My 2019 Reading Adventures

Book Stats:

Books Read in 2019: 126

Most Read Genre: Mystery (Shocking I know) at 68

I had 25 rereads this year and 28 romances (there is quite a bit of overlap there) and both of those numbers surprised me as I didn't feel like I had read much of either.

I listened to 36 books on audio.

I  neglected books with K, Q, X, Y, and Z in the title.

Travel through Reading: 

My only rules for travel books is that they had to be fiction and had to be a real place.  Other then that there are no rules.  Rereads and any other genre were all counted.

I visited England 43 times, Ireland 5.  Greece, France, and Australia were all visited once and I went to the Bermuda Triangle once.

My most visited state was California at 8 visits with Colorado coming in 2nd with 5 visits.

I visited 26 out of 50 states.

I have books lined up for most of the states but am struggling to find books that take place in Delaware, Utah, either of the Dakotas, and Wyoming.  Suggestions?

Top Ten Tuesday - Bookish Discoveries of 2019

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Bookish Discoveries.

1.  Alex Lake - This was bit darker and unsettling then my usual read but I thoroughly enjoyed it and have other books from this author high up on my TBR.

2.  Erik Larson - I've heard raves about this author for years and when I finally took the plunge and listened to Dead Wake I completely got it.  Can't wait to listen to (or read) more!

3.  Katherine Reay - Reay wrote one of my absolute favorite books (The Printed Letter Bookshop) in 2019 so I will definitely be looking for more books by her in the future.

4.  Julie James - One of my favorite bloggers who disappeared awhile ago (Quinn?  Where are you?) loved Julie James and I always meant to read her and finally did this year.  And it was just as fun of a book as I expected it to be.

5.  Jen Campbell - I love bookish books and I finally picked up a book by her this year and so enjoyed it!  I've already ordered another book by her and can't wait!

6.  Karin Slaughter - I've seen this author around for years and finally read a book by her and I can see why she's so popular.  I couldn't put Pieces of Her down!

7.  Molly Harper - To be fair I have read a few books by Molly Harper in the past but I finally read one of her more paranormal books.  It was a bit outside of my comfort zone but such fun.

8.  Clare Mackintosh - Another author that has been on my TBR for ages and one I was so glad to finally get to.  I listened to I See You and really enjoyed it.  It reminded me a bit of Lisa Jewell's suspense titles.

9.  101 Dalmations is based on a book! - I had no idea this was the case but I read the book in 2019 and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I was also really surprised how closely the movie and book were connected.  There were a couple of differences but they made sense for a change in medium and time.

10. I really don't like Debbie Macomber's young adult/adult children  - I've read a few Macomber books and I like them but I don't love them as much as I expect and I finally figured out why.  The adult children of characters in the book drive me crazy.  They come off as so bratty and immature that I don't enjoy their page time at all.

What bookish discoveries did you make in 2019?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Ramblings from the Stacks - How Do You Become a Mood Reader?

Last year was a tough year and one of the things that took a hit was my reading.  I wasn't reading nearly as much and when I was reading I was usually reading in a panic to hit some review commitment.  I realized I was feeling overwhelmed and burned out and just kind of meh about reading in general. 

So, my resolution for 2020 was to take a deep breath and read what I want.  Easy enough right?  Well...  See I've never been a mood reader.  Every once in awhile I'll have a light bulb moment and find myself craving some book or genre.  And I know I suffer from genre fatigue from time to time so it's in my best interest to mix it up a bit.  However, 99% of the books on my TBR are books that appeal to me.  They all look good and like things I want to read.  But I made my first book decisions and got reading.  And then I finished my book.  And now what? 

How do you decide what you want to read?  Does it just pop into your head?  Do you have a system?  I'm trying to get away from lists and regular commitments but without them I feel a bit lost when looking at my shelves - virtual and otherwise.  I kind of feel like I'm in the book version of the dinner question.  "What do you want for dinner?"  "I don't know.  What do you want?"  "I'm pretty much okay with anything so you pick."  and on and on and on. 

How does a confirmed scheduled reader become a mood reader?  I need help!  And what should I have for dinner?

This Week in Reading - January 12

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

All Shall Be Well by Deborah Crombie - I listened to the first book in this series last year and enjoyed it so I thought I would continue my re-listen.  This is one of my favorite mystery series and I'm really enjoying how much the mysteries hold up.  (Audible Purchase)

Sacred Evil by Heather Graham - I just finished listening to the 2nd book in the Krewe of Hunters series so of course I had to get the 3rd book! (Audible Purchase)

Currently:

Reading:  Finishing up Careless Whiskers by Miranda James and Fatal Roots by Sheila Connolly

Listening:  I finished Heart of Evil by Heather Graham and just started Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis but I"m not sure I'm going to keep with it.  

Watching:  We started The Story of Imagineering on Disny Plus which is so interesting.

Off the Blog:

This week was a bit of a slow one.  We're getting back into a school routine and it feels like things are going relatively smoothly.  This is the longest time we've been home which is nice but I'm also getting stir crazy.  Luckily, we'll be heading back to New Orleans soon though I don't know for how long. 

