RJ - Slayer of Trolls’s
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RJ - Slayer of Trolls’s
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from the 2025 Reading Challenge group.
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NEW AUTHORS IN 2019It's always fun to find a new author that you enjoy. In 2019 I read several books by authors that were new to me.
AUTHORS I WILL PROBABLY READ AGAIN:
Virginia Woolf (Mrs. Dalloway)
Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon and Red Harvest) (NOTE: I had read some of Hammett's short fiction but none of his novels until 2019)
Jorge Luis Borges (Ficciones)
Margaret Millar (Beast In View)
A.B. Guthrie Jr. (The Big Sky)
John Wyndham (The Day of the Triffids)
Dorothy B. Hughes (In a Lonely Place)
John Wooden (Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court)
John Buchan (The 39 Steps)
John D. MacDonald (Cape Fear AKA The Executioners)
Dorothy L. Sayers (Whose Body?)
Anthony Burgess (Anthony Burgess)
John Dudley Ball (In the Heat of the Night)
AUTHORS I MIGHT READ AGAIN:
Peter S. Beagle (The Last Unicorn)
Joshua Medcalf (Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall In Love With the Process of Becoming Great)
Cornell Woolrich (Night Has a Thousand Eyes)
Bernhard Schlink (The Reader)
William Golding (Lord of the Flies)
Ray Celestin (The Axeman's Jazz AKA The Axeman)
Michael Cunningham (The Hours)
D.G. Compton (The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe)
Wiley Cash (This Dark Road to Mercy)
Michael Shea (A Quest for Simbilis)
Pat Frank (Alas, Babylon)
AUTHORS I WILL PROBABLY NOT READ AGAIN:
Austin Grossman (Soon I Will Be Invincible)
Anne Rivers Siddons (The House Next Door)
That's 27 authors whose work was new to me in 2019 - more than half of the books I read in 2019. And most of those I am willing to read again. It was a great year for discovering authors that I liked! Hopefully that trend continues in 2020.
SHORT STORIES in 2020I try to keep up with the latest SF/F and Mystery "Best Of This Year" anthologies and I'm current with both series. I am going to try to start working on some of the other anthologies and collections I have lying around.
In 2020 I will finish reading these two anthologies/collections:
Best Horror of the Year Volume 10 edited by Ellen Datlow
Fire Watch by Connie Willis
Once those are complete I will move on to reading:
The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2019 Edition edited by Rich Horton
The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 edited by Jonathan Lethem and Otto Penzler
Old Venus edited by George R.R. Martin
The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
In order to stay current with my SF/F and Mystery annual anthologies, I'm not sure if I will make it to the last couple selections listed above or if they will need to be set aside for next year.
2019 in SHORT STORIESI try to have a short story anthology or collection going at all times. Every year I read a SF/F "Best Of The Year" anthology and I also read the latest Best American Mystery Stories anthology. This year I was able to get caught up in both of those series and will read the latest editions just after the new year. In 2020 I also tried the Best Horror of the Year anthology, but I didn't like it enough to pursue future editions.
It should be noted that 4 stars is a pretty good rating for a short story collection or anthology. There are usually some stories that resonate more than others so, unlike a novel, it's hard to have 5-star consistency throughout.
My 2019 Short Story Collection/Anthology of the Year:
The Best American Mystery Stories 2018 edited by Louise Penny and Otto Penzler
Rating: 4 stars
Other short story collections/anthologies I read in 2019:
Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
Rating: 3 stars
Like someone else on GR said, I can't wait until I'm smarter so I can read this again.
The Best American Mystery Stories 2017 edited by John Sandford and Otto Penzler
Rating: 3 stars
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Eleven edited by Jonathan Strahan
Rating: 3 stars
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Twelve edited by Jonathan Strahan
Rating: 3 stars
I also read these books which are short story collections but I included them under the Mystery or Fantasy genres because they are part of a greater series that also includes novels:
His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle - 3 stars
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - 3 stars
The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard - 4 stars
And Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett is a mashup of 4 short stories but since it was published as a novel it was included as such in the Mystery genre.
HORROR in 2020I don't read a lot of horror books. I don't mind the genre but I just don't seem to have much luck finding books I enjoy within the genre. Most horror books seem to have a plot like "OK there's this guy or gal or group of people and then something bad or violent happens the end." I just can't find that very compelling.
