Reading Log

2025

  1. DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver (F) novel*
  2. SHRED SISTERS by Betsy Lerner (F) novel
  3. THE WIDOWS GUIDE TO DEAD BASTARDS by Jessica Waite (NF) memoir
  4. ALWAYS CRASHING IN THE SAME CAR by Matthew Specktor (NF) essays
  5. THE DOUBLE LIFE OF BENSEN YU by Kevin Chong (F) novel
  6. BAD LAND by Corinna Chong (F) novel

2025

  1. MARY NOVIK: A Love Affair with Vision by Anne Koval (NF) artistic biography of sorts
  2. KING OF THE ARMADILLOS by Wendy Chin-Tanner (F) novel
  3. THE GATHERING by Anne Enright (F) novel*
  4. BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN by Charles Bock (F) novel 1/2 read because of misogyny
  5. SLIPSTREAM by Elizabeth Howard (NF) memoir
  6. THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS by Pip Williams (F) novel
  7. THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien (F) shorts (re-read ++)
  8. FLICKER by Lori Hahnell (F) novel
  9. THIS IS HOW YOU START TO DISAPPEAR by Astrid Blodgett (F) shorts
  10. HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson (F) novel*
  11. IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn (F) historical fiction (read X 2)
  12. i lost track of my reading list
  13. lotsa screenplays

2023

  1. ASTRA by Cedar Bowers (F) novel
  2. DAUGHTER OF THE DEER by Danielle Daniel (F) novel
  3. LOST CHILDREN ARCHIVE by Valeria Luiselli (F) novel 1/2 read
  4. SUPERFAN by Jen Sookfong Lee (NF) essays X 2
  5. DICTIONARY OF OBSCURE SORROWS by John Koenig (NF) reference book (sorta)
  6. DUNBAR by Edward St. Aubyn (F) novel 1/2 read
  7. NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead (F) novel
  8. WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING by Haruki Murakami (NF) craft 1/2 read
  9. THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER by Suzette Mayr (F) novel
  10. TRIO by William Boyd (F) novel
  11. THE OPPORTUNIST by Elyse Friedman (F) novel
  12. BREATH by Tim Winton (F) novel
  13. THRESHOLD by Rob Doyle (F) novel
  14. THE ANATOMY OF GENRES by John Truby (craft) 1/2 read
  15. SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel (F) novel
  16. SING HER DOWN by Ivy Pochoda (F) novel
  17. MISTAKES TO RUN WITH by Yasuko Thanh (NF) memoir
  18. THE FROZEN THAMES by Helen Humphreys (F/NF) stories of a frozen body of water
  19. ELLEN FOSTER by Kaye Gibbons (F) novel. very short novel
  20. GIRLFRIEND ON MARS by Debbie Willis (F) novel
  21. AND A DOG CALLED FIG by Helen Humphreys (NF) a book about dogs and writing, too
  22. THE RIDERS by Tim Winton (F) novel 1/2 read
  23. ELLEN FOSTER by Kaye Gibbons (F) novel
  24. WHAT MY BONES KNOW by Stephanie Foo (NF) memoir
  25. THE OBSERVER by Marina Endicott (F) novel*
  26. PLEASE SEE US by Caitlen Mullen (F) novel
  27. STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND by Liz Nugent (F) novel
  28. BOY PARTS by Eliza Clark (F) novel
  29. THEY THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien (NF)
  30. IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS by Tim O’Brien (F)
  31. MY MOVIE BUSINESS by John Irving (NF) (craft)
  32. CROW VALLEY KAROKE CHAMPIONSHIP by Ali Bryan (F)
  33. lotsa screenplays

