2023 Books in Review

Wow, what a year! Working a full-time job absolutely destroyed my reading goals. While I didn’t read as many books as I would have liked, I did find a newfound enjoyment for audiobooks during my long commute. Hoopla has so many great options!

Also, this year saw inflation in the prices of books. Now is the time to buy hardcovers that are already printed. They might just be cheaper than the paperback editions coming out next year.

 

 

Goal Type: 700+ pages

Do I look like I have the time to read a 700-page novel when most of the books I’ve read this year have been graphic novels? Hahahaha! Nope. Does finishing The Count of Monte Cristo this year count? I know I listed it as last year’s book, but technically I finished it this January, so I’m counting it.

 

Goal Type: Published in 2023 (aka the Year of Sanderson)

If you think the names of the secret projects should be kept secret, feel free to skip this section. I’ve been working my way through all of Sanderson’s secret projects, so it’s difficult to say one is better than another. I finished The Lost Metal this winter. Though it wasn’t my favorite Mistborn book, it was a fitting end to Era 2.

I started on the secret projects shorty after they released. Tress of the Emerald Sea was the only one I’ve read in printed form. Having Hoid as the narrator was hilarious, but what I really enjoyed were the characters.

Then I started listening to The Frugal Wizard’s Guide to Surviving Medieval England on audiobook. I must say, I like the narrators! Five stars. Would listen to again, though I’m still disappointed I can’t have a dimension full of talking bananas. Sigh… While not everybody may agree with me about the book’s merit, it was what I needed at the time I read it. I had a good laugh!

Then I read Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. This. Book. Seriously, this story was the one I needed while I was reading it. I was getting really discouraged from one of the writers at my writing group who kept suggesting AI could replace writers. But one of the main themes of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is that art is about intent, human intent and expression. And I just— asdfghjkkl! Thank you, Sanderson. I needed to hear that.

Finally, during Christmas break, my sister and I listened to The Sunlit Man, which was a roller-coaster of a book from start to finish. Seriously, the plot did not let up and the entire story took place over the course of two days. I needed a breather after that.

No, I never did mention which of these books was the best. I liked them all for different reasons.

 

Goal Type: Recommended by a Friend

Throughout the year, I started but didn’t finish three recommendations. Welp, I tried.

 

Goal Type: Classics

Watch me count The Count of Monte Cristo twice! Started in 2022, finished in 2023. Such a complex, dynamic story! Every chapter was necessary to the plot, and I’d like to see this one adapted into a series rather than a movie.

My sister got me into the Epic: The Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, so I had to went on an Odyssey spree. This one took me the longest simply because the introduction was so long, and I kind of forgot to read it because it opens with Telemachus instead of Odysseus. I’m still working my way through it…

 

Goal: Historical Fiction

Guys! I found another historical fiction writer! Meet June Hur. I’ve been working my way through ALL of her books since I read and devoured her latest release The Red Palace. Relatable, well-developed characters? Check. Page-turning suspense? Check. A setting that isn’t worn out and overdone? Check. A murder mystery set in Korea based on the story of an actual person? Check.

I later went on to read The Forest of Stolen Girls, and while I didn’t enjoy it as much, I did appreciate the sister dynamic and the lack of romance. Not every story needs it!

As for middle grade books, I officially read The Witch of Blackbird Pond three times this year alone. Once before class, and once with two different classes. As far as historical merit and good writing goes, this one takes the cake! There are still plenty of other books I have read with my classes, but this one has been the one I enjoyed most this year. I particularly like how it addresses confronting stereotypes and the ways politics and religion can shape the way a person behaves.

Then I also started rereading one of my all-time favorite series: Anne of Green Gables.

 

Goal Type: English Translations

Journey to the West: The Monkey King’s Amazing Adventures retold by Timothy Richard—translated from Chinese. The writing style was rather bland, but as a student of literature, I found the book to be fascinating.

How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino—translated from Japanese by Bruno Navasky. Absolutely delightful. Philosophical, entertaining, and introspective. We’re going to get a Studio Ghibli film based on this book, which I look forward to!

 

Goal Type: Poetry

I haven’t read as much poetry as I would have liked to, but that’s okay. The Select Poems of Tu Fu helped me better understand classical poetic tradition as well as a small portion of the history of China. It’s amazing how many of the poems are relatable and how the imagery is so vivid.

