A Feast of Books

Allie Hahn
Allie Hahn
6413
 

When I was growing up, I read like I breathed. I remember reading an entire book (or close to it) during church one time (before my parents stopped letting me read during church, haha). I told one of my parents’ friends about it after the service and he did not believe me, but that’s who I was. I read all the time.

Then, college and the Internet hit, and I stopped having a lot of time to read. After that, I found my attention span had been greatly affected, and so I just chose not to read much.

However, a few years ago, I started really reading again, and I would say this year has been my greatest feast on books in a long time. Part of it is because I discovered audiobooks, but even so, I’ve actually read 24 physical books so far this year, and I’m almost done with another one with plans to read at least two more. My total right now is 40 books for the year, but it should at least get up to 45. My goal was 30 (20 physical books and 10 audiobooks). 

I think my favorite physical book I’ve read overall is probably Persuasion, by Jane Austen (a re-read), and my favorite audiobooks were the Harry Potter series (sorry to be a typical millennial). My favorite new book might be The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It was part of my quest to read classic literature that I missed growing up. I’ve made a list of 50 classic books that are almost all different authors, and I am working my way through them a little at a time. This year, from that list, I also read Brave New World (which was my overall least favorite book of the year – I would not have finished it if it hadn’t been the audio version), The Great Gatsby, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The book I’m reading now is Frankenstein, and that will be my last “new classic” for the year.

Next, I’m going to turn my focus to Christmas books. I started the Chronicles of Narnia audiobooks so that I can listen to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe during the Christmas season (I’ve read them before, so I thought I’d listen this time). I also read the first six Trixie Belden books, and the last one of those was a Christmas book. (I don’t know if anyone here read Trixie Belden, but my mom and sister love them, so I decided to finally give them a try – they are so fun!) I’ll finish out the year with Hercule Poirot’s Christmas and Andrew Klavan’s new book, When Christmas Comes. 

Bon appetit! 

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  1. Allie Hahn Coolidge
    Allie Hahn
    @AllieHahn
    Post author
    10:07 AM EST ⋅ Nov 22, 2021

    Marjorie Reynolds (View Comment):

    Allie Hahn (View Comment):

    Marjorie Reynolds (View Comment):

    I love your book posts Allie. I think I commented before in agreement with you about Persuasion, I reread it at the beginning of the year and then watched the TV version on YouTube.
    Reading has always been a source of enjoyment and comfort for me. Even in my 20’s when I was out almost every night of the week I still read regularly.
    In my 30’s when I returned to full time education I was reading too but it was almost exclusively to do with my course. Then there was an unfortunate few years during my dad’s illness and when I was moving from one job to another feeling very unsettled where I hardly read at all. When I did it was books which were pressed on me, I seemed to have lost the capacity to find a book for myself.
    Around the end of 2018, a new friend I’d made suggested I read Amusing Ourselves to Death which opened up a whole new world of thoughts and ideas to me. I had spent my teens reading classics and philosophy (usually not understanding half of it), my 20’s reading entirely fiction and my 30’s reading textbooks. I’d never really read non fiction before. I’ve read so many fascinating books since then and particularly since 2020 and usually each book will cite another book so I’m always adding to the list. I’ve also read books based on what Ricochet members have discussed or mentioned; Justice on Trial, Green Tyranny, Apocalypse Never and Profiles in Corruption are a few.

    Right now I’m reading Jordan Peterson’s new one and also Ireversible Damage for my book group. I think last year I read about 40 books but this year, what with work being so much busier and also by taking about 6 weeks to read one rather depressing book about the Khmer Rouge I’ll probably only have read 20 something by the end.

    It sounds like you’ve had a really interesting journey with books, yourself! Maybe you’ll write a book about it one day. :)

    What YouTube Persuasion did you watch? Did you find it was pretty faithful to the book and good casting?

    Ha! I think a ricochet post might as much as I’ll manage.

    The version was a bbc one from the 1970’s which got criticised for its ugly costumes and period inappropriate hair styles. It’s very faithful to the book though and I really enjoyed it.

    Well, the story and characters are much more important to me than the visuals, so I’ll have to look for it! 

    • #61
  2. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds
    10:09 AM EST ⋅ Nov 22, 2021

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Marjorie Reynolds (View Comment):
    The version was a bbc one from the 1970’s which got criticised for its ugly costumes and period inappropriate hair styles. It’s very faithful to the book though and I really enjoyed it.

    I would love it if the BBC gave all the Austen books the treatment it gave to P&P.

    I know, it’s perfection.

    • #62
  3. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds
    10:16 AM EST ⋅ Nov 22, 2021

    Allie Hahn (View Comment):

    Marjorie Reynolds (View Comment):

    Allie Hahn (View Comment):

    Marjorie Reynolds (View Comment):

    I love your book posts Allie. I think I commented before in agreement with you about Persuasion, I reread it at the beginning of the year and then watched the TV version on YouTube.
    Reading has always been a source of enjoyment and comfort for me. Even in my 20’s when I was out almost every night of the week I still read regularly.
    In my 30’s when I returned to full time education I was reading too but it was almost exclusively to do with my course. Then there was an unfortunate few years during my dad’s illness and when I was moving from one job to another feeling very unsettled where I hardly read at all. When I did it was books which were pressed on me, I seemed to have lost the capacity to find a book for myself.
    Around the end of 2018, a new friend I’d made suggested I read Amusing Ourselves to Death which opened up a whole new world of thoughts and ideas to me. I had spent my teens reading classics and philosophy (usually not understanding half of it), my 20’s reading entirely fiction and my 30’s reading textbooks. I’d never really read non fiction before. I’ve read so many fascinating books since then and particularly since 2020 and usually each book will cite another book so I’m always adding to the list. I’ve also read books based on what Ricochet members have discussed or mentioned; Justice on Trial, Green Tyranny, Apocalypse Never and Profiles in Corruption are a few.

    Right now I’m reading Jordan Peterson’s new one and also Ireversible Damage for my book group. I think last year I read about 40 books but this year, what with work being so much busier and also by taking about 6 weeks to read one rather depressing book about the Khmer Rouge I’ll probably only have read 20 something by the end.

    It sounds like you’ve had a really interesting journey with books, yourself! Maybe you’ll write a book about it one day. :)

    What YouTube Persuasion did you watch? Did you find it was pretty faithful to the book and good casting?

    Ha! I think a ricochet post might as much as I’ll manage.

    The version was a bbc one from the 1970’s which got criticised for its ugly costumes and period inappropriate hair styles. It’s very faithful to the book though and I really enjoyed it.

    Well, the story and characters are much more important to me than the visuals, so I’ll have to look for it!

    Let us know what you think! The 1995 film version is also on YouTube which one of my friends insists is the definitive. I like it but I have a fondness for the slow and unsophisticated  1970’s adaptation.

    • #63
  4. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster
    11:52 AM EST ⋅ Nov 22, 2021

    Allie Hahn (View Comment):
    I have the Space Trilogy on my TBR list,

    I read them for a fantasy/sci-fi seminar in college, and have listened to them a couple of times since.   l liked The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia better.

    • #64
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