2022

  1. INDELICACY by Amina Cain (F) novel
  2. LESS by Andrew Sean Greer (F) novel* re-read
  3. PENELOPE FITZGERALD by Hermione Lee (NF) biography (1/2 read)
  4. SHUGGIE BAIN by Douglas Stuart (F) novel trying to read it again but it’s slow
  5. NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry (F) novel* re-read
  6. GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernadine Evaristo (F) novel re-read
  7. THINGS I DON’T WANT TO KNOW by Deborah Levy (NF)
  8. MACHINE WITHOUT HORSES by Helen Humphreys (F) novel but feels like auto-fiction TBH
  9. THE COST OF LIVING by Deborah Levy (NF)*
  10. SWIMMING LESSONS by Deborah Levy (F) novel*
  11. AFTERIMAGE by Helen Humphreys (F) novel*
  12. GRAND HOTEL by Vicki Baum (F) novel* 1920s fiction
  13. THE HOTEL by Elizabeth Bowen (F) novel
  14. THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS by Claire Messud (F) novel (1/2 read)
  15. KANT’S LITTLE PRUSSIAN HEAD AND OTHER REASONS WHY I WRITE by Claire Messud (NF) essays (1/2 read)
  16. BARCELONA DREAMING by Rupert Thomson (F) shorts shaped into a novel* structurally great and magical, too
  17. THE MAGICIAN by Colm Toibin (F) novel
  18. BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT by anon (NF) memoir
  19. ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS by Jami Attenberg (F) novel
  20. ALL GROWN UP by Jami Attenberg (F) novel
  21. HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES by Carmen Maria Machado (F) shorts*
  22. THE FACEMAKER by Lindsey Fitzharris (NF) history of Dr. Gillies*
  23. FIGHT NIGHT by Miriam Toews (F) novel
  24. HOW A WOMAN BECOMES A LAKE by Marjorie Celona (F) novel (literary mystery)
  25. THE HOUSEKEEPER’S TALE by Tessa Boase (NF)
  26. RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER by Sarah Polley (NF) essays
  27. A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING by Ruth Ozeki (F) novel
  28. THE TASTE OF HUNGER by Barbara Joan Scott (F) novel
  29. STILL LIFE by Sarah Winman (F) novel*
  30. DEAR HEARTS by Barbara Miller Biles (F) shorts
  31. PATTERSON HOUSE by Jane Cawthorne (F) novel*
  32. FORTY-ONE FALSE STARTS by Janet Malcolm (NF) essays
  33. IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes (F) novel (re-read)
  34. PARIS by Hope Mirrlees (Poetry)*
  35. SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Claire Keegan (F) novella
  36. SAVE THE CAT by Blake Synder (NF) craft on screenwriting (1/2 read)
  37. SEE YOU LATER MAYBE NEVER by Lenore Rowntree (F) shorts
  38. lotsa screenplays

2021

  1. SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward (F) novel* re-read
  2. HAMNET & JUDITH by Maggie O’Farrell (F) novel*
  3. HOW TO PRONOUNCE KNIFE by Souvankgham Thammavongsa (F) shorts
  4. SEVERAL SHORT SENTENCES ABOUT WRITING by Verlyn Klinkenborg (NF) craft book*
  5. TWO OR THREE THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE by Dorothy Allison (NF) memoir
  6. CZECH TECHNO by Mark Anthony Jarman (F) shorts chapbook
  7. INDIANS ON VACATION by Thomas King (F) novel (1/2 read)
  8. SPLIT a memoir of divorce by Suzanne Finnamore (NF) memoir
  9. HEARTBURN by Nora Ephron (NF) memoir
  10. THE GLASS HOTEL by Emily St. John Mandel (F) novel
  11. HARMLESS LIKE YOU by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan (F) novel (1/2 read)
  12. DARING GREATLY by Brene Brown (NF)
  13. RISING STRONG by Brene Brown (NF)
  14. THE ERRATIC by Vicki Laveau-Harvie (NF) memoir (1/2 read)
  15. DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD by Olga Tokarczuk (F) novel
  16. NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE by Damhnait Monaghan (F) novel
  17. BLOW DOWN YOUR HOUSE by Gina Frangello (NF) memoir
  18. I GOT THE DOG by Amanda Boyden (NF) memoir
  19. THE TALENTED MISS HIGHSMITH by Joan Schenkar (NF) biography (3/4 read)
  20. SATELLITE LOVE by Genki Ferguson (F) novel
  21. SHUGGIE BAIN by Douglas Stewart (F) novel (1/2 read)
  22. DRIFTS by Kate Zambreno (CNF) fragments (1/2 read)*
  23. THE FRIEND by Sigrid Nunez (F) novel*
  24. WHITE RESIN by Audree Wilhelmy (F) novel
  25. THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett (F) novel
  26. IMPACT: Women Writing After Concussion (NF) anthology

