Mid-Month Reading Report

 

January, as usual, is starting off the year being a great reading month.  Why don't I read this much the rest of the year?  It's the weather, the motivation is extra strong in January, and I have to actively remind myself to pick up a book which does get annoying...

I chose this as my first book of the year on purpose, because of the title.  I'm snarky that way... Just as great as I remember when I read it back in 2000ish.  I never finished the series (not sure why) and am rereading them this year (one per month).  

The Baudelaire children find themselves orphaned after their parents die in a fire, and their closest relative, Count Olaf, has plans to get his hands on their fortune. That Count Olaf...  The tongue-in-cheek writing style is awesome.  Violet invents things, Klaus reads books, and Sunny uses her four teeth to get out of situations.  Why can't I write something this clever?

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- the author uses a pseudonym.  

Another series I first read in the early 2000s and never kept up with.  I don't think I read them in order back in the day, so now I am.  Just as gory and lovely as I remember.  Like the Lemony Snicket books, I'm aiming to read one per month, but there are [currently] 26 and counting so I won't finish the series this year. 

In this episode, Scarpetta, the coroner, investigates a murder while dealing with early 90s stuff like misogyny, and computer issues.  The computer stuff was very dated (as you would expect it to be), but there was almost too much info, and quite honestly, that part was a little boring, otherwise I really enjoyed the story.  

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- a book written at least 23 years ago.

A book that is on my shelves that I have no idea where it came from [probably my mom] about the teen novels of the 80s and 90s, my peak reading era.  However, I must have been living under a rock because I did not recognize many of the books mentioned in here.  I have been meaning to write a blog post about Brianna's reading childhood but haven't done it yet... but the fact that I had never heard of most of these is weird.  Maybe because the author is slightly younger than I am, I missed out... 

I know I only read Christopher Pike books because I stole them from my younger sister...or was it Christopher Pine, or someone else entirely? Anyway, I enjoyed the book, but am using it almost as a guide and to-read list of books I should have read when I was a tween.  Otherwise it was quite nostalgic, informative and humorous.  

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- a book with your least favorite color on the cover.  I don't own any pink books... the spine really is pink though.

Chosen because a prompt for one of my reading challenges required either the word 'life' or the word 'death' and I only own two books that contain that word and this is one of them.  I hate to admit I don't know a lot about the Revolutionary War... but I learned some stuff.  The main character's brother joins the war on the colonist side, while his father tries to stay neutral/errs on the side of the British.  Short, and enjoyable considering the subject matter... 

Reading prompt: Buzzword challenge-- a book with 'life' or 'death' in the title. Beat the Backlist-- a book that won an award.

I have heard nothing but great things about this one, and my turn on the very long library wish list came up so it went on the January tbr.  My first 5 star read of the year, it was excellent.  

Tova is grieving the loss of her husband (recently), and son (thirty years ago) while working in an aquarium in the Puget Sound area of Washington.  She befriends an octopus (who has his own chapters) and there's a sort of found family. Just pick it up and read it.  I am going to have to buy myself a copy...

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- 2022 debut novel.

A book that I picked up because trapped on a deserted island books (or survival books in general) are my trope.  It was super fluffy and shallow even for a romance... There's not much else to say, so far this is the lowest rated book I've read this year.

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- your favorite trope.

My first attempt of this year to read things that are not novels.  This has been on my e-reader forever, so I thought I'd finally open it.  It's a play so I had a slight problem keeping the characters straight in my brain, but otherwise I enjoyed it.  I think my high school theatre performed this play once but I don't remember any of it... and I was surprised it was so short. I'm glad I read it, and am debating whether to pay $2.99 to rent the movie from Amazon Prime, it does have Colin Firth (heart emoji)  in it...  

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- five word title. 

This book is everywhere right now.  It's a cozy fantasy, which is THE genre of the moment.  An orc decides to open a coffee shop, even though no one in the land has ever heard of coffee before. I enjoyed Viv's setting up the coffee shop, Thimble, the bard guy, and the theme of the story.  I'm not totally anti-fantasy but some of the fantasy-esque parts were not explained, which would have helped this fantasy-avoider enjoy the story a little more.  Overall, it was good though and I'm glad I read it.    