And our Disney trip is coming up and I absolutely cannot wait.  The downside to going at an unpopular time is that is when a lot of rides close for refurbishment.  We found out a little while ago that the Tornado's favorite ride would be closed BUT this week I found out that they're having a Star Wars dessert party at Hollywood Studios so of course I snapped up tickets and that's made up a little for the ride closure.  

On the Blog:

What Happened:

Monday:  Upcoming Middle Grade Reads
Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2020
Wednesday:  The Country Guesthouse - Contemporary Romance Review
Thursday:  Books from the Backlog - The Daughter of Time
Friday:  Friday Fives - Five Non-Bookish Favorites from 2019
Saturday:  Cookbooks I Want to TryThis Year

What's Coming Up:

Monday:  Ramblings from the Stacks - How Do I Become a Mood Reader

Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Bookish Discoveries

Wednesday: My 2019 Reading Stats

Thursday:  Books from the Backlog

Friday: Friday Fives

Saturday: TBD

Have a great week and happy reading!

Cookbooks I Want to Try This Year

Other than Christmas Eve I can't remember the last time I cooked.  I think it was sometime in October.  We haven't been home very much (and even though I'm frequently in a hotel with a kitchenette I'm not determined enough to cook dinner in a hotel room) and when we are home it's frequently just me and the Tornado and we normally eat sandwiches or cereal.  But this year at some point I will have regular access to a kitchen and I'm determined to get back into cooking.  Here are a few books I saw at the library that I'm hoping will get me back into the spirit.

1.  Mary Berry's Quick Cooking  - I love Mary Berry and I need meals that come together quickly so this sounds perfect.

2.  Dinner Illustrated: 175 Meals Ready in 1 Hour or Less by America's Test Kitchen - Another quick meals cookbook and America's Test Kitchen is pretty reliable.

3.  Cook Like a Pro: Recipes & Tips for Home Cooks by Ina Garton - Ina Garton's recipes aren't the simplest but they are always so good and this is one cookbook I haven't tried.

4.  Patricia Heaton's Food for Family and Friends: 100 Favorite Recipes for a Busy Happy Life by Patricia Heaton - I've really enjoyed the shows Patricia Heaton's been on so I thought this might be fun to look at and try some of her recipes.

5.  Hero Dinners: Complete One Pan Meals that Save the Day by Marge Perry and David Bonom - I haven't had the best luck with one pot meals or sheet pan meals but I really want to find some that work for us. 

What are some of your favorite cookbooks? 

Friday Five - Five Non-Bookish Favorites from 2019

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  Michelle over at Because Reading is Better Than Real Life   used to do a Five on Fridays that I always enjoyed and I've seen a few other variations on the theme.  As well I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd give start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  This week I'm looking at my non-bookish favorites for 2019.

1.  Disney+  - I fully expected to enjoy Disney+ but it has really exceeded my expectations.  The variety of content is great and the unlimited downloads has made it a lifesaver for car trips (and we've been taking a lot of them). 

2.  Kerastase Conditioners - I have crazy thick hair that's also super coarse and kind of wavy and leans towards the dry side.   Throw in the fact that I live in a humid climate (Alabama) and have been spending most of my time in an even more humid climate (New Orleans) and there's some serious frizz tendencies.  I decided to bite the bullet and spend a ridiculous amount of money on conditioner and it's made a huge difference.  I'm not sure it's worth the money but it definitely takes the sting out of it.

3.  Tea - I have been all about tea the last few months.  Herbal, black, green - they all have their place and I've been drinking them all pretty much all the time.

4.  Dr. Teal's Epsom Bath Salts - These are a long time favorite but I've really been missing them lately with all the hotel staying we've been doing.  I've yet to find a type I don't like.

5. Disney Customer Service - I'm a total Disney nerd and would cheerfully go to Disney World 3 or 4 times a year if I could figure out just how to make that happen.  I make do with just once a year and we normally go with every October.  Except September and October weren't really the time for a big trip this year.  So a week before the vacation was supposed to begin I had to call and cancel.  Reschedule a trip that had been planned for 6 months, cancel pre-paid party tickets and dining reservations and all kinds of complicated stuff.  And they couldn't have been more wonderful.  They were kind and efficient and even refunded tickets that really weren't supposed to be refundable with zero fuss.  It was one bright spot in a very difficult time and I'm even more excited to go on that rescheduled trip next month.

What non-bookish things did you love in 2019?

Books from the Backlog - The Daughter of Time

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Blurb:  Scotland Yard Inspector Alan Grant is intrigued by a portrait of Richard III. Could such a sensitive face actually belong to a heinous villain — a king who killed his brother's children to secure his crown? Grant seeks what kind of man Richard was and who in fact killed the princes in the tower.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf: I've read this one before but it's been years.  I found a pretty copy awhile ago at a used bookstore and I've been craving classic mysteries lately so it feels like the time.