2020

  1. WASHINGTON BLACK by Esi Edugyan (F) novel
  2. THE PARTY by Elizabeth Day (F) novel
  3. WOMEN TALKING by Miriam Toews (F) short novel
  4. IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes (F) (Noir) short novel
  5. THE DAMNED by Nathan Greenfield (NF)
  6. HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD by Ottessa Moshfegh (F) shorts*
  7. FIVE DAYS GONE by Laura Cumming (CNF)
  8. THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate Quinn (F) novel
  9. WHAT WE ALL LONG FOR by Dionne Brand (F) novel
  10. AGAINST DEATH (anthology) edited by Elee K. Gardiner (NF) essays 1/2 read
  11. THE LONDON TRAIN by Tessa Hadley (F) novel in 2 parts
  12. LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson (F) novel in pieces*
  13. GOD IN RUINS by Kate Atkinson (F) novel
  14. TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson (F) mystery novel
  15. BINA by Anakana Schofield (F) novel in warnings (i don’t need to read anymore of this series, i really don’t #gettingonmynerves
  16. GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernardine Evaristo (F) novel*
  17. LIT by Mary Karr (NF) memoir
  18. CITY OF FIRE by Garth Hellburg (F) fucking long novel that i will finish if it fucking kills me. PS i still haven’t finished it. gah. i will never finish it. defeated.
  19. HALF-BLOOD BLUES by Esi Eduygan (F) novel (re-read)
  20. SERVANTS OF THE MAP by Andrea Barrett (F) shorts; but long shorts with a historic/scientific bent
  21. OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk (F) short novel re-read
  22. TRANSIT by Rachel Cusk (F) short novel*
  23. THE ART OF MEMOIR by Mary Karr (NF) (Craft)*
  24. KUDOS by Rachel Cusk (F) short novel
  25. RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles (F) novel*
  26. WHEN EVERYTHING FEELS LIKE THE MOVIES by Raziel Reid (F) short novel
  27. SHUT UP YOU’RE PRETTY by Tea Mutonji (F) shorts
  28. THE PLAGUE by Kevin Chong (F) novel
  29. HOW TO MURDER YOUR LIFE by Cat Marnell (NF) (memoir) audiobook
  30. THE BOOK OF SALT by Monique Truong (F) audiobook 1/3 read. the narrator wasn’t great
  31. THE WHITES by Richard Price (F) novel
  32. RED AT THE BONE by Jacqueline Woodson (F) novel
  33. THIS IS THE NIGHT OUR HOUSE WILL CATCH FIRE by Nick Flynn (CNF) memoir
  34. NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney (F) short novel
  35. ANATOMY OF STORY by John Truby (NF) craft
  36. WIRED FOR STORY by Lisa Cron (NF) craft
  37. SQUARE HAUNTING by Francesca Wade (NF)*
  38. THE TOPEKA SCHOOL by Ben Lerner (F) novel (1/2 read)
  39. BUNNY by Mona Awad (F) novel*
  40. NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry (F) novel*
  41. THE SPLENDID THINGS WE PLANNED by Blake Bailey (NF) memoir
  42. THE YELLOW HOUSE by Sarah L. Broom (NF) memoir
  43. LONG LIVE THE TRIBE OF THE FATHERLESS GIRLS (memoir) by T. Kira Madden*
  44. VERMIN by Lori Hahnel (F) shorts

