MARY NOVIK: A Love Affair with Vision by Anne Koval (NF) artistic biography of sorts
KING OF THE ARMADILLOS by Wendy Chin-Tanner (F) novel
THE GATHERING by Anne Enright (F) novel*
BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN by Charles Bock (F) novel 1/2 read because of misogyny
SLIPSTREAM by Elizabeth Howard (NF) memoir
THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS by Pip Williams (F) novel
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien (F) shorts
FLICKER by Lori Hahnell (F) novel
THIS IS HOW YOU START TO DISAPPEAR by Astrid Blodgett (F) shorts
HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson (F) novel*
THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS by Ruth Ozeki (F) novel
THE RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick (F) novel
THE END OF THE DAY by Bill Clegg (F) novel
THE HOURS by Michael Cunningham (F) novel
THE FAKE by Zoe Whittall (F) novel
PARIS STORIES by Mavis Gallant (F) shorts
CAUGHT by Lisa Moore (F) novel
THIS BOOK WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE by AM Homes (F) novel
IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn (F) historical fiction
AUGUST BLUE by Deborah Levy (F) novel
SUSPENDED SENTENCES by Patrick Modiano (F) novel
WHAT ARE YOU GOING THROUGH by Sigrid Nunez (F) novel
2023
ASTRA by Cedar Bowers (F) novel
DAUGHTER OF THE DEER by Danielle Daniel (F) novel
LOST CHILDREN ARCHIVE by Valeria Luiselli (F) novel 1/2 read
SUPERFAN by Jen Sookfong Lee (NF) essays X 2
DICTIONARY OF OBSCURE SORROWS by John Koenig (NF) reference book (sorta)
DUNBAR by Edward St. Aubyn (F) novel 1/2 read
NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead (F) novel
WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT RUNNING by Haruki Murakami (NF) craft 1/2 read
THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER by Suzette Mayr (F) novel
TRIO by William Boyd (F) novel
THE OPPORTUNIST by Elyse Friedman (F) novel
BREATH by Tim Winton (F) novel
THRESHOLD by Rob Doyle (F) novel
THE ANATOMY OF GENRES by John Truby (craft) 1/2 read
SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel (F) novel
SING HER DOWN by Ivy Pochoda (F) novel
MISTAKES TO RUN WITH by Yasuko Thanh (NF) memoir
THE FROZEN THAMES by Helen Humphreys (F/NF) stories of a frozen body of water
ELLEN FOSTER by Kaye Gibbons (F) novel. very short novel
GIRLFRIEND ON MARS by Debbie Willis (F) novel
AND A DOG CALLED FIG by Helen Humphreys (NF) a book about dogs and writing, too
THE RIDERS by Tim Winton (F) novel 1/2 read
ELLEN FOSTER by Kaye Gibbons (F) novel
WHAT MY BONES KNOW by Stephanie Foo (NF) memoir
THE OBSERVER by Marina Endicott (F) novel*
PLEASE SEE US by Caitlen Mullen (F) novel
STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND by Liz Nugent (F) novel
BOY PARTS by Eliza Clark (F) novel
THEY THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O’Brien (NF)
IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS by Tim O’Brien (F)
MY MOVIE BUSINESS by John Irving (NF) (craft)
CROW VALLEY KAROKE CHAMPIONSHIP by Ali Bryan (F)
lotsa screenplays
2022
INDELICACY by Amina Cain (F) novel
LESS by Andrew Sean Greer (F) novel* re-read
PENELOPE FITZGERALD by Hermione Lee (NF) biography (1/2 read)
SHUGGIE BAIN by Douglas Stuart (F) novel trying to read it again but it’s slow
NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry (F) novel* re-read
GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernadine Evaristo (F) novel re-read
THINGS I DON’T WANT TO KNOW by Deborah Levy (NF)
MACHINE WITHOUT HORSES by Helen Humphreys (F) novel but feels like auto-fiction TBH
THE COST OF LIVING by Deborah Levy (NF)*
SWIMMING LESSONS by Deborah Levy (F) novel*
AFTERIMAGE by Helen Humphreys (F) novel*
GRAND HOTEL by Vicki Baum (F) novel* 1920s fiction
THE HOTEL by Elizabeth Bowen (F) novel
THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS by Claire Messud (F) novel (1/2 read)
KANT’S LITTLE PRUSSIAN HEAD AND OTHER REASONS WHY I WRITE by Claire Messud (NF) essays (1/2 read)
