At least once a year, I like to briefly comment on the books I’ve recently read that I believe would make for great book club discussions. Below is my short list, which includes a couple of books that led to lively discussions in my book club.

1. The Darkest Child, by Delores Phillips. Racism, colorism in the African American culture, child abuse, and sexual abuse, are just a few of the heavy themes in this novel about Tangy Mae, a young Black girl in the South. It’s a harsh look at racial class issues and the subjugation of an entire race. A lot of hot issues here to prompt discussion.
2. Factfulness, by Hans Rosling , teaches how to evaluate dire situations with a more practical and optimistic view by disregarding preconceived notions and paying attention to the facts. Our book club discussion segued into a lively exchange inspired by this book and by the BLM protests happening at the time.
3. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez. Infertility is the issue here, and the author handles it with a sympathetic tone. It could be a difficult read for anyone who has dealt with infertility, but it’s an eye-opening look at the issue through a fictional tale.
4. The Shanghai Free Taxi by Frank Langfitt is an interesting look at the Chinese government and how the Chinese view American politics. This could lead to a political discussion, so choose this only if you know your book club members well and trust that the discussion won’t get heated.

I’m a self-published writer. I’ve written and published three novels and am currently writing a fourth. Over time, my writing skills have improved. Though I think my first book is better than my second, that’s more a personal preference rather than anything to do with the writing itself. I prefer the first because its story and theme are closer to my heart.

I’m proud that I’ve written three novels, especially when at one time I thought I wouldn’t  be able to write even one. I recently got to thinking about writers who only wrote and published one novel. I’m talking about successful writers who garnered much acclaim for their first novels and presumably could have written and published more based on their reputations. I did a little research, and here are a few of those writers: Margaret Mitchell—Gone with the Wind; J.D. Salinger— Catcher in the Rye; Sylvia Plath—The Bell Jar; Arthur Golden—Memoirs of a Geisha; Emily Bronte—Wuthering Heights.

Bronte and Plath died not long after their works were published. That’s the best excuse for not writing a second. Salinger and Mitchell earned such enormous success for their first novels that it seemed they backed away from writing any more. And Arthur Golden? I couldn’t find any reason why he hasn’t published a second novel. He was sued by the geisha he used as his source for his novel. Maybe he’s shied away from producing another? That’s purely speculation on my part.

I’m sure there are countless writers who have published one novel and never succeeded in getting another published, though not for lack of trying. Still, I think they have much to be proud of in having successfully published one.

I wish I knew the answer to that question. I’ve been sheltering in place for nine weeks. I’ve had plenty of time on my hands to read, but I’ve found it a challenge to concentrate. When we started to stay home, I was in the midst of reading The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea. It’s an outstanding nonfiction book about the tragic deaths of many in a group of immigrants who crossed the border from Mexico to the U.S. in the early 2000s. I read the first half quickly but struggled with the second half despite my interest in the topic. I couldn’t concentrate. My mind wandered, and I’d have to get up and do something, anything—cook a meal, clean the oven, do laundry, whatever kept me from sitting and dwelling on the pandemic.

Now, nine weeks later, I’ve relaxed a bit, and I’m finding it easier to sit and read for at least a half hour at a time, if not longer. It could be that I’m less anxious about the pandemic, or perhaps I’ve accommodated to the new normal. Or, could it be because I’m reading novels that don’t require a lot of deep thinking? It’s easier to bury my mind in that type of book. The past three weeks I’ve read a thriller, a YA novel, and a chick lit romance. The YA novel, The Summer of Jordi Perez , was especially easy to read because it’s a feel-good story. Hmmm…I think I just answered my question.

I read 46 books last year. Here’s a breakdown:

44 Fiction

4 Young Adult Fiction

1 Juvenile Fiction

14 by male authors

12 mysteries/thrillers, 3 science-fiction, 1 western, 2 romances, 1 horror

7 by Asian Americans, 6 by Latino Americans, 2 by African Americans, 1 by Native Americans

I like to review my writing habits annually to see if I might have adopted any new trends. Not last year. The main difference last year is that I read twice as many mysteries/thrillers than I did the previous year. I enjoyed some very good ones,  like Witch Elm by Tana French. I read only three science fiction novels, two less than the previous year. I plan to read more science fiction in the future. It’s a genre I’ve ignored in the past, but it’s the genre of ideas, one I’ve come to appreciate more.

There are only 12 days remaining in 2019. I’ll probably read at least one more book before 2020 arrives, but so far this year I’ve read 45. Following is a list of my five favorites ranked from best to least of the best:

1.  The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I love this coming-of-age young adult novel about a teen girl struggling to become her own person despite challenging obstacles. Beautifully written in verse form.

2.  The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Of course, I’m biased. I worked at the Los Angeles Public Library in the early years of my librarian career. With its detailed descriptions of library procedures, policies, and buildings, a reader might find some of this book tedious. But I enjoyed it, especially the many historical details.

3.  On the Come Up by Angie Thomas.  An ultimately optimistic coming-of-age story of a Black teen who dreams of becoming a famous rap artist so she can save her family from economic distress.

4.  Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. This was an especially interesting and eye-opening novel for me. There are many historical details of the lives of Korean refugees living in Japan during and after World War II. Their sense of alienation from the mainstream Japanese culture is heartbreaking.

5.  There There by Tommy Orange. I felt a personal connection to this story of Native American cultural identity,  and how Natives can feel lost in their own country.

Every time I pick up a book to read, I go through a particular routine. First, I must read the book jacket, including the blurbs on the back, the summary of the plot, and the author’s bio. If there is a photo of the author, I like to check that out, too. Of course, I also examine the cover’s artwork and how it might depict or represent the book I’m about to read. Then, if there is an introduction or a foreword, I will be sure to read it.  After following this routine, I’m ready to start reading the book.

Why do I practice this routine before reading any book? I really don’t know for sure, I can only speculate. Maybe it’s because I want to savor what I am, I hope, about to enjoy. Or maybe it’s simply a habit I can’t break.

Lately, I’ve encountered a problem with plot summaries on book jackets: spoilers! Why would the publisher allow that? I’ve come to dislike movie previews for that very reason; the preview often gives away too much of the plot. Likewise with book jacket plot summaries. Also, the foreword to a  book I recently read contained a spoiler! What’s going on here? I think this is shoddy, sloppy marketing. I love books. I love reading. I don’t appreciate it when my enjoyment of a story is partly ruined by poor marketing techniques.