Introduction
In the past I had posted this on Facebook, but I have decided to change that moving forward and post it here instead. My annual reading stats are available on Goodreads.
I had been reporting whether I had read the books in ebook, audio book, or dead tree book format but I have decided not to do that anymore because I often read in both dead tree and ebook formats for each book and it is not uncommon for me to add in the audio book format as well so the stat would largely be meaningless today.
Annual Reading Stats for 2019:
Books Read: 22 books – Unchanged from 2018
Pages Read: 8484 – 2% increase from 2018
Reading Enjoyment: 4.12 Average Stars – 5.4% increase from 2018
Not too bad considering I was completing my M.A. until April and began a P.h.D. in August (I have since abandoned the idea as folly and hubris).
Five Favorite Books of 2019
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
I found out about this book from a number of sources but the one that sticks out the most is the review on Gates Notes. It is the best written book I have read in a long time.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
I don’t recall where I found out about this book. The ending was a bit of a let down, but the bulk of the book was more than worth the read. It is a fresh take on generation ships and, to some extent, time travel.
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
I first learned about this in a video that Bill Gates posted in which he and Neal Stephenson drives to Bill’s favorite burger joint and they discuss the book. It was kind of VRish and it was well done. The review and video are on Gates Notes where I get a lot of my book recommendations.
Ottoman Odyssey by Alev Scott
I learned of this book and the next from the New York Times Book Review Podcast and their Summer Reads edition. I am a sucker for travel literature and this one in particular scratches an itch I have for the history of the Ottoman Empire.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
Like the last one, I heard a review of this on the New York Times Book Review Podcast. Aside from Gates Notes, this is my second favorite place to learn about good books.
I read this one in just a couple of days and did it by following the couples path using Google Maps so that I can see some of the landscape as they did. It made it that much more real.