Comments on: Year End Stats and Favorites

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:05:11 +0000

In reply to Iza. Hey thanks Iza, 67 books is about what I can handle per year. And yeah Pachinko was a winner. I'm glad you liked it too. Have a great week.

By: Iza

Iza — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 12:45:30 +0000

That is a seriously awesome amount of books 🙂 There are several I want to read in there but the only one I read, Pachinko, I loved very much !

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 12:50:42 +0000

In reply to Sarah. Hey thanks Sarah. Yeah the book She Said was such a fierce & brave reporting effort. And I guess I think we are drawn to female authors more, though I try to read whatever is held in highest regards by others. So it seems to me women authors are on a roll these days ... with their quality of books coming out. We often like strong female protagonists too. Hmm. I definitely want to get to Hamnet sometime in these early months. I'm looking forward to it. Happy reading to you too in 2021. There's so much to pick up.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 18:19:47 +0000

Congratulations on all of your 2020 reading and great reviews. You know how much I liked Migrations, too — definitely top of the list in 2020, but might be edged out by Hamnet for me. You definitely need to put that on your 2021 list — I would love to read your review. Strange to call it a lovely read (or listen in my case) since it is so sad, but I would read it again, for sure. And I don’t re-read too many books! It was interesting to see your reading “stats.” The male/female author one jumped out at me. Are we, as women, drawn to reading more books (especially fiction) by female authors, are there more of them or was it an especially good year for women authors? Hmmm. On that note, I am glad you included She Said, which I read last year. The reporting and the tenacity of the writers is as incredible as the story itself — a real accomplishment.
Adorable photo of Stella! Happy 2021 Reading!!

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 20:21:55 +0000

In reply to Rachel (chaosisafriendofmine).

Hey thanks Rachel. Yeah I agree Yale is a memorable character in The Great Believers … it’s thru him (and Fiona) the whole story comes to life … and all the loss of his friends … Yale has to navigate through. It is quite a sad story that marks so well the AIDs era. Thx for stopping by, hope your week is good. take care.

By: Rachel (chaosisafriendofmine)

Rachel (chaosisafriendofmine) — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 02:26:41 +0000

What a great year of reading! I loved The Great Believers too. Yale is one of my all-time favorite characters. I wanted to reach into the book and hug him.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 22:45:10 +0000

In reply to Les in OR.

Thanks Lesley, Stella is our lightness in today’s world. The news this week was appalling so somehow we need to rise above. I’m glad you like these kinds of posts — sometimes I’m curious to see what happened in my reading over the year — as I don’t really plan – I just try to pick up a mix of light & heavier reads etc. Just to warn you a little that The Great Believers audio takes some perseverance. It took me weeks & concentration to get through it … it’s not “easy” but it has its moments & really hit a mark on the AIDs epidemic etc. I’m glad you liked The Snow Child ! just a great/nice story. We all need my reading hours in our days. Ha. Have a great week!

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 22:30:07 +0000

In reply to JoAnn @ Gulfside Musing.

Hey thanks JoAnn: great to hear from you! Yeah Forty Autumns really hit the mark for me – & I’m sure I read it b/c of your high praise & review of it. I actually learned quite a bit from the story, which was heartbreaking in many regards. I don’t know how this year’s reading will go but we will see. Happy New Year to you! I hope you like The Snow Child. & Writers & Lovers. Hmm.

By: Les in OR

Les in OR — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 00:51:42 +0000

This is my favorite kind of post! Thank you for helping me add more great books to my TBR list. I’ve considered nominating Migrations to my book group since it’s been on so many “Best Of” lists. I’ve already read Forty Autumns and Pachinko (which you liked better than I), but Great Believers is in my audiobook queue. I may nudge that one up. The Vanishing Half is another consideration for my book group, as is Leave the World Behind. I loved The Snow Child (which made my list this year, too) and I gave my mom a copy of Writers & Lovers, so I’m eager to borrow it once she’s finished. Oooh, and Olive Again is on my audio list and Monogamy is on my bookcase. I need more hours in my life!!

Ugh. Yes, the insurrection at the Capitol was outrageous. I am appalled, angry and sad. I guess it was too much to ask that 2021 be an improvement over 2020. I wonder if we’ll ever feel like life has settled down…

In other news, Stella and her kangaroo are adorable.

By: JoAnn @ Gulfside Musing

JoAnn @ Gulfside Musing — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 15:28:08 +0000

I’ve been looking forward to your list! Especially thrilled to see Forty Autumns as your nonfiction fave – it was mine a few years ago. Several favorites on your fiction list as well. The Snow Child and Writers & Lovers are must reads for 2021. You had an excellent year despite all of the challenges we faced.