This year, in addition to my annual December running streak, I resolved to read 50 books over the course of 2019.
The first bit of news is that I reached my goal: I finished 52 books. The second is that, like with my month-long running streak, I had some really lovely take-aways.
Reading nearly a book a week took some serious focus. I couldn't waffle and had to commit to each book from the start or drop it quickly. Other pastimes recede--I watched almost no television and spent very little time on social media. I also didn't catch up on emails during my commute (although I did scan it and reply to important ones at the start of each commute). I also took time during weekend days to read, which has been rare recently with kids. That felt like a luxury! Reading this much got me into a pattern. My brain quickly slowed down and settled in to the book. When I started to feel behind, after a particularly hefty long read, I grabbed some young adult fiction or a graphic novel to catch up. I've loved books all of my life, but the pace these days often makes it more challenging to be still enough for reading. My year of reading slowed me down in all of the right ways.
Note: I tracked my books on Goodreads and read on both kindle and paper formats, although the majority were kindle.
Here is the quick list without any commentary:
FICTION
- The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (kindle)
- A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki (kindle)
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (kindle)
- Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (kindle)
- Asymmetry by Lisa Haliday (kindle)
- Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (kindle)
- An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (kindle)
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (kindle)
- Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson (kindle)
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- The Pearl by John Steinbeck (paperback)
- Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac (kindle)
- The Swans of Fifth Avenue vy Melanie Benjamin (kindle)
- A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
- The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
- The Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins (kindle)
- The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (paperback)
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (kindle)
- Circe by Madeline Miller (kindle)
- Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)
- The Martian by Andy Weir (kindle)
- The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Anthony Doerr (paperback)
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds (kindle)
- Patina by Jason Reynolds (kindle)
- Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal (paperback)
- Persepolis #1: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (paperback)
- Persepolis #2: The Story of a Return (paperback)
- Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob (kindle)
- Frankenstein: A Pop-Up Book by Sam Ita (hardcover)
- Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein (kindle)
- How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness by Russell D. Roberts (kindle)
- The Second Mountain by David Brooks (kindle)
- The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World by Jordan Shapiro
- Make Today Matter: 10 Habits for a Better Life by Chris Lowney (hardcover)
- Cooking Solves Everything: How Time in the Kitchen Can Save Your Health, Your Budget, and Even the Planet by Mark Bittman (kindle)
- The Library Book by Susan Orlean (kindle)
- Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow (kindle)
- Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen by Rita McGrath & Clayton Christianson
- A Warning by Anonymous
- Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow
- 26 Marathons: What I've Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from Each Marathon I've Run by Meb Keflezighi & Scott Douglas (kindle)
- Meb for Mortals: Harness the Training Methods of a Champion Marathoner to Achieve Peak Running Performance by Meg Keflezighi & Scott Douglas (kindle)
- The Passion Paraodox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
- Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson
- Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor (hardcover)
- WIRED: Steve Jobs, Revolutionary by Steven Levy (kindle)
- Educated by Tara Westover (kindle)
- Becoming by Michelle Obama (kindle)
- Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson (kindle)
- Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist (kindle)
- Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance (klindle)
Here is the list with commentary, broken down roughly by genre (I added links to Amazon for reference not as an Amazon endorsement):
FICTION
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (kindle)
I have long loved Ann Patchett and her latest didn't disappoint,
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki (kindle)
Slow at first but picked up as the two stories began to intertwine. Not sure who recommended it to me. Loved a lot of the images, particularly in one of the two stories, and it continues to resonate.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (kindle)
One of my favorites of the year. Highly recommend.
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (kindle)
Recommended by my friend Tim who teaches literature at a University in Kentucky and specializes in Appalachian literature. He has never steered me wrong. Salvage the Bones was not an easy read but was incredible and worth it.
Asymmetry by Lisa Haliday (kindle)
Recommended by my friend Leslie. Enjoyed reading it. Had to read summary again to fully remember the story. Good but not as memorable a read as some of the others this year.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (kindle)
Powerful and highly recommend. Tough subject beautifully done.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (kindle)
I kept hoping for a different ending than I knew was coming. Loved reading this and recommend.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (kindle)
My daughter saw the movie in her humanities class. I read the book and then saw the movie on a plane. Some really critical differences between book and movie. Good to have this opening to talk to my daughter about an important subject. Highly recommend.
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson (kindle)
Pure poetry. I had read Brown Girl Dreaming a few years back and now want to read every word she has written. Brooklyn-proud!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My last read of the year. Mostly loved this book despite, at moments finding the "love" focus too predictable and disappointing. But the characters and story are far too compelling to not love it in the end. Anyone else feel strong thematic similarities with To Kill a Mockingbird, beyond just the trial?
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
I believe this was recommended by the wife of an NYRR colleague--she and I often exchange good reads through him. A lovely albeit painful glimpse into lives and a culture. Recommend.
Classics
The Pearl by John Steinbeck (paperback)
One of my daughter's summer reading choices that we read aloud together. It read it years ago and Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors (East of Eden!). Great to read again all of these years later. Wrenching.
Historical Fiction
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac (kindle)
My son read this and I found it on my kindle so I read it. Loved learning about the subject. The writing was a little simpler than I generally read.
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (kindle)
This has been sitting unread on my kindle for years and I finally read it. Interesting view into the time of NYC Society, Truman Capote, and the ladies who lunch.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
I started this book a log time ago and put it down because it was so emotionally difficult to read. Picked it up again and got through it. Not easy but important. Highly recommend.
Mystery/Suspense
The Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins (kindle)
Enjoyable read, quick and entertaining (albeit dark).
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (paperback)
Our friend Beth left this behind after her stay at our cottage. Lots to love about it.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Read early in the year. Quick, suspenseful, and fun read.
Mythology
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (kindle)
Circe by Madeline Miller (kindle)
Enjoyed both of the Madeline Miller books! Recommend.
Science Fiction
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook)
This was a family book listening over numerous car trips. We all really liked it, although not my normal genre). Just downloaded the second in the series and will listen to that in 2020.
The Martian by Andy Weir (kindle)
I was skeptical because I generally don't read sci-fi. But I was drawn in almost immediately Loved it and highly recommend! (I hear the movie is good too.)
CHILDREN & YA FICTION
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Anthony Doerr (paperback)
I read this one aloud to the kids during drives and in summer evenings. A gift from my niece Meg. Sweet and fun. My 13 year old daughter especially enjoyed it.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds (kindle)
Patina by Jason Reynolds (kindle)
Recommend by my running buddy (and elementary school teacher) Pam. Love these stories and will read the other two in his Track Series in 2020,. About a middle school track team. These kids have complicated lives yet running shows them what they are capable of.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal (paperback)
Picked up in Manitoba while traveling for work. Fun and timely subject.
Persepolis #1: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (paperback)
Persepolis #2: The Story of a Return (paperback)
Recommended by my friend Gene who teaches American Studies Set in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Highly recommend.
Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob (kindle)
Recommended by my running buddy Pam. Beautiful and thought-provoking.
Frankenstein: A Pop-Up Book by Sam Ita (hardcover)
Picked it up used near our summer place in PA. Amazing pop-ups; writing falls way short. But it was fun.
NON-FICTION
Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein (kindle)
One of the books that I talk about most. Loved it and took so much away from it. Highly recommend for parents, runners, and humans in general. Will read Epstein's Sports Gene in 2020.
How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness by Russell D. Roberts (kindle)
Recommended by Jenny Simpson over lunch in the spring. So many unexpected takeaways.
The Second Mountain by David Brooks (kindle)
I heard the author speak at a small gathering for Aspen Institute's Project Play and downloaded a couple of his books the next day. Lots to think about and apply to life.
The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World by Jordan Shapiro
Another book I have been talking about non-stop (along with Range). Highly recommend, especially for parents, but for everyone. Gave me a lot of new perspective and eternal gratitude to the dad of my son's friend who rolls up his sleeves and helps the kids navigate virtual worlds with grace and civility.
Make Today Matter: 10 Habits for a Better Life by Chris Lowney (hardcover)
A gift for Christmas 2018 by my executive coach and friend. By a former Jesuit turned investment banker turned life coach. Good perspective for life at a time when i needed some perspective.
Cooking Solves Everything: How Time in the Kitchen Can Save Your Health, Your Budget, and Even the Planet by Mark Bittman (kindle)
Mark Bittman is our family go-to in the kitchen and I love reading his books.
One review says it best: an engaging manifesto that inspires non-cooks to reach for a pan and encourages all of us to take a closer look at how we feed ourselves and our loved ones.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean (kindle)
Amazing that I could love a book about the history of libraries and the LA public library fire so much! Highly recommend.
Current Events
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow (kindle)
Read this book.
Business
Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen by Rita McGrath & Clayton Christianson
I took a certificate course at Columbia University a couple of years back led by the author. Loved the insights and case examples in her stories. Good read for anyone wanting to remain relevant in business. She even devotes a chapter applying her thinking to personal careers.
Politics/Government
A Warning by Anonymous
Written by a Trump administration insider. The writing is high-quality and the words sobering. Some important take-aways for people of all political parties.
Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow
Not her latest (which I will read in 2020), but still relevant and interesting. Eye-opening window into historical perspectives on military intervention in the US. Highly recommend.
Running/Running-Related
26 Marathons: What I've Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from Each Marathon I've Run by Meb Keflezighi & Scott Douglas (kindle)
Really wonderful window int the 26 chapters of Meb's career.
Meb for Mortals: Harness the Training Methods of a Champion Marathoner to Achieve Peak Running Performance by Meg Keflezighi & Scott Douglas (kindle)
Quick read and gave me great conversation starters when I ran the 5th Avenue Mile with Meb! Lots of great takeaways that I will continue to use in my own running and life.
The Passion Paraodox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness
Sort of running; sort of life. Lots of touchpoints in this book for anyone with a passion at the core of their lives.
Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson
Loved this book. Great read for anyone thinking about sport or human capacity.
Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor (hardcover)
A work colleague loaned me her copy. Loved this book and highly recommend it not just for runners.
Biography & Autobiography
WIRED: Steve Jobs, Revolutionary by Steven Levy (kindle)
A little thin. Wished I had chosen the longer biography and may read that in 2020.
Educated by Tara Westover (kindle)
I didn't know a lot about this before I read it and kept thinking it couldn't be true. Highly recommend for the insights it gave me.
Becoming by Michelle Obama (kindle)
Beautiful book by the incredible Michelle Obama.
Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson (kindle)
Loved and highly recommend. An amazing life beautifully told.
Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist (kindle)
Recommended by my colleague Trudy. Highly recommend.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance (klindle)
I had not thought a lot about this American sub-culture. Eye-opening and shed light on this country's current political schisms.
