My 2019 Reading So Far

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Hello Readers out there! My 2019 reading list is not as big as my 2018 one, I think because I got busy with work - life - EMT classes - and also, my attention span is dramatically reduced while on the treadmill or on the elliptical at the gym. Not sure what happened with that, but now watching episodes of New Girl seems a lot easier to stay concentrated. Total, I have read 47 books this year so far. I thought I would share some of the fun highlights of what I have read with you. And hopefully you can do the same! Being that the year is half-way over, are you "on track" with reading goals, if you have any? Have you read any books that have just blown you away, or books that you were totally disappointed in? Do share! Here are the favorites I have read so far this year - 1.) Selfish, Shalllow & Self-Absorbed - sixteen writers on the decision NOT to have kids - Meghan Daum. I don't often read collections of essays, but this one is pretty good. And it brings up some really good points about this - being "childfree" - which no one really seems to verbalize or talk about. I liked the male perspectives, as well, which was refreshing and a different point of view. 2.) I Had to Survive - Roberto Canessa - This non-fiction piece is about an 18 year old male wwho, while flying on a small plane over the Andes Mountains with his rugby team, gets in a plane crash where miraculously many of them survive. From my memory, Canessa describes over 90 days of having to SURVIVE in -30 below temps and extremes, his friends dying, hiking out, unprepared, into the mountains looking for help, and even having to practice cannibalism with his dead friends - because he had no choice. This memoir goes on to describe how he becomes a doctor to help people "survive". Really good and really jarring. 3.) Sidewalk Saints - Jim Flynn - I am sure no one has heard of this, but I picked up this book in New Orleans while traveling there and this book is a non-fiction piece, interviewing the folks that makes New Orleans such a unique place - the street performers. Musicians, singers, artists, magicians - where they are from, how they got into the business, what motivates them, etc. Was an interesting read. 4.) $2.00 A Day - Kathryn J Edin - an anthology/nonfiction piece about rising poverty rates, lack of affordable housing, lack of decent employment, and other aspects surrounding poverty in the United States. A good read. 6.) Not Without My Sister - Celeste Jones - a TRUE and shocking memoir about three sisters raised in a cult that defiled, abused, exploited them and how they escaped. Really shocking, and I could not put it down. Hard to believe the monsters in this book exist like this in real life. 7.) Hunger - Roxane Gay. I haven't read any of this author's stuff besides this one, but I do hear she is a feminist author. She takes a look deep in herself for this book, which revolves around her history of being raped, causing her to build a barrier between her and the rest of the world, also causing her to compulsively eat, and becomes over 400 pounds doing so. This book is heart-wrenching and delves deep into Gay's psyche. I will be checking out more of this author in the future for sure. I love the candid-ness. What about you? Do you have any favorites (or least favorites) from this year? (And sorry to drone on and on, I just love reading!)