Happy New Year! For the seventh year, Sheila at Book Journey is hosting the First Book of the Year event. The idea is simple - just share a photo of you and your first book. Sheila says:
Here we go – year 7. I am THRILLED to continue this tradition, even when I don’t stay as well connected as I once did on this space. Thank you to those who have messaged me to ask if I will be doing it again.
The answer is… Of course we are doing it...
So what is First Book? First Book to me, is that first book you plan on reading for the New Year. It can be a long-coveted read you have not had time for, a guilty pleasure read like a re-read of a favorite… really it can be anything – it is, after all, YOUR First Book.
Make it AWESOME.My First Book...
One of my reading goals for 2020 is to get back to reading classics. Without really meaning to, I ignored them almost completely in 2019. So I will begin 2020 with my 13th Trollope novel, The Way We Live Now. As with the previous twelve Trollpe novels (The Barsetshire and Palliser series) I will be reading with our friend Audrey. We are just getting started and you're more than welcome to join us!
If you need a little more convincing, here's a sentence from the first paragraph. It's a perfect example of why I love Trollope:
"She spoke of herself in these days as a woman devoted to Literature, always spelling the word with a big L."
Have you selected your First Book of the Year?
First Book of the Year 2019
First Book of the Year 2018
First Book of the Year 2017
First Book of the Year 2016
Happy reading - this book & many more throughout 2020!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jade!
DeleteJo Ann, I think that's a perfect choice for your first book of the year. I plan to read more classics this year. I've found during the last couple of years that I've participated in the Classics Club that the classics I read are books I rate higher than contemporary books.
ReplyDeleteDeb - My classics reading has really slipped over the past couple of years... and I miss it. Hope Trollope will get me back on track!
DeleteAnd it looks like you will be enjoying it in sun and warmth! I haven't read a classic in awhile.
ReplyDeleteNise' - I've always enjoyed classics, but have gotten away from reading them lately. I especially enjoy listening to them as I walk the beach!
DeleteOh my goodness, look at your reading selfie. Mine would have had me in the pouring rain/sleet, soaking wet. Happy new year!! So happy to be reading this with you.
ReplyDeleteAudrey - This is the first time I've ever been able to take a "First Book selfie" outdoors, lol! So glad we're reading another Trollope together :)
DeleteEnjoy your first book of the year! I'm going to read What I Carry by Jennifer Longo.
ReplyDeleteAngela - Hope we both love our first books!
DeleteWhat a great-sounding book! I keep meaning to read this author.
ReplyDeleteYou look so happy there in your outdoor reading spot, the blue sky in the background...ready to read all day. Thanks for sharing!
Laurel-Rain Snow - It's always a treat to return to Trollope. I finished The Palliser series about a year ago and look forward to reading another one of his long novels. The beach is an added bonus ;-)
DeleteI'm not sure what I'll start with since I'm still in the middle of my current book (The River by Peter Heller). I did go to the library yesterday and wound up with a copy of The Only Plane In the Sky, so I might go with that.
ReplyDeleteLove your sunny selfie! We're in the midst of a rainstorm which is supposed to hang around for the next 10 days.
Les - Can't wait to hear what you think of The River. I haven't read Heller, but have seen that title on a few year-end lists. The Only Plane in the Sky is on my audio wish list... there is a full cast narration that several bloggers have raved about. I'm sure it will be an emotionally draining book.
DeleteTen days of rain??? I sure hope your weather forecasters are wrong. The girls were here for Christmas and even though we got more rain than usual for this time of year, we had a great time together. Wishing you many excellent reads for 2020.
I finished The River last night and thought it was very good. I have also read The Dog Stars (reviewed here, which is also an outstanding read. Both are very intense and I could hardly stop reading.
DeleteThe rain has let up a bit, but we'll get more later today, I'm sure. It's what makes this part of the country so green and lush, so I'm not complaining. :) So glad you had a good Christmas, in spite of the rain.
Thanks, Les. Guess I'd better add Peter Heller to my list!
DeleteI love that opening! I hope you enjoy your reading year, JoAnn. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy. Happy 2020 to you, too!
DeleteEnjoy JoAnn! Happy New Year. My first book is American Dirt; Jeanine Cummins - very addictive early on.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I can't wait to read American Dirt! So glad to hear it's off to a strong start. Happy New Year!
DeleteI hope you love it. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Kathy!
DeleteGreat picture of you and your 'first book' JoAnn! Love it. Bet you'll enjoy your book a lot. I have been on a bit of a 'non-reading' time, but I've also been putting a lot of books in my hidey-hole here. Not sure what will be my first book, but something will grab me and I'll be off on my 2020 journey.
ReplyDeleteKay - I look forward to following your reading and life journeys for 2020... I'm sure both will be exciting. Read/listened to the first 5 chapters of Trollope and it's like visiting an old friend :)
DeleteHappy New Year, JoAnn! Wishing you a wonderful 2020. And, thank you for sharing that first line. I think I need to add this to my list!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Iliana. I think we're all adding to each other's reading lists at this time of year, lol!
DeleteI hope you are joying it JoAnn. I went with Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year 🥳
Shelleyrae - That's Reese Witherspoon's latest book club pick, I think. Hope you enjoy it!
DeleteNice to get back to classics! Right now I'm in the middle of the memoir Yellow House by Sarah Broom ... so that is my first book of the year.
ReplyDeleteSusan - Yellow House is a recent addition to my wish list. Hope you're enjoying it.
DeleteI love the idea of starting a brand new year with classics. They have yet to fail and I always find lots to enjoy in them. Enjoy your book!
ReplyDeleteAthira - Trollope never disappoints. This book is very long, but I'm glad to be reading a classic again!
DeleteHappy new year! Can't wait to see where your new directions take you.
ReplyDeleteI've only read one Trollope - it was the first in the Barsetshire series. It wasn't for me, but I know I'm in the minority here. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteDebbie - That must be The Warden. I first read it long ago and it put me off Trollope for years! Of the dozen books I've read, that is my least favorite. Maybe readers should just start with the second book in the series, Barchester Towers... loved that one!
DeleteTrollope sounds like a great choice as first read. Somehow I've yet to read him but one day! Enjoy your reading in 2020!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katherine. I'm happy to start the year with a favorite author.
DeleteMy English friend swore by Trollope for all the years I knew her and I STILL haven't read one. I feel like I;m just being stubborn at this point, haha.
ReplyDeletestacybuckeye
Stacy - That's funny! I liked the Barsetshire Chronicles much more than the Palliser series, but the fist Barset book (The Warden) is my least favorite Trollope. It put me off Trollope for years.... so glad I finally decided to move on!
DeleteTrollope is always a good way to kick off your reading year!
ReplyDeleteLisa - I do love Trollope. His books are just so darn long though...
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