I was very disappointed with my reading efforts this year. Five novels and a handful of single comic issues? I can do better.

But maybe I’m being too hard on myself. I actually read a lot this year.

I read news articles every day in my efforts to keep up with what’s happening in the US and to better understand Australia’s political and cultural landscape (there were many articles on international news as well). I read countless blog entries on Jezebel, Cracked, and Lifehacker (many were actually very informative and insightful). I also read two excellent long-form articles– The Overprotected Kid (via The Atlantic) and The Strange Tale of the North Pond Hermit (via GQ) that I highly recommend.

People get too hung up on what counts as reading, myself included. My husband reads the newspaper at least once a week and finishes dozens of comic books each year, and yet people don’t consider him a reader. I don’t think he even considers himself a reader. But maybe he should. Maybe it’s time for us recognize that so-called “light reading”– the kind that comes from pages other than books– is still important reading. There’s still a lot to be learned, and it often leads to reading books.

So, without further ado, here is the list of the book-reading I completed in 2014. Though it is in no way more significant than all the other items I read throughout the year.

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
• Free Comic Book Day issues
  • The New 52: Future’s End #0 Special Edition
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Archie Digest
  • Rocket Raccoon
  • Bongo Comics Free-For-All!
  • All You Need is Kill
  • Raising a Reader!
  • 2000 A.D.
• One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
• Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (reread)
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Best Book:
This is a toss up between Gone Girl and Dark Places. Gillian Flynn has quickly become one of my favorite fiction writers, and I honestly can’t decide which novel I liked most. What the two have in common is that Flynn manages to make the reader care about some really unlikable protagonists. Her characters are incredibly flawed, but you can’t help rooting for them. (I also highly recommend the movie version of Gone Girl. Flynn wrote the screenplay, so it is incredibly true to the book. It also has some excellent performances.)
Worst Book:
There really wasn’t anything I read this year that I hated. The ending of 11/22/63 was a tad disappointing and the story dragged on horribly in parts, but overall I did enjoy the story. Not sure if I’ll be seeking out any other Stephen King books based on this one. I think I’ll stick with the film and television versions of his work.
I also reread To Kill a Mockingbird for a book club, and wasn’t as impressed with it as I was when I was first introduced to it in high school. It’s still a great novel, I was just expected more.
Looking forward to in 2015:
I have so much reading to do, that I purposely asked for as many non-book items as possible for Christmas so I can clear my shelves and Kindle app. Still, my husband got me Amy Poehler’s memoir, Yes Please, which I’m excited to start. I also have two Erik Larson non-fiction books to finally get to. We’ll see how successful I am this year, given that I’ve also resolved to focus more on my design and art work, dedicate more time to this blog, and will be continuing the movie review blog.

It’s going to be a busy year!

Unfortunately, I did not read much this year. But then, it was a very busy 12 months. I planned a wedding from a foreign country, started a new full-time job, and purchased a new home, among many other things. Given that, I think I made an admirable effort.

+ Tales from a Midwife by Jennifer Worth
+ Fables: Witches by Willingham, Buckingham, et al.
+ Fables: Rose Red by Willingham, Buckingham, et al.
+ The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
+ Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (Awesome trilogy! Loved the ending, and want to buy the first book so I can read it again.)
+ Reached by Ally Condie (I don’t know why this series was optioned for a movie. The first two could make exciting enough movies, but this one would be incredibly boring to watch.)
+ Fables: Super Team by Willingham, Buckingham, et al
+ Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky (Moral of the story: Do not be a jerk and tip the staff.)
+ The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (reread)
+ Sailor Twain or The Mermaid in the Hudson by Mark Siegel (Great fairytale, but I wasn’t crazy about the art style.)
+ Total Recall by Arnold Schwarznegger (A very engaging read, but I get the impression he’s still holding a lot back.)
+ The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling is such a great author! Hoping there will be a sequel.)

Best Books: Given my love of Harry Potter, I was worried that The Casual Vacancy and The Cuckoo’s Calling wouldn’t live up to my expectations. Happily, J.K. Rowling is an incredibly talented writer, and both of these are great reads. I enjoy how she has her finger on the pulse of society, whether she’s writing about social injustices or our celebrity obsessed culture.
I also really enjoyed Arnold Schwarznegger’s autobiography. Having never been a big fan of his movies, I wasn’t sure it would keep my attention. But the man has lead an entertaining life, and it makes for a fun read. Still, it’s clear that he’s still holding a lot back. No doubt the real, unfiltered story is even more interesting.

Worst Books: No real disappointments this year. Reached, the final installment of the Matched series was a bit of a let down, but not entirely disappointing.

Looking forward to in 2014: I just started reading Gone Girl, and am interested to see where it goes. Other than that nothing is really on the docket just yet. I’ve been thinking of joining a Sydney area book club, and also encourage people’s suggestions!