Lisa Reads 2019 - A Summary

It's one of my favourite posts of the year...the BAR GRAPH POST! I love a good bar graph (I love a bad bar graph, which I think this is one...)

At any rate, this is my annual attempt to somewhat categorize the books I read over the past year. Now that I have a couple of years of this under my belt, I am enjoying comparing my year-over-year numbers.

2019 BOOKS BY THE NUMBERS

I don't keep track of other genres I read, so my list always looks really heavy on the sci-fi/fantasy front. Some of my other favourite genres are thriller, historical fiction, romance. I find that many books I read blur genres, and since I'm not too picky about that, it's easiest to keep track of my favourite fave only. And kind of fun to compare to previous years! In 2018 I read 41 sci-fi/fantasy books. I top the chart without even trying!

I am excited to see how many books by lady authors I read this year! I can't compare last year's numbers to this years (I calculated it differently), but I think I'm on par. It's important to me to include diverse voices, and to make them the majority in fact. Now that I have been focused on it for a few years, I find it very easy to do.

I was (kind of) on a podcast! My question was chosen for an episode of "Get Booked in the Summer". I was looking for a book recommendation for my Dad. His Christmas gift was one of the books that they recommended, and I played our part of the episode for him before he unwrapped it. He was sort of confused as to what he was listening to, but it was fun to watch his expression when he "got it".

Light Brigade blew my dang mind. Like, I just can't get over it. Wow. WOWWWWW. (I chatted about it in this episode of "Lisa Gets Cozy").

Sharp Objects was a surprise love on summer vacation. But I did not like the TV series or Gone Girl. This was a reminder to get out of my comfort zone, and that sometimes it works and sometimes not so much. But that's okay. Because I never met a book I was afraid of putting down!


READING GOALS FOR 2020
I was considering sticking to my goal to read 52 books, even though I tend to always go over, but I think for 2020 I'll up the ante. For me, this whole exercise is less about the challenge of the total number, and more about the details.

• Read 60 books in total
• Read 5 Short Story Collections
• Read 18 Non-Fiction books, with at least 50% authored by women or POC
• Read 25 books by "Diverse" authors (and come up with a better term for that, geeze Lisa)
• Read 1 book of poetry
• Create an Instagram Story Highlight reel for my faves
• Record a "Lisa Gets Cozy" video every quarter
• Host a "Book Club" in my home once a quarter
• Start building my lending library

Do you have any reading goals for 2020? What was your favourite book (or books) in 2019? What are you excited to read in 2020?

xo Lisa

FURTHER READING
Here is the episode of the Get Booked podcast featuring my question. It's a great podcast overall, and I highly recommend it.

My 2019 Book List...for all the books I read this year.

ALL of my Lisa Gets Cozy episodes are collected here. These are so much fun to record, and I can't wait to do more in 2020!

"Lesbians and Magic" - A Cozy Book Review

Hiya friends!
It's been a hot minute since did one of these - 8 months in fact - so I went a little loo-loo with this one. 26 minutes and SIX book recommendations, with two bonus audio book recs. The accidental theme of this session is "Lesbians & Magic". So. Many. Good. Books.




I've noted all of the books in the video. I hope you get cozy with me!

Lis

Year of Less

At the beginning of October, I read one of those books that for better or worse, sticks in your brain. Makes you think about your life, life in general, and how you want to make changes for the better.

The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

This book, paired with a bunch of things that were happening in my life, helped me decide that I will be participating in a "Year of Less", starting about 2 weeks ago.

So far I'm doing pretty good! Ha!

OPINION TIME
We as a (western, global north, developed) society consume WAY TOO MUCH STUFF. This is a huge contributor to the climate crisis, and our shitty lives under capitalism. Honestly. So many people have written so many smart things about this, I don't know what I could possibly add.

MY RULES
Cait Flanders gave herself some "rules" to follow over the course of her year, to guide her on what she could and couldn't purchase. I have decided to do the same, and use her categories.

Essentials
These are things I am allowed to buy, like toiletries (only when I run out), and groceries (only when I have a plan for them).

