what I read in December

penny on January 3, 2019

December saw the annual year end push to see how many books I could finish. I may have stayed up much later than I planned in order to complete Venus of Shadows which was the final book to count for 2018. It brought the total for the year to 200, far more my goal of 52. I’m a strong believer that you will enjoy a book at the right time for you and shouldn’t waste time reading a book you are bored by or hate (unless you’re in school — then I honestly recommend the clif notes option). For this coming year I’ve once again set my reading goal to 52. Why? We never know what the future will bring. One book a week is a reasonable goal for me and how I read.

December Reading List

  1. Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles, #1) by Philip Reeve
  2. Choices (Tales of Valdemar #12) by Mercedes Lackey
  3. The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1) by Liu Cixin
  4. The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent
  5. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
  6. The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
  7. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
  8. Venus of Dreams by Pamela Sargent
  9. Working in the Gig Economy: How to Thrive and Succeed When You Choose to Work for Yourself by Thomas Oppong
  10. The Cat Lover’s Craft Book: Cute and Easy Accessories for Kitty’s Best Friend by Neko Shugei
  11. Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe
  12. The Strategic Storyteller: Content Marketing in the Age of the Educated Consumer by Alexander Jutkowitz
  13. Why We Work (TED Books #9) by Barry Schwartz
  14. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger
  15. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
  16. Venus of Shadows (Venus #2) by Pamela Sargent

List of Book Covers for titles read in December 2018

Recommendations

  • The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
    If you haven’t read this yet, do so. If you really want a treat, listen to the audiobook read by LeVar Burton. I grew up with Mr Rogers and it was wonderful to learn more about this remarkable man.
  • Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe
    I picked this this up at the recommendation of Bill Gates. While I have mixed feelings on the app (I’m on day 6), the book helped me understand meditation and frame it in a way that made sense for me. Turns out I’ve been meditating in my own way for years when I knit, chop vegetables, or go for a run.
  • 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
    I first picked this up as a netgalley. This is a thought provoking book. As I wrote in my review, the lessons found within this title are not conclusive nor are all completely agreeable to all readers. They shouldn’t be. They are springboards for further reflection and points for meditation. This is a remarkable book that helps you understand and think critically about the world today to provide for tomorrow.
  • Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
    This is a book that will help you hone your good habits and make them better, nudge you on ways to break bad ones, and overall improve your life. I wrote more about this book on my pen at work notebook.
  • Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
    This is an adorable book that doesn’t talk down to the reader. While it’s geared toward young readers, I enjoyed reading it and learning about many amazing women. (We’ll skip over that many hadn’t crossed my path before.) The illustrations are stunning.

Next reads

I’m finishing Pamela Sargent’s Venus trilogy and also Julian May’s Saga of the Exiles. There’s an intense queue of Netgalley titles I need to complete and write reviews on in a timely manner. I’m enjoying reading Virtue Signaling and Other Heresies by John Scalzi, The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden, NEW SUNS: Original Speculative Fiction by Poeple of Color Ed. by Nisi Shawl, and How to Fracture a Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen. Today I picked up an early reader copy of No Country for Old Gnomes by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson.

Do one of these titles spark your interest? What are your reading goals for 2019?