13 Comments

I love a good series! If you’re looking for another MG series, I quite enjoyed the 4 book “track” series by Jason Reynolds. It starts with Ghost. Happy reading in 2022! I enjoy reading your thoughts and reviews!

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Thanks for the recommendation Carol. I have never heard of this series, but it sounds like something I'd like. I love finding new series to read.

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I'm proud of my reading for last year-26 books and that is good for me. However, I seemed to have stopped reading in October. I only read the books I needed to read for my book club. I even had several Christmas themed books to read in December and did not touch them. I have no excuse to not read but just went into a slump. I feel better starting off this year and have already one book and plan on finishing 2 more before the end of Jan.

I agree with your statement above about Historical fiction. It is my favorite genre and I can't get enough. I did love history in school but as you said, it was dry and just boring in school.

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I'm sorry you had a reading slump last year. I hope 2022 is better for you. Thankfully there seems to be no shortage of HF past and present and there looks to be some really good ones coming this year too. I hope to finish 3-4 by the end of the month. It all depends on how crazy work gets this month.

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Hi Gayla. I too, start far more books than I actually finish because there are just SO MANY. I can tell right away they are not for me, and there's just too little time to waste on a less than engaging read. Occasionally I decide a print book will be more interesting on audio, and vice versa, and often switching proves this to be true. Currently I am listening to the audiobook The Unseen World by Liz Moore, and oh my goodness! What a story!

Coincidentally, I JUST (I don't get out much I guess) heard about Wordle two days ago from my work colleagues who are crazy for it. I am not a game player but....its a good brain exercise, and its simple and doesn't take much time....so I've played it every day so far (three times). The good thing is if you're not feeling it, you don't have to play that day, that's what I like, and it takes very little time. Just something fun to do if you have a few minutes (or 15 if its really stumping me).

Thank you for taking the time to put this newsletter together, I truly enjoy hearing about others' reading lives.

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Thanks Susan, and I did try Wordle yesterday. I'll keep playing for a few days and see if I get hooked. I've switched between books and audio and that has helped sometimes. And I do NOT hesitate to DNF if I'm not feeling it. Life is too short to read books you are not feeling at that moment. I'll have to check out The Unseen World.

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First, I'm happy to just be reading more this year at all. I just go so busy with other stuff! Second, Wordle is wonderful if you like word games. It's deceptively simple but really enjoyable. And I love that you can only play one round a day!

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I played my first game of Wordle last night. It was o.k. I guess I'm not hooked yet, but I'll keep going. The best part of it is that you can only play one game a day. I hope you have a great reading year, Michael.

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Glad to hear the encouragement to "DNF" books that you're not into - that seems like a good plan, and I should do that more often, especially if I'm not into it after about 100 pages. Right now I am reading a biography of Mary Shelley, and she apparently read several books at once! I've never been able to do that - but sometimes will tackle something more complicated in the morning, and then save the light, fun reads for evening and stay on a two-book track that way. Happy new year and happy reading!

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Life is too short and there are too many books to read to be stuck reading a book that you aren't enjoying. I read several books at once which has its good and bad points. It provides variety, but that same variety also gives me frustration as occasionally, I go from book to book looking for something and obviously not finding it. I know several people that do what you do, read a heavier book in the morning and something to have fun with in the evening. It seems to be working for all of you. :)

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While the year is young, I decided to commit to the short story genre and so far have really enjoyed it. Small commitment and gies a taste of an author to maybe try more. My early favorite this year is Ted Chiang. He wrote the short story that inspired the movie "Arrival". A very clever writer.

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That sounds like a great way to not only add more reading to your life, but to add something different. Different genre and type of reading. I'm not usually one for short stores, but I'm finding that I'm long form magazine type articles lately. I've read a few of the short stories in Ann Patchett's new book and enjoyed the ones I read; maybe I need to do more short story reading during this year.

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