I’m also slowly working my way through The Odyssey, which is written in verse. I don’t care for the translations that turn it into prose. Give me the originals, or as close to it as you can get with a translation.

 

Goal Type: Indie Published

Blade of Ash by C.F.E. Black—an enjoyable story, although I don’t remember much of it. The characters were well-developed, but I wish there could have been more development of the plot and the world.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree—absolutely delightful! I described this to my sister as a post-D&D story, and she devoured it as soon as I finished. A former adventuring orc goes on a quest to open a coffee shop. People come together. New recipes are discovered. A slice of life in a fantasy setting, and I enjoyed every bit of it! Now I want to go work in a coffee shop…

 

Goal Type: Books with Movie Adaptations

Nimona by N.D. Stevenson—I reread this one twice this year, once before the movie came out and again afterward to do some more thorough comparison. The movie was a completely different story, and even some of the characters were different. I still enjoy the book more, but the movie has elements that I enjoyed that you don’t get in the book, like more of Nimona’s motivation and backstory.

Foundation by Isaac Asimov—This one is often recommended as a sci-fi read, and some of the concepts went over my . Overall, it was fascinating even if none of the characters were particularly likeable. I have yet to watch the adaptation.

 

Goal Type: Alphabet Challenge with a Friend

Did not happen. Whoops.

 

8/10 Book Types

 

Other Notable Books

The Castle School for Troubled Girls by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

System Collapse (The Murderbot Diaries, #7) by Martha Wells

Braking Day by Adam Oyebanji

 

Other Bookish News…

As I’m approaching the next stages in writing, I’m going to start looking for critique partners and beta readers, so stay tuned if you’re looking for a sneak peak at some sci-fi or fantasy!

Happy reading!

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Let’s chat! Do we have any reads in common? Did you read any of Sanderson’s secret projects? Have you read many of the books that served as the basis for Studio Ghibli movies?

Similar posts: 2023 Reading Resolutions, 8 Books I Bought Because of the Cover, and 7 More of my Go-To Authors

2022 Books in Review

What a delightful year for books!

I found a great indie bookstore in my town that always carries a good stock of poetry. Now the owner recognizes me and recommends poetry collections. Yay!

Once I started working full time, I didn’t have as much time to read, so I’ve had to adapt. That is, I stopped reading books if I wasn’t interested in. *gasp* I have so many I didn’t finish… But that’s okay. Life’s too short to force myself to read something I don’t enjoy.

As for those I did enjoy—here they are!

Goal: 1 Book 700+ pages

The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson—I didn’t realize how long these books were until I started rereading them. They were delightful, of course. There’s talk of one of Sanderson’s books getting a show or movie adaptation, and I hope it’s this series! I’d like to share it with my non-reader friends.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas—I found the longest book on my TBR and started listening it to it because I was bored. No, seriously. Turns out, I really enjoyed it! Instead of simply listening to during my commute to and from work, I listened to it a bunch at home too. (Not done yet…)

 

Goal: 2 Writing Books

The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass—I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a writing book this much before! Not only is it instructional, but it has some great examples. Since I listened to the audio book while I driving, I may have to reread it to actually apply it to my own novels. Writing emotion into my stories is something I’ve struggled with, but now I’m inspired! (Not done yet. I intend to finish before the end of the year.)

Goal: 3 Books Published in 2022

Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas—this graphic novel is gold. The cover drew me in at first. I thought the story would be okay. I was wrong. It was great! I devoured it in one sitting, then went out and bought a copy and have since reread it.

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X. R. Pan—I was disappointed by this one, unfortunately. While I enjoyed the magical-realism-contemporary-mix, the ending felt too confused and rushed. It didn’t make sense to me.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys—I’ve found my new favorite historical fiction author! Seriously, I’ve read all her books now. I devoured this in a day. Sepetys’ writing style continues to be stunning. As a teacher I always appreciate her perspective on often untold stories across Europe. This particular story was heartbreaking.

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart—If you don’t mind a book that’s depressing and a story that revisits a setting that you may have visited before, then this book is for you. Sequel to We Were Liars (see below). I didn’t quite enjoy this one as much as the first because it lacked the connection between the characters that I enjoyed in the first.

Goal: 3 Rereads

Light at the Bottom of the World (Light of the Abyss, book 1) by London Shah—Wow, I enjoyed this book more the second time than the first! It hit differently than the first time too. The first time I read it was pre-pandemic. After the pandemic, wow, this society seems a lot like our own. I particularly enjoyed the underwater sci-fi elements, and the themes are spectacular too! (See the sequel in the category below.)

The Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson—the final book of the second arc, came out this year, so of course, I had to reread the entire series. I told myself I was going to wait until June to start the books, but then I started in May. Whoops! The world building, the magic system, the characters, the themes! Though I prefer the first arc, I enjoyed the second arc as well. I’m still waiting for the final book though. Right now, I’m fourth in the hold line at my library…

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart—Picked this one up when I started getting tired of fantasy. This contemporary was just what I needed. A beautiful yet heartbreaking read. Now I want to write an inspirational quote on my hands to better remember it.

 

Goal: 5 Books I Own (not rereads)

I need to categorize these better next year. There’s quite a bit of overlap.

Journey to the Heart of the Abyss (Light of the Abyss, book 2) by London Shah—First of all, can we take a moment to appreciate how Shah names the duology after both books instead of just the first book. Thank you, Shah. Thank you! As for the story itself, I didn’t care for the sequel as much as the first one. Oh, well.

A Silent Voice (books 1-7) by Yoshitoki Ōima—Technically, I’ve read the first three books before, but not the final four! Yes, I watched the anime first. I like both for different reasons. Heartbreaking yet beautiful and powerful.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne—see category below.

Collected Haiku of Yosa Buson—see category below.

Timely: A Phoenix Fiction Writers Anthology—see final category.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens—see category below.

The Moon Before Morning by W.S. Merwin—another poetry collection. Not as much imagery or as enthralling as the haiku collection but enjoyable nonetheless.

Goal: 5 Books by 5 Different Non-American Authors

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa—Translated from Japanese. This one was fun and the themes were interesting, though the writing style was a little dull. I’m going to blame it on translation. Would recommend if you like cats and labyrinths and books.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke—British fiction. Hey, look! Another book about labyrinths! I’m sensing a theme… I really enjoyed this one. It’s got a nice, meandering pace that certainly isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but it certainly was mine. A portal fantasy about another world with an unreliable narrator who is incredibly smart but also a little crazy. It’s got a similar feel as The Slow Regard of Silent Things.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan—Technically this one was also a 2022 release, but I put it here because why not? This book is actually the second one I’ve read this year that focuses on the Chinese legend of the moon goddess, and I definitely enjoyed this one more! It was a little slow and meandering, so it took me a bit to finish. Definitely worth the read.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne—Translated from French. A classic for a reason. I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would. I’ve heard Verne’s work described as “boring” before, but I quite enjoyed this one. My eyes did glaze over a bit during the paragraphs with all the fish, though. I was first introduced to the story when I was a kid, but I’d never read the original before now. Definitely recommend!

Collected Haiku of Yosa Buson—Translated from Japanese with the original Japanese transcribed on the left. What a delightful collection! I picked up this beauty during a book sale at a local bookstore and enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. I think I might be a haiku person. Some are complex, some are simple. All are short and quick reads. The book is broken up into seasons, starting with spring, ending with winter. What’s more, there’s even a whole mini-section on frogs. This is the kind of content I’m here for!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens—British fiction. I actually read this one twice. Once for lesson planning, and again with my class. While the language was a bit dense for my lower-level readers, many of them enjoyed the story and getting the chance to watch the movie at the end of the year.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas—Unabridged and translated from French. See first category.

 

Goal: 1 Short Story Collection

Timely: A Phoenix Fiction Writers Anthology—Another enjoyable collection by the Phoenix Fiction Writers! I took my grand time with this one, but that’s part of the fun of anthologies like this one. You don’t have to read it all in one sitting. A story at a time will do. My favorites were probably “Adamant” by Beth Wangler and “Daughter” by E.B. Dawson.

 

Total books: 19/20

Other Notable Books

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Oono

The Expanse series by James S.A. Cory

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas

No Beauties or Monsters by Tara Goedjen

Himawari House by Harmony Becker

Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim

Visual Learning: Physics by Kurt Baker

You can check out the full list of books I read on my Year in Books page on Goodreads.

If you’ve made it this far, I’m taking a step back from blogging. I still intend to post my reading resolutions, end of the year reviews, and writing-news. But for the most part, I’ll be positing on Instagram instead. Thank you for following me along this crazy blogging journey.

Happy reading!

 

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Let’s chat! Have you read any of these? What are some of your favorite books from 2022?

