I'm adding this comment from Patty F. that came in via email because it sums up exactly what the right book at the right time can do for us:
"So here's the book I was reading that I was going to share: "Men of Salt," by Michael Benanav, about a salt caravan across the Sahara. This wouldn't be a book for most readers, but I was completely captivated. Books take us where we might not go. We have been on a short camel caravan in the Sinai, so I loved reading about an expanded version of what we had experienced. Here is a supposed African proverb among camel riders: You travel faster alone, but further together.
I read 55 books this year. I might make that 56 or 57, depending on how the next few weeks go. That’s pretty typical for me. What’s not typical is the amount of nonfiction. About 90% of my books were nonfiction in 2022. Usually, I’m closer to 50/50.
One reason for the shift might be listening to the Ezra Klein podcast. He always asks his guests to recommend 3 books at the end. I’ve found some fascinating reads there.
Another reason is that I probably overloaded on fiction during 2020 and into 2021 as a means of escapism. At one point, I even picked up Dharma Bums--something I swore I’d never do after a very painful experience with On The Road in high school. So maybe I’m just balancing my books, so to speak.
A third possibly is that I’m genuinely worried about what’s happening with the American experiment. I channel a lot of that worry into canvassing, but a lot of the worry also drives a curiosity to dive as deep as possible into the forces shaping this moment. I was always curious about history and politics, but in my 20s I’d probably read 5-10 of those books a year. These days it’s closer to 20.
I really like the idea of looking back at the books I've read as saying something about me that year. You may just have inspired me to keep track of the books I read next year!
I've finished 58 books so far, will likely finish 60 this year (a few more than last year). I always check out Book Riot's Reading Challenge for the year, for an eclectic, wide-ranging read. I read poetry, plays, graphic novels ... and the authors are LGBTQIA+, indigenous, BIPOC, Asian, and more. I read classics and brand new. My books on my hold list at the library include Braiding Sweetgrass and Demon Copperfield. BTW, my TBR stack are all books I own. If they were library books, I'd be in big trouble! I'd never get them in on time. LOL.
The book I'm excitedly reading now is, "Admininstrative Burden: Policy Making By Other Means" by Pamela Herd and Donald P.Moynihan. I mentioned this book in one of my posts, and I think confronting the idea of "red tape" when working with government agencies is one of the most important ways we can help, not just the poor, but everyone. I'm really not this nerdy, but since this is the book I'm currently reading and enjoying, I thought I'd mention it :-)
I read fewer books this year than last, can't say why except I know I binged on way too many streamers. Interesting thing I discovered recently when I asked a staff member at a bookstore what he'd recommend for me. "You like non-fiction, right?" he said. I was so surprised because I really, really love fiction. But here's what I discovered: I buy nonfiction books, knowing I'll want to read them again and again ("Braiding Sweetgrass" for example, which I'm reading now), but I borrow most of the fiction I read from the library (Just returned "Brushing Cats" stories by Jane Campbell, which is fabulous!) Thanks for all your lists and Spark readers' lists. Intention for 2023: more reading, less bingeing. Here's to a very literary year.
I loved the writing and characters in My Absolute Darling, but I can see why some people would be appalled by it. It's the old question. Can I say I loved a book if I don't approve of what was in the book?
I read much more this year than I have in the past thanks to Audible (this is not an ad 🙃)
I have not gotten to read much in the past. Books lie on my shelf with an IOU and I haven’t gotten to them. This year, though, I’ve read about utopias, fantastic journeys, horrors, and memoirs. Here were some of my favorites:
We Were Witches by Ariel Gore
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
Each was a wonderful experience and informed the way I wrote and what I chose to read later. I’m excited to start a new book soon (still getting through all the Holmes stories) and not sure what that one will be. There are 62 titles on my wishlists so there’s plenty there to get me started. Some of them are:
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton
One, None, and One Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandello
I'm adding this comment from Patty F. that came in via email because it sums up exactly what the right book at the right time can do for us:
"So here's the book I was reading that I was going to share: "Men of Salt," by Michael Benanav, about a salt caravan across the Sahara. This wouldn't be a book for most readers, but I was completely captivated. Books take us where we might not go. We have been on a short camel caravan in the Sinai, so I loved reading about an expanded version of what we had experienced. Here is a supposed African proverb among camel riders: You travel faster alone, but further together.