For 2020 I'm going to read some more Stephen King books since people seem to like his stuff, and I'm also going to resume the Anne Rice Vampire series, at least for a few volumes, to see if I want to continue with it. Along the way I'll work in some stand-along books by other authors.
So in 2020 I'll keep reading:
The Terror by Dan Simmons
which is outstanding, and when I finish it I'll start reading these books:
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
Imajica by Clive Barker
The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
The Shining by Stephen King
I doubt I will make it through this entire batch of books since several of them are pretty long and I won't rush through them, but this is the order in which I have them teed-up right now. I might slip in another book for a group read if one comes up that I want to join.
2019 in HORRORI don't read a lot of horror books. I'm not squeamish, I just haven't found a lot of books in the genre that interest me.
In 2019 I finished two horror books:
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Rating: 1 star
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
Rating: 2 stars
They were both awful, so I'm not going to name a "Horror Read of the Year" book this year.
I am nearly finished with
The Terror by Dan Simmons
which is excellent and will probably earn a 5-star rating from me. Stay tuned, I'll finish it in early 2020 and I'll share my thoughts then.
FANTASY in 2020Like my Mystery and Science-Fiction reads, the goal is going to be to focus on catching up in my series reads this year without getting too sidetracked. Easier said than done.
In 2020 I will continue reading:
Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
and then I will move on to these books:
Mort by Terry Pratchett
The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
Arm of the Sphinx by Josiah Bancroft
Death's Master by Tanith Lee
The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
2019 in FANTASYSome of my favorite reads of all time have been Fantasy books, but I never seem to read a lot of them. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe because most of them are part of long series that require a large time commitment? Maybe because George R.R. Martin hasn't gotten around to finishing his series due to all of his other time commitments? Or maybe Fantasy is a genre that is best used sparingly, like cinnamon or garlic?
Anyway, here's the Fantasy books I read in 2019.
My 2019 Fantasy Book of the Year:
Stardust: Being a Romance within the Realms of Faerie by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Charles Vess
Rating: 5 stars
Other Fantasy reads:
The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard (which contains the entire text of The Hour of the Dragon also published as Conan the Conqueror, the only Conan novel written by the original series author)
Rating: 4 stars
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
Rating: 4 stars
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Rating: 3 stars
2019 in SCIENCE-FICTIONI read 11 books in this genre this year, but many of them weren't very good.
My 2019 Science Fiction Book of the Year:
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Rating: 4 stars
Other Science Fiction reads:
Crux by Ramez Naam
Rating: 4 stars
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Rating: 4 stars
We Can Build You by Philip K. Dick
Rating: 3 stars
The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe by D.G. Compton
Rating: 3 stars
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
Rating: 3 stars
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
Rating: 3 stars
A Quest for Simbilis by Michael Shea
Rating: 3 stars
For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor
Rating: 2 stars
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
Rating: 2 stars
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
Rating: 1 star
Hopefully 2020 is a better year for this genre for me!
SCIENCE FICTION in 2020I have a ton of Science-Fiction books sitting around on my shelves waiting to be read but I have lost my enthusiasm in this genre over the last several years. The books always seem so promising based on the story ideas, but quite often the story and the writing fail to live up to my expectations, which are getting lower and lower.
My focus this year is finishing off some of the series I am reading then trying to focus on reading some of the better choices in the genre - Philip K. Dick and Neal Stephenson have produced high quality work and I am looking forward to finding some other authors that produce similar quality.
In 2020 I will continue reading:
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
and then I will move on to these books, many of which are the final book in their respective series:
Apex by Ramez Naam
All These Worlds by Dennis E. Taylor
Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Head On by John Scalzi
I really enjoyed this book, not so much for the plot or the characters but more for the beautiful prose which really breathed life into the setting of German-occupied France. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.
Chantal wrote: "For me the book feels slow at times. Things could be quicker on some parts. And who guessed that males had so much conspiracy going on lol"It was a few years back when I read this (18 or 19 years I think) but I also remember thinking that the book dragged in parts, especially the long info dumps about cathedral building.
I'm reading the sequel right now, so I'll officially join that discussion in Feb-Mar if that's OK.
MYSTERY, CRIME. THRILLERS IN 2020For me, in this category, I am focused this year on moving forward with the series I have already started, while also occasionally slipping in new series or standalone books either by an author that is new to me or by someone who I've already read before.
