What I Read: 2014

Late in 2013 I debated making 2014 my year to join the “100 Book a Year” Challenge. I did the math an estimated I’d need to read approximately one book every three to four days.

This thought stressed me out tremendously.

Although the 100 BAYC is on my bucket list I didn’t go for broke last year. I did set a goal to best my previous record of ‘most books read in a year’. Since the year I began recording what I read (’09) I never had a year that came out over 38 books. I decided that anything over that number could be considered a success.

I’m pleased to say I read 45 books in 2014. Some of these books I purposely selected, some I fell upon: books left on airplanes, tossed over to me after a friend had completed it, or what was available in the bookshelf of the condo in Maui. I made an effort in early 2014 to consult some of my well-read friends and literary enthusiasts on their "must read" book list as well as aspirational reads. Caitlin, Crystal, Dejana, Karen, Katie, Rhiannon, and Sarah all provided big-time inspiration for this years reading list (or at least the more serious reads below). While I look back on the list I wince a little: some of the less-than-literary reads (ahem, the Divergent series, some of the chick-lit pieces) as well as some of the blockbuster reads (cough, Grisham) that don't show much imagination and a little laziness on my behalf. For most of those lighter weight reads I attempted to counterbalance with a heavy weight: Oryx & Crake, Blood Sports, California, and Boy on Ice topped off the emotional sluggers of the list. My three favourites reads this year came from Jay Onrait (because I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud), Terry Fallis (Up & Down, clever and quirky) and Herman Koch (I read the entire novel slack-jawed, in disbelief, rapidly turning the pages to find out what happened next).

The list below is what I conquered in 2014, in order of what I read. Feel free to make a 2015 suggestion!