Happy New Year, dear Unravelers! I am sorry for the very heavy image laden post today, but there was a lot of reading in 2019!!
My year of knitting was so very good, but honestly… my year of reading might have been a bit better! I did not hit my reading goal, but I read some of the best books this year! Of the 148 books I read – I deemed 58 of them to be “five star” books. Of those 58, these have indelibly changed me: When All Is Said, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, Red at the Bone, Timbuktu, Just Mercy, The Heart’s Invisible Furies, Report from the Interior, The World That We Knew, The Nickel Boys, Grief is a Thing with Feathers, and The Dutch House. These eleven books are books I cannot stop thinking about. Every one of these books still calls to me and I look forward to reading them all again!
The other common theme my reading had this year was how many authors I discovered and then proceeded to try and read as many of their books as I could! John Boyne won the year with 6 novels (many 5-star and one very indelible read: The Heart’s Invisible Furies) Louise Erdrich came in second with 4 of her books on my list, including one indelible: The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse. Nineteen authors all had multiple titles in my year of reading – I have learned that a good writer is sometimes a prolific writer!
2019 was the year of social justice or at least my efforts to learn more about how to be a good ally, an educated citizen, and not just a “watcher from the sidelines!” Nineteen of the books I read this year helped to educate me about many things from the Mueller Report, to White Privilege, to the Whistle-Blower Complaint and even a book about Global Warming. Being an informed ally is important to me but all this reading has shown me how much I still must learn, so you can expect to see more of this kind of reading in 2020.
My standby of a good mystery was reinforced with seventeen novels read in 2019 and most of these were parts of ongoing series with characters that I have come to know and love deeply. These books are the best therapy on earth for me! A few pages in and I am off on a journey to figure out who did it and how will it all come together!
And, finally I listened to 88 books this year – a significant number and I am so grateful to my library for having so many audio book choices!
And, in case you think I have done no knitting… I got a Sweater Quantity of yarn for Christmas from Steve and almost immediately cast on a Felix Cardigan – the body is almost done and sleeves are up next – this will be my first finish of 2020! I love the yarn color (Galaxy) it is black, but not quite with a purple-ish, teal-ish hue. I spent an hour after dinner last night learning the sewn tubular bind off – I think Steve has it memorized too from me saying it out loud over and over and over and over. Hahaha!
That is all I have for today! If you wrote a post to share today, please leave your link below and thank you!
I am tempted with the felix sweater….just saying. However I would have to add a few more inches to the length. Happy New Year! May your 2020 be filled with lots of reading and knitting as well as good health and happiness.
That is some very impressive reading! Steve has some very good taste in yarn and I think your Felix will fast become a staple of your wardrobe.
Here’s to new year of knitting and reading!
That’s a lot of reading to summarize – I’m glad you had so many books that you truly loved.
Oh yes, Felix the sweater has been on my radar too though my sweater-knitting has not always come out as expected. Try, try again . . . it’s a new year, right?
Thank you Kat for the last year of blogging, you book suggestions have been so good. Last year I also gave out more 5 stars on Goodreads than other years. A good book is to be cherished!
Happy new year to everyone.
You’ve read so very much and so many good books! That is quite an accomplishment, and I do wish we lived closer so we could talk about some of them in person. Wishing you a 2020 filled with good books, good yarn, and plenty of time to read and knit!
I agree with Bonny! We would have so much to discuss! 2019 was a fabulous year for books and I have a feeling 2020 is going to be better. I read as many as you (90), but that was mostly due to convalescing. Many of your titles will be added to my TBR. Here’s to another fabulous year of knitting and reading!
WOW! That is some impressive reading Kat. And, so many Excellent books! Felix is looking lovely (Steve did VERY well in the gift department). Happy New Year! I don’t seem to be able to link up today (gggrrrrrrr home laptop), but I did post!
You must read like lightning to inhale 148 books, not to mention 88 audiobooks! So many good ones, too. Here’s wishing you a 2020 filled with books and knitting (and a new president)!
I am slowly going through this post to add titles to my list! 🙂
Felix looks beautiful. Such pretty yarn. Happy New Year and happy new decade. Here is to more adventures in reading and knitting.
You had a GREAT year of reading, Kat! So many good books there. 🙂 I love the yarn. What a lovely color! Happy New Year.
CONGRATS! You have had quite a wonderful year between the covers of the books. And the knitting and other stitching and especially the learning!
I applaud you and had I a magic wand, I’d wave to add a lot more Kats in this world.
Thank you for all you do.
Cheers~
Holy cow – what a post! I have so many authors I need to visit now – thank you! I’ve been meaning to get to Louise Erdrich and John Boyne for a while now. By the way, you LISTENED to more books than I READ last year. You’re amazing!! I’m inspired.
Love that sweater – can’t wait until I see it finished!
Happy New Year!!
Wow- all that reading! Good for you and it’s always great when you feel like your reading made you a better person. Not just fluff!
oh my what FABULOUS year in reading you had!! I love how you looked for the trends in what you read and totally plan to borrow that idea for 2020 (one of my IG friends found trends in her reading in terms of place – lots of Asia, Missoula (MT – I KNOW??!!), Italy – and topic (she read 3+ books with themes of Physics, Walking and Arson) and I’m thinking wow, I need to pay more attention to those things this year 🙂 ALSO yay for your latest cast on – I LOVE my Felix – and the sewn tubular bindoff. I must admit, it’s one of my two favorites now (and it makes finishing the toes of socks feel like a cakewalk … I find it quicker to just kitchener them now instead of putting those few stitches onto holders) HAPPY 2020!!
Happy New Year! That is so wonderful you read so much in 2019!