I didn’t read as many books in 2019 as I would have liked. I always have a goal of reading 52 books for the year (one per week). I only read 33, which is even fewer than the previous year’s paltry total of 43.
But there’s no sense in focusing on the negatives, especially not when there are several positives to talk about.
- I read a lot of poetry, and I am better for it.
- I read 12 nonfiction books (if you count the poetry).
- The authors were not exactly a diverse lot, but about half of the books were written by men, and about half by women, which is one sort of balance.
I gave a lot of A-level grades during the year, too many to mention them all here. Instead, I offer my top five.
- Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card, A-: At first, this book seemed so commonsensical as to be a waste of my time. But, I stuck with it, and Card did eventually get around to telling me things that I didn’t already know. I wouldn’t trust his opinions in all matters, but he knows how to write and how to explain writing to others. Recommended.
- Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, A+: I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I am so glad my son’s teacher assigned it to him.
- The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo, A+: a modern and slightly disturbing collection of fairy tales. Loved it.
- Ordinary Genius by Kim Addonizio, A-: If you want to know how to write free verse, this is a good place to start.
- Word by Word by Kory Stamper, A: Kory Stamper is a kindred spirit. We share a love of words, and we have similar jobs. I would recommend this book for anyone who’s interested in language and particularly anyone who uses a dictionary on a regular basis.