This has been a really weird reading year for me with a lot of reading slumps and a lot of times my reading time got cut into by time sucks, like games on my phones, Instagram, and Litsy. I've done a terrible job of keeping up with my blog reader, staying in touch with my reading community, and responding to comments on the blog. I've missed so many blogging events. I'm not sure that I can give ways that I'll make any of that change in the coming year; listing those kinds of things just seems to add another layer of stress to life and I'd rather move toward reading just for fun instead of the other way.
On the other hand, I've done really well in my reading in a lot of ways. Despite those slumps, I still read/listened to 74 books, which is a big increase over last year. Renewing my library card really helped with the audio piece as I'm finally able to listen when I'm not in my car. Here's how the year shook out:
Total Books Read: 73
Nonfiction: 15
Short Story Collections: 2
Mythology/Fairy Tales: 2
Written by Women: 53
Written by Men: 19
Classics: 6
Diversity: 9
Audiobooks: 23
I'm disappointed in the number of mythology/fairy tale books I read this year, as well as the number of classics. I'd also like to read more diversely than I did this year.
The Best of 2018 (some books may appear on more than one list):
Fiction:
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
A Ladder To The Sky by John Boyne
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Nonfiction:
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
A Short Guide To A Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters In The End by Atul Gawande
Killers of The Flower Moon by David Grann
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Five Days At Memorial by Sheri Fink
Heirs of the Founders by H. W. Brand
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Audio:
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Born With Teeth by Kate Mulgrew
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Heading Out To Wonderful by Robert Goolrick
What books were your favorites in 2018? Would you make any changes to the way you read this year?
Lisa, I think you did very well. Your life is busy and full. It is nice being able to listen to books from the library isn't it? I've read very few on your 'best' lists, but I see that Being Mortal is there. I suggest that one for everyone. Such a thought-provoking book. Hope your 2019 is wonderful! My plan for 2019 in reading is 'no plan'. We'll see how it goes. Take care!
ReplyDeleteI accepted too many books for review in January and February to go with no plan already. Which may be why I think my one word for 2019 is going to be "no." I'd love to just be able to read what I want, when I want.
DeleteDid you mean to call this post your 2019 Reading Year? Just checking because I don't even know what day it is at this point.
ReplyDeleteYou did very well. Even with audio. I only listen to audio now and then as podcasts have taken over my commute time.
I need to think about 2019 a bit because it's evident to me that I've been doing much wrong. More on that later.
Thanks for the catch! I think I must have been in that same "what day is today" fog! I have let audiobooks take over my commutes but I am missing my podcasts and need to work on finding a balance between them.
DeleteIt looks like you had a great reading year, Lisa. I had hoped to get to Being Mortal this past year, but did not make it happen. I need to do that this year. I didn't read as diversely as I would have liked last year either. It wasn't one of my stated goals, but is something I would always like to be working on. I hope you have a great 2019! Happy Reading!
ReplyDelete