Space Station Mir

  Here we are firmly ensconced in the 2020s, and I have to say, I thought the '20s were going to be much more fun, instead of just exciting in the way that you're always on edge and not sure what to expect. One thing I've always been able to count on, however, is books, and so I will look back over my cautious goals from 2021 and proceed to continue with the hope that, whatever else, the books will go on. 2021-Bookish Goal 1. Read 52 books. As always, I'll intentionally include books by BIPOC and Jewish authors, but I want to leave room for rereads, reading lulls, and whatever happens.-- I read 57 books (59 if we count the Grishaverse trilogy as three instead of one).  2021-Non-Bookish Goal 2. Intentionally practice self-care.-- I definitely did this, but could always do more. Although I do practice self-care most days, I don't have any consistent routines. I like that for now, but may want to change or at least have a dedicated time for self-care options in future....

  It's down to the wire, and I still don't know if I will finish another book this year or not 😀. However, I've finished 57 books so far, and so I'm completing my customary annual survey with those in mind. 2021 Reading Stats (As usual, borrowed and modified from the sadly now discontinued blog, Boston Bibliophile.) How many books read? 57 Fiction/nonfiction? 48 fiction (including 2 mixed collections),  9 nonfiction Female/male/nonbinary author ratio? 41 female, 13 male, and 3 collections with mixed genders  Writers of Color/Minority Writers? 10 books by writers of color,  13 books by Jewish authors, which also includes some writers of color and LGBTQ writers Favorite book? The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers--three very different aliens temporarily stranded at a waystation in space, plus their host alien and her child--a thoughtful depiction of alien cultures and a masterpiece of character interaction Longest and shortest books? Longest:  The S...

Happy Top Ten Tuesday!  These are my favorite books that I read in 2021, i.e. not necessarily published this year, anything that I may have read and enjoyed in this past year! It wasn't one of my best reading years, unfortunately, mostly in that I did not discover any new authors that I particularly love, with the exception of Leigh Bardugo (but I burned through almost all of them, though, yay! there are more). I did however read some exquisite sequels and new books by some of my all-time favorite authors--I was especially excited to get new books from Kristin Cashore and Becky Chambers, but I also read new books by Charlie Jane Anders, Maggie Stiefvater, and more, and a new-to-me book by Marge Piercy.  Best Books I Read in 2021 The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers Sex Wars by Marge Piercy Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore The Secret Commonwealth ...

 I debated whether or not even to do this post. Unlike most years, I don't feel like setting goals. However, I decided to take a look back at last year, thinking I would probably laugh, but it actually turns out I set some thoughtful and flexible goals that I did mostly accomplish. So, I will do similarly this year: I'll set goals that I can probably accomplish no matter where this year takes me, and a lot is up in the air for me personally as well as my country politically, and whether I accomplish them or not, that's okay. So, let's go over last year's Bookish and Non-Bookish Goals: 2020-Bookish Goals 1. Read at least 60 books-I read exactly 60 books! 2. Reread old favorites and books I have more to learn from-Yes.  Towards the end of 2019/beginning of 2020, I reread Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and enjoyed it so much. In 2020, I did a couple more rereads like Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass and Mary Oliver's Blue Horses , and I began 202...