Reading prompt-- Beat the Backlist: a cozy read or cover.

This book that is more like fortune cookies sized ideas for organizing.  I nodded my head a lot when reading, but I don't know if any of it will stick... It was just OK but I have read other organizing books that were less...short.  

Reading prompt: Beat the Backlist-- non-fiction just for fun.  

Currently in progress:  

I'm trying to read more things that aren't novels and this is a collection of short stories.  It's going slowly but it's fine, nothing to much to say, except I think Sherlock Holmes was snorting cocaine in one of the stories which I didn't expect...    

Reading prompt: Read Your Bookshelf Challenge-- a book where the title starts with either A or The.

I'm reading this for my online book club.  It's about a dad and daughter living out in the woods for some reason that hasn't been explained yet.  I've read about 30% and am really enjoying the story.

Reading prompt... Beat the Backlist--character is keeping a big secret

And that is the first half of January and my reading life.  So far, so good.

The Books of 2022, Stats, Thoughts...

 In 2022 I read 92 books or 28,301 pages.  In 2014 I read 109 books, in 2013 (I was pregnant and we moved, I had an excuse...)  I read 28... You never know how a reading year will go until it's over and too late to do anything about it :P  

Some statistics because this is my favorite part, that other people who read, talk about.   

Best reading month: January--13. Worst reading month: August--3.  

Fiction: 76.  Non-fiction: 16.

Owned versus library: 54-38

audio versus e-books versus physical books:7- 4- 81

Read for the first time versus rereads: 82-10

new-to-me authors: 54 (that's higher than average)

part of a series: 29

series finished: 1

started the year with: 304 books-to-read, ended the year with 325 which was not the plan.  Oops.

Most read genre: thriller--18, mystery--18 (which could be the same books...) and children's--17.  Don't go thinking I read 17 picture books, these were middle grade and had chapters! 

In comparison in 2021 my most read genres were mystery--23, children's--19, and thriller--18.  So, at least I'm consistent...

Most read author: Judith Viorst--4.  Gotta love Lulu...

5 star reads: I'm a scrooge on giving out a full five stars so only Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (reread) got an entire 5 stars.  If I don't think I'll reread a book, buy it, or keep it on my shelves it's hard for me to give five stars. Four new books got 4.75 stars though... and the two I don't own I'd buy if I had the chance...  Last year, I did not give any 1 star ratings (I would only finish a book that bad under special circumstances like it was for a book club...) and only gave two books two stars. My average rating for the year was 4.06 which is typical.  

Favorite books of the year (4.75 stars):

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

Short summary: I bought this for the husband but he hasn't read it, he's the Foo Fighter's and Nirvana fan in the house.  Dave Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana, and the singer for Foo Fighter's and this is his life story.  As a non-musical person who can't even whistle, I found it inspiring and fascinating and really well done.  

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Short summary:  Elizabeth Zott (yes the author uses her full name frequently) is a woman, and a scientist, during the 60s when those things are not commonly found together.  It was just really a fun (and frustrating) story and there's a dog.

The Bookwanderers by Anna James

Short Summary: I'm confused about what this book is actually called... I think the series is Pages and Co, and book #1 is The Book Wanderers... but Tilly and the Book Wanderers in Britain... Anyway, this is a story about a girl, her grandparents, and book characters that come to life.  Really fun series idea. 

Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry

           

Short summary: a biography about Harriet Tubman which was written in the 1950s but doesn't read like it.  I learned a ton.

Best of, by category:

graphic novel (of 5): 

short summary: George Takei (of Star Trek fame) was placed in an internment camp during WW2, because he was Japanese, and this is a graphic novel depicting that part of his life.  Really informative and interesting history lesson.

mystery/thriller (of 18):

short summary: this was a really hard to category to choose a book for...  Georgina has been released from prison for assisting/helping/knowing about the murder of her high school friend, and the real killer seems to have resurfaced.  Not a very good summary, just read the book.

Romance (of 10):

short summary: a romance happens during a renaissance festival.  There are three more companion romances to this one I still need to read.