Non-essentials
These are things I am NOT allowed to buy. This is the long list.

• Dishes
• CLOTHES
• Food storage containers
• Hair accessories
• Notebooks
• Craft supplies
• Photo albums
• Things at a craft sale
• No new subscriptions
• Indoor plants
• Picture frames

Approved Shopping

These are items that might be covered in the "banned" items, but are specific things I know I am going to need over the next year, OR things that improve my life and don't add to my mental burden of "too much stuff".

• Home improvement items from our Projects List
• Fitted sheet (1)
• Sunglasses
• Hiking boots
• Stamps
• Photos
• Travel

BUT FIRST, DECLUTTER

One of the first actions Ms Flanders takes is to go through everything in her house and take an inventory, and then start giving away any belongings that didn't fit or make sense in her life any more. This helped her see all the things she did have, helping her not buy some of those items in the future. But it also showed her that so many items she just "had to have" at one point in her life, weren't actually being used in her life anymore. I think we have all experienced that feeling.

I haven't done this exercise yet, partly because I still have so many boxes unpacked from our recent move. "Minimalism" is a movement that just doesn't resonate with me anymore, but I know I have too much stuff that I don't need or want. And I know that I need to live with less stuff in order to best live in our tiny new home. I plan on making time in November and over the December break to give myself a fresh start in 2020.

LOOKING AHEAD

I am also looking ahead to doing some 30-day challenges as part of this. That is, 30 days of eliminating a thing or a behaviour that doesn't serve me, and can push me forward in my other goals. Like no social media, no plastic, no dairy, no candy, no eating out, etc. It feels as though in taking all of these small steps, I am so close to realizing this huge potential in me and my life. Life on this earth is only going to get harder over the next years and decades. I need to do my part to prepare and to mitigate those changes for me, my family and my community.

Here goes!

There are only 3 months left in this year. How are you going to spend this time to get you where you want to be?

xo

Lisa Reads 2019 - An Update

Aside from the fact that my book counts don't match up, I'm chugging along just fine toward my goal of 52 books read in 2019.

RECENT FAVOURITES
There have only been a few duds lately, which I am super grateful for.

• Early Riser by Jasper Fforde, his latest and very on brand for him!
• In the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, a tasty fantasy-horror with mermaids...deadly mermaids!
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells is a super fun and tense novella about a rogue android who just wants to be left in peace to watch their fave TV shows
• The Nature Fix by Florence Williams is my go-to recommended book right now

WHAT'S ON DECK?

• Some history books about Czechoslovakia
• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
• The Huntress by Kate Quinn

What are you reading this summer?

xo
Lisa

p.s. I'm (clearly) still alive and kicking, but haven't felt like posting anything here in awhile. Which is fine. Things change, people change...

Lisa Gets Cozy - Library Books + Books to take on Vacation

On this week's episode of "Lisa Gets Cozy", I am chatting about two books that are going back to the library this weekend, and as a little bonus, an additional two books that I'm taking on vacation with me next week!

Lisa Gets Cozy & Chats About Books from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.

Here are some links to the books I chatted about today.

Affinity by Sarah Waters

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (this is the one I didn't finish, but I may try again because this author is badass, and live-tweeted a space walk the other day...)

The "S" Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism by John Nichols

The Poppy War by RF Kuang

I would love to get some more recommendations for great audio books or podcasts to listen to on my trip. I've got 6 long flights ahead of me!!

FURTHER READING

Check out my Vimeo profile for all of my videos. There's some old ones on there that make me chuckle!

My 2019 book list is here, and all of my 2019 blog posts are here.

xo

Lisa Gets Cozy - Let's Talk About Library Books!

On this week's episode of "Lisa Gets Cozy", I am chatting about three books that are going back to the library this weekend. Hopefully. I need to get better at this due date thing...

Lisa Gets Cozy and chats about Library Books from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.

I'm chatting about three sci-fi/fantasy books in this video:

1. Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
2. Dracul by JD Barker & Dacre Stoker
3. Bring Down the Sun by Judith Tarr

Any other science fiction fans out there? Who are your favourite authors?!

