Reading in 2024
My reading was way down this year (61) compared to last (93) and I just barely made my reading goal of 60 books on Goodreads. Glancing over my list, I see that it was a mixed bag. I read a few books that I loved but I also read quite a few that I didn't really enjoy. However, if I am not enjoying a book by the third chapter, I give it up. Life is too short and there are too many books.
It looks like I did not read as many gardening books as I usually do but I read more fiction than usual.
My favorite book of the year was North Woods by Daniel Mason which I read last winter. It is about the generations of people that live in a specific house in the New England woods. The first two chapters were difficult to get through (the writing styles vary with each chapter) but it picks up quickly and I couldn't put it down.
Here is my complete list and dates that I finished the book. I've starred my favorites.
Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong by Katie Gee Salisbury (1/7/24)
On Elizabeth Taylor by Matthew Kennedy (1/8/24)
*I Was a Teenage Monster Hunter by Sam Irvin (1/10/24) - This guy was me as a kid! It was a bit uncanny. However, I didn't have his drive and ambition.
Love As Always, Esmerelda - Corresponding with Patsy Ruth Miller
by Jeffrey Carrier (1/10/24)
by Jeffrey Carrier (1/10/24)
Outlive - The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Amis (1/20/24) - Kind of perplexed as to why this book is so popular. It is basically a rehash of basic principles that you hear about over and over again. The author comes across as rather arrogant. I didn't like it!
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1/20/24) - Another surprise - I was prepared to be absorbed but ended up being disappointed. I like the 1945 film with Hurd Hatfield and Angela Lansbury and it has gothic elements that appeal to me.
But it was the verbose character of Lord Henry that drove me to distraction. Ugh!
A Guide to Medieval Gardens by Michael Brown (1/23/24)
Capote's Women by Laurence Leamer (1/26/24)
*Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (1/30/24)
Moving Pictures by Ali McGraw (2/3/24)
The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden by Stacey Tornio (2/14/24)
*Hollywood Pride by Alonso Duralde (2/17/24)
*North Woods by Daniel Mason (2/18/24) - my favorite book of the year.
*Stars in my Eyes by Don Bachardy (2/20/24) - Bachardy is an artist and was the partner of Christopher Isherwood. He has drawn portraits of practically every Hollywood star and here he shares stories behind the sessions. Very enlightening and unfortunately totally tarnished my image of Joan Fontaine!
Other People's Gardens by Christopher Lloyd (2/25/24)
Wild: The Life of Peter Beard by Graham Boynton (2/28/24) - yikes, what an
unpleasant person!
La Foce: A Garden Landscape in Tuscany by Benedetta Origo (2/29/24)
Salem's Lot by Stephen King (3/4/24) This was a re-read. I first read it as a teen when I was a huge fan of King. This time I didn't care for it at all and thought it was ponderous. Worse, it is very homophobic.
Billy Summers by Stephen King (3/10/24) - Trying to give King a second chance but wasn't overly impressed with this one either. Hard to believe that back in the day he was my favorite author. We change!
*Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin (3/14/24) - One of my favorite films and, just as I had heard, Roman Polanski followed the book meticulously when he made the film.
*Cutting Back: My Apprenticeship in the Gardens of Kyoto by Leslie Buck. (3/18/24) -
In preparation for my Japan trip, this book was recommended by our tour organizer. I thought it was wonderful and had a lot to say about women working in a male- dominated field in Japan.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager (3/28/24) - Forced myself to finish this and another indicator that I don't jive with popular opinions (and you can't trust Goodreads reviews to find good books).
The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans (4/2/24)
Affective Memories by Laurence Luckinbill (4/14/24)
*The Mommie Dearest Diary: Carol Ann Tells All by Rutanya Alda (5/11/24)
*With Love, Mommie Dearest: The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic by Ashley A. Hoff (5/17/24) - The movie is one of my guilty pleasures, can you tell?
The Northwest Gardens of Lord and Schryver by Valencia Libby (5/29/24)
The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin Dunne (6/26/24)
Children of the Night by Dan Simmons (8/8/24)
Starmaker: David O. Selznick and the Production of Stars in the Hollywood Studio System by Milan Hain (8/13/24)
Starmaker: David O. Selznick and the Production of Stars in the Hollywood Studio System by Milan Hain (8/13/24)
Leave Her to Heaven by Ben Ames Williams (8/20/24) - Here is a case of the movie being far superior to the book. This one was a big bestseller in its day though.