In 2020 I will continue reading:
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming
I should finish that one just after New Year's, at which time I will move on to these books:
A Little Yellow Dog by Walter Mosley
5th in the Easy Rawlins series
The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler
4th in the Philip Marlowe series
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
4th in the John Corey series
The Man Who Risked His Partner by Stephen R. Donaldson
2nd in The Man Who series
A Murder of Quality by John le Carré
2nd in George Smiley series
Origin by Dan Brown
5th in Robert Langdon series. Yes, Dan Brown. Don't judge me.
There will be plenty more in this category since this genre has been a big focus of my reading over the last several years.
2019 in MYSTERY, CRIME, THRILLERSI read 20 books in this category in 2019, by far the biggest category in my readings. I'll list the books in my general order of enjoyment, starting with my Book of the Year which was by no means an easy selection:
My 2019 Mystery/Crime/Thriller Book of the Year:
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
Rating: 5 stars
Other Mystery/Crime/Thriller reads:
In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes
Rating: 5 stars
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett
Rating: 5 stars
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
Rating: 5 stars
Beast in View by Margaret Millar
Rating: 5 stars
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Rating: 4 stars
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett
Rating: 4 stars
In the Heat of the Night by John Dudley Ball
Rating: 4 stars
Garden of Beasts by Jeffery Deaver
Rating: 4 stars
Cape Fear also published as The Executioners by John D. MacDonald
Rating: 4 stars
His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle
Rating: 3 stars
Cari Mora by Thomas Harris
Rating: 3 stars
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
Rating: 3 stars
Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
Rating: 3 stars
Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
Rating: 3 stars
The Axeman by Ray Celestin
Rating: 3 stars
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Rating: 3 stars
Nightfall by David Goodis
Rating: 2 stars
Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Cornell Woolrich
Rating: 2 stars
This Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash
Rating: 2 stars
Ilona wrote: "Thanks for your suggestion, RJ. I moved the Let's Chat folder up to the spot between Twins and Challenges. I can't promise that it will stay there, but at least its more visible now while we have s..."Thank you Ilona!
Well, he made the comment that he'd go to jail if the book wasn't finished by summer 2020 as reported here (link courtesy of Wikipedia): https://mashable.com/article/george-r...That was a response to this clever advertisement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H45DN...
2019 in NON-FICTIONI only read two Non-fiction books this year so it makes my selections easy.
My 2019 Non-Fiction Book of the Year:
Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court by John Wooden and Steve Jamison
Rating: 4 stars
I also read:
Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall In Love With the Process of Becoming Great by Joshua Medcalf
Rating: 3 stars
I think I need to pick up my game in the Non-Fiction category in 2020!
NON-FICTION IN 2020In 2020 I will continue reading:
The Innocents Abroad: Or the New Pilgrim's Progress by Mark Twain
I should finish that one in January at which time I'll move on to these books:
The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho
Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose
Moneyball by Michael Lewis
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco by Bryan Burrough
I might move Moneyball up to follow The Pilgrimage so I can time it with the opening of Spring Training camps. But these are the non-fiction books I plan to get to over the next few months. If a group read book comes up that I'm especially interested in I might join it also.
I do also read books for work, and those are non-fiction books as well. Right now I'm reading:
Fanatical Prospecting: The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations and Filling the Pipeline by Leveraging Social Selling, Telephone, Email, Text, and Cold Calling by Jeb Blount
I should wrap that up sometime in 2020 (I read just a few pages at a time when I'm waiting around in my car for an appointment or something) then I'll probably move on to:
Asking Questions The Sandler Way by Antonio Garrido
Great goals! Good luck and happy reading in 2020 Lisa!
Lisa wrote: "Hey Randy! I always enjoy following along on your thread and discovering what you're reading :)
I hope 2020 brings a lot of great books your way. Best of luck!"
Thank you Lisa!
Hi Mods, I wonder if we could move the "Group Discussions - Let's Chat" discussions a little bit higher on the group main page? With all the 2019 and the 2020 topics right now these discussions are harder to find, but they seem relevant to many of the group members. Maybe we could place them directly above or below the Mod Topics discussions?
Just a suggestion and thanks as always for your hard work! Have a terrific holiday season!
RJ
