I remember reading this article about Nina Sankovitch in 2009 about her year of reading which included 365 books. The envy I felt was keen. The desire I felt was certain. I wanted to read 365 books in a year. It is an Everest of an accomplishment for those of us with the inclination. As the pandemic has stretched on and my need for a Covid conscious life persists I have found myself reading more and more for fun, aided by the end of graduate degree schooling, and Libby (an app connected to my local public library) which delivers books to my phone and e-reader with ease. Throw in the audiobook format and all of the elements have coalesced to deliver my reading year. It is currently the middle of June and I am at the 300 book mark already. This makes me more likely to hit the 365 mark, but I will not be certain until it happens. Just like summiting Everest you never know what the next step will bring. If I reach 365 books this summer, then who knows? Perhaps I will extend my reading goal even further for the years end. My rules for the challenge are: It's a book if it has an ISBN. Children's books count. Audio books count. (If you don't think so I encourage you to investigate ableist bias.) I can read series. I can re-read favorites. I only read books six days a week (one day off). Here are some of the best books I have read since January: Learned from Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica Guzmán Both of these books address the shaping power of language. Book Club How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell This book has great content for discussion regarding how we utilize our time and attention. Friends Books Beauty is a Basic Service: Theology and Hospitality in the Work of Theaster Gates by Maria Fee Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art by Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt Great books from friends about how to look at art and what art means in your life, community, the world. Favorite Re-Reads A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers A Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers This beautiful duology poses the important question of "What do humans need?" with immersive world-building. If you are interested in following along with my reading in real time I update with star ratings (and the occasional review) on StoryGraph and goodreads. According to Story Graph the books I read are primarily reflective, emotional, and informative, averaging 275 pages long, with a 60/40 split between fiction and non-fiction. I have put the books mentioned together in a wishlist on Bookshop.org for your ease in learning more. Purchasing books from this site allows you to support independent bookstores even if you don't have one in your area. Did you know that the New York Times bestseller list pro-rates sales from independent shops for their famous bestseller lists? And that new books are published on Tuesdays in the United States because of those lists? And that independent bookstores are cultural hubs for their communities even if no "events" happen there? All that to say there are conglomerate alternatives that have known and unknown impacts. Hope you read something good this week friends!
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