BARCELONA DREAMING by Rupert Thomson (F) shorts shaped into a novel* structurally great and magical, too
THE MAGICIAN by Colm Toibin (F) novel
BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT by anon (NF) memoir
ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS by Jami Attenberg (F) novel
ALL GROWN UP by Jami Attenberg (F) novel
HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES by Carmen Maria Machado (F) shorts*
THE FACEMAKER by Lindsey Fitzharris (NF) history of Dr. Gillies*
FIGHT NIGHT by Miriam Toews (F) novel
HOW A WOMAN BECOMES A LAKE by Marjorie Celona (F) novel (literary mystery)
THE HOUSEKEEPER’S TALE by Tessa Boase (NF)
RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER by Sarah Polley (NF) essays
A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING by Ruth Ozeki (F) novel
THE TASTE OF HUNGER by Barbara Joan Scott (F) novel
STILL LIFE by Sarah Winman (F) novel*
DEAR HEARTS by Barbara Miller Biles (F) shorts
PATTERSON HOUSE by Jane Cawthorne (F) novel*
FORTY-ONE FALSE STARTS by Janet Malcolm (NF) essays
IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes (F) novel (re-read)
PARIS by Hope Mirrlees (Poetry)*
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Claire Keegan (F) novella
SAVE THE CAT by Blake Synder (NF) craft on screenwriting (1/2 read)
SEE YOU LATER MAYBE NEVER by Lenore Rowntree (F) shorts
lotsa screenplays
2021
SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward (F) novel* re-read
HAMNET & JUDITH by Maggie O’Farrell (F) novel*
HOW TO PRONOUNCE KNIFE by Souvankgham Thammavongsa (F) shorts
SEVERAL SHORT SENTENCES ABOUT WRITING by Verlyn Klinkenborg (NF) craft book*
TWO OR THREE THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE by Dorothy Allison (NF) memoir
CZECH TECHNO by Mark Anthony Jarman (F) shorts chapbook
INDIANS ON VACATION by Thomas King (F) novel (1/2 read)
SPLIT a memoir of divorce by Suzanne Finnamore (NF) memoir
HEARTBURN by Nora Ephron (NF) memoir
THE GLASS HOTEL by Emily St. John Mandel (F) novel
HARMLESS LIKE YOU by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan (F) novel (1/2 read)
DARING GREATLY by Brene Brown (NF)
RISING STRONG by Brene Brown (NF)
THE ERRATIC by Vicki Laveau-Harvie (NF) memoir (1/2 read)
DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD by Olga Tokarczuk (F) novel
NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE by Damhnait Monaghan (F) novel
BLOW DOWN YOUR HOUSE by Gina Frangello (NF) memoir
I GOT THE DOG by Amanda Boyden (NF) memoir
THE TALENTED MISS HIGHSMITH by Joan Schenkar (NF) biography (3/4 read)
SATELLITE LOVE by Genki Ferguson (F) novel
SHUGGIE BAIN by Douglas Stewart (F) novel (1/2 read)
DRIFTS by Kate Zambreno (CNF) fragments (1/2 read)*
THE FRIEND by Sigrid Nunez (F) novel*
WHITE RESIN by Audree Wilhelmy (F) novel
THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett (F) novel
IMPACT: Women Writing After Concussion (NF) anthology
2020
WASHINGTON BLACK by Esi Edugyan (F) novel
THE PARTY by Elizabeth Day (F) novel
WOMEN TALKING by Miriam Toews (F) short novel
IN A LONELY PLACE by Dorothy B. Hughes (F) (Noir) short novel
THE DAMNED by Nathan Greenfield (NF)
HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD by Ottessa Moshfegh (F) shorts*
FIVE DAYS GONE by Laura Cumming (CNF)
THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate Quinn (F) novel
WHAT WE ALL LONG FOR by Dionne Brand (F) novel
AGAINST DEATH (anthology) edited by Elee K. Gardiner (NF) essays 1/2 read
THE LONDON TRAIN by Tessa Hadley (F) novel in 2 parts
LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson (F) novel in pieces*
GOD IN RUINS by Kate Atkinson (F) novel
TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson (F) mystery novel
BINA by Anakana Schofield (F) novel in warnings (i don’t need to read anymore of this series, i really don’t #gettingonmynerves
GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER by Bernardine Evaristo (F) novel*
LIT by Mary Karr (NF) memoir
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.
