2024 Year In Review
SOTR1989
Released: January 1st, 2025
I hit a dry patch earlier this year. After an amazing reading year in 2023, I attempted to kick off 2024 with Jimmy Carter’s memoirs entitled “Keeping Faith”. I found it at a Goodwill in Tacoma. I ended up getting two copies, and realizing the dust jackets are not made from durable material. This makes sense why you often find the hardcover book uncovered most of the time. While the book is a good and informative read, the amount of time given to the Camp David Accords was intense. I know that’s sort of the lasting legacy of Carter’s presidency, but he put too much detail. Otherwise a solid read.
Roger Moore’s “My Word Is My Bond” was an excellent read. I found it at the Frederick Wonderbook back in May. Great details about the late actor’s life and his commitment to his craft and UNICEF. I looked for years to find it, and found it in a whim. Also, it started my obsession with Beans on Toast.
I was looking for my next book and Brittany recommended “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”. It even helped me to go back and rewatch the film (despite the differences). The book was better.
I started reading Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” years ago but never finished. I picked it back up this year. It gave me greater understanding into his goals and mindset and was a nice little read. Loved that I found an older copy with the original image on the cover.
I read “We Are Voulhire” for an online review company. Good read, but not my favorite genre.
Barack Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” was amazing. I found this at the Tacoma Goodwill. He comes across a lot less partisan, and you can truly relate to him from any side of the aisle. Great read.
“Alien” was a decent sci-fi read. I found this at the Tacoma Goodwill. Alan Dean Foster is terrific, and the book reads well.
Brittany recommended “The Midnight Library” and it absolutely blew me away. It makes you rethink your life and how you perceive bad days and a “bad life”. Loved it! I often recommended this one to people when I worked at B&N. We had a little display of it and I constantly sent people there. I ever picked up Matt Haig’s new novel.
Simon Hawke’s “Friday the 13th Parts 1-3, 6” were all found via Kindle. I have always wanted to read them and since I could afford the $2,000+ kidney for the physical books, went digital. I loved reading about some of my favorite characters, and Hawke’s writing leaves the feeling truly horrific in his display of Jason Voorhees.
I found “My Girl” at the Hagerstown Wonderbook after seeing Megan Perry watch it for years growing up. Good book, now I have to see the movie with Macaulay Culkin.
I found “Wayne’s World” at the Hagerstown Wonderbook after seeing it for years, and just going for it. While not disappointed, it made me nostalgic for the time. It’s written for the pre-movie crowd. The fans of the SNL skit that led to legendary things. Mike Myers was true gold. I always wanted to be a teen/young adult in the early 1990’s. This let me experience it.
Regis Philbin’s “How I Got This Way” was an unfinished book for me. I picked it up from the Portland Powell’s Books and started reading it in 2021, but finally finished it this year. Brought me greater appreciation for life in general as well as some Dean Martin. Great Life Lessons in this one! All of Regis’s books hit home.
“Paterno” gave a good objective look into the life of one of college football’s greatest coaches. I grabbed it at the Frederick Wonderbook back in 2022. Ironically, I did not read it until I came back East. I learned a ton of information and really got a sense of who the man was at his core. Great read! Especially if you’re looking for principle or discipline advice.
“Planet Simpson” was a bit more disappointing that I expected. I found this one at the Gaithersburg Wonderbook. I love The Simpsons and any opportunity to read about it is gold. The early part of this book made me nostalgic and brought back some good memories of watching the show. As it progressed, it went a bit too deep into political philosophy on the show. Certainly potential to alienate people. Difficult material, but got through.
I worked 3 weeks as a Barista at Barnes & Noble, and the only time I used my discount was to get the book “Jaws”, which was one of the best reads of the year. The story has differences from the film, and it was thrilling. Everybody should read this.
“Deceptive Calm” was read for an online review company. Great read. Historical, taught difficult lessons in a more straightforward way. Mixed in some fictional action sequences. Some might feel it is “woke” but I truly enjoyed what I found here, and highly recommend it.