FURTHER READING

Check out my Vimeo profile for all of my videos. There's some old ones on there that make me chuckle!

My 2019 book list is here, and all of my 2019 blog posts are here.

xo

I Love Jane Austen

Last month I was telling Dan that it is very "on brand" for me to start purchasing all movies based on Jane Austen books. I mean, I haven't, but it wouldn't be surprising if I went there. Books, movies, mini series, tv series, adaptations...I literally can't get enough.

I just finished reading my favourite of all her books: Persuasion. I long ago lost track of how many times I've read it. There were a few years (a few rough years), where I re-read it multiple times per year. My copy is well-loved, and well-worn.

And well referenced! My ongoing joke is that soon this book with be all dog-eared. Many pages are already double dog-eared. Sorry if this image makes you cringe. I know this is a pain point for lots of folks!

You know how there are some quotes that just stick in your brain no matter what. A lot of mine are from this book. Captain Wentworth's letter still ranks way up high in most romantic thing I've ever read, and Anne Elliott is such a delight that most of the words out of her mouth are sweet perfection.

Do you have a favourite Jane Austen book or movie? Tell me about it!

FURTHER READING
ALL of my 2019 Book posts - reviews, discussions, recommendations, etc. - will show up here.

xo

Lisa Gets Cozy - Let's Talk Library Books!

One of the BIG goals I have for myself this year is to create and share more videos.

And while I apologize that the sound on this one is garbage (I'll do better next time!), I am proud to present to you a new series called "Lisa Gets Cozy".

In this episode "Lisa Gets Cozy and chats about the items she is returning to the library tomorrow". 

FUN FACTS!
Dan actually returned the books for me, AND I still have the Birdie title as I am typing this! Oopsies!

Due dates are hard.

xo

p.s. Happy Galentine's Day! I'm sending out a special mid-month edition of my newsletter tomorrow if you're interested...sign up here!

Tuesday Link List - Reading Goals

Today I wanted to focus on reading-related goals! I love setting goals for myself around my reading habits, and have been doing so in some shape or form for 5 years or so. And with the proliferation of book podcasts, blogs, Booktube, and Bookstagram I find more and more people are adding "read more" to their lists of goals...or "read different" or "read harder". Do you have a reading-specific goal on your list for 2019? Share it in the comments!

Maybe one of your 2019 goals is to join a book club! I thought I found one that I would fit into - Femme Cabal Feminist Book Club - but their first book is only just "on order" at the library, and there are already 41 holds on it! Our local library branches host book clubs as well, which I really like because they always pick books that have lots of copies to borrow!

"The single most important thing we (readers, writers, journalists, critics, publishers, editors, etc.) can do to improve the visibility of books by and about women, and to secure that visibility for the future, is talk about them whenever we talk about books,"

For the past few years I have made a point to read more books by women. In fact, one year mid way through, I decided to read only books by women for the remainder of the year. (It was an amazing year, by the way). It is a "challenge" that I highly recommend, and here are some resources to help you out:

• Why I'm only reading books by women this year
• Reading Women Challenge 2019
• This reader has pre-selected her books for her year of reading only women!
• Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett over at The Guardian tells us why "You cannot be 'well read' without reading women"

Goodreads is here to help you out by compiling a list of books folks have added to their "2019 Reading Challenge" shelves! Find it here...there are some obvious ones on there that were super popular in 2018, but some backlist titles as well. If you belong to Goodreads you can set yourself a challenge to read a certain number of books, and Goodreads will help you keep track.

I've been listening to Book Riot podcasts for years now, and they are always talking about the Read Harder Challenge. Essentially, their editors have created a lists of tasks to expose you to new authors, new genres, new publishers, and help you discover books you might never have picked up otherwise.

And the folks at Girl XOXO did my job for me, and posted "The Master List of 2019 Reading Challenges". So chances are if I missed it here, they've got you covered!

To quote my favourite podcasters, "Happy Reading!" And if you have a reading-based goal for 2019, I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment, or send me an email!

xo