Reading this Year

What did I read this year?

Having come back to the book store for well over five months, I've got a good chance to restock on my reading, from all angles and get into the good stuff I may miss when one is away from a litany of literature.

In the start of this year I jumped into a book called Being Caribou. It follows a couples journey alongside the caribou of the North West Territories and the Yukon. It is their honey moon and a journey into better understanding the wild creatures and their habits while coming to terms with being human in a truly wild land.

On the trail of this book was a 6 part series started and chosen completely based on the cover of the book Dragon Champion. They were fun, Watership Down-esq tales around three dragon siblings, who face a violent trauma in their formative years, resulting in different paths, different lives and different out looks on the world. All three siblings were in their own way captivating and interesting. They were fun, and the final book still sits in my to be read pile!

After this I delved into a Linda Howard book. Sometimes the premise of Romantic Suspense books intrigue me. One of hers, called Prey, about a bear and a murderer hunting people through the woods was fun, and just spicy enough. I don't remember the name of the one I read on the plane to Scotland but by gum was it dumb. Plot holes galore. Contrived and lacking in so many respects. Such are romance novels for me sometimes. It was just too plot hole filled and unrealistic.

After this, I discovered I had a heap of books waiting to great me over yonder. I could have read some of my Viking History books, but instead I ordered a copy of Gloryland, by Shelton Johnson. This book came to me after watching a documentry in which the author was there speaking with such proficient prolific-ness that I needed to know more about him. Of course I found his only book a read it. What a wonderful book and indeed my favourite book of the year. Profound, thought provoking. An adventure through the mind of someone suffering from the trauma of youth, growing again into a man in the wilds of a National park.

After this I plucked from the internet, an audio book. I had some spare time on my hands, being a house wife and decided to do some sewing projects, so I made a stuffed elephant while listening to Stephen King's Drawing of Three. Part of the Dark Tower series, it was a great listen. A twisted adventure. Long live the King.

Between Stephen King, I read a book called People of the Lakes, by  Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear. This book is part of a larger series, circling around Native American Culture in North America. Both authors are well researched and while I did enjoy the others by them, they weren't as fun as this. It’s a journey and one really falls in love with the characters, especially those who end up in the canoe. Because I'm from the areas around where they're describing, it really strikes me visually, and wonder about the pre-Colombian world of North America.

What did I read after this? Not much if I am to be honest. I struggled part way through a bio of John Muir, and read some science things from Randal Monroe, but nothing leapt out to me. It’s the prblem with reading a string of great novels, then looking for more greatness. It's not always there.

Eventually I returned to Canada, where I found fresh flesh in the book store. Anthony Bourdain. I read his Kitchen confidential in completion. It was a great read. I learn a lot about Kitchens and they were a good series. He's a great writer, channeling some dark demon writers. If he's that good a writer, I'd love to try some of his cooking.

I did read a young adult book called 21 Balloons. That was a fun kids read. One of those ones I wish I had read as a kid.

I had a few trip ups after that. I couldn't seem to sink my teeth into much of anything. Name of the Wind, The Wastelands, Sibir, Dragonshadow and still the stinking Muir Biography. I do want to finish Name of the Wind and Sibir, but I think King will have to fall and Muir will look nice on the book shelf.

Finally I picked up a book called Golem and the Jinni, by Helen Wecker. It was good. It was nice to be immediately pulled into good writing, for something so refreshing. Again great writing.

The last book I've read was Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. I've always prefered the Watch and Witch series by him. Of course it was interesting but just couldn't sink my teeth into it.

Want to know what's in my to read pile before I ship off for Scotland?

Kingdom For Sale: Sold! - Terry Brooks

True Grit - Charles Portis  

Storm Front - Jim Butcher

ExHeroes - Peter Clines

Loamhedge - Brian Jaques

Dragon Fate  - E.E Knight

The Family Fang - Kevin Wilson

This feels like a lot…