HALF-BLOOD BLUES by Esi Eduygan (F) novel (re-read)
SERVANTS OF THE MAP by Andrea Barrett (F) shorts; but long shorts with a historic/scientific bent
OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk (F) short novel re-read
TRANSIT by Rachel Cusk (F) short novel*
THE ART OF MEMOIR by Mary Karr (NF) (Craft)*
KUDOS by Rachel Cusk (F) short novel
RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles (F) novel*
WHEN EVERYTHING FEELS LIKE THE MOVIES by Raziel Reid (F) short novel
SHUT UP YOU’RE PRETTY by Tea Mutonji (F) shorts
THE PLAGUE by Kevin Chong (F) novel
HOW TO MURDER YOUR LIFE by Cat Marnell (NF) (memoir) audiobook
THE BOOK OF SALT by Monique Truong (F) audiobook 1/3 read. the narrator wasn’t great
THE WHITES by Richard Price (F) novel
RED AT THE BONE by Jacqueline Woodson (F) novel
THIS IS THE NIGHT OUR HOUSE WILL CATCH FIRE by Nick Flynn (CNF) memoir
NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney (F) short novel
ANATOMY OF STORY by John Truby (NF) craft
WIRED FOR STORY by Lisa Cron (NF) craft
SQUARE HAUNTING by Francesca Wade (NF)*
THE TOPEKA SCHOOL by Ben Lerner (F) novel (1/2 read)
BUNNY by Mona Awad (F) novel*
NIGHT BOAT TO TANGIER by Kevin Barry (F) novel*
THE SPLENDID THINGS WE PLANNED by Blake Bailey (NF) memoir
THE YELLOW HOUSE by Sarah L. Broom (NF) memoir
LONG LIVE THE TRIBE OF THE FATHERLESS GIRLS (memoir) by T. Kira Madden*
VERMIN by Lori Hahnel (F) shorts
2019
ON WRITING by Stephen King (craft) re-read
THE RECOVERY: INTOXICATION AND IT’S AFTERMATH by Leslie Jamieson (NF + CNF)
JOHNNY APPLESEED by Joshua Whitehead (F) novel X 2
HOW FICTION WORKS by James Wood (craft)* re-read
HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL IN 90 DAYS by Alan Watts (craft)* X 2
CATARACT CITY by Craig Davidson (F) novel (bro book)
THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER by Lidia Yuknavitch (memoir)
THE LAST NUDE by Ellis Avery (F) novel
ZEPPLIN NIGHTS by Jerry White (NF) history of WW1 X2
SEARCH FOR TERRY PUNCHOUT by Tyler Hellard (F) novel
THE LIAR’S CLUB by Mary Karr (NF + memoir)
NEVER MINDby Edward St. Aubyn (F) novel*
GREAT WAR LETTERSby The Times (NF) X 2
AQUA VIVA by Clarice Lispector (F) novella
GLORY IN A LINE: A LIFE OF FOUJITA by Phyllis Birbaum (NF)
FACES OF WAR by Andrew Bamji (NF) re-read
THE PIANO SHOP ON THE LEFT BANK by TE Carhart (NF)
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FACE by Lucy Grealy (memoir)
FALLING AWAKEby Alice Oswald (poetry)
A LUCKY MAN by Jamel Brinkley (F) shorts
UNDER MY SKIN by Doris Lessing (memoir)
A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by Amor Towles (N) mystery/suspense
THE RISE AND FALL OF GREAT POWERS by Tom Rachman (F) novel
TRUTH & BEAUTYby Ann Patchett (memoir) X 2 (audiobook + book)
DEGREES OF NAKEDNESS by Lisa Moore (F) short stories*
TINY LIGHTS FOR TRAVELLERS by Naomi K. Lewis (memoir)*
SPEEDBOAT by Renata Adler (F) a novel in fragments
UNDER THE BRIDGE: The True Story of the Murder of Reena Virk by Rebecca Godfrey (NF)
THE EMPRESS OF IDAHO by Todd Babiak (F) novel
BETTYVILLE by George Hodgman (NF) memoir*
BASIC BLACK WITH PEARLS by Helen Weinzweig (F) short novel
BELOVED by Toni Morrison (F) short novel*
THE WESTERN ALIENATION MERIT BADGE by Nancy Jo Cullen (F) short novel
THERE, THERE by Tommy Orange (F) novel*
THEORY by Dionne Brand (F) short novel
BOTH WAYS IS THE ONLY WAY I WANT IT by Maile Meloy (F) short stories*
CALGARY THROUGH THE EYES OF WRITERS by Shaun Hunter (NF) anthology reread
