Books Read, 2020

With pandemic-related lockdowns and an insane election cycle, 2020 was an especially great year for reading. In my case, it was specifically a good year for fiction, especially fantasy fiction. Why? Because more than ever, I find a bit of escapism to be very nourishing to the soul.  To quote the great J.R.R. Tolkien, 

"Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls? The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it. In using escape in this way the critics have chosen the wrong word, and, what is more, they are confusing, not always by sincere error, the Escape of the Prisoner with the Flight of the Deserter."

FICTION

• The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander
• The Blood of a Dragon  by Lawrence Watt-Evans
• Book of Enchantments by Patricia C. Wrede
• The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
• The Brega Path by Dennis L. Mckiernan*
• The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell*
• The Castle of Lyr by Lloyd Alexander
• Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
• The Darkest Day by Dennis L. Mckiernan*
• The Dark Tide by Dennis L. Mckiernan*
• The Dragonstone by Dennis L. Mckiernan
• First Test by Tamora Pierce
• The Forests of Serre by Patricia A. McKillip
• The Fraternity of the Stone by David Morrell
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• The High King by Lloyd Alexander
• Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz
• Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce
• Last Looks by Howard Michael Gould
• The League of Night and Fog by David Morrell
• The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis
• Lullaby by Ace Atkins
• Moth by James Sallis
• Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
• Once Upon A Spring Morn by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Once Upon a Summer’s Day by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Once Upon a Winter’s Night by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Page by Tamora Pierce
• The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst
• The Queen of Sorrows by Sarah Beth Durst
• The Reapers by John Connolly
• Red Slippers: More Tales of Mithgar by Dennis L. McKiernan
• The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst
• Sarah Jane by James Sallis
• Shadows of Doom by Dennis L. Mckiernan*
• Silver Wolf, Black Falcon by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede
• Squire by Tamora Pierce
• Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander
• Trek to Kraggen-Cor by Dennis L. Mckiernan"
• A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin*

NONFICTION

• Animal Sutras: Animal Spirit Stories by Stephen Levine
• Capoeira: Roots of the Dance-Fight-Game by Nestor Capoeira
• Evil in Modern Thought: An Alternative History of Philosophy by Susan Neiman
• Foucault for Beginners by Lydia Alix Fillingham
• Introducing Jung by Maggie Hyde
• James Bond and Philosophy: Questions are Forever edited by by James B. South, Jacob M. Held
• Just Enough: Vegan Recipes and Stories from Japan’s Buddhist Temples By Gesshin Claire Greenwood
• Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It by David M. Ewalt
• Spirituality for the Skeptic: The Thoughtful Love of Life by Robert C. Solomon
• Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force by Lawrence A. Kane
• Ultimate Questions by Bryan Magee
• Unleash the Warrior Within: Develop the Focus, Discipline, Confidence, and Courage You Need to Achieve Unlimited Goals by Richard "Mack" Machowicz

(* reread)

Books Read, 2019

A couple of years ago I decided to log every book I read and then compile a master list at the end of the year. Below is my Master Reading List for 2019, in alphabetical order by title. As you can see, it was quite heavy on fantasy, with my initial forays into Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series taking up a fair amount of my time. I'll post a list of my favorite books read last year soon.

FICTION

• Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings
• The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
• The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
• Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
• Enchanter’s End Game by David Eddings
• Eye of the Hunter by Dennis L. McKiernan
• The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
• Fool Me Twice by Matthew Hughes
• Fools Errant by Matthew Hughes
• The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
• Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz
• Into the Fire by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Into the Forge by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Magician’s Gambit by David Eddings
• Night of Madness by Lawrence Watt-Evans
• The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz
• Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz
• Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
• Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
• The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce
• The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
• Voyage of the Fox Rider by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
• Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce

NONFICTION

• Ancient Magic: A Practitioner's Guide to the Supernatural in Greece and Rome by Philip Matyszak
• Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life by Edith Hall
• Fight Like a Physicist: The Incredible Science Behind Martial Arts by Jason Thalken
• The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classic Stories by Philip Matyszak
• How Music Can Make You Better by Indre Viskontas, PhD.
• A Significant Life: Human Meaning in a Silent Universe by Todd May
• Staying Alive: How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters by Safe Havens International Inc
• The Tao of WU by RZA*
• Tao Te Ching: The Essential Translation of the Ancient Chinese Book of the Tao by Lao Tzu, translated by John Minford

(* reread)

Why I Finally Started Reading 'The Wheel of Time'

As I've mentioned in the past, I love fantasy novels. In fact, fantasy is my favorite genre of fiction. My fondness for the genre dates back to seeing the Rankin/Bass animated version of 'The Hobbit' as a young child, being totally enraptured by it, and then having my mom to read the novel to me out loud.