2019

  1. ON WRITING by Stephen King (craft) re-read
  2. THE RECOVERY: INTOXICATION AND IT’S AFTERMATH by Leslie Jamieson (NF + CNF)
  3. JOHNNY APPLESEED by Joshua Whitehead (F) novel X 2
  4. HOW FICTION WORKS by James Wood (craft)* re-read
  5. HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL IN 90 DAYS by Alan Watts (craft)* X 2
  6. CATARACT CITY by Craig Davidson (F) novel (bro book)
  7. THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER by Lidia Yuknavitch (memoir)
  8. THE LAST NUDE by Ellis Avery (F) novel
  9. ZEPPLIN NIGHTS by Jerry White (NF) history of WW1 X2
  10. SEARCH FOR TERRY PUNCHOUT by Tyler Hellard (F) novel
  11. THE LIAR’S CLUB by Mary Karr (NF + memoir)
  12. NEVER MIND by Edward St. Aubyn (F) novel*
  13. GREAT WAR LETTERS by The Times (NF) X 2
  14. AQUA VIVA by Clarice Lispector (F) novella
  15. GLORY IN A LINE: A LIFE OF FOUJITA by Phyllis Birbaum (NF)
  16. FACES OF WAR by Andrew Bamji (NF) re-read
  17. THE PIANO SHOP ON THE LEFT BANK by TE Carhart (NF)
  18. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FACE by Lucy Grealy (memoir)
  19. FALLING AWAKE by Alice Oswald (poetry)
  20. A LUCKY MAN by Jamel Brinkley (F) shorts
  21. UNDER MY SKIN by Doris Lessing (memoir)
  22. A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by Amor Towles (N) mystery/suspense
  23. THE RISE AND FALL OF GREAT POWERS by Tom Rachman (F) novel
  24. TRUTH & BEAUTY by Ann Patchett (memoir) X 2 (audiobook + book)
  25. DEGREES OF NAKEDNESS by Lisa Moore (F) short stories*
  26. TINY LIGHTS FOR TRAVELLERS by Naomi K. Lewis (memoir)*
  27. SPEEDBOAT by Renata Adler (F) a novel in fragments
  28. UNDER THE BRIDGE: The True Story of the Murder of Reena Virk by Rebecca Godfrey (NF)
  29. THE EMPRESS OF IDAHO by Todd Babiak (F) novel
  30. BETTYVILLE by George Hodgman (NF) memoir*
  31. BASIC BLACK WITH PEARLS by Helen Weinzweig (F) short novel
  32. BELOVED by Toni Morrison (F) short novel*
  33. THE WESTERN ALIENATION MERIT BADGE by Nancy Jo Cullen (F) short novel
  34. THERE, THERE by Tommy Orange (F) novel*
  35. THEORY by Dionne Brand (F) short novel
  36. BOTH WAYS IS THE ONLY WAY I WANT IT by Maile Meloy (F) short stories*
  37. CALGARY THROUGH THE EYES OF WRITERS by Shaun Hunter (NF) anthology reread
  38. AN HONEST WOMAN by JoAnn McCaig (F) short novel
  39. LIARS AND SAINTS by Maile Meloy (F) novel
  40. A FAMILY DAUGHTER by Maile Meloy (F) novel
  41. SEASON OF FURY AND WONDER by Sharon Butala (F) short stories*
  42. THE BODY OF THE BEASTS by Audree Wilhelmy (F) short novel
  43. STET by Diana Athill (NF) memoir*
  44. THE INCENDIARIES, A NOVEL by R.O. Kwon (F) short novel*
  45. A HOUSE FOR MR. BISWAS by V. S. Naipaul (F) novel 1/3 read
  46. AIR SALT by Ian Kinney (poetry)*
  47. THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot (NF)
  48. HOT MILK by Deborah Levy (F) short novel*