Also check out @laurasackton here on Substack. She focuses especially on queer stories and authors. Her newsletter is called Books and Bakes.
I read 55 books this year. I might make that 56 or 57, depending on how the next few weeks go. That’s pretty typical for me. What’s not typical is the amount of nonfiction. About 90% of my books were nonfiction in 2022. Usually, I’m closer to 50/50.
One reason for the shift might be listening to the Ezra Klein podcast. He always asks his guests to recommend 3 books at the end. I’ve found some fascinating reads there.
Another reason is that I probably overloaded on fiction during 2020 and into 2021 as a means of escapism. At one point, I even picked up Dharma Bums--something I swore I’d never do after a very painful experience with On The Road in high school. So maybe I’m just balancing my books, so to speak.
A third possibly is that I’m genuinely worried about what’s happening with the American experiment. I channel a lot of that worry into canvassing, but a lot of the worry also drives a curiosity to dive as deep as possible into the forces shaping this moment. I was always curious about history and politics, but in my 20s I’d probably read 5-10 of those books a year. These days it’s closer to 20.
I really like the idea of looking back at the books I've read as saying something about me that year. You may just have inspired me to keep track of the books I read next year!
I've finished 58 books so far, will likely finish 60 this year (a few more than last year). I always check out Book Riot's Reading Challenge for the year, for an eclectic, wide-ranging read. I read poetry, plays, graphic novels ... and the authors are LGBTQIA+, indigenous, BIPOC, Asian, and more. I read classics and brand new. My books on my hold list at the library include Braiding Sweetgrass and Demon Copperfield. BTW, my TBR stack are all books I own. If they were library books, I'd be in big trouble! I'd never get them in on time. LOL.
I talked to a lady on Saturday who is reading David Copperfield in preparation to read the Demon Copperhead book.
The book I'm excitedly reading now is, "Admininstrative Burden: Policy Making By Other Means" by Pamela Herd and Donald P.Moynihan. I mentioned this book in one of my posts, and I think confronting the idea of "red tape" when working with government agencies is one of the most important ways we can help, not just the poor, but everyone. I'm really not this nerdy, but since this is the book I'm currently reading and enjoying, I thought I'd mention it :-)
I read fewer books this year than last, can't say why except I know I binged on way too many streamers. Interesting thing I discovered recently when I asked a staff member at a bookstore what he'd recommend for me. "You like non-fiction, right?" he said. I was so surprised because I really, really love fiction. But here's what I discovered: I buy nonfiction books, knowing I'll want to read them again and again ("Braiding Sweetgrass" for example, which I'm reading now), but I borrow most of the fiction I read from the library (Just returned "Brushing Cats" stories by Jane Campbell, which is fabulous!) Thanks for all your lists and Spark readers' lists. Intention for 2023: more reading, less bingeing. Here's to a very literary year.
I loved the writing and characters in My Absolute Darling, but I can see why some people would be appalled by it. It's the old question. Can I say I loved a book if I don't approve of what was in the book?
I read much more this year than I have in the past thanks to Audible (this is not an ad 🙃)
I have not gotten to read much in the past. Books lie on my shelf with an IOU and I haven’t gotten to them. This year, though, I’ve read about utopias, fantastic journeys, horrors, and memoirs. Here were some of my favorites:
We Were Witches by Ariel Gore
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
Each was a wonderful experience and informed the way I wrote and what I chose to read later. I’m excited to start a new book soon (still getting through all the Holmes stories) and not sure what that one will be. There are 62 titles on my wishlists so there’s plenty there to get me started. Some of them are:
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton
One, None, and One Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandello
Happy reading into the new year!