When it comes to fantasy, I'm definitely in the epic fantasy camp. While somewhat out of fashion these days, I still enjoy classic Good vs. Evil stories featuring long quests, magical items, Dark Lords, mythical peoples, Chosen Ones, etc. Professor Tolkien definitely left his mark on me!

Taking all that into account, it's odd that I never got around to reading the late Robert Jordan's 'The Wheel of Time,' one of the most beloved and important epic fantasy series of the last 30 years. 

I first heard about 'The Wheel of Time' in the early '90s, not long after the initial volume—The Eye of the World—had been released. My good friend (and then-roommate) Mike had read it and raved about it. He rarely recommended books to me, but he highly recommended 'The Eye of the World.' It was a recommendation I ignored. I don't know why. Maybe I was reading something else. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood. I really can't recall.

Mike continued with the series and kept recommending it, and I kept ignoring his recommendations. I don't know how far he got with the novels, but I know he didn't finish the series. By the time the last two volumes were published, Mike had committed suicide. 

Thanks to the upcoming Amazon series. 'The Wheel of Time' has once again been in the news recently. That got me to thinking about the books, and Mike's hearty endorsement of them. I especially found myself thinking about them around September 22, Mike's birthday. It was about that time that I decided to finally read The Eye of the World.

I'd tried reading it a couple of times before. For some reason, the book hadn't quite clicked with me. This time, I decided to commit myself to finishing it. 

They say the third time's the charm, and that was certainly the case here. This time around I zipped though all 780-plus pages of The Eye of the World in just over a week. I absolutely loved it, especially the characterizations and rich worldbuilding. And while Jordan is sometimes criticized for being overly descriptive, I didn't find that to be a problem. On the contrary, I found his descriptions added to the immersive quality of the narrative. 

I'm now well into the second book, The Great Hunt, and look forward to the rest. At some point, I'll probably take breaks in between volumes with works from other authors, just to keep things fresh. I do plan to finish the series though, all 14 volumes and 4.4 million words of it. My friend Mike wasn't able to finish 'The Wheel of Time,' so I guess I'll finish it for him.

Books Read, Midway Through 2019 Edition

I realize I totally fell off the logging-the-books-I've-read train, both on this blog and in general. I failed to keep track of about half my reading for 2018, which is a shame, as I've found it to be a useful habit. 

I need reading glasses. So far Zooey doesn't.

For 2019, I'm back to being consistent in logging the books I read. In 2017 and 2018, I found myself reading less, partially due to my job and other real-life interruptions. I was also getting more tired when reading, and I didn't know why. A few months ago I had my answer: A routine physical revealed that I needed reading glasses! Now I get less tired when reading, no doubt because I'm not having to work so hard. The funny thing is my vision issues developed so gradually I barely noticed them.

Without further ado, here is my Books Read list for the midway point of 2019. A quick glance will show that fantasy and philosophy have been the dominant themes so far this year. That is by no means unusual for me.

FICTION

• Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings
• The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce
• Enchanter’s End Game by David Eddings
• Fool Me Twice by Matthew Hughes
• Fools Errant by Matthew Hughes
• Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz
• Magician’s Gambit by David Eddings
• Night of Madness by Lawrence Watt-Evans
• The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz
• Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
• Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
• The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce
• Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
• Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce

NONFICTION

• Ancient Magic: A Practitioner's Guide to the Supernatural in Greece and Rome by Philip Matyszak
• The Tao of WU by RZA
• Aristotle's Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life by Edith Hall
• A Significant Life: Human Meaning in a Silent Universe by Todd May
• Staying Alive: How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters by Safe Havens International Inc
• Fight Like a Physicist: The Incredible Science Behind Martial Arts by Jason Thalken

This One Goes to... 5: Favorite Books Read in 2017

In the past, my 'Favorite Books Read' lists have included 11 works of fiction and 11 nonfiction works. This year, that isn't the case.