Similar posts: 2022 Reading Resolutions, 2021 Books in Review, and 2021 Reading Resolutions

Poem: Reading Glasses

Since I haven’t had a lot of time to write lately, I’ll be sharing an older poem.

Yes, my style may change over time, but I like to think that even the older ones can be fun sometimes. Here’s one of my favorites from a creative writing course in college. I was once a proud reader who didn’t need glasses to read. That is until I read too much…

 

Reading Glasses

Two owlets perch on a wing.

Hooked beaks on plump fools

stuffed with heaps of mice.

 

Two boxes crammed

with clocks and calendars

and leaves to the brim.

 

Two attic windows side by side,

overlooking an owl’s nest,

boxes stacked to the sills. Here

until the house burns.*

 

***

 

Let’s chat! What did you think of the poem? Any fellow readers out there who wear glasses?

*The final sentence sometimes gets left out because it changes the entire mood of the poem. Personally, I like it because it adds a touch of mortality to what would otherwise be a lasting building.

Similar posts: Do Not Dissect This Poem, Origins, and Pine Trees

Reading Habits: Work vs. University

It’s really interesting how one’s reading habits can change over time. As a kid, I enjoyed unusual fairy tales and animal novels, and as a teenager, I read books with all the dragons. Then I discovered the joy of the library in college, and my TBR list has exploded ever since. But as time goes on, I notice the ways that my reading habits have changed from my days of stressing over finals and day-to-day assignments versus a commute to and from work.

For example, back when I was studying for my M.A. in English Lit, I read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in 10 days at 100 pages a day. Now you ask me to read a 1,000-page book in a week or so, and I’ll just laugh because that’s not going to happen, even though I have more free time.

Here are just a few of the ways my reading habits have changed since I’ve graduated, complete with whether I practice said habits during work or university or both!

Reading as a Distraction: Work or University?

Both.

Whether I’ve had a bad day at work or whether I was tired of doing some assignment, a good story could always serve as a way to escape. It’s especially nice when I find a book that doesn’t feel like a book—one that’s just another story that engulfs you, leaving you wondering what world you’re in when you turn the last page. Stories like Salt to the Sea, Eliza and Her Monsters, and Kids Like Us.

Reading as a Reward: Work or University?

University.

Yes, reading still has its rewards, sure. But I don’t read for the same purpose. When I was particularly struggling to get through one assignment or another, I would study for 45 minutes, then read a chapter. Just one. Then I’d repeat the process until I’d finished my assignments and then my book. That’s how I first read The Alliance series during midterms and later how I got through Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell so quickly.

Reading as a Time Filler: Work or University?

Work.

During my studies, I didn’t really have any time to kill. It was just me and homework and more homework and balancing my jobs and writing for fun and maybe somehow fitting a meal somewhere in there.

I was texting one of my friends the other day, and she was telling me about all the shows she’s catching up on, and I realized I’d seen zero of them. If I think about it too hard, the idea of all of the shows I don’t watch can make me anxious. (I’m in the middle of Ninjago, Legend of Kora, and NCIS. I don’t need recommendations.) I’m just not a big movie/show person, okay? But mention novels, and I’m ready to pile all the books onto my TBR list. They’re also nice because I can take them to work with me and read them while I’m on break.

Reading as Research: Work or University?

Both.

Though I’m still doing research, I don’t always approach it in the same ways. At university, I would check out stacks of books in addition to my source material, gathering all my research before I started writing. Now when I’m doing research for a story, I’ll do some preliminary research, then write my rough draft, then delve into the deeper research before draft two.

Reading Classics: Work or University?

University.

Truth be told, I read far more classics during school than did when I graduated. If anything, as soon as I finished my Master’s dissertation, I devoured YA and graphic novels for the next year. Now, I make reading classics part of my yearly goal because if I didn’t, I’m afraid I won’t read them. And I want to. It’s just that working up the motivation to do something I voluntarily forced myself to do for so long may have burnt me out on the idea of reading certain books. That and there’s this weird assumption that reading classics is somehow only suitable for stuffy settings and intellectual mindsets, which it’s not.

Listening to Audiobooks: Work or University?

Work.

I had friends who listened to audiobooks instead of reading assigned books for class, but I just couldn’t get into it. When it comes to retaining stories, I’ll remember them more if I can see the words on the page. But once I started working, when I was forced to drive to work instead of bike, I found listening to audiobooks made the drive enjoyable. (I did not listen to audiobooks while biking because that’s not safe.) Now, I have a 30-minute commute, not as long as biking 45 minutes one way, but I like listening to podcasts or novels on the way.