2018

  1. FACES OF WAR by Andrew Bamji (NF) X 2
  2. THE SYMPATHIZER by Viet Thanh Nyugen (F) novel ½ read
  3. SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward (F) novel
  4. MOTHER’S AND OTHER STRANGERS by Gina Sorell (F) novel
  5. FLOATING CITY by Kerri Sakamoto (F) novel
  6. JOURNEY PRIZE ANTHOLOGY #29 (F) shorts
  7. DROPOUT by Leslie Gavel (NF) memoir
  8. DARWIN’S MOVING by Taylor Lambert (NF) memoir
  9. SCOGGY’S WAR by Howard Brenton (play)
  10. THE CONJOINED by Jen Sookfong Lee (F) novel
  11. JESUS ON THE DASHBOARD by Lisa Murphy-Lamb (F)(YA) novella
  12. CATALINA by Liska Jacobs (F) novel
  13. DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY? by Bill Clegg (F) novel*
  14. TOBY’S ROOM by Pat Barker (F) novel re-read
  15. NOONDAY by Pat Barker (F) novel re-read
  16. FOLLOWING THE RIVER by Lorri Neilson Glenn (CNF) ½ read
  17. THAT TINY LIFE by Erin Frances Fisher (F) shorts ½ read
  18. THE ITALIAN TEACHER by Tom Rachman (F) novel*
  19. THE CONCUBINE’S DAUGHTER by Denise Chong (NF) memoir
  20. LINCOLN IN THE BARDO by George Saunders (F) novel*
  21. THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF POETS by Jess Walter (F) novel
  22. PRIESTDADDY by Patricia Lockwood (CNF) essays
  23. THE FIGGS by Ali Bryan (F) novel
  24. THE DAUGHTERS OF MARS by Thomas Kineally (HF) novel
  25. HOW TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL by Alexander Chee (NF) essays*
  26. SWING TIME by Zadie Smith (F) novel
  27. WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys (F) novel re-read
  28. THE SUN ALSO RISES by Hemingway (F) novel re-read
  29. MANUEL FOR CLEANING WOMEN by Lucia Berlin (F) shorts
  30. BROTHER by David Chariandy (F) novel*
  31. THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT by Robert Goolrick (NF) memoir
  32. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Erich Maria Remarque (F) novel
  33. EILEEN by Ottessa Moshfegh (F) novel*
  34. ISADORA by Amelia Gray (CNF) novel
  35. THEY TOLD ME THERE’D BE CAKE by Sloane Crosley (NF) essays ½ read
  36. OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk (F) novel*
  37. UNDERMAJORDOMO MINOR by Patrick de Witt (F) novel
  38. THE REAL LOLITA by Sarah Weinman (NF but a weird combo of crime + literary investigation)*
  39. IT STARTS WITH THE BODY by Hana Shafi (P)
  40. FLAWED by Andrea Dorfman (CNF) adult picture book
  41. NO GOOD ASKING by Fran Kimmel (F) (YA) novel
  42. THE ONLY STORY by Julian Barnes (F) novel
  43. THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY by Patricia Highsmith (F) novel
  44. GALVESTON by Paul Quarrington (F) novel
  45. THE FACT OF A BODY by Alexandrian Marzano-Lesnevich (CNF—crime + memoir)*
  46. LESS by Andrew Sean Greer (F) novel*
  47. CALGARY THROUGH THE EYES OF A WRITER by Shaun Hunter (NF) anthology
  48. SOFIE AND CECILIA by Katherine Ashenburg (historical F) novel
  49. WAITING ANTHOLOGY edited by Rona Altrows + Julie Sedivy (NF) ½ read
  50. HOW IT ENDED by Jay McInerney (F) shorts
  51. WE’LL ALL BE BURNT IN OUR BED SOME NIGHT by Joel Thomas Hynes (F) novel
  52. TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG by Peter Carey (F) novel
  53. THE SELECTED STORIES OF GORDON LISH by Gordon Lish (F) shorts
  54. WHEN WE WERE BIRDS by Maria Mutch (F) shorts