To be honest, 2017 wasn't a great year in reading for me. Not only did I read far fewer books in general, of the books I did read, there weren't many that were really outstanding. Thus, a list of '11 Favorites' would be impossible.

Still, I did read some really great books. Here are my favorites for 2017, in no particular order. 



FICTION

• The Book of Weird by Barbara Ninde Byfield (This vintage hard-to-classify gem is a witty encyclopedia of a fantastical alternate Europe. I wish I read this book back in my Dungeons & Dragons days.)
• The Chronicles of Solar Pons by August Derleth (Yes, Pons is an unabashed pastiche of Sherlock Holmes. But he is also a great pastiche of Sherlock Holmes. The stories are a great deal of fun and I actually think August Derleth is a better writer than Arthur Conan Doyle.)
• Lost Worlds Vol. 1 by Clark Ashton Smith (Along with H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, Smith was one of the "Big Three" writers for Weird Tales. His fantasy stories are very dark and nightmarish. I especially liked the ones set in the dying earth landscape of Zothique.)
• Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (This tale of a convent that trains novice nuns in the ways of assassination is one of the best new fantasy novels I've read in a long time. Great setting and characterizations. Features some good quotes about fighting and martial arts.)
• Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake (Gorgeously written, surreal, and dreamlike. A novel to read slowly and savor.) 

NONFICTION

• A Buddhist Grief Observed by Guy Newland (I struggle with grief and loss. So does Guy Newland. He eloquently writes about his Buddhist beliefs both helped and at times failed to help him deal with the death of his wife.)

• The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights by Norm Phelps
  and
• A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion Hardcover by Matthieu Ricard (Two excellent books about animal rights, both written from a Buddhist perspective. Phelps especially makes some very strong, substantial arguments regarding the place of veganism in Buddhism.)

• Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women's Self Protection by Tim Larkin (The title is a little misleading; the book is not really a "total guide" nor is it only of use to women. Larkin address mindset more than specific techniques, and I find the things he has to say to be perfectly valid. His observation that "violence is rarely the answer, but when it is... it is the only answer" is spot-on.)

SPECIAL MENTION

• Lazarus Vol. 1 by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (Incredible dystopian graphic novel series that explores themes of wealth inequality and environmental destruction. Very timely and relevant... unfortunately.)

(My list of favorite books read in 2016 can be found here, and favorites of 2015 can be found here.)

Books Read, 2017

For various reasons—a new job, some sinus issues that affected my eyes, etc.—I read far fewer books in 2017 than in previous years, much to my chagrin. Also, for various reasons—mostly laziness, really—I wasn't as good at logging the books I read in 2017, so I might have actually read more books and just neglected to keep track of them

That all being said, below is my Master Reading List for 2017, in alphabetical order by title. I'll try post a list of my favorite books read last year soon.

FICTION

• Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
• Bloodfire Quest: The Dark Legacy of Shannara by Terry Brooks
• The Book of Weird by Barbara Ninde Byfield
• Calix Stay: The Circle of Light, Book 3 by Niel Hancock
• The Chronicles of Solar Pons by August Derleth
• Dhampir by Barb and J. C. Hendee
• Faragon Fairingay: The Circle of Light, Book 2 by Niel Hancock
• A Feast of Sorrows: Stories by Angela Slatter
• The First King of Shannara by Terry Brooks
• Lost Worlds Vol. 1 by Clark Ashton Smith
• Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
• Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
• Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
• Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
• Squaring the Circle: The Circle of Light, Book 4 by Niel Hancock
• Tales of Mithgar by Dennis L. McKiernan
• Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
• The Unlikely Ones by Mary Brown
• Wards of Faerie: The Dark Legacy of Shannara by Terry Brooks
• Witch Wraith: The Dark Legacy of Shannara by Terry Brooks

