Whenever I sit down to write up this post, I always have some idea of what books will be on the list. Stories that stuck out to me enough that they still linger, however many months later. I found that this year, I had a whole series that has been such a favorite that I’ve started collecting the physical copies whenever I find them second-hand.
At the beginning of the year, I had intended on focusing on reading more classics, especially those that I already own. And while I did read a few of them, I have been very much a mood reader this past year and so didn’t get to many of the ones I wanted. No regrets though, I read some wonderful books! And, of course, there were a handful that I quit partway through for various reasons. But we aren’t talking about those today. On to the favorites!
For the fun of it, here’s my reading stats for this year: I read 74 books, 57 of which were first time reads and seven different series.
A friendly little note : While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.
FAVORITES:
Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly (orig pub 1890)
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Why the Jews? by Dennis Prager
Come Out of the Kitchen! : A Romance by Alice Duer Miller (1916)
Lord Peter Wimsey Series by Dorothy L. Sayers
Brotherhood by Mike Chen
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling
In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Homegrown Tea: An Illustrated Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Blending Teas and Tisanes by Cassie Liversidge
Re-reads:
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (orig pub 1908)
Hunted by Megan Spooner
Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey series) by Dorothy L. Sayers – a post on this whole series is coming soon!
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
And here’s some bonus themes:
Oldest Published: A Christmas Carol (1843)
Newest Published: Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes
Favorite reread: Wildwood Dancing or The Hobbit (really, how can one decide?!)
Cutest romance: Come Out of the Kitchen!
Unexpectedly loved: In the Heart of the Sea
Shortest Book: The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by C.L. Pirkis (48 pages)
Longest Book: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (1,232 pages)
New Favorite author: Dorothy L. Sayers
And there you have it! What was one book that you thoroughly enjoyed this past year, I’d love to hear about it!
~Laura
the start of a good life 