The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek (8/23/24)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (8/30/24)
*The Tree Collectors by Amy Stewart (9/5/24) - My favorite gardening book this year. Fascinating, entertaining and beautiful book. Amy Stewart is such a great writer, very perceptive and at times, quite humourous.
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (9/8/24)
*The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing (9/20/24) - Beautifully written with part garden, part social commentary. I wanted more gardening and less social commentary though.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R.A. Dick (9/22/24) - One of my favorite films and the novel is a pleasant read.
Becoming Ted by Matt Cain (9/23/24)
More Papers From The Potting Shed by Charles Elliot (9/25/24)
*None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (9/28/24)
Legends in the Garden by Linda Copeland (10/2/24)
*Affinity by Sarah Waters (10/3/24) - Love, love this woman's writing!
*The Fifth Woman by Henning Mankell (10/6/24)
*The Feather Thief by Kirk Johnson (10/8/24)
*Stoner by John Williams (10/9/24)
In A Green Shade by Allen Lacy (10/10/24)
*Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (10/14/24) - Long on my list of classics to read and I enjoyed it.
The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell (10/30/24)
*The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (11/2/24)
The Art of the Japanese Garden by David Young (11/3/24)
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell (11/17/24)
Be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten (11/24/24)
*The Return of the Dancing Master by Henning Mankell (11/26/24)
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (11/27/24)
Plants for the Winter Garden by Warren Leach (12/5/24)
*Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (12/10/24)
50 Oscar Nights by Dave Karger (12/12/24)
Potted and Pruned by Carol Michel (12/12/24)
*Dark City Dames by Eddie Muller (12/17/24)
Buster Keaton by James Curtis (12/26/24)
And I thought I was doing well as just under one book a week!
ReplyDeleteI get more reading done in the winter months and usually have more than one book going at a time. I'm doing good to get one in during the gardening season, sometimes not even one per week.
DeleteInteresting list! I didn't track my reading for a long time, but started again for 2023 and was very displeased at my number- but I'm strict in interpretation. I only "allow" myself to count books I have completely finished. Anything I only partially read I don't count. So I set a higher goal of 100 for 2024. I only made it to 91, but that's still much better. I'm setting the same goal for 2025. Some things you read this year are on my list to read for 2025. I was too far down the library hold list on a few. Still waiting! Looking forward to Amy Stewart! I'm going to add "North Woods" as well, it sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a garden book club? I think I'd really enjoy something like that-even if virtual. If you know of one, please share!
I didn't see your earlier lists, so this may be a late recommendation (I may go hunt for them later.) Have you read "Miss Wilmott's Ghosts" by Sandra Lawrence? It's a biography of Ellen Willmott and very interesting.
91 sounds good to me, that is about what I did last year. I only count what I finish as well. I probably started about 10 books this year that I put aside. I didn't add those to the list. I do know of a local (Portland) group and will try to find the information for you. I would like to read the Ellen Willmott book. I will add that one to my list. Are you on Goodreads? It helps me keep track of what I've read, otherwise I could not have done it here.
DeleteI used to use Goodreads but haven't for a long time. I don't know if my account still exists. I got tired of the rating and the need to do mini reviews. I was always behind. I've also heard there can be a bully/cancel culture with reviews there and don't want to be part of that. Recently I've just been using a simple list app to write down title and author.
DeleteI like the 100 book goal because it's enough but not unreachable. Pre-internet I read more, but with all the internet reading I do (hi! ) I'm pretty sure aiming for what I used to churn through is unrealistic. I'm quite local to you, PDX is potentially do-able.
"Long time listener, first time caller" of your terrific blog, Phillip. Thank you for the wonderful tips and photos over the years. We moved to the PNW about the same time you did though from a different part of the country. North Woods was my favorite book read this year and I even sent copies to siblings. We ran around a similar NE woods as children and speculated about the history of long abandoned rock walls and remnants of the human and animal dwellings we discovered. Yes, the 1st couple of chapters are a little disconcerting written with some of the vernacular and style of the time. It wasn't exactly what I had hoped for but still fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI try not to set specific number of books per year but make it a habit to read from one every day. The only one I quit this year was excellent Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis and that was because the true events described, the transition after the 2016 election, were about to be repeated. I try to avoid horror stories.
Thank you Kate! It is nice to hear from another lover of "North Woods". I like some horror fiction but I too shy away from real-life horror.
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