This was the year I was going to read 100 books. This was also the year I was going to cross off a number of other big goals on the docket. I succeeded in some aspects, failed in others. I wasted so much time beating myself up where I fell short, very little time celebrating where I won (more on that some other time). Despite not making 100 books I came relatively close, and for that I can find happiness.
The grand total this year was 81 books. Jon joked to me last night that if I read really hard for a full day I might make it to 90. It's possible for me to read 100 books in a year, but a number of factors need to be align:
~I need to work less than 60 hours a week.
~I need to actively observe my happy hour rule.
~I need to always carry a book with me, and instead of scrolling on my phone when I am waiting I can read.
~I need to actively prioritize reading, which seems to give way to just about everything else (although I am a devoted pre-bed reader).
Some changes I made that helped this year that helped me enhance my reading included: utilizing the digital online queue system at Calgary Public Library, reading while drinking coffee on the early mornings before training, joining GoodReads, and asking my favourite readers (Crystal, Katie, Carla, Dejana, Caitlin and The Book Club Girls) for suggestions. My face is smiling as I write this, because it sounds awfully nerdy.
It's dinner time on New Years Eve, and wine awaits. I look forward to another year of reading, one where I am not barrelling towards an invisible finish line I've set for myself, one where I can read a book of more than 400 pages and not worry it's going to slow down my tally, a year where I can actively select my choices around whatever other criteria I choose.
On the below list a * indicates it was a book club read, the ** marks my favourite of the year.
Open Heart, Open Mind CLARA HUGHES
She's Come Undone WALLY LAMB
Start with Why SIMON SINEK
Fishbowl BRADLEY SOMER
China Rich Girlfriend KEVIN KWAN
Dumplin' JULIE MURPHY
Banquet of Consequences ELIZABETH GEORGE
The Book of Speculation ERIKA SWYLER
This is Happy CAMILLA GIBB
Fates and Furies LAUREN GROFF **
The Nightengale KRISTIN HANNAH *
Primates of Park Avenue WEDNESDAY MARTIN
Sharp Objects GILLIAN FLYNN
Pillow ANDREW BATTERSHILL **
A Complicated Kindness MIRIAM TOEWS
I'll Give you The Sun JANDY NELSON
Modern Romance AZIZ ANSARI
Martin John ANAKANA SCHOFIELD
The Tiny Wife ANDREW KAUFMAN **
My Life on The Road GLORIA STEINEM
Fifteen Dogs ANDRE ALEXIS
Dark Places GILLIAN FLYNN **
A Tale for the Time Being RUTH OZEKI
You are a Badass JEN SINCERO **
Brooklyn COLM TOIBIN
The Sicilian Wife CATERINA EDWARDS
Food: a Love Story JIM GAFFIGAN
Biglaw LINDSAY CAMERON
Chasing the Scream JOHANN HARI *
At the Waters Edge SARA GRUEN **
Down the Rabbit Hole HOLLY MADISON
Miss Emily NEALA O'CONNOR
A House in the Sky AMANDA LINDHOUT
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend KATARINA BIVALD
Why Not Me MINDY KALING
Blackout: Remembering the things I drank to forget SARAH HEPOLA
Opening Belle MAUREEN SHERRY
I Can't Believe it's Not Better MONICA HEISET **
The Assistants CAMILLE PERRI
Not Working LISA OWENS
Unfinished Business ANNE MARIE SLAUGHTER **
Very Good Lives JK ROWLING
The Nest CYNTHIA D'APRIX SWEANY *
The Art of Racing in the Rain GARTH STEIN **
The First Affair EMMA MCLAHLAN & NICOLA KRASS
Save the Date MARY KAY ANDREWS
13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl MONA AWAD
The Price of Salt PATRICIA HIGHSMITH
Furiously Happy JENNY LAWSON
Our Souls at Night KENT HARUF **
Sweetbitter STEPHANIE DANLER **
Girls on Fire ROBIN WASSERMAN
Homegoing YAA GYASI **
The Loney ANDREW MICHAEL
The Knockoff LUCY SYKES & JO PIAZZA
The Rocks PETER NICHOLS
Maybe in Another Life TAYLOR JENKINS REID
Find a Way DIANA NYAD
The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao JUNOT DIAZ *
A Walk in the Woods BILL BRYSON **
Love Lies and Spies CINDY ANSTEY
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo AMY SCHUMER
I'm Supposed to Protect You from All This NADJA SPIEGELMAN
The Couple Next Door SHARI LAPENA
No Baggage CLARA BENSON
Every Anxious Wave MO DAVIAU
Listen to Me HANNAH PITTARD
Code Name Verity ELIZABETH WEIN
The Total Package STEPHANIE EVANOVICH
The Art of Fielding CHAD HARBACH * / **
Wenjack JOSEPH BOYDEN
Leave Me GAYLE FORMAN
The Heart Goes Last MARGARET ATWOOD
Pond CLAIRE-LOUISE BENNETT
When the Body Says No GABOR MATE
Finding Audrey SOPHIE KINSELLA
After I Do TAYLOR JENKINS REID
American Pastoral PHILIP ROTH **
Will have to read some of your top choices once I am finished my current list! 🙂