Fantasy but is it really?  

short summary: Scott Carey, no matter what he does, keeps losing weight, and lesbians have moved in down the street... the audiobook was read by the author himself, which I really enjoyed.  

Fantasy which is definitely fantasy ( of 7): 

short summary: see above.

best memoir that is not by Dave Grohl (of 7): 

short summary: Michael J. Fox discusses life with Parkinson's disease and acting and apparently his friendship with Harlan Coben (the author.)  Very inspiring.  

or:

short summary: Stephanie Land discusses life as a maid, trying to raise a child, and the welfare system.  It was hard to choose a very best memoir because they're all so different... so, that's why there are three on this blog post... so sue me.  

best historical (of 13):

short summary: see above.

creepiest book:

short summary: very very creepy non-fiction about Ted Bundy, written by now author, then co-worker Ann Rule who kept in touch even after he was caught. Do not read at night, in the car, or at the creepy park by your house... I also watched a documentary on this guy that was very good.  

book I most want to put on this list that doesn't fit anywhere else:

short summary: Melody might not be able to walk or talk, but she has a lot to say and finally gets the means to say it.  I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.  

Most glad it's off my shelves/read and which also happens to be the longest book I read in 2022:

short summary: In inherited the second book in this series from my grandma in 2008 and finally found the first one so I could read it and get the second book out of my house. I'm not continuing the series... Elizabeth Middleton arrives in Northern New York state to join her family, during the late 1700s to teach school and soon gets involved in a conflict with the locals.  Both characters from Last of the Mohican's by James Fenimore Cooper, and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon make appearances.  My opinion was it was OK, but way too long (690 pages) much like this short summary.

Least favorite, most disappointing, and did not finishes: 

 If you want to read a book about a father-son plot to steal pheasants, here's your book.  I thought it was boring but I did finish it... I never read this as a kid, so nostalgia was not present.

Could not make myself read to the end of this one.  It's about a boy and a ghost pony, and a kidnapping.  I loved Wonder by the same author, this was 100% nothing like Wonder.

I was really looking forward to this book as it takes place in my home state and I liked the author's previous two books, but I found it just OK.  The main character is a crime blogger that really didn't have much to do with the plot, and there's a ghost which also really didn't add to the plot.  Meh.

The sequel to Bird Box which really didn't answer any questions or add to the story at all. 

A beloved series, I have tried to get into twice, and I just could not do it.  I mean my  local bookstore cat is named after the character... Maisie is trying to set up a detective agency in the years between WW1 and WW2.  I was doing fine with the actual mystery, and then it went into endless backstory mode and I fell asleep.  There are 20+ books so someone likes the series, but that person is not me...

I could not get past the fact that the author of this is male, writing about an 8-year-old girl and there was a scene near the beginning of the book...  Blech.  That particular scene is not in the mini-series, and adds nothing to the plot (I asked around) so if you like chess, watch the show instead.  

And that was my year in books in 2022.  Some hits, some misses and everything in between.  

Bring on 2023.  

New Year, New Blog Title

 I thought about deleting the world's most unpopular blog, but I decided for now, to just change the title.  I don't want to start another blog no one reads, and it's a new year so a new title will be refreshing.  Will reevaluate this whole blog thing in six months... 

Invisibility, invisbleness, she was there but no one noticed... is kind of my life story.  I'm just going with it (hmm, who knew my life story had a subtitle, that's kind of cool...or not.)

Anyway, goodbye Fortress of Quietude, and welcome to My Life in Books.  To myself.  Because no one reads this.  

I'm just going to stop right there.  

Hello 2023

 The reading log is so empty and depressing but at the same time, full of this could be the greatest reading year ever because I haven't messed it up yet!

Big goals for 2023: read 30,000 pages (1700ish more than last year).

Less, less, less so I can have more more more.  Less me, less stuff, less doomscrolling.  More health, more room  in the house, more peace and tranquility throughout the land.

Write more frequently, and submit le novel to more places.  

Today's mini-goals: continue going through my craft stuff and figuring out what I'll actually use and what can be donated.  

Read my 82 pages.

Possibly go for a walk, weather permitting.

Think about turning on my laptop, and writing for 20 minutes.

Baby steps...

Happy New Year!