My Year in Books

bringing back the blog for one of my favourite times of year (which in German is so aptly called "between the years") - these slow, reflective days just before the year turns, which I use to look back on this past year, as well as plan and dream for the one ahead.

After last year's carefully planned out reading list, I decided not to set any reading goals for this past year (beyond the 24 books that I wanted to hit) and just go ahead and reach for what I felt like. The results of this were...interesting. I ended up reading much more fiction than usual, across a fairly wide range of genres and even started a series or two (which was something I'd been missing for the past few years). But honestly? This was probably my most disappointing reading year in awhile. While I certainly read some gems (all of which can be found on the list below) I also read a ton of books that were just okay. 

So in an attempt to change that this coming year, I'm reintroducing a bit of structure. Aside from my standard goal of 24 books that I've had going the past few years, I've also identified a few topics and genres that I'd like to focus on, which I'm hoping will stretch me to find a few new favourites as well as keep me a little more focused when selecting choices this year. In terms of non-fiction, I'd like to read a few books on the Enneagram, as well as some in the direction of "self help" and parenting (I think I may finally be feeling brave enough to tackle Brene Brown again!) For fiction, I'm looking to mystery (a rather new to me genre I discovered late this year) as well as sci-fi (something I always love but for some reason am rarely drawn to). I'd also like to read both more new releases and more books written by women of color. 

best re-read: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Schafer & Annie Burrows)

most surprised to love: The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)

hardest to put down: Career of Evil (Robert Galbraith) 

most relevant to my daily life: The Course of Love (Alain de Bottin)

most quotable: In the Company of Women (compiled by Grace Bonney)

most loveable characters: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)

most heartbreaking: The Immortalists (Chole Benjamin)

best memoir/biography: My Berlin Kitchen (Luisa Weis)

best craft related book: Folk Fashion (Amy Twigger Holroyd)

the one that kept me up at night: The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead)

the one I'm still telling everyone about: Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel)