Blooper! Last week, this post accidentally published itself one week early (I swear it did it all by itself). If you are a subscriber (thank you!), my sincere apologies for the dead link you received. Without further ado, here is the post — hopefully with a live link this time!
Christmas Reads
For a quick review of my books read for 2022, let’s begin in December – specifically with my Christmas reads. I had meant to do more holiday-themed reading than I did, but other books kept jumping the cue. Other than Jenny Colgan’s ‘The Christmas Bookshop,’ my holiday reads were a disappointment this year. Luckily the books that kept butting in made up for this.
The Christmas Bookshop, Jenny Colgan
My Rating: 4.5 (Goodreads 3.8, Amazon 4.3)
My Review: This is a warm, cozy, picturesque read. It was all that I hoped it would be (and more)! Read more here.
Christmas, Criminals & Campers, Tonya Kappes
My Rating: 2.5 (Goodreads 3.95, Amazon 4.5)
My Review: Despite her late start in writing, the author, Tonya Kappes, has written over 180 novels. This helped put the book in perspective for me. Read more here.
100 Facts About Traditions and Christmas Around the World, Eva Logerty
My Rating: 2 (Goodreads 1.50, Amazon 3)
My Review: This book read like a student essay. Sadly, much more tweaking and editing were needed. Read more here.
The December Buttinskies
The Book of Hope, J. Goodall, D. Abrams
My Rating: 5 (Goodreads 4.22, Amazon 4.7)
My Review: I needed this jolt of Jane — soothing, calm and straight-shooting. Read more here.
The Old Man and the Sea,
Ernest Hemmingway
My Rating: 5 (Goodreads 3.80, Amazon 4.5)
My Review: A beautifully written book with lots to say that can be read in a single sitting. Read more here.
This Time Tomorrow, Emma Straub
My Rating: 5 (Goodreads 3.83, Amazon 4.1)
My Review: When her father became seriously ill, Emma Straub began to write a story to help deal with her grief. The finished result skillfully nudges the reader to contemplate what is most important in their life: Read more here.
One Sip at a Time, K. Van Sickle:
My Rating: 4 (Goodreads 3.73, Amazon 4)
My Review: Van Sickle will make you long to board the next plane to France — at least he did for me. Read more here.
Happy Go-Lucky, David Sedaris
My Rating: 3.5 (Goodreads 4.24,Amazon 4.6)
My Review: Highs and lows. At times, I felt captive to Sedaris’ self-analysis and therapy. Read more here.
What I Read This Past Year – A Visual Summary
62 books read, 17,546 pages. Shortest book: What Peace Means, Longest Book: Bleak House (1,017 pages). Average Book Length: 282 pages. Most read and shelved by others: Pride and Prejudice (6,366,733 times). My average rating: 4.1.
What’s On Your Bookshelf – Dates for 2023
Third Thursday, 2 pm (PST)/Third Friday, 8 am (AEST).
January 19/20, February 16/17, March 16/17, April 20/21, May 18/19, June 15/16, July 20/21, Aug 17/18, Sept. 14/15, Oct 19/20, Nov. 16/17 and Dec.14/15.
Over to You
What’s been on your bookshelf lately? How was your year in books? We’d love for you to share. Jo, Debbie, Sue & Donna.
Retirement Reflections 
Wow! You read a lot of books! Very impressive!
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Thanks, Kate – My apologies for the posting blooper! 😀
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I’m impressed. I don’t think I’ve read 62 books in 10 years.
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Hi, Frank – Thank you for dropping by and for your kind words. I’m like that with movies. When reviewing lists of the greatest movies of all time, my husband has usually seen the vast majority while I have seen very few. 😀
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Good morning, Link is broken….
Judy Stavisky, MPH, M.Ed Author of In Plain View: The Daily Lives of Amish Women Order at your local book shop or here: https://bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/
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Hi, Judy – My sincere apologies for teh broken link. Thank you so much for dropping by to let me know. I greatly appreciate it.
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There’s a couple on here that I need to add to my TBR – I’ve never read any Ernest Hemingway and really should rectify that. Jane Goodall’s Hope is something out of my reading comfort zone, but could just be the tonic I need.
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Hi, Jo – The Book of Hope is also available as an audiobook. As it is in interview/discussion format, I believe it works particularly well that way. Also, Jane’s voice makes a very positive difference.
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You read some amazing books. I’m glad you clarified the link as I thought I had done something wrong. Added mine.
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Thanks, Darlene!
The broken link error was definitely mine — although my WordPress often seems to have a mind of its own! 😀
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Hi Donna your books read in December have fantastic covers. I read The Old Man and The Sea many years ago and loved it. I have This Time Tomorrow on my kindle but not sure if I’m strong enough for it. I’ve put The Christmas bookshop on my list for December. It’s great having #whatsonyourbookshelf back in 2023
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Hi, Jennifer – Thank you for commenting. I found This Time Tomorrow to be very sensitively written, with much positivity. If you do decide to read it I think that you will enjoy it.
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Hi Donna it is great to start 2023 with our first #WOYBS link up. I enjoyed The Christmas Bookshop December 2021 and actually didn’t read as many Christmas themed books in December as I had hoped to. I’ve marked This Time Tomorrow to read as it ties in nicely with my WOTY ‘Time’. I’ve never read Hemmingway so would like to add the Old Man and the Sea to my list. Thank you as always for your guidance and reviews. I value your thoughts and ideas.
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Hi, Sue – This Time Tomorrow is a fun read that also makes you think. It has lots to say about ‘time’ so it definitely is great to go with your WOTY. As a bonus, you can use it for Prompt #42 of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks (Time in the Title)! 😀
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Fabulous reading year! By the way, The Old Man and the Sea is one of my husband’s favorite books….I need to read it myself! Thanks for the inspiration. Happy 2023 reading!
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Hi, Carol – Thank you so much for dropping by. If you have never yet read The Old Man and the Sea – I highly recommend it. It is beautifully written, has much to say and can be read in a single sitting.
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What a great recap Donna, you’ve certainly read some great books and your rating system tells us a lot! You’re always honest and genuine in your reviews which I know I value a lot. Thanks for being a wonderful co-host, we’d be lost without your expertise and knowledge!
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Hi, Debbie – You are exceptionally kind! Your Year in Books was very inspiring. I love cohosting with you (and with the others of course)!
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You are a voracious reader. I average about 1 book/month. I’m still working on Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything and vow to finish it! It reminds me of how much there is to know and how much is uncertain. Some books were disappointments. Willie Nelson never disappoints. Wintering gave some insights about wintering both figuratively and literally. Books read in 2023:
Tangled Lives by Hilary Boyd
Wintering by Katherine May
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh
Willie Nelson’s Letters to America by Turk Pipkin
Sisters of The Great War by Suzanne Feldman
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Taste by Stanley Tucci
Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton & James Patterson
Lady Rancher by Gertrude Minor Roger
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn w/ George Vecsey
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Hi, Mona – I love your list of books read – especially all of the Bill Bryson books! From your list I have read Becoming (I liked but didn’t love it) and Taste (I was surprisingly disappointed). I’ve had Willie Nelson’s Letters unread on my shelf for so long that I have almost forgotten about it. Thank you for the reminder! I hope that all is well with you.
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An impressive number of books… I see one that I also read last year (Thich Nhat Hanh, “Peace in Every Step”) . I supposed his death lead many to seek out his writings.
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Thank you for dropping by. I had not realized that Thich Nhat Hanh had died. (I swear that I live under a rock). Last year, I was reading widely on the topic of peace so Hanh’s work was a perfect fit. It left a very lasting impression.
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I read The Christmas Bookshop last Christmas and thought it was so cute!
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Hi, Joanne – I went on the recommend of other bloggers, including you, for The Christmas Bookshop. It was just as you had described and a perfect holiday read!
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I didn’t see many books we shared, but one I wish I’d read. I love Jane Goodall. I’ve read most of her books, missed this one.
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Hi, Jacqui – I love it when friends and I read completely different kinds of books. I have learned a great deal that way. I do highly recommend Jane Goodall’s Book of Hope. It is especially wonderful in audiobook form as Jane’s physical voice adds so much.
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I’ve heard her in interviews and her voice is soothing, maybe learned from all the time talking to the chimps.
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Jane’s voice is very soothing and gently commands your attention.
Jane often credits her ritual of having a tiny shot of whisky each night as soothing her vocal chords. Jane and her Mum shared a ‘wee dram’ each evening when she was home. When Jane was traveling, she and her mom raised a glass to each other at 7 pm wherever she was in the world.
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Hi Donna, Interesting about the Christmas-themed books and your reviews. Always fun to read a variety of genres. I will put Jane Goodall’s book on my reading list. I listened to her recently on a podcast and she is a wise, intelligent woman. I love your description “straight-shooting.” Books about grief and death are in my recent radar, especially when they teach me how to live. I will add this book to my list. David Sedaris books continue to arrive in my elibrary holds, yet I continue to postpone reading them.
I am constantly reading books, and I jot down gems/life-changing words. I greatly admire you for writing reviews and I know they make a difference to the authors and the readers. Thank you for sharing, Donna. I bookmarked your post. ❤️
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Hi, Erica – It is wonderful to hear from you. I’ve missed you! As I mentioned to Jacqui above, I HIGHLY recommend Jane’s Book of Hope – especially in audibook form. The sound of her distinct voice adds so much.
I have found that David Sedaris’s recent books have been less funny with a harder edge — more curmudgenly. But then again, perhaps the curmudgen is me! 😀
Sending big hugs to you, Chuck and your family.
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“The December Buttinskies” LOL! Looking forward to your 2023 Year in Books, especially as we’ll be reading (and discussing!) some of them together in our book club.😁
Deb
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Glad that you caught that!
I am super excited about our upcoming real/reel discussions!
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I got a little behind with my reading last year, but I’m off to a good start so far this year with 3 books read already.
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Life can definitely get in the way of our reading time.
Three books so far in 2023 is awesome!
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That’s a lot of books! I’ve read a few of them, but I appreciate the tips for the others you enjoyed. I love David Sedaris, but I always prefer to listen to him read his books since his voice and inflections are half the fun.
By the way, I received your blooper publish alert last week, but not the one for this post. Hmmmmm…..
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Hi, Janis – That was the same blooper alert. This post accidentally published a full week ahead of the linkup. I quickly pulled it down but then, unfortunatey, subscribers all received a deadlink. 😦
I agree that many of David Sedaris’s pieces may be better on audio.
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Lots of variety in your reading list! I’m curious to know what you thought of Nomadland. I started it and couldn’t get into it.
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Hi, Janet – Someone asked me a month or two ago what was one of my favourite books I had read so far that year. Without hesitation, I said Nomadland. I also watched the movie, and although it was slightly different from the book, I also found it to be very powerful.
One of my favourite things about books is that someone’s true treasure is someone else’s disappointment — with no right or wrong.
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Donna, congratulations on a great year of reading and you’ve given me lots to add for this year! First and foremost the Jane Goodall book! Seasonal books can be a bit of hit and miss, I’ve found!
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Hi, Annika – Thank you for dropping by! I’m delighted that you found some books here that you might enjoy. And double yes to Jane Goodall’s Book of Hope. I found that to be a very powerful read!
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You read a nice range of books, Donna, including the Christmas “buttinskies” as you cleverly put it! It’s always fun to add a seasonal read or two to the pile! Jane Goodall’s book and Hemingway’s look amazing–have to check them out for myself.
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Hi, Terri – Thanks so much for dropping by. I recommend both Jane’s Book of Hope and Hemmingway’s Old Man and the Sea. They are both wonderful reads!
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Dpnna, the book that caught my eye would have to be One Sip at a Time by K. Van Sickle. Any book that transports the reader is worth a look. A book about grief is so hard to read when it is most needed; funny how that happens though it can be reflected on at a later stage. I am on my second book for the year. I must do a blog post on books read soonish.
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Hi, Susanne- It is wonderful to hear from you. The Van Stickle book is a light, quick and enjoyable read. Although set in a different country (and continent) to where we were expats, reading about the author’s ‘foreigner in a foreign land’ experience brought back fond memories. Sending warm hugs your way!
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