Monday, December 31, 2018

2019 New Years Wishes and My Favorite Books of 2018

Wishing All My Readers a Wonderful 2019

I read this quote somewhere recently and wanted to share it as some of us think of making our New Year's Resolutions -- (I gave resolutions up years ago)  -- 

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” 

It was a very good 2018 and a very nice Christmas for us and our family. The older we get we are even more thankful for the time we get to spend with loved ones.  The adult children are doing well, granddaughters are growing, and we continue to enjoy retirement. We lost our last senior citizen cat on November 6, 2018 and although we miss him, we are so happy we adopted (2) 7 month old litter mates a few weeks ago. Our home seemed just too quiet without cats.  Ricky and Lucy adjusted immediately and are perfect playmates for each other and lap cats for the (2) of us.  When we are home they follow us from room to room and always choose to be in the room we are in. If we are in separate rooms they split up so that each can warm one of our laps -- too funny.


AUDIOS - 28 (Fic and NF)
eBOOKS - 30 (Fic & NF)
NF - 22 (audio and/or print/eBook)
FIC - 100 (audio/print or eBook)
KIDS - 15 (print)
LIBRARY COPIES - 49 (print & audio)
MY SHELVES - 29 (includes ARCs or books sent by publishers)

 TOP 10 Favorites (no particular order)

Sunburn; Laura Lippman - eGalley 5/5 - (April)
A Noise Downstairs; Linwood Barclay (eGalley) - 5/5 - (April)
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership; James Comey (audio) - 5/5 - (July)
84, Charing Cross Road; Helene Hanff (library) - 5/5 - (July)
Calypso; David Seders (audio) - 5/5 - (August)
Where the Crawdads Sing; Delia Owens (eGalley) - 5/5 - (October)
Strike Your Heart; Amelie Nothomb  (library) - 5/5 (November)
Red & Lulu; Matt Taveres - personal copy 5/5 (November)
Becoming; Michelle Obama - audio - 5/5 (December)























Happy New Year and Happy Reading in 2019

40 comments:

  1. What a great year you had, Diane! 84, Charing Cross Road is an all-time favorite and I also enjoyed Sunburn and Sisters this year. Several others are still on my list. Happy 2019!

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  2. Thanks JoAnn. I was pleased with my year for books. Hope 2019 is a great year for you.

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  3. Where the Crawdads Sing is on everyone's list. I will make a note of that to read it at some point. Happy New Year 2019, Diane! And here's to many more years of happy reading! :-)

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  4. You sure read some goodies! Happy New Year from all of us and a special Happy New Year to Ricky and Lucy too!

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    1. Ricky and Lucy and their humans send their best wishes to you and yours.

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  5. I've only read 2 on your list. I almost picked up Where the Crawdads Sing after my last book. Happy New Year!

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  6. The only one I've read is Crawdads. And I definitely agree with you on that one.

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  7. I haven't read any of those, but Becoming is on my list. That looks like a great read. Hope you have a great New Year!

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    1. Hope you do as well Yvonne. Hope you love Becoming as much as I did.

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  8. I also really enjoyed Becoming. I received Where the Crawdads Sing for Christmas and am looking forward to it. Happy New Year!

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    1. Hope you like Where the Crawdads Sing as much as Becoming...a tough act to follow though.

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  9. Sounds like you've had a great year, both in reading and in life! My reading was kind of ho-hum this year, but life itself has been great. I'm sad to see 2018 go. I hope 2019 will be as kind to us both :)

    Happy New Year!

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  10. I absolutely LOVE the quote that you posted!!! Wishing you a happy, healthy New Year!

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  11. I read 84, Charing Cross Road and enjoyed it. Where the Crawdads Sing is on my top 10 favorites for 2018 too! I have Strike Your Heart ordered at the library.

    Happy New Year!

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  12. Diane,

    You've had a wonderful year, reading-wise and otherwise! I've enjoyed your posts and photos throughout 2018. I'm interested in Becoming,and other books on your list of favorites. Your cat collage is beautiful. Have a safe and happy New Year's!

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    1. Thank you Susan. Hoping 2019 is a special year for you and yours.

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  13. Sounds like a wonderful year! I agree, the older we get the more you can't help but be thankful for spending time with loved ones. Really enjoyed the quote you shared. Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

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    1. Iliana, that is so true. I'm grateful for time with loved ones. Life is so unpredictable. Happy New Year.

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  14. Hi Diane,
    James Comey's book is on my Top Ten for 2018 and it's on Ken's Top Ten as well. We both listened to the Audible version. I thought it was so clear, so straightforward, so illuminating--I think I would recommend it as a "must read" for all Americans, to help people understand the role of the FBI and the Justice Department vs. the Washington Political Swirl. He is a remarkable person, and it is a damn shame that we have lost such a leader.
    Happy New Year to you, your husband, and the CATS!!!

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    1. Judith, my husband loved the James Comey book as well. We listened on a road trip and thought it was fantastic. Happiest of everything in 2019.

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  15. That's cute about the cats. :) Glad you were able to find two awesome companions like that. 122 books is great!

    I remember wanting to read Sunburn and I never got to it. I should pick that one up yet.

    Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

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  16. I'm happy for your good year and wish you an equal one ahead. I have Becoming and A Noise Downstairs on my kindle and hope to read Where the Crawdads Sing and Sunburn. Thank you for sharing your list and have a peaceful New Year's day!

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    1. I hope you enjoy Becoming and Noise Downstairs. Happiest of everything in 2019.

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  17. We share some favorites. Glad your 2018 was good and best wishes for 2019, especially the reading!

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  18. Always so glad to hear about what's going on with you, Diane. I'm so happy that you guys got the two new kitties. I'm sure you'll love them more and more as time goes by. Love your top 10 though I'm not read even a one of them - several are on my radar though. Happy New Year and here's to some good 2019 reading!

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    1. Happy New Year to you Kay and yes, I like mysteries and thrillers like you but we often read different books LOL

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  19. So happy that you found new kitties for your family. We went without cats or dogs for over a year and I hated it. I think I'm one of a handful of people who read 84 Charing Cross and didn't care for it. Every time it shows up on a favorite list I almost convince myself to give it another go. So many other books on my radar.

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  20. I love reading every readers' favourite list. So many titles to add onto to our already full list, lol. Hope this year will be another great reading year for us!

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  21. Your new kittens sound so adorable. :-) Our newest is far from a cuddler--more of a mischief maker. LOL We love her though. She doesn't like to be held or petted for long. She does like to be in the same room we are though.

    It sounds like you had a wonderful year, Diane. I am so glad to hear it. I am glad your family is doing well also.

    Sunburn and Becoming are both books I am looking forward to reading. I am happy to see you enjoyed both.

    I hope you have a happy New Year, Diane! Happy Reading!

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    1. Wendy, with senior cats for so many years, we forgot how trying active kittens can be - broken picture frame, had to give my plants away, hoping on counters, behind tv, etc. ugh. We just can't get mad at them though as they are both love bugs to each other and us. Thank you for stopping by.

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  22. Congrats, 122 books is a lot of books. You finished a lot! I'm glad you liked Becoming -- I hope to get to it this year. I also liked Sunburn too.

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    1. Hope you enjoy Becoming. Looking forward to a new Lipman book.

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