JANUARY
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon (2003)
An autistic teenager in England finds his world upended after he investigates why his neighbor's dog was murdered. Worth reading but difficult to follow at times.
Clarence the TV Dog, by Patricia Lauber (1955)
This was an excellent bit of 1950s MG fiction.
The American, by Henry James (1877)
A wealthy American man tries to win the hand of a French woman to help her escape her very strict aristocratic family.
The Great Good Thing, by Roderick Townley (2001)
This highly imaginative MG novel takes place inside a novel, which for the characters is something like a stage play. It spans three generations of readers' lives. and is very touching.
The Darkest Evening of the Year, by Dean Koontz (2007)
A decent thriller, if you like that sort of thing, about a woman who devotes her life to dog rescue. The first I'd ever read of his, seems like William Goldman meets Nicholas Sparks.
Total read this month: 5.
FEBRUARY
The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde (1895)
This play is a classic of the "British aristocracy romantic mishaps" subgenre.
Marty, by Paddy Chayefsky (1953)
A screenplay for a television anthology, it was a serious sketch of a fat, unhappy butcher looking for love.
The Admirable Crichton, by J.M. Barrie ()
A classic play about class and society from the author of Peter Pan.
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London (1903)
I didn't enjoy reading this, but I can now understand why it's a classic. Reviewed for Dog O'Day.
Gooseberry Park, by Cynthia Rylant (1994)
A Full House-style story about a Lab, a hermit crab and a bat taking care of their squirrel friend's children after a devastating ice storm.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 10.
MARCH
Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine (1997)
This is a terrific grounded fairy tale, a million times better than the movie.
The Ugly Dachshund, by G.B. Stern (1938)
A satire set in a fancy French manor, this was a little hard to follow but very clever. The Philadelphia Story meets Lady and the Tramp.
Star in the Storm, by Joan Hiatt Harlow (2000)
Loosely based on her grandmother's childhood in Newfoundland, this historical fiction children's novel was fine but unspectacular
Thunder from the Sea, by Joan Hiatt Harlow (2004)
Again loosely based on true events in Newfoundland and personal family history, this one was slightly better, a male version of Anne of Green Gables.
The Wish, by Gail Carson Levine (2000)
A very good modern fairy tale, as an eighth-grade girl learns the perils of popularity.
Fairest,by Gail Carson Levine (2006)
About the sister of Ella Enchanted's best friend, this was rather drawn out too long for a adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, though the way the kingdom's society worked was clever.
Total read this month: 6, bringing total to 16.
APRIL
Romeo and Juliet Together (and Alive!) at Last, by Avi (1987)
Middle schoolers stage the most homemade production of Shakespeare imaginable as a way to convince two of their friends to admit they like each other.
Who was that Masked Man, Anyway?, by Avi (1992)
Written entirely in dialogue matching the 1940s radio serials the main character loves, this WWII-set book about a curious and mischievous boy is clever but very flat, which is disappointing from Avi.
Texaco Mornings, by Wesley Coburn (2017)
Since it's been produced I guess I can put this here? There are some good lines in this that I'd forgotten about.
Tales from Tent City, by Bryan James Polak (2013)
This play is a thought-provoking look at a group of homeless teenagers.
Total read this month: 4, bringing total to 20.
MAY
Maybe none?
JUNE
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)
This was really heavy, so I missed a lot, but can see why it's a classic.
Total read this month: 1, bringing total to 21.
JULY
Darkness at Noon, by Arthur Koestler (1941)
An aging Soviet finds himself in prison yet again, pondering his life and whether socialism was worth the sacrifices required to build a grander nation.
Total read this month: 1, bringing total to 22.
AUGUST
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate (2012)
A brilliant, melancholy Newbery-winning novel narrated by a gorilla.
The Hundred and One Dalmatians, by Dodie Smith (1957)
SEPTEMBER
The Starlight Barking, by Dodie Smith (1967)
The original novel that started the franchise.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 24.
SEPTEMBER
The Starlight Barking, by Dodie Smith (1967)
All the dogs in the world, led by Pongo, Missis and Cadpig, have to decide whether to stay on Earth after receiving a spectacular offer. Quite odd but good.
The Midnight Kittens, by Dodie Smith (1978)
A pair of twins visiting their grandma on fall break find a mysterious group of kittens. Average at best, but considering Smith was in her early 80s when she wrote this, it's highly impressive.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 26.
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
Lit Riffs: Writers Cover Songs They Love, edited by Matthew Miele (2004)
This was a better concept for a short story collection than the finished product turned out to be, though it might have helped if I was more familiar with the songs.
Total read this month: 1, bringing total to 27.
NOVEMBER
The Little Prince, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, translated by Katharine Williams (1941)
NOVEMBER
The Little Prince, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, translated by Katharine Williams (1941)
This is a classic of children's lit, but I don't quite understand it.
Total read this month: 1, bringing total to 28.
DECEMBER
Fray, written by Joss Whedon, illustrated by Karl Moline (2003)
DECEMBER
Fray, written by Joss Whedon, illustrated by Karl Moline (2003)
Several hundred years after Buffy Summers and several hundred years before the Serenity crew, roamed the 'verse, a street-smart thief named Melaka Fray becomes the newest of the Slayers.
Astonishing X-Men: Torn, written by Joss Whedon, illustrated by John Cassaday (2004)
Not quite as good as the opening graphic novel in this series (which The Gifted TV series was based on), but solid.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total fiction for year to 30. When added to total nonfiction read this year (35), that comes to 65 books read in 2020.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total fiction for year to 30. When added to total nonfiction read this year (35), that comes to 65 books read in 2020.
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