AN HONEST WOMAN by JoAnn McCaig (F) short novel
LIARS AND SAINTS by Maile Meloy (F) novel
A FAMILY DAUGHTER by Maile Meloy (F) novel
SEASON OF FURY AND WONDER by Sharon Butala (F) short stories*
THE BODY OF THE BEASTS by Audree Wilhelmy (F) short novel
STET by Diana Athill (NF) memoir*
THE INCENDIARIES, A NOVEL by R.O. Kwon (F) short novel*
A HOUSE FOR MR. BISWAS by V. S. Naipaul (F) novel 1/3 read
AIR SALT by Ian Kinney (poetry)*
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot (NF)
HOT MILK by Deborah Levy (F) short novel*
2018
FACES OF WAR by Andrew Bamji (NF) X 2
THE SYMPATHIZER by Viet Thanh Nyugen (F) novel ½ read
SING, UNBURIED, SING by Jesmyn Ward (F) novel
MOTHER’S AND OTHER STRANGERS by Gina Sorell (F) novel
FLOATING CITY by Kerri Sakamoto (F) novel
JOURNEY PRIZE ANTHOLOGY #29 (F) shorts
DROPOUT by Leslie Gavel (NF) memoir
DARWIN’S MOVING by Taylor Lambert (NF) memoir
SCOGGY’S WAR by Howard Brenton (play)
THE CONJOINED by Jen Sookfong Lee (F) novel
JESUS ON THE DASHBOARD by Lisa Murphy-Lamb (F)(YA) novella
CATALINA by Liska Jacobs (F) novel
DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY? by Bill Clegg (F) novel*
TOBY’S ROOM by Pat Barker (F) novel re-read
NOONDAY by Pat Barker (F) novel re-read
FOLLOWING THE RIVER by Lorri Neilson Glenn (CNF) ½ read
THAT TINY LIFE by Erin Frances Fisher (F) shorts ½ read
THE ITALIAN TEACHER by Tom Rachman (F) novel*
THE CONCUBINE’S DAUGHTER by Denise Chong (NF) memoir
LINCOLN IN THE BARDO by George Saunders (F) novel*
THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF POETS by Jess Walter (F) novel
PRIESTDADDY by Patricia Lockwood (CNF) essays
THE FIGGS by Ali Bryan (F) novel
THE DAUGHTERS OF MARS by Thomas Kineally (HF) novel
HOW TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL by Alexander Chee (NF) essays*
SWING TIME by Zadie Smith (F) novel
WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys (F) novel re-read
THE SUN ALSO RISES by Hemingway (F) novel re-read
MANUEL FOR CLEANING WOMEN by Lucia Berlin (F) shorts
BROTHER by David Chariandy (F) novel*
THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT by Robert Goolrick (NF) memoir
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Erich Maria Remarque (F) novel
EILEEN by Ottessa Moshfegh (F) novel*
ISADORA by Amelia Gray (CNF) novel
THEY TOLD ME THERE’D BE CAKE by Sloane Crosley (NF) essays ½ read
OUTLINE by Rachel Cusk (F) novel*
UNDERMAJORDOMO MINOR by Patrick de Witt (F) novel
THE REAL LOLITA by Sarah Weinman (NF but a weird combo of crime + literary investigation)*
IT STARTS WITH THE BODY by Hana Shafi (P)
FLAWED by Andrea Dorfman (CNF) adult picture book
NO GOOD ASKING by Fran Kimmel (F) (YA) novel
THE ONLY STORY by Julian Barnes (F) novel
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY by Patricia Highsmith (F) novel
GALVESTON by Paul Quarrington (F) novel
THE FACT OF A BODY by Alexandrian Marzano-Lesnevich (CNF—crime + memoir)*
LESS by Andrew Sean Greer (F) novel*
CALGARY THROUGH THE EYES OF A WRITER by Shaun Hunter (NF) anthology
SOFIE AND CECILIA by Katherine Ashenburg (historical F) novel
WAITING ANTHOLOGY edited by Rona Altrows + Julie Sedivy (NF) ½ read
HOW IT ENDED by Jay McInerney (F) shorts
WE’LL ALL BE BURNT IN OUR BED SOME NIGHT by Joel Thomas Hynes (F) novel
TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG by Peter Carey (F) novel
THE SELECTED STORIES OF GORDON LISH by Gordon Lish (F) shorts
