img_1169This 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.img_0838

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 **

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