“Fourth Wing” was a good read, but not sure if I was entirely into it. Lots of moving parts. The action is good, and if they make a movie, it should do well. A lot of people recommended it. I bought it at White Oak Books in Vancouver.
I read “The Stinky Cheese Man” on a trip to Pittsburgh. I’ve read it before, but Tim recommended it. Quick read, good for a laugh, and always entertaining. Introduce your kids to the concept of absurd humor.
“Iron Flame” was interesting. I think I’m in the rare minority who likes this one over the original. I know the ending was intense, but it makes me all the more eager to read “Onyx Storm” coming out later this month.
Tim gave me a few epic books to check out. “Fight Club” was a deep look at society. Unorthodox scenes are portrayed and it gives a very different take on life as we know it. Good read, but requires deeper thought to appreciate.
“Fear and Loathing” was trippy…while entertaining, you have to understand what things like marijuana and other sensations feel like. Some geographical knowledge of Las Vegas, circa 1971, helps as well. I recommend “Diamonds Are Forever” to get a greater understanding of this. Without that prior experience, the reader doesn’t fully get a sense of what these characters are facing.
“Rambo III” was a good read but your typical action paperback adventure. I picked it up at the Hagerstown Wonderbook. It’s cool to expand on the Rambo series, but you should be a fan to fully appreciate. If you’re not a fan of the series in general, it works for people who love military action.
Christopher Wood’s “James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me” was an awesome action-adventure book. I started reading this a few years ago, and had to sidetrack it as well. While not the original Fleming-penned novel, this faithful adaption to the film is the perfect compliment to one of the greatest James Bond films ever made, (and arguably better depending on your reading style). Wonderful stuff!
“The Omen” was a dark and haunting book. I read this because I saw the prequel with one of my individuals last year. Makes me want to check out the movies series. I couldn’t get through book 2 before the year was out. But decent read.
Random Facts for you to know:
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- I read 6 biographical pieces.
- I read 3 political books.
- I read 6 digital books this year.
- I read 9 paperbacks.
- I read 12 hardcovers.
- I found 18 books that I didn’t know I was going to read this year.
- I read 14 books based on or were adapted into movies.
- I revisited and finished 3 formerly started books.
- 10 books were based on recommendations.
- I only repeated 2 authors this year (Hawke, Yarros)
- I read all of these books between June and December.
Book locations I visited this year:
- Barnes and Noble (Vancouver, WA)
- Powell’s Books (Portland, OR)
- Goodwill Stores (Vancouver, WA)
- Powell’s Books (PDX Airport)
- Vintage Books (Vancouver, WA)
- White Oak Books (Vancouver, WA)
- Wandering Hare Book Store (Gettysburg, PA)
- Wonderbook (Frederick, MD)
- Barnes & Noble (Frederick, MD)
- Mile Long Yard Sale (Hagerstown, MD)
- Blue Plate Books (Winchester, VA)
- Wee Scot Book Shoppe (Waynesboro, PA)
- Wonderbook (Gaithersburg, MD)
- Wonderbook (Hagerstown, MD)
- Hidden Treasures (Belle Vernon, PA)
- Whistle Stop (Carlisle, PA)
- Barnes & Noble (Mechanicsburg, PA)
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Overall, another great year of reading. My new goal for 2025 is 63 books. Double my previous years’ goals, and the extra 3 I missed this year.
Anticipated for 2025:
- “Damien: The Omen II” by Joseph Howard.
- “Junior” by Macaulay Culkin.
- “Who Wants To Be Me?” by Regis Philbin.
- “Rose Manor” by Stephen King.
- “Making It So” by Patrick Stewart.
- “James Bond, Moonraker” by Christopher Wood.
- “Promised Land” by Barack Obama.
- “The Art of Survival” by Donald Trump.
- “JFK: Conservative” by Ira Stoll.
- “Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life” by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- “Elevate and Dominate” by Deion Sanders
- “Dancing From Darkness”
- “John Wayne Speaks”
Happy New Year everyone!
“Build The Library”
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