Since way back, I've been keeping a (Works) database list of books that I read, or listened to. Looking back on 2024, most of the titles I've listed were audio books - but with some, I had both the Kindle and the Audible version and shifted between them. All in all I have some 60+ titles listed for 2024. Most of those new to me were probably reviewed or at least mentioned on my blog along the way, but some re-reads may not have been.
In January and into February, I listened to a series of 8 novels by Josephine Tey, read by Karen Cass. Six of them featuring Inspector Grant. I read some of her books way back in my youth and enjoyed getting reaquainted with them now.
In February-March, I listened to a collection of six of Lucy Maud Montgomery's novels about Anne of Green Gables, read by Beth Kesler. The first one I've kept returning to ever since my teens (in Swedish translation), and I had read a few more in the past as well, but not all of them. - I also read Mary Norton's Bedknobs and Broomsticks on Kindle (children's books).
In March, I reread/listened to three books in Elly Griffiths' detecetive series about Ruth Galloway (forensic archaeologist), and also got started on (re)listening to JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which I continued with into April.
I continued to reread (as audio books) the Ruth Galloway series (15 books) through spring and summer. I have followed that series book by book as they were published (15 books), some on Kindle, some as audio. I now used my monthly Audible credits to collect as audio books those that I did not already had in that format. I like the characters and they are books I can happily read/listen to more than once.
In between those, I also listened to...
P.G. Wodehouse's first book in his Blandings Castle series (Something New) (Audible),
Patti Callahan's Becoming Mrs Lewis (about C.S. Lewis and his friendship and then marriage to Joy Davidman) (Kindle), The Canal Murders by J.R. Ellis (A+K) (another British crime series I'm following), An Assasination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey (Lady Hardcastle series), and Middlemarch by George Eliot, read by Juliet Stevenson (a favourite English classic of mine).
In August, I read/reread (listened to) two books in another series by Elly Griffiths - Bleeding Heart Yard and The Last Word. After that, I read three Swedish books by a Swedish author (Carin Hjulström) as audio + e-books, borrowed via the library.
In September, a branch library re-opened in my part of town, and I borrowed a few printed books from there. But I find it hard to read printed books now. I was diagnosed with some macular degeneration on one eye last winter - I don't really feel that it has got any worse since then, but "it is what it is", and reading small print is more of a strain for my eyes now than it used to be. Short texts are okay, but with novels I much prefer to listen now - or at least read as e-books, where I can adjust the font and size to suit me. Alas the Swedish libraries and publishers don't use the Kindle system, though, and that's one reason why I read a lot more English books than Swedish these days (ever since my first Kindle which I think I bought back in 2010).
In October I listened to Jacqueline Winspear's 18th book in her series about private detective Maise Dobbs (The Comfort of Ghosts). That inspired me to start over with that series as well, and collect as audio books (read by Orlagh Cassidy) those that I don't already have in that format. (I have followed that series through the years through a mix of printed books, Kindle and Audible; some borrowed and some bought. The ealy books are set in the years between the two world wars, and then go on through WWII and beyond. Some of them I've liked better than others.
In October, I also listened to Peter May's sequel to his Isle of Lewis trilogy, The Black Loch - read by Peter Forbes (who has recorded all of May's novels).
In November, I had a spell of listening to some Great Courses collections of lectures, which I then discovered were free for me to listen to via my Audible membership. (No longer on the "free" list since New Year, though.) Those I listened to in full (except that I no doubt dozed off here and there!) were The Old Testament; King Arthur: History and Legend; The Life and Writings of C.S. Lewis; and (parts of) Great Mythologies of the World.
In December, I continued with a couple of more in the Maise Dobbs series. I also listened to Dickens' A Christmas Carol. And then around Christmas got restarted for the umpteenth time on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series read by Stephen Fry... (Good night time reading because I know them so well - and still enjoyable because Fry's narration is so good.)
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Anything in particular that you read in 2024 that you'd like to recommend?
I wanted to track my books like you do, but each time I tried, I would forget to do it, and I hate spread sheets, find them difficult to do. I sometimes download a book to read and it says READ on it and I have to return it. you do a good job keeping track.
ReplyDeleteI am on book 9 of a series from Kindle unlimited. by Dawn Lee McKenna, The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series. I have been reading a couple of hours each day and enjoyed all 8 that I finished. you might not have access to them.
I have read all of Lord Of the Rings. I saw Anne Of Green Gables the movie. My recommendation is One Hundred Years Of Solitude.
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