My voracious reading habit of the past year may take a hit in 2018 as I start my journey into retirement. What? Most people think they’ll have more time for reading when work doesn’t get in the way.   However, I’ll miss out on my daily crawling commute where I listen to books on DVD or read on Caltrain on the days I don’t drive.  But maybe I’ll find a few more hours for literary pursuits  in my new, more unfettered schedule.

Meanwhile, here’s the rundown on the good, bad and ugly of my 2017 reading in hopes that I’ll inspire you to pick up a tome or two:

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow.  A moving story of identity
Truck Full of Money by Tracy Kidder. Phenomenal story of internet entrepreneur Paul English and the zeitgeist of the time
Gods of Tango by Carolina de Robertis. Perfect reading for our planned trip to Argentina.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.- Brilliantly re-imagines the escape from slavery
Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown. I didn’t want to like a book about men racing boats but this work captures history and place in remarkable ways.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman.   I wasn’t slayed by this but it’s clever
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amoe Towles. I loved and heavily recommended this powerfully drawn and imaginative story of Russia in the 20th Century
Red Notice by Bill Browder. Continuing my Russian theme, this true story that reads like a thriller helps you understand the hidden war for global dominance by Putin and his oligarchs
House of Spies by Daniel Silva. What can I say…I devour each of his Israeli spy mysteries with gluttonous anticipation.
Barkskins by Annie Proulx. A Michner-esque story of Canada and NE U.S. through the  lens of the lumbermen and their descendents who felled  forests and built cities.
Little French Bistro by Nina George. Little is the operative word.
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy. Insight into the teachers and books that inspired this prolific author.
Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. Read this because high school kids often have to.
Let the Great World Spin by Cullum McCann. Gorgeous, inventive story  and characters centered on a tightrope walker in NYC.
The Fortunes by Peter Davies.
One hundred Names by Cecilia Ahern.
1000 White Women by Jim Fergus.  A nearly true story of a devil’s bargain between the Indians and the U.S. Government. No duh on who loses.
Survival Lessons. Ann Hoffman
The Good Earth by Pearl Buck.  Forget your childhood memories. This is an astonishingly well written book and Buck deserved the Nobel Prize awarded for her literary contributions. READ THIS BOOK!
News of the World by  Paulette Jiles.  Meh.

Here’s to joy of reading for all of us in 2018!