NONFICTION

• Aikido Basics by Phong Thong Dang  and Lynn Seiser
• The Art of Peace by Morehei Ueshiba, translated and edited by John Stevens
• Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love & Wisdom by Rick Hanson
• A Buddhist Grief Observed by Guy Newland
• Do The Work by Steven Pressfield
• Good Life, Good Death: Tibetan Wisdom on Reincarnation by Gelek Rimpoche
• The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights by Norm Phelps
• Kindfulness by Ajahn Brahm
• Martial Virtues: Lessons in Wisdom, Courage, and Compassion from the World's Greatest Warriors by Charles Hackney
• A Plea for the Animals: The Moral, Philosophical, and Evolutionary Imperative to Treat All Beings with Compassion Hardcover by Matthieu Ricard
• The Shambhala Guide to Aikido by John Stevens
• Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, & Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye by Brad Warner
• Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women's Self Protection by Tim Larkin
• The Sword Polisher's Record: The Way of Kung-Fu by Adam Hsu
• Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
• The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, translated by Red Pine

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Angel Catbird by Margaret Atwood
• Lazarus Vol. 1 by Greg Rucka, Michael Lark
• Lazarus Vol. 2 by Greg Rucka, Michael Lark
• Lazarus Vol. 3 by Greg Rucka, Michael Lark
• Lazarus Vol. 4 by Greg Rucka, Michael Lark

(Previous years: Books Read, 2015; Books Read, 2016)

Books Read, Midway Through 2017 Edition

I am way behind on my reading (and blogging) this year. There are a few reasons, such as general busyness and taking the time to catch up on some periodicals, such as older issues of "The New Yorker," "New York Review of Books," and "The Atlantic Monthly." Plus, reading Mervyn Peake's took more time than I imagined. It is a brilliantly written novel, but the language is so rich and dense I had to read a bit slower to take it all in.

Now, without further delay, here is an alphabetical list of the books I've read in the first half of this year. So far, my 2017 reading has been heavy on fantasy and Buddhism.

FICTION

• Calix Stay: The Circle of Light, Book 3 by Niel Hancock
• The Chronicles of Solar Pons by August Derleth
• Dhampir by Barb and J. C. Hendee
• Faragon Fairingay: The Circle of Light, Book 2 by Niel Hancock
• A Feast of Sorrows: Stories by Angela Slatter
• Lost Worlds Vol. 1 by Clark Ashton Smith
• Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
• Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
• Squaring the Circle: The Circle of Light, Book 4 by Niel Hancock
• Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake

This One Goes to 11: Favorite Books Read in 2016

As a follow-up to my Books Read, 2016 list, here's a list of my favorite 11 books in two categories read last year, in no particular order. 

FICTION

• Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes (An excellent weird horror tale that has some similarities to the first season of True Detective, though the novel was written before the TV show aired.)
• Chalice by Robin McKinley (A dreamy fantasy story of beekeeping, love,  and fire worship.)
• Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier (The start of Marillier's Blackthorn and Grim series. At times dark, it is ultimately an inspiring story about the main characters' struggle to overcome their tragic pasts.)
• The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen (One of the earliest weird horror stories, and one that writers such as H.P Lovecraft acknowledged as an influence.)
• Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue (Classic fairy tales beautifully retold, often with a feminist twist or two.)
• Pax by Sara Pennypacker (A heart-wrenching book about a boy forced to abandon his pet fox. Also very powerful in its anti-war sentiment.)
• The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes (Another book by Beukes. Brilliantly combines the serial killer and time travel genres. Kudos to Lauren Beukes for not romanticizing the killer and for humanizing his victims.)
• Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (This also has a True Detective, season one vibe, but with some Wes Anderson overtones as well. Really.)
• A Wild Swan and Other Tales by Michael Cunningham (And another book featuring witty, well-written takes on classic fairy tales and supernatural stories. His version of "The Monkey's Paw" is especially good.)
• Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (And yet another retelling of a fairy tale. This one is a novel based on the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses.)
• The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits: Stories by Emma Donoghue (More Donoghue brilliance. All of the stories in this volume are inspired by obscure historical events. It's one of the most mind-blowing story collections I've ever read.)

Books Read, 2016

A couple of years ago I decided to log every book I read and then compile a master list at the end of the year. Below is my Master Reading List for 2016, in alphabetical order by title. I'll try to post a list of my favorite books read last year soon.

FICTION

• The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia McKillip
• Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
• The Caller by Juliet Marillier
• Chalice by Robin McKinley
• Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
• The Dancers of Arun by Elizabeth A. Lynn
• Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier
• The Final Solution by Michael Chabon
• The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen
• Greyfax Grimwald by Niel Hancock
• Harpist  in  the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip
• Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier
• Heir of Sea and Fire by Patricia A. McKillip
• Indigo by Louise Cooper
• Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue

Books Read, Midway Through 2016 Edition

Since we are about midway through 2016, here is a list of the books I've read in the first half of the
year in alphabetical order.