Particular audiobooks I’ve enjoyed so far: Stardust by Neil Gaiman, narrated by the author; Fawkes by Nadine Brandes, narrated by Oliver J. Hembrough; and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, narrated by Ari Fliakos.

The one podcast I got hooked on: Wolf 359 by Kinda Evil Genius Productions. I’m open to more recommendations.

Yearly Goals: Work or University?

Both!

My junior year of my undergrad, I managed to read 38 out of my goal of 30 books. My senior year/start of my Master’s degree, I read 52. The year after I finished my Master’s I read 109 out of 100. The next year, I stopped setting number goals and moved to types of books instead. It took a year of trial and error for me to set realistic goals and meet them again, but I figured it out.

Let’s chat! How have your reading habits changed over time, if at all? Have your motivations for reading changed? Goals for reading? Anybody have any epic sci-fi/fantasy podcast recommendations? Bonus points if it’s funny.

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Similar posts: Let’s Agree to Disagree: Reader vs. Author Opinion, Slow-Paced vs. Fast-Paced Books, and Do What YOU Enjoy

Literary references: Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell; Ruta Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea; Francesca Zappia’s Eliza and Her Monsters; Hilary Reyl’s Kids Like Us; L. Nicodemus Lyons’ The Alliance series; Neil Gaiman’s Stardust, narrated by the author; Nadine Brandes’ Fawkes, narrated by Oliver J. Hembrough; and Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, narrated by Ari Fliakos

Show references: Ninjago, Legend of Kora, and NCIS

Podcast references: Kinda Evil Genius Productions’ Wolf 359

7 Books with One Main Setting

Hey, guys. I’m back!!! In light of recent events, I’ve decided to pick up blogging again, at least for the month while I’m not working. *cue silent screams*

I was inspired by a post on Twitter that talked about self isolation that featured a bunch of indoor activities inspired by Rapunzel’s “When Will My Life Begin.” Actually, I’ve found when it comes to shows, some of my favorite episodes feature the main characters trapped in one setting. Whether it’s a bank heist or getting stuck on an elevator, the plot relies less on a physical journey and more on a personal one. So, I thought, if a lot of us are stuck at home and we like to read, what are some stories that feature characters in a similar predicament for different reasons?

Here goes!

1)     The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Liesel spends most of her time in the house of her foster parents, and soon, so does Max. But while Liesel gets to go outside and steal books and find trouble with Rudy, Max is stuck in the basement because he’s a Jew in hiding. I really enjoyed reading this book because it has such a unique writing style and good themes.

• Recommended activities inspired by the story: reading, doing crossword puzzles, writing found poetry (not exactly featured in the book considering one character completely blanks out the entire text of Mien Kampf and writes over it, but you know what I mean).
• Not recommended: making a snowman in your basement and staying in bed for days on end if you can avoid it.

2)     Gemina (The Illuminae Files, book 2) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Hanna and Nik are among many of the characters stuck on Heimdall station when the BeiTech company takes over and starts killing people. I was tempted to include book 1, Illuminae, in the list, but it technically takes place aboard two ships and a planet, so Gemina it is. Come to think of it, a lot of sci-fi novels, especially ones with generational ships, only have one setting, but I just haven’t read them yet.

• Recommended activities: fighting for to share the truth, even if it hurts.
• Not recommended: dealing drugs, hacking, creeping through air vents, murder, and everything else that happens in this book.

3)     The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

The whole story is basically about a man in a boat. But a lot can happen in just one boat in a wide, wide ocean. I enjoyed this one for various reasons, and while one could probably write an essay on its themes, I was reminiscent about Hawai’i from all the talk of fish.

• Recommended activities: watching a livestream feed of an aquarium, like this one of the Monterey Bay.
• Not recommended: fishing. That’s going to be a little hard to do from home, unless you have an aquarium, and in which case, please be nice to your pets!

4)     Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Man stalks an up-and-coming opera star, trying to find love after he’s been shunned his whole life because of a physical deformity. You’ve got the phantom of the opera, the girl at the opera, the guy, the guy who dies… a lot can happen at an opera. Sure, some of them venture outside on one occasion, but that’s about it. I like this book because it explores the dangers of prejudice, even if I don’t like it for that very same reason. If people weren’t such jerks, nobody would be in this mess!

