A year of slow reading: 2023
This past year, I didn’t read much. More precisely, I didn’t finish much. I read slowly. In two cases, I read from long works and collections I know I won’t finish anytime soon; I’ve been working through the Arabian Nights, which is both fascinating and long. And in a year of medical issues, of finally (finally) working again and getting help sorting out situations I was dealing with (don’t ask), sometimes I simply didn’t want to read. But then I’d miss it, find something I could read, and work through it, remembering why I’ve been a lifelong major reader.
I’ll read more again. Almost certainly more than the 15 (15!) books and book-length works I read since last New Year’s.
January
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - John Hughes, draft dated 5/22/1986
Sandworms of Dune - Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2007, from notes by Frank Herbert
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer - J. Michael Straczynski, 2021
Thuvia, Maid of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1920. Book 4 of his Mars series.
February
Foundation - Isaac Asimov, 1951
March
Remote Control - Nnedi Okorafor, 2020
Going There - Katie Couric, 2021
Foundation and Empire - Isaac Asimov, 1952
April
Second Foundation - Isaac Asimov, 1953
The Godfather - Mario Puzo, 1969
May: no book finished
June
Han Solo at Star’s End - Brian Daley, 1979
July
Death of an Expert Witness - P.D. James, 1977
August
Chesapeake Blue - Nora Roberts, 2002. Book 4 of the Chesapeake Bay Saga.
September
The Collected Jorkens, Vol. 2 - Lord Dunsany. Stories originally published 1935-1949. Collection published 2004.
October and November: no book finished
December
Sphere - Michael Crichton, 1987
I’ll read more again. Almost certainly more than the 15 (15!) books and book-length works I read since last New Year’s.
January
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - John Hughes, draft dated 5/22/1986
Sandworms of Dune - Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2007, from notes by Frank Herbert
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer - J. Michael Straczynski, 2021
Thuvia, Maid of Mars - Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1920. Book 4 of his Mars series.
February
Foundation - Isaac Asimov, 1951
March
Remote Control - Nnedi Okorafor, 2020
Going There - Katie Couric, 2021
Foundation and Empire - Isaac Asimov, 1952
April
Second Foundation - Isaac Asimov, 1953
The Godfather - Mario Puzo, 1969
May: no book finished
June
Han Solo at Star’s End - Brian Daley, 1979
July
Death of an Expert Witness - P.D. James, 1977
August
Chesapeake Blue - Nora Roberts, 2002. Book 4 of the Chesapeake Bay Saga.
September
The Collected Jorkens, Vol. 2 - Lord Dunsany. Stories originally published 1935-1949. Collection published 2004.
October and November: no book finished
December
Sphere - Michael Crichton, 1987