve used Google for because of what I’m reading: me and my forgetfulness at full force. Instead, I decided to share my 2023 Reading Google Map. Who wants to see where I traveled in 2023 through books?

It feels funny to write a book-related post without mentioning any books! Instead, I’m sharing where I traveled through my reading in 2023. I have started my 2024 Google Maps and hope to travel more diversely than in 2023.

Overall 2023 Reading Google Map

Below is a screenshot of the entire map. All of those blue pins are where I traveled in 2023. In total, there are 104 pins on this map.

I’m sad to see that I didn’t travel to South America or Africa at all. The only visits to Asia were to Japan, primarily due to the few manga I read. And then there’s that lonely pin down in Australia.

North American Stops on the Journey

As you can see from the global map, most of my stops are in North America. Below is a close-up of North America. While a few areas had more visits than others, I did visit some places I was surprised to visit.

From near the Artic Circle down to Puerto Rico, with several stops in California, Texas, and New York. Surprisingly, I made multiple stops in Washington, Michigan, and Illinois.

European and Middle Eastern Stops in 2023

I made quite a few stops in the UK in 2023. It’s almost impossible not to read a lot of books set in the UK. But I did make a few unexpected stops along the way.

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. I did make a stop in Iceland and Iraq. There are a couple of pins in Germany that are best guesses of mine. Why? Because the books don’t specifically say where they’re set, but from some research, I learned the consensus is Germany. As for the one in Greece, it’s another guess, as it is also a retelling with no confirmed setting.

Asia and Oceania Stops in 2023

The part of the world I barely visited in 2023, and it’s something I hope to change in 2024.

In total, there are four pins in this image. Two of the three in Japan are manga-related. And the one in Australia? It was a fun mystery read, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one soon.

How to Create Your Own Reading Map

If you’re interested in creating your own reading map, it’s relatively easy, especially using Google. Once logged into Google, click on the grid and select the Maps icon. Your local Google map should appear. On the left side of the screen, click on Saved. Once that pops open, click on Your Maps. If you have maps created, they will show here. If not, that’s ok. Go down to the bottom, you will find where it says Create Map.

Once you click Create Map, a new window will open for the entire planet. At the top, you’ll find a toolbar with a bunch of icons. To keep it basic (like mine), you’ll click on the pin button (the one next to the hand).

This allows you to add a pin, or marker, to the map. As you move it around the map, your cursor will become a plus sign (+). Once you find the place you want to mark, click your mouse. You can manipulate the map to your liking, move it to a different focal point, zoom in or out, or even search for a specific location if you’re unsure where to find it.

You’ll get a box you can fill in when you’ve put your pin on the map. It is easy to change Point 1 to the book title you’ve read. You can add any information you wish in the comment box, like dates read, ratings, and genre.

I find it easier to add to my map every few books. But there have been times when life gets in the way, and I’m adding a bunch of pins at the end of a month. The best tool I’ve found to help with keeping track of book settings is Goodreads. Many books have their setting listed on there with some other stats.

What did I do with books with no setting specified? Books like essays or fantasy don’t always have a location that doesn’t translate to a map. In those instances, I’ll put the pin in the author’s home state (or area) or where I feel the book is set. What about books that are set in multiple locations? I’ve handled these in a few different ways. Does the book occur primarily in one setting over another? Or do the characters visit a wide variety of locations, but equally? I typically put the pin in that location if it’s more in one place than the other. If there’s a huge variety or a round trip, I will typically put the pin in the starting location.

And that’s my 2023 Reading Google Map and a brief explanation of how I created it. If you would like further directions on how to create your own reading map, let me know. Have you ever made a reading map using Google Maps or any other map? Would you ever do this?

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my other bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.