• Recommended activities: singing loudly (and badly, even if you can sing well).
• Not recommended: kidnapping, stalking, murder, and basically everything else in the book.

5)     The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Sure, there’s a teensy bit of travel when Mary comes to live at the Misselthwaite Manor, but the rest of the story takes place there. Sure, you could count the manor itself and the garden outside as two separate settings, but come on, technicalities! An interesting story about what it means to discover not just a garden but friendships as well.

• Recommended activities: gardening—SPRING IS HERE!!!

6)     The Slow Regard of Silent Things (The Kingkiller Chronicles, book 2.5) by Patrick Rothfuss

Auri was just a minor character in the rest of the series, but she’s the protagonist here. As she explores the underground tunnels that make up her home all by herself, she lives an unusual life. If you’re looking for a slow, meandering book, this one is it.

• Recommended activities: making soap and looking forward to meeting up with a friend someday.
• Not recommended: having some animal eat said soap.

7)     100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

This book doesn’t completely take place in one setting, but it’s close. Due to a car accident, Tessa is blind, and as a result, is afraid to venture into the outside world again, at least until her sight returns… if it ever returns. And it’s such a great book about embracing life as it is, not as you wish it would be. 10/10 would recommend!

• Recommended activities: writing, watching movies, cooking.
• Not recommended: giving up.

A couple books that didn’t quite make the cut because they have too much traveling but still feature one primary setting include Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, The Martian by Andy Weir, and The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

Let’s chat! Have any recommendations for books with one setting? (I seriously struggled to come up with these seven.) Read any of the ones I discussed? What kind of activities are you doing during self-isolation/quarantine?

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Similar posts: 7 Popular Sci-Fi Novels I Enjoyed, 8 Popular Fantasy Novels I Enjoyed, and Let’s Agree to Disagree: Reader vs. Author Opinion

2020 Reading Resolutions

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020!

I don’t know about you, but these have become one of my favorite posts to write, and I actually use them as reference points throughout the year. Last year I actually met my goal of book types, so I’m excited to be starting even more reading!

1 Book 700+ pages

I’m a huge overachiever.

On my To-Be-Read list:

• Words of Radiance (Stormlight, book 2) by Brandon Sanderson—at 1,087 pages, I’m mainly putting this one off because The Way of Kings (Stormlight, book 1) was just so depressing, and I don’t want to see Kaladin or Dalinar hurt any more than they were!
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas—at 1,276 pages this book made it to my TBR for reasons unknown. It’s been there at least since 2012.

I’m not going to read them both this year. Probably…

3 Classics

They’re classics for a reason, and I need a little extra motivation to check some out.

On my list:

• From the Earth to the Moon and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
• Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• The Sea Wolf by Jack London

5 Books from Places I’ve Been

I’ve been to so many places, so this should be interesting! The only problem is that it also makes me an intense critic. I didn’t like several books because I had been to certain places and they didn’t make me recall the setting. At all. So sad. I like it when settings are like a well-developed character!

On my list:

• Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk
• This Is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila (Hawai’i)
• The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (Venice)
• The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (Paris)

5 Graphic Novels

I’m going to get a little specific with this category and count either a standalone or one from a series rather than the entire series. In other words, instead of reading five in a series and calling it done, I’ll have to pick up a new book to reach my goal. I don’t want my limit myself to only one series.

On my list:

• Divinity by Matt Kindt
• Erased by Kei Sanbe
• A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima
• Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki by Mamoru Hosoda

Why yes, I enjoy Manga, thank you very much. And art. All the ART!

5 Novels in Verse

I like poetry, but I lean more toward novels in verse when it comes to poetry types. Something about the free verse and the narrative is just so entrancing!

On my list:

• The Language of Fire: Joan of Arc Reimagined by Stephanie Hemphill
• Toffee by Sarah Crossan
• Unbound by Ann E. Burg

1 Book Published Before 1800

For some reason, I like to fight against this goal. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the excitement of new releases or the subconscious idea that older books are much harder to read, which can be the case. But all the same, each time I pick up an older book, I find myself enjoying it more than I expected. So far anyway.

On my list:

• Something old. I’ve never followed the ones I list here.

Total books: 20

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Let’s chat! What’s on your TBR for 2020? Do you have any particular goals? What books are you most looking forward to reading?

Similar posts: 2019 Books in Review, 2019 Reading Resolution, and 2018 Books in Review