My 2020 reading habits and books list
The summer months have been warm and the days have been long, much more so since our calendars aren’t as full as they might have been pre-Covid. From a writer’s perspective, the lack of appointments outside the home leaves more time to create stories and from a reader’s perspective, it’s much easier to find time to get lost in books. And these beautiful summer mornings and evenings make reading on the front porch or back patio that much more enjoyable.
During 2019, I read both fiction and nonfiction, when I found the extra time between writing and outside obligations. Overall, I read about 14 fiction books, as well as around 10 nonfiction books. Almost 25 books for the year, or 2 per month, so I guess that’s okay when you consider the average books read in a year is only 12. My favorites from last year include Foreign Deceit by Jeff Carson (and the continuing series), Mean Streak by Sandra Brown, Glass Houses by Rachel Caine (although I haven’t continued on with the series) and Dyeing Season by Karen MacInerney (a cozy series I enjoy). My reading list was complete with a mix of thrillers, mysteries, vampires and cozies.
With the additional free time Covid gave me, I’ve been reading as often as I can, but with the additional time I’ve also had to write, my books read will probably be similar to that of last year. Scratch that, I’m reading more fiction and less nonfiction. So far, for the first seven months of 2020, I’ve read at least 16 fiction novels and not even a handful of nonfiction, but it looks like I’m on track to read close to 30 books in 2020. This year my tastes have been all over the place as I tried new authors (to me): James Herbert, JF Penn, ML Banner, Debra Burnoughs, Linda Keir and Becky Clark, to name a few. Out of that group, I’ve purchased a number of additional books in a couple of series authored by JF Penn that I look forward to reading soon.
I also read books by authors I’ve spent time with before, such as Dean Koontz, Agatha Christie and Laura Childs (thrillers, mysteries and cozies…my go to). And, I finally decided to read the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I didn’t read the books when they were all the rage, even though I’ve always enjoyed vampire novels (Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles will always be my favorite, not to mention her Mayfair Witches series), so I thought I’d use them as an additional distraction. I tend to skim over the teen melodrama when it comes to describing how much Bella adores her vampire and can’t live without him, and I find myself cringing when she refers to his cold, hard…hands and body as something exciting (I expect they left out how cold and hard as stone he is in the movie version when they kissed – it’s just not that romantic). I’m almost done with the third novel and overall I’ve found I enjoy the werewolf over the vampire. Jacob’s humor and attitude are more entertaining to me than Edward’s more serious and sullen disposition. So I guess it would appear I’m team Jacob rather than Team Edward—surprising when I usually prefer vampire characters.
But I digress…as only writers can do.
For the remainder of 2020, my reading list will look something like this:
August
Finish the cozy mystery on my Kindle (currently bed-time reading)
Finish Eclipse (Twilight series) and begin next novel
Read A Beautiful Poison, by Lydia Kang, an author I recently discovered – I’m most excited about this author’s books because they are historical mysteries mixed with medicine and forensic science and if I enjoy the first book, I’ll eagerly read The Impossible Girl and Opium and Absinthe by the end of this year or soon after the first of the year
September
Finish Breaking Dawn (Twilight series)
Start either Arkane or Mapwalkers series by J.F. Penn
October
The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert (who doesn’t enjoy a haunted house story?)
The Last Séance, Tales of the Supernatural, a collection of ghostly stories by Agatha Christie
November
Next novel in the David Wolf series by Jeff Carson (I’m on #3)
Magical Midlife Madness by K.F. Breene, a new author to me and this is honestly one of those times I was drawn to a book because of the title and the cover
December
This month will be left open for whatever strikes the mood: whether it’s to continue with a series already started this year, maybe read any recently released novels in a series I already enjoy, discover a book by a new author or just stick with mysteries and cozies set around holiday themes. Although it’s not related to the holidays, one series I keep meaning to get to is Hugh Howey’s Silo Trilogy, beginning with the first novel Wool. Maybe the end of 2020 will be the year I’ll begin his dystopian trilogy.
Looking at my list so far, I’m excited about the stories I’ll be diving into these last few months of the year…it’s such a great mix of genres and with two books per month it’s a doable schedule. I haven’t shared book reviews on the blog, but I do share my books read and ratings on my Goodreads page so you can always take a peek there if you’re interested.
What about you? Have you had extra time to read? Have you enjoyed the books you’ve read so far? Have you tried many new authors? We have over four months left so there’s still plenty of time to get more reading in. Might as well make 2020 good for something!
Until next time…happy reading!
