I’m -usually- a big reader. Always have been. Was such a bookworm as a kid, I’d sneak books under the covers and read with a flashlight. Got my wife back into reading when we got together. I’ll get so into a book I’ll forego sleep, not looking at the clock so as not to know how little shuteye I’ll get, and stumble thru the following day, satisfied in my conquest. Then in 2020, I only read 11 books, though I did discover podcasts and burned thru those while walking, driving, etc. I blamed the downturn in book consumption on the grief and distractions in my life. But then last year (2021), I only read a handful of books, not even devouring my usual volumes of podcasts. Huh.

Here, chronologically, were the books I read, and those I started, some of which I haven’t entirely given up on, yet.

Circe, Madeline Miller / Fiction / Audible (in progress)

A Promised Land, Barack Obama / Non-fiction / Hardcover & iBooks & Audible (in progress)

Quit Like A Woman, Holly Whitaker / Non-fiction (unfinished)

The Power of Vulnerability, Brené Brown / Non-fiction / Audible

Not My Father’s Son, Alan Cumming / Non-fiction / Audible

Leaving Isn’t The Hardest Thing, Lauren Hough / Non-fiction / Audible

Baggage, Alan Cumming / Non-fiction

The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown / Non-fiction / Hardcover

Unprotected, Billy Porter / Non-fiction / Hardcover & Audible (in progress)

Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone, Diana Gabaldon / Fiction / Hardcover & iBooks & Audible

So I only actually finished SIX books! (And let’s not talk about how many I bought, that languished on shelves or in moving boxes…) Also interesting that I listened to more books than ever…

Anyhow, draw what conclusions you will from either the content or the quantity. My take is that while I often find reading an escape, I was drawn, for various reasons, to books that overwhelmed me, in a year that was already vastly overwhelming. We also sold our forever home, moved across the country to care for my mother-in-law, lost our beloved cat, bought a home with my sister-in-law, nearly lost my dad, oh and survived a global pandemic. Again. I listened to fewer podcasts, and less new music; more old favs, on repeat. I didn’t really even watch much TV. 😩🤷‍♀️

I look forward to reading more this year. So many books on my list.