I intentionally did not take on most of my usual reading challenges this year specifically to give myself more flexibility, and in that regard, my reading plans this year were successful. Another thing I liked about my reading this year is that it was even more social than usual. I hope someone picks up the ball on hosting staff book clubs at UNT (I’m working really hard not to volunteer for yet another thing at work…but I want to). I really enjoyed reading fun things with people from across campus.
One thing I did challenge myself to read an alphabetical list of both titles and authors and while I didn’t quite finish it, I definitely chose some for this list that I enjoyed and wouldn’t have read otherwise. My favorite part of this challenge was picking some of the books off my shelves at home that I have been meaning to read for years but never got around to it.
Anyway, although I didn’t quite finish the whole alphabet, I made it through quite a few of them. Here’s the last installment of the year.
For the main list of book titles I’ve finished for this challenge, see this post. For reviews on specific books, see previous posts:
A
Alive at the End of the World by Saeed Jones
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
B
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
C
The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood
The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton
D
Dear Bob and Sue by Matt and Karen Smith
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz
E
Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro
The Measure by Nikki Erlick – So good! I can see why so many people recommended it, and I’m glad one of my book clubs worked it in before the end of the year. The basic premise is that people over the age of 22 all over the world started receiving mysterious boxes with strings that measure the length of their lives, and the plot developed from there. It was told from multiple perspectives of a few interconnected characters and addressed several issues that would arise from such a phenomenon. Why would/wouldn’t someone open their box? Should people running for office or those going into military service be forced to open their boxes and divulge the contents? Is there a duty to disclose to partners/employers/friends/parents/etc.? For the record, I would 100% open the box. Even though I agree with a lot of the reasons not to, and I am firmly in the right-to-privacy camp, it would come down to the simple fact that there is information there for the taking…and I would absolutely take it. I’ve already convinced one of my book clubs to read this next year, so I’m excited to see what they think.
F
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
G
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Winter Recipes from the Collective by Louise Glück
H
How To Be Perfect by Michael Schur
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
I
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
J
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
The Friend Zone and The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
K
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
L
Lucky Turtle by Bill Roorbach
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón
M
Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
N
The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik
O
The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
P
The Pisces by Melissa Broder
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Q
Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood
Blessings by Anna Quindlen – Reading this book, I realized something about my selections this year. I’m in the habit of reading books where either everything goes wrong and is awful all the way through, or after a few small bumps everything magically works out in the end. This book is a realistic mix of both. There are real joys and heartaches all throughout the story, and it’s not particularly predictable at any turn. The writing is rich, and the characters are layered. Highly recommend.
R
A Rhythm of Prayer, edited by Sarah Bessey
The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay – This book’s premise has so many things going for it for me – quirky characters, inheriting/running a bookshop, budding romances, healing relationships. But it was a slog to get through. There were definitely some good moments, but when I find myself counting page numbers and looking at the clock to estimate how much time I have left until I finish, it’s not a good sign. If the book had been any longer than it was, I probably would not have finished it.
S
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
T
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby
Women Talking by Miriam Toews
U
V
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa – Oh, my heart. I cried for like the last 80 pages of this book. I was mad and happy and sad and furious and proud and touched and about fifteen other feelings. I can see myself reading this one again. The characters use a lot of slang, so it will be interesting to see how it reads in a few (or twenty) years. I hope the difficulties the characters face read differently in that time, too (I don’t have a lot of hope, but I do hope).
W
A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Witch King by Martha Wells – This is the latest from the author of the Murderbot series I love so much, and this found family fantasy novel is just as good. After 400+ pages, I feel like I’m just getting to know the characters a little bit, and I want more! The world contains demons, witches, immortals, and other types of fantasy characters from a unique perspective, and the interplay of both their powers and limitations offers endless storyline opportunities. I don’t know if this is the first in a new series, but I would be the first in line to read more.
X
Y
Z
Welcome Home: A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul by Najwa Zebian
I am excited to pick up a couple of reading challenges for next year (more on this in an upcoming post), but I think I’m going to finish this one out, too.
M. Suzanne Terry 
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