So here is the list of the books read this year. Last Year I read a lot of Terry Pratchet, until I felt I had done everything I wanted to. This year I listened to a bunch of books, but read many as well. With more books on Spotify available on my plan, I listened to two audiobooks at a time and had something on my bed table to read before bed. I almost read as much as I did before Covid, when I had a book for bed, a book for the train, and a book for other times.

This year I have read more Brandon Sanderson and found that he had much the same effect on me as always. Safe fantasy. It’s like watching a Marvel movie. A steady 7/10. But I did listen to other fantasy as well.

It would probably have been wise to record what I thought about these books when I read them, but I didn’t and I just have to write down what I remember about them. Oh well.

These days I feel myself following my mom’s reading pattern. I’ve read so many more biographies now than I did growing up. I read these lives and pick up details to fold into my own writing.

• Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton by Edward Rice

This was my favorite book of the year. Rice recounts the life of Francis Burton, Victorian spy. Reading this book filled my mind with images of dusty cities and men who aren’t supposed to be in them. I highly recommend reading this book, though you will learn about rather disturbing practices in the places he explored.

• The Arms of Krupp by William Manchester

What a book. The Arms of Krupp recounts the history of the weapons manufacturing family. It began with a Mr. Burns type and then quickly devolved into characters each worse than the last. The history of steel and the modern world. Not only did they build weapons, but they made America’s railroads. A particular image that struck me was Alfred Krupp blithely watching the approaching Allied bombers come to try and slow his slave empire. I would listen to this book as I fell asleep some times, which led to a weird feeling as I listened to Nazi war crimes. Fantastic book about evil people.

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

A good book, sure, but I enjoyed it less than Tom Sawyer. Reading the dialects in this book is an experience. Tom Sawyer was a funnier book, but this one had some profound paragraphs that were worth reading the entire book for.

• Mistborn: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
• Mistborn: Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
• Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
• Mistborn: The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

I’ll just review the entire series as one. I enjoyed the second Mistborn series much more than the first, which really lost me in the later books. That said, I felt some characters were very similar to others written in his other series. Enjoyable, but they feel very similar to one another.

• Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

This was a good book. I think I like it better than all but the first two Stormlight books. The world was interesting and the layers of conflict. Good characters and a good plot. Did not feel like other Sanderson stories.

• Before they are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

I read the first book of this series years ago, and so in coming back I ha high expectations. However, I was very disappointed in the resolution of certain story lines. Even the exciting siege was over midway through the book and the characters went on to do nothing interesting. I understand that this is a Grimdark series, but I didn’t think it would be so on the nose. I don’t know if I will read the third. I mean, I probably will, but it will be some time before I do.

• The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

A really liked this book in the beginning, but my interest waned as it went on because of the tonal whiplash. Beautifully written and fun but the wheels fell off by the end. I think it was missing a little bit more heisting.

• The Influence of Seapower Upon History by Alfred T. Mahan

A very old book that changed how people thought about warfare. I learned a lot reading this book. Unfortunately, the latter half is taken up with a recitation of naval battles meant to illustrate the points, but which just sound like an eager schoolboy taking about his favorite battles. I like reading old books and seeing what they have to say about the world at the time, so this was n my wheelhouse.

• The Kiss of Night by Mark Wukas

A book written by my high school English teacher based on his life as a reporter in the eighties. It was a good read, and felt connected to the books he loved teaching. It is a modern book, by which I mean the movement and not a contemporary one. I’m proud of him for getting his book published.

• Mysteries of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill

An interesting history book about the middle ages, which I love, but I think the book fails to deliver on its initial promise. Instead of charting the rise of the modern world through the transitional age, the book talks more about interesting people who made an impact on their world. Interesting little pieces, but not an enthralling history.

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare

I listened to a performance of the play as I find it very difficult to read plays. For some reason they don’t hold my interest. The best part of reading Shakespeare is hearing those phrases that have become world famous and part of our lexicon. I think I would enjoy seeing a performance of the play better than I like the audio version.

Going into next year, I have two goals. To read more American literature such as Steinbeck (who I never read) and to read Greek plays. It just feels right. I’ll see what happens and what I feel, but I imagine there will be more Sci-fi and Fantasy as well as biographies, but who can say.

Thank you for reading,

Michael