Reading is one of the greatest pleasures in my life,
and in 2019 I read thirty-five books, one more than last year.
I read a total of 11,495 pages.
Actually I read more than that, because some books
~ like The Mueller Report and Baudolino ~
were challenging, and I read parts of them over and over
until I understood all the content.
Thank goodness for Google!
So my goal for 2020 is to beat my record for 2019
by reading at least thirty-six books and 12,000 pages.
Eight of the books were by authors who belong to
the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG);
so, of course, I'm going for nine in 2020.
I will be forever grateful to my parents for encouraging me to read.
I literally can't remember a time I couldn't read, and that is because of them.
My Parents Reading
Sara MacDonald and Don MacBeath (with pipe)
Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Circa 1947
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Here's my list of books read in 2019:
1. New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
619 pages Speculative fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
2. Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward
362 pages Biography
3. Abaddon's Gate by James S. A. Corey
546 pages Science Fiction
4. The Muralist by B. A. Shapiro
337 pages Historical Fiction
5. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
638 pages Non-Fiction: History, Human Evolution
6. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
405 pages Gothic fiction, Mystery, Romance novel, Crime Fiction, Romantic Suspense
7. Descent by Tim Johnson
375 pages Mystery, Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Fiction
8. The Origin of Tolkien's Middle Earth for Dummies by Greg Harvey
346 pages Nonfiction: Literary Criticism
9. Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo by Stephanie Storey
360 pages Thriller, Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction
10. Music Boxes by Tonja Drecker
155 pages Middle Grade Fiction: Fantasy
11. Masquerade: Oddly Suited by L.G. Keltner et al.
196 pages Young Adult Fiction: Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary
12. The Mueller Report by the Justice Department
387 pages Nonfiction: Government Report
13. Big Red by Damien Larken
299 pages Science Fiction, Alternate history, Military Science Fiction
14. A Higher Loyalty by James Comey
304 pages Biography, Autobiography
15. Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
269 pages Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction
16. House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story
of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia by Craig Unger
277 pages Nonfiction: Biography, True Crime
17. Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk by L. Diane Wolfe
167 pages Nonfiction: Self Help, Goal Setting, Leadership
18. Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermalsen
292 pages Nonfiction: Biography, Autobiography
19. Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
518 pages Mystery, Thriller
20. Some Very Messy Medieval Magic by C. Lee McKenzie
174 pages Middle Grade Fiction: Fantasy
21. Port-Royal Habitation: The Story of the French and Mi'kmaq
at Port-Royal 1604-1613 by W. P. Kerr
106 pages Nonfiction: History
22. A Not So New World by Pat Hatt
317 pages Science Fiction
23. Delivered by Pat Hatt
332 pages Mystery, Contemporary
24. Hippie by Paulo Coelho
279 pages Autobiographical novel, Biographical Fiction
25. The Complete Win at Spades by Joseph D. Andrews
174 pages Nonfiction: Game Strategy
26. Survival of the Fittest by Jacqui Murray
308 pages Historical Fiction
27. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
288 pages Historical Fiction
28. The Ends of the World: Supervolcanoes, Lethal Oceans,
and the Search for Past Apocalypses by Peter Brannen
256 pages Nonfiction: Science (Geology, Earth History, Environmental)
29. Give Me the World by Leila Hadley
454 pages Travel Literature
30. Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks
392 pages Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
31. In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
196 pages Biography, Autobiography, Travel
32. TheSilent Patient by Alex Michaelides
313 pages Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
33. The Forgotten Room by Lincoln Child
290 pages Science Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Historical Fantasy
34. Baudolino by Umberto Eco
521 pages Speculative fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
35. Introduction to Geology: Physical and Historical
by William Lee Stokes and Sheldon Judson
243/530 pages (physical section) Nonfiction: Science (Geology)
Note: IWSG Authors are highlighted in yellow.
Enjoying a Favorite Pastime
Aurora, Colorado, USA
January 9, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Till next time ~
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Donnie and I
On the Margaret's Justice Ferry
Between Westport and Freeport
Grand Passage, Bay of Fundy
Nova Scotia, Canada
Between Westport and Freeport
Grand Passage, Bay of Fundy
Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
A Personal Note:
If things go according to plans, I won't be publishing a post next Friday.
I'll be in the middle of buying a new computer and getting it set up.
Wish me luck!!!
That's quite the selection of books. Nine from IWSG members this year? You'll have a lot to choose from.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex! I'm having a lot of fun reading books by IWSG members, and there are so many I want to read!!! Starting with the anthology with MY story! I'm still giddy! And you know I'll read more of Pat's. And the moment your book is announced, I'll be preordering it. Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteTest
DeleteAn impressive list, Louise! You put me to shame! The one about Leonardo and Michelangelo sounds intriguing to me, because I enjoy the works of both artists. Did it bring back memories of Florence and Italy?
ReplyDeleteHi, Debra! I've had way too many late nights reading into the wee hours. I feel like I'm running out of time, and there are so many books I want to read! "Oil and Marble" was awesome, and it definitely brought back memories of Florence and Italy. A friend gave it to me for my birthday, because she knows how much I love Florence. Definitely worth reading! Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteI really enjoyed The Silent Patient. I have the same reading goal as the last few years, but I usually end up reading more. Love that wiggle room! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the new computer!
Thanks, Madeline! My poor computer is limping along, and I'm afraid that it will go belly up at any time. "The Silent patient" was great fun. I love a good psychological thriller! Wiggle room is good, but I am burning to read, now that I've completed my cataract and laser surgeries and have an awesome pair of prescription glasses. Happy reading to you!
DeleteI had a goal too of 1 book per week, but didn't quite hit it. Life was messy and complicated last year, so I didn't have the luxury of reading as often as I would have liked. I'll have to check out some of the books on your list. Have a great weekend, Louise!
ReplyDeleteHi, Theresa! You did have a difficult year! I hope that things go much easier for you in 2020, and I hope that you have time to indulge in reading. Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteFive of those are DLP books, including one of mine - thank you!
ReplyDeleteI definitely plan to read more DLP books, Diane! Santa was supposed to order me several for Christmas, but Santa procrastinated and ran out of time. He was forgiven though, because I can order them myself, and because he introduced me to the Jack Reacher novels (I think he confused Lee Child with Lincoln Child) with a gift of "Killing Floor" and also Margaret Atwood's "The Testaments." I actually read yours twice during the year, because it is inspiring and helpful. Wishing you and DPL lots of success in 2020! Have a great weekend!
DeleteThat's a lot of reading.
ReplyDeleteHi, Adam! I was pleased with what I read last year. I hope all is well with you!
DeleteLouise, I love that photo of your dad reading with his pipe! I got Alex a pipe a few years back and another one for his birthday this year. He loves to smoke and read, very neat! Good luck on your reading goals! I wish I had the focus to read a book...it doesn't happen very often, but I'm more of a reader during the summer when I can lounge on the porch swing! I saw a movie called "Body at Brighton Rock"...but I don't think it's the same story. I looked it up and if I can't read the book, I may actually look for that 1947 movie adaptation of the book, Richard Attenborough stars in it!
ReplyDeleteHi, Rain! I love that photos of Dad too. He smoked his pipe throughout his life. I have to read every day. I can't remember the last time I went without reading. Richard Attenborough is a great actor. I'll have to look for that movie too. Have a great week!
Deletewow! that’s a lot of books—loved seeing writer friends in your mix, music boxes was fabulous!
ReplyDeleteand great pics =)
congrats again on the anthology—you’re doing a great job with the blog!
Tara Tyler Talks
Thanks, Tara! I loved "Music Boxes, Too." I'm having lots of fun reading the books of fellow IWSG members. All the best to you this week!
DeleteYou sure read quite the range indeed. But that I knew. Hey, I could have you hit your goal with all the ones I still have left you never read lol Great to read indeed. I never had as many as you, thanks to the 9-5, but a far amount.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I plan to read more of your books this year, for sure, Pat. And my great niece Ella is just about old enough for some of your Cassie books! Come to think of it, she must be close in age to your twin poop machines. Have a great week!
DeleteMy you do alot of reading Louise, hope you are well, missed being on line.
ReplyDeleteMy son-in-law is showing me the ropes with windows 10.
Yvonne.
Hi, Yvonne! I hope all is going well with your Windows 10 work. All the best to you!
DeleteVery impressive, Louise! That's quite a list. I'm hitting about 20 books a year now. I used to go through more but I've slowed down. Maybe it'll pick up again at some point. With the way I love reading, that's possible!
ReplyDeleteTwenty is good, Martha! I had slowed down, especially during my working years, but now I'm ramping up. Wishing you and George a great week!
DeleteI love Rebecca. That's the only one of your books that I've read. I don't do well with keeping track of what I read because I read so many books at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Rebecca was so good, Janie. I read it the first time when I was about twelve. It's fun to go back and reread books I've enjoyed in the past. I hope all is well with you!
DeleteWow
ReplyDeleteThanks, R! I was proud of myself, and I had a whole lot of fun! All the best to you!
DeleteI love your list, Louise. There are many on there that I have on my list. Including Diane's. Ah, but I don't see War and Peace. So, you've read it already? It's one of my top 5.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joylene! I read "War and Peace" about 50 years ago. I need to read it again. Have a good one, my friend!
DeleteA great collection of books from a variety of genre!
ReplyDeleteGreat list. I have read some of them and say, "yes, you can do this!"
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I shared your Jan 3, 2015 post on my FB page. Check out the comments!
ReplyDeleteWinks!