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fiction

Dec 31 2019

100 for 2019

Over the past year, I’ve read 100 books. I made a deliberate effort to reach 100 because I realized I was 15 years away from the age that both my mother and my grandmother were when they died, and I had 1500 books on my to-read list. I’ve blown that up, because I still have 1500 books to go. I added as many books as I read, so I need to hang on for 15 years—at least.

The oldest story I read was a translation of Gilgamesh (~4000 years old). The earliest publication I read was The Recognitions by William Gaddis, one of the foundational novels of postmodern literature (which I’ve been reading through over several years). Gaddis’ was also the longest book I read this year at just under 1000 pages.

I balanced fiction (52) and non-fiction (48). Within fiction I balanced serious and pulp; within non-fiction I balanced business and the mind. I deliberately kept moving between topics to keep myself paying attention.

I loved many of these books. I loved them and admired the execution. Twenty earned 5 stars from me; only 13 got 1-2 stars from me. I’m getting more and more careful about my choices. Despite being a tough reviewer, I gave on average 3.7 stars. I really hated two books. Hated them. Hated one so much that I wrote a review explaining why a reader should skip the book but not the author’s productivity method, which is explained on his website (Agile Results). I use his method every day. I wanted to love his book. It doesn’t deserve anyone’s love.

Now that I’m looking over the list, I wish I had read more. I don’t think I could do right by the ideas if I read more than 100 books a year, but I feel itchy and anxious to get to the rest of my list. I have already started. I have 20 books on my “Currently Reading” list. If you are on Goodreads, let’s connect.

Here are some of my favorites from the year.

Anathem, Neal Stephenson, 2008

A novel of sacred math and science. I will read anything Neal Stephenson touches.

The Correspondents, Tim Murphy, 2019

A novel that weaves the stories of families into the stories of the experiences of two war correspondents in Iraq.

The Great Passage, Shion Miura, 2011

A novel about a beautiful passion for and dedication to language and books.

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, Michael Pollan, 2018

Non-fiction. I really enjoyed diving deeper into a topic I thought I already knew. Surprise: I didn’t.

The Humans, Matt Haig, 2013

A novel that takes a compassionate look at humans through the mind of an alien visitor.

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, Caroline Criado-Perez, 2019

Non-fiction. I’ve given this as a gift for several people this year. I’m going to read it again on paper and mark it up. Won Financial Times & McKinsey Best Business Books of the Year. EVERYONE should read Invisible Women.

Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness, Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, 2008

Non-fiction. Behavioral economics is fascinating, so I started with one of the best-known books, published before Thaler won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2017.

The Overstory, Richard Powers, 2018

A novel that starts at the pace of the life of a tree then grows forward to bring together trees and those who care for them into a contemporary story. Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.

She Would Be King, Wayétu Moore, 2018

A novel of magical realism and the formation Liberia.

Written by Admin · Categorized: Random · Tagged: fiction, nonfiction, reading

Oct 24 2016

Signed a Contract And, that's exciting

Joseph Smith and Handsome Lake article

I have written exactly one piece of fiction—flash fiction called “Latter-day Confederacy of Nations,” which soon will be included in an anthology of alt history called States of Deseret. I signed the contract today. Also today, I delivered a scholarly article on Joseph Smith and Handsome Lake for a collection on Mormons and Indians to be published by University of Utah Press. Same subject, two completely different approaches. Making it all up was much more difficult. I spent three months researching a two-page story. I only spent about a year researching and writing the 65 pages that became the article. If you want to know how my renewed interest in writing and publishing goes, comment or send me a message.

Written by Admin · Categorized: Publications · Tagged: fiction, mormons and indians, publication, scholarship, short story

Mar 19 2016

I wrote fiction. It’s a new game.

Flash draftToday I did something I’ve never done before: I wrote fiction with the intention of showing it to other people.

If you already do that and think, “Oh, yeah. Big deal.” IT IS! I haven’t done this before. I write write and over-write. Yes, I can write, as long as I have complete control over the facts. I realized that I can have far more control over facts I make up, so I’m taking a big dive.

Thanks to a couple of friends for pointing out a contest with a deadline. Without a deadline, I surely would have put this off for years. Seriously, years. I’ll do it when I’m ready but I’m never ready years.

Let me take a deep breath and hit submit for the contest, then I’ll share the story.

Written by Admin · Categorized: Fiction · Tagged: fiction, flash, process

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