FICTION

• The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia McKillip
• The Caller by Juliet Marillier
• Chalice by Robin McKinley
• Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
• The Dancers of Arun by Elizabeth A. Lynn
• Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier
• Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue
• Pax by Sara Pennypacker
• The Promise by Robert Crais
• Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier
• Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
• Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier
• Walking Dead by Greg Rucka (reread)
• Watchtower by Elizabeth A. Lynn
• A Wild Swan and Other Tales by Michael Cunningham
• Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
• The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits: Stories by Emma Donoghue

Book Review: Slavery Inc. by Lydia Cacho

I've done a few book-related posts (here, here, and here) over the last few weeks, so I decided to take things one step further and start writing the occasional book review.

Since I'm a pretty avid reader with rather diverse tastes, I will try to limit my reviews to books that have some relevance to the overall themes of this blog.

So without further ado, here are my brief thoughts on Slavery Inc: The Untold Story of International Sex Trafficking by a writer by a writer Amnesty International called "perhaps Mexico’s most famous investigative journalist and women’s rights advocate," Lydia Cacho.

What does this book have to do with this blog? I've touched on the subject of evil before, and this book is indeed about evil. Personally, I believe that part of 'being a better person" is understanding the bad things going on in the world so we can be prepared to do our part—no matter how small—to make things better.

Obviously, a book such as this is not especially pleasant to read. Accounts of the sexual exploitation of women and children are hard to bear. Fortunately, Cacho writes elegantly and with compassion, managing to convey the stories survivors tell without being graphic or sensationalist. I don't need to hear specific details about a child being raped. This simple yet heartbreaking quote from Yeana, a 10-year-old sex trafficking survivor, sums up the horror quite well...

"Violence is not good because it hurts and it makes me cry."

This One Goes to 11: Favorite Books Read in 2015

As a follow-up to my Books Read, 2015 list, here's a list of my favorite 11 books in two categories read last year, in no particular order. 

FICTION

• Abhorsen by Garth Nix
• Lirael by Garth Nix (These are the final two books of Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy. Technically YA novels, I was impressed by the characterization, world-building, and interesting take on death.)
• Dreams of Dark and Light: The Great Short Fiction of Tanith Lee (Lee died in 2015. She was a master of strange, dark fantasy and science fiction.)
• Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre (An almost psychedelic, woman-centric apocalyptic SF classic.)
• Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey (Preceded by Banewreaker, this is the conclusion of Carey's Sundering Duology, which is essentially a morally ambivalent retelling of Tolkien from the point of view of the villains.)
• Mort(e) by Robert Repino (Incredibly original, emotionally powerful story of animals declaring war on humanity and the adventures of one really badass cat.)
• The Southern Reach Trilogy byJeff VanderMeer (Brilliant yet hard to describe. Maybe John Le Carre meets H.P. Lovecraft with a dash of Jules Verne?)
• The Woman Who Loved the Moon and Other Stories by Elizabeth A. Lynn (Dreamy, slightly surreal stories from an author who sadly no longer writes.)
• The Word for World is Forest by Ursula Le Guin (Radical political SF from a true legend.)

NONFICTION

• Blank Spots on the Map: The Dark Geography of the Pentagon's Secret World by Trevor Paglen
• Kill Chain: The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins by Andrew Cockburn
• Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
• The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic by Chalmers Johnson (These four books are all excellent primers on modern U.S. history and foreign policy. The books by Paglen and Cockburn are especially relevant to current events.)

Books Read, 2015

I love reading. I've loved reading ever since I was a kid. And since I don't watch television, reading is my go-to form of entertainment and enlightenment. 

A couple of years ago I decided to log every book I read and then compile a master list at the end of the year. In the past, I haven't posted the list because I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested. However, some people have told me they would be interested, so without further ado, here's my Master Reading List for 2015, in alphabetical order by title...


FICTION

• A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
• Abhorsen by Garth Nix
• Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
• Angel with the Sword by C.J. Cherryh
• Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
• Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
• Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
• Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
• Bad Men by John Connolly
• Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
• Dreams of Dark and Light: The Great Short Fiction of Tanith Lee