2024 Reading Challenge

Okay, so this is a year overdue, but I only realized now that I never posted a summary for my 2024 reading list, which I really enjoy doing. 

First, a few stats:  

Total books read in 2024:  50

70% were fiction

38% of the novels were middle-grade (the consequences of working at a library and seeing so many great books in the children's section)

Again, one of my biggest non-fiction categories was Grand Canyon books, followed closely by history/bio/memoir, animals, and language/writing.

Best/most memorable books: (And because I'm writing this in 2026, these book really stood out for me)

How Can I Help You? by Laura Sims.  Slow-burn thriller taking place mostly in a library.

The Last Human, by Lee Bacon.  Middle-grade science fiction with reluctant friendships.

It Happened at Grand Canyon, by Todd R Berger.  Interesting non-fiction accounts of specific events through history at the Grand Canyon.

The Last One, by Will Dean.  A cruise ship where everyone has disappeared.  A great survival thriller until it sort of went off the rails.  

Five Epic Disasters, by Lauren Tarshis.  Very readable non-fiction disaster tales for kids.

49 Miles Alone, by Natalie D. Richards.  A tense YA survival thriller.

The Secret Language of Birds, by Lynne Kelly.  A warm middle-grade contemporary novel...with birds.

Of a Feather, by Dayna Lorentz.  A warm middle-grade contemporary novel...with birds.  And no, that wasn't a mistake.  I for some reason read these back to back, and enjoyed both.

The Memory Palace, by Nate DiMeo.  Hands down the best book of the year:  short non-fiction accounts of strange historical people or happenings, based on the author's podcast.  

2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge

This year I didn't complete my Goodreads reading challenge goal of 50 books, but I read 33 and listened to 10.

Some interesting book stats:

Fiction was only 60%, the second-lowest percentage since I've been keeping track.  

Of that, about 27% were science fiction or fantasy (mostly fantasy).  Of those, my favorite was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V.E. Schwab, about a young woman who no one can remember once she's out of their sight.  Really cool premise.  I also really enjoyed The Loss of the Burying Ground, by J Anderson Coats, a YA novel of that rare and wonderful genre that's basically historical fiction of a place that never existed--like fantasy with no magic or supernatural elements.   

About 15% were historical fiction.  My favorite was The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn, about a woman and her son who survived the sinking of the Titanic and took the opportunity to escape their old lives.  

Other favorites:

 -Stranded, by Melinda Braun.   A YA survival tale. 

-Tell Me an Ending, by Jo Harkin.  A sci-fi story about people paying to have memories removed.

-None of This is True, by Lisa Jewell.  A creepy sort of women's fiction thriller.

-Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng.  A really well written, character-driven story that takes place just long enough ago to feel not quite contemporary.

-The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett.  Clever and creative comedic fantasy by the king of comedic fantasy.

Nonfiction:

As with most years, the largest percentage (47%) were related to animals.  My favorite was a memoir by a woman who runs an animal rescue farm:  Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals, by Laurie Zaleski.  I also really enjoyed Vanishing Treasures:  A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures, by Katherine Rundell.  

I also read (or listened to) three book about thru-hikes (though they were all larger in scope than just the backpacking):  A Walk in the Park, by Kevin Fedarko (Grand Canyon), The Man Who Walked Through Time, by Colin Fletcher (Grand Canyon), and Wild, by Cheryl Strayed (Pacific Coast Trail).  

Winter Wonderland

January happiness in the Beskydy Mountains in the Czech Republic:

Night Snow

This was from a few weeks ago, walking home from playing games with friends.  I was so happy that the snow was back.  I took a few extra laps of the park just to enjoy it, then did a bit of "sledding" by just sitting down on my long winter coat.  I love snow.  You can see the snow falling as vertical white lines in the picture.  :)

A Wintery True Story of Mine in Short Reads

If you want a heartwarming little tale for Christmas, I have one for you.  It took place near Flagstaff, Arizona, and be warned:  snow is involved.  

Read it here:

"To the Young Couple Building a Snowman on the Aspen Loop" on Short Reads

More Czech Christmas Traditions

Czechs seem to value traditional skills, and put them on display at as sorts of festivals, including Christmas markets.  

Here are a few I've been privileged to watch this season:

Weaving:

Woodcarving:

Whatever they're doing here (planing something, but I couldn't figure out what):

Carding wool:

Spinning:

Baking devil bread in traditional ovens:

Metalworking:

Using sheepdogs:

I love this country!

Just some Christmas Devils

This is one of my favorite Christmastime traditions in the Czech Republic. 

On St. Nicolas' name day (Dec 6), devils wander the streets scaring kids with brooms, cowbells, scary costumes and masks.  But if the kids are brave and can manage to sing a song or recite a poem to one of the accompanying angels, they get gingerbread.  All watched over, of course, by a kindly St. Nick.  

Here's me with one of the devils:

More devils,with a different style costume from a different village:

With St. Nicolas and an angel:

And this really scary one: