Roof Beam Reader

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Adam Burgess

Ten

The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, by Jack Kornfield

Nine

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, by Mitch Albom

Eight

Seven

The Genius of Jesus: The Man Who Changed Everything, by Erwin Raphael McManus

Six

Going to Meet the Man [stories], by James Baldwin

Five

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us, by Ed Yong

Four

Three

Kindness and Wonder: Why Mr. Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever, by Gavin Edwards

Two

Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God, by Rainer Maria Rilke

One

Honorable Mentions

2023 Reading Year in Review

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Adam Burgess

6 Comments

Hello, Fellow Travelers!

Near the end of 2020, I told myself I would slow down my reading in 2021. That didn’t happen. So, at the end of 2021, I said I’d try again next year. Guess what? It didn’t happen. Surely, 2023 was the year I managed to make slow reading a reality, right?

Well. Partly true.

I still read over a hundred books this year, but I also launched my Contemplative Reading Project, which does encourage the “slow” part of things, at least for one book each month. That project will be the new focus of my blogging (and eventually, podcasting) journey, so this time next year, maybe I’ll only be reporting on a few dozen books instead of tens of dozens!

I’m currently reading Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, with little hope of finishing it before the end of the year, so I thought I’d go ahead and post my yearly review just a few days early.

My 2023 Year in Reading

Number Of Books Read: 145
Number of Re-Reads: 6
Genre Read Most: Manga
Best Books You Read this year (by genre)?
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Lit Fic)
- Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay (YA Fic)
- The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God by Rainer Maria Rilke (Poetry)
- An Immense World by Ed Yong (Non-Fiction)
- Therapy Game series by Meguru Hinohara (Manga/Graphic Novel)
- Wolfsong by T.J. Klune (Genre Fic)
- The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh (Religion/Philosophy)

Cover of T.J. Klune's Wolfsong, white wolf howling with moon in background, house with smoking chimney in distance, with flowers in foreground. Hues of green and gray, white font.

A Book You Enjoyed from an Indie Press: An Incomplete Encyclopedia of Happiness and Unhappiness by Amy Newman
Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going to Love More? How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom (so good!)
Book You “Pushed” The Most People to Read (And They Did)? Atomic Habits by James Clear and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Best series you started? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender?
- New Series: Vicious (Villains series) by V.E. Schwab
- Sequel: Heartstopper vol. 5 by Alice Oseman
- Series Ender: End of Watch by Stephen King

Favorite new author you discovered? Lio Min (Beating Heart Baby)
Best book from a genre you don’t typically read? Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever by Gavin Edwards (biography/personal growth)
Most action-packed/thrilling/un-put-down-able book of the year? Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Book You Are Most Likely to Re-Read? The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield
Favorite cover of a book you read?

Cover of Hide by Kiersten White, golden yellow with large clump of earth, roots showing, and a ferris wheel and abandoned carnival on top of it.

Most memorable character? Pax from The Other Ones by Fran Hart (loved this one!)
Most beautifully written book? Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book? An Immense World by Ed Yong
Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL this year to finally read? God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut
Favorite Passage/Quote from a Book You Read this year? “What does it mean . . . that the earth is so beautiful? And what shall I do about it? What is the gift that I should bring to the world? What is the life that I should live?” -Mary Oliver (Long Life)
Shortest & Longest Book You Read this year?
- Shortest: An Incomplete Encyclopedia of Happiness and Unhappiness by Amy Newman (64 pages)
- Longest: Needful Things by Stephen King (802 pages)

Cover of An Incomplete Encyclopedia of Happiness and Unhappiness: Poems by Amy Newman. Three dodo birds on a log over a creek, lush greenery in background.

Book that Shocked You the Most? The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Favorite Book You Read from an Author You’ve Read Previously? Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
Best book you read based solely on someone else’s recommendation? Wolfsong by T.J. Klune
Best 2023 debut you read? Out of Character by Jenna Miller
Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year? The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Book that put a Smile on Your Face/Was the most FUN to Read? Heartstopper (plus This Winter and Nick & Charlie) by Alice Oseman
Book That Made You Cry or Nearly Cry? A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Hidden Gem of the Year? The Other Ones by Fran Hart (I really loved this one)

Cover of The Other Ones by Fran Hart. Green background, orange font. Four teenagers facing the front, one holding a jack o' lantern.

Book That Crushed Your Soul? Wolfsong by T.J. Klune
Most Unique Book You Read this year? The Genius of Jesus: The Man Who Changed Everything by Erwin McManus
Book That Made You the Maddest (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)? Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto by Zachary Zane
Favorite review that you wrote this year? On Demons and Corruption: Why I Write by George Orwell
Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog? Friends Recommending Reads
Most Popular Post This Year on Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)? The TBR Pile Challenge Turns Ten!
Post You Wished Got a Little More Love? Interview with Sarton Award-Winning Author, Kathleen Renk
Did you complete any reading challenges or goals set for yourself at the beginning of this year? NO! I failed at pretty much all of them. I thought for sure that I’d “win” my own TBR Pile Challenge, as I was on pace/ahead most of the year. I also wanted to “win” my friend challenge and make progress on my Classics Club list. All fails. I did begin working on my new project, though, and that has been more important, so I’ll take the win there.
One book on your list that you didn’t read but definitely will get to next year? Crazy Brave by Joy Harjo
Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2024 (non-debut)? Knife by Salman Rushdie and Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Cover of Wandering Stars: A Novel by Tommy Orange, blue background with red and orange starbursts over the font, with font in black.

2024 Debut You Are Most Anticipating? The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang (so excited for this one!)
Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2024? Heartstopper vol. 6 and Titan’s Bride vol. 4
Something you hope to accomplish in your reading/blogging life in 2024? I hope to build a podcast to supplement my new Contemplative Reading Project. I’m still learning how to do that and how to plan for/book guests, interview well, etc. I’ll also probably have to announce texts at least three months early to give podcast guests time to read the books in advance of discussion months.

So, there we have it. My year in reading and blogging! How was your reading year? Please share your favorite books of the year in the comments and let me know if any books in my review have sparked your interest.

Happy Holidays!

December Checkpoint #TBRYear10

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Adam Burgess

15 Comments

All good things must end.

So it is with years (was it a good one?) and books, and reading challenges, too!

As we head into the final week of 2023, I wanted to post briefly about the challenge and people’s progress, including my own. First, though, I want to share that I will not be bringing this challenge back next year. I think ten years is a good place to stop, especially since I’m stepping away from Roof Beam Reader to focus on my new project. However, I will be keeping this blog live and will try to continue to post my monthly and annual reviews.

As to my challenge progress this year, while I was hoping to finish all fourteen books on my list, which means the twelve challenge titles and the two alternates. As many of you know, though, I’ve turned my attention to The Contemplative Reading Project, which means this challenge (and this blog) have suffered some neglect. It looks like I’ll end this year’s challenge having read ten of twelve on my list, although I might try to sneak in at least one more!

Books Read:

Of these completed, my favorites were Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay. One is an adult historical fiction, and the other is a contemporary young adult, but I can highly recommend both.

We do have some folks who have commented on the master post indicating that they are finished – outstanding! After the year ends, I will be going back to The Mister Linky to randomly select a winner from all the participant posts this year. Remember, all your linked reviews for completed books from your original TBR Pile list (which I have saved), plus ONE final wrap-up post, will earn you entries into the final giveaway, provided you have linked them all to our Mister Linky by January 14th. I will be selecting the winner on January 15th and announcing here. To put it simply:

How to be entered to win: Link up reviews for any completed book on your original list by 1/14/24.
How to get a bonus entry: Link up a challenge wrap-up post before January 14th.
How to get a second bonus entry: If you COMPLETED your challenge (at least 12 out of 14 books read and reviewed), leave a comment on this post by December 31 saying so; I will check your links and/or your wrap-up post, if you provide one, and add your name to the “Current Completers” list below.
One winner will be selected randomly on January 15th and be notified via blog/email.
Only those who originally registered for this challenge last year and have been participating are eligible to be entered. (I have all original lists saved.)

If you’re out there and you’ve finished your challenge, be sure to leave a comment letting us know! If you didn’t finish – what kind of progress did you make? 1 of 12? 6 of 12? Even reading one book is a step in the right direction, so if you gave it a shot – good for you!

Challenge Wrap-Up Questions

Which books from your list did you love? Which ones did you hate?
Which books or reading challenges are you looking forward to in 2023?

2023 TBR Pile Challenge Completers!

October Checkpoint #TBRYear10

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Adam Burgess

9 Comments

Happy Autumn, TBR Pile Challengers!

Well, it’s autumn here in the United States, but I suppose it is spring elsewhere. Anyhow, those are the two best seasons, aren’t they? So, happiness all-around!

I wonder if you might take a moment to leave a comment this month and share your favorite book from this year’s challenge? If you’ve completed your list or made a lot of progress, share that too! We’d love to cheer you on and feel motivated too, especially those of us who have been stuck for a little bit.

My Progress: 10 of 12 Completed

I’m pretty happy with my current status in this year’s challenge. I’ve finished ten of my books and have posted reviews for nine of them. I think I’m still on a track to completing at least the twelve main selections, and possibly both alternates! That said, I’ve been reading horror and thriller novels this month for Halloween and Readers Imbibing Peril, and of course I didn’t put any of those on my TBR Pile Challenge list, so I’m on a slight detour. I’ll be back to the challenge in November and December!