Hey friends! I set a goal on Goodreads of reading 52 books in 2019. I’ve got to admit it’s not a goal I’ll feel terrible about if I don’t hit it, for three reasons:
I read so much in my day job that reading a lot outside of it can be a challenge.
I already have 10 New Year’s Resolutions already, several of them are quite ambitious, and this one isn’t on the list.
I’m not in the habit of feeling terrible if I don’t always achieve my goals.
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Nonetheless, I’m ahead of pace for January! Now, when I read a book and it’s not for me, I just sort of put it on my “Read” shelf without rating it or talking about it. But these were books I really enjoyed in January.
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Dominion: The Power of Man, The Suffering of Animals, and a Call to Mercy, Matthew Scully.
This book about how humans treat animals was on my “50 Books That Might Make Me Smarter” list. “Enjoyed” might actually be the wrong word to describe my feelings about it.
It was heartbreaking, meticulously considered and researched, and the kind of intellectually serious book that can change one’s worldview. (Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond was another book like this for me.)
Most people concerned about the suffering of animals identify as political liberals, but this author is a conservative: he was a speechwriter for George W. Bush, an editor for the National Review. I give him a lot of credit for thinking for himself and not just going along with the prevailing opinions of his peers—which, to be honest, the vast majority of us do.
Scully examines the meat and dairy industries and trophy hunting from a lens of Christian morality. For me, the most disturbing part was the way pigs—intelligent and affectionate animals—are treated in factory farms.
I am a vegetarian and mostly vegan, and I know very well that nobody wants to be reminded that their favorite food depends on widespread animal cruelty. I also know that most of my consumption relies on exploited workers, so it’s not as though I can take any high ground. Even if I’m not perfect, I can try to find small ways to lead a kinder life.
Once Ghosted, Twice Shy, Alyssa Cole.
Well, this book isn’t nearly so weighty, either in mood or in size. It’s a new release: a smart, sweet, and sexy romance novella in her Reluctant Royals series. This actually may have been the first lesbian romance I ever read.
I enjoyed the characters, and I loved how the story’s structure—alternating from the present-day to the past—gradually revealed the truth between them. The grown-up flirting in this book was a delight.
I’ve read a few books by Alyssa Cole, and she has a great prose style. She writes sentences I wish I’d written. While this story did touch on some serious issues, overall, it was a fun read.
How cute is that cover, by the way? I love everything about it.
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Becoming, Michelle Obama.
In fifteen days after its release, this became the top-selling book of 2018. Like most people, I thought it was terrific.
I grew up in a working-class family in Illinois, and some elements of Ms. Obama’s growing-up years felt familiar to me. I thought that part of the book would’ve been enjoyable as a memoir even if she wasn’t famous for anything. I had to laugh at her resistance to her husband’s involvement in politics. Getting her thoughts and feelings about historic events and stories in the news was fascinating. (I did skim the section about Sandy Hook because it was so painful.)
Did you start out your 2019 with some good reading? Are you having trouble finding time to read? Let us know about it in the comments! Have a great week!
Becoming is on my next to read list! Great review. Good luck on your goal of reading 54 books.
Hi, Darlene! I bet you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for the good wishes! Hope you’re having a great week.
I love your book recommendation posts. I want to second ‘Becoming’ and agree that the story of her childhood is so powerful and relatable. I read a lot of memoir and MO really did a fantastic job.
Another book I’m reading and LOVING right now (and think you would love) is The Kingdom of Copper. It’s the sequel to The City of Brass, which you’d need to read first. It’s got fantasy, romance, political intrigue, dangerous royal court scheming, complex familial relationships, and a great female protagonist. It’s inspired by Islamic history/mythology and it is rich in every sense/colors, foods, fantastical creatures. I highly recommend. I got it in the mail yesterday and stayed up way too late last night trying to get through as much as possible.
Hi hon! Oh, I read City of Brass! I did like it! And then I sort of forgot later. I need to read the next one!
Great recommendations, Bryn. And of course, good luck with your goal! I have set a goal of 30 books this year. I’d like to read more, but I want to put a lot of focus on my writing this year, as my list of stories seems to never stop growing. The great news is I am already 1.5 books into this year! 😉
Thanks, Savannah! It really is hard to balance reading and writing, I think. I know I need to read to stay inspired and to get better…BUT, I just need time to write, too! Haha. Honestly, if I read 30, I’ll think that was pretty good. We’ll see how it goes. 🙂
What an eclectic list, Bryn. I don’t know if I could get through Dominion; my husband and I were just talking about animal consciousness and sentience this morning at breakfast. We’re mostly vegetarian (the occasional seafood makes it into out diets), and it’s primarily because of the cruel manner in which our food animals are treated (along with environmental and health reasons…I’ll get off my soapbox now…)
I’ve recently been trawling Amazon (and the internet in general) looking for comparison books similar to mine. I found one series with anthropomorphic animals that’s freaky similar, but the author is indie and self-published, so it’s not terribly helpful. I’m also developing a love-hate relationship with shifter fiction. I have no major goals for reading this year. Between writing and children, I’ll be happy if I get through 5-ish books. 🙂
Hi Lisa! Yeah, I was glad I read Dominion, but it was rough going. The one thing that made it uplifting was admiring his writing skills. That is such an interesting (and sometimes alarming) exercise, looking for comp titles! I kind of have a love-hate relationship with shifter fiction myself…and I should be reading more of it, because shifters will be a big thing in book 3 of the Manus Sancti series. 🙂
I’m pretty sure if I had kids I wouldn’t be able to read more than a book a year! I don’t know how writers with kids do it.
ROFL…lots of swearing (in one’s head) and lots of coffee. ?
I have a list of the books I’ve read since 2003. In the past, I shot for 50 books a year. The closest I came was 46. The last couple of years I’ve dedicated my time to writing, so I read in bed at night for an hour.. I’m a fast reader but it still takes some time to get through a book. This year, I reduced my goal to 25-30 a year. With that lower goal, I have to be more selective with what I choose, and I’m trying to add more variety to my list. I’m hoping to find some nonfiction that trips my trigger, politics excluded.