January 2019
        The Woman in White ~ Wilkie Collins (1859) novel (503 pgs)
Dense early mystery with wonderfully eccentrically written characters throughout. Even a surprise here and there!
        Harpo Speaks! ~ Harpo Marx with Rowland Barbe (1962) autobiography (482 pgs)
Loved his thoughts on just living life, though wish was more on the things he created, less on croquet and card playing!

    February 2019
        Jacob's Folly ~ Rebecca Miller (2013) novel (371 pgs)
Oddly surreal novel, not sure how would classify this one. Interesting read, but probably not do a second time.
        As You wish ~ Cary Elwes (w/ Joe Layden) (2014) memoir (245 pgs)
Wonderful behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of my favorite movies of all time, "The Princess Bride".

    March 2019
        The Empress of Mars ~ Kage Baker (2009) science fiction (303 pgs)
Not bad, just kind of standard old school sf, normal things happen, but they happen on Mars. Not for me.
        Traveling Sprinkler ~ Nicholson Baker (2013) novel (291 pgs)
Have read some great writing from Baker in past books, but this one-- just boring, pointless. Very disappointed.
        Noir ~ Christopher Moore (2018) novel (357 pgs)
More fun from the Moore, this time with 40s noir style writing meeting Men in Black.

    April 2019
        Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons ~ Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1974) essays (285 pgs) RE-READ
Thoughts on the world, politics and people from over 40 years ago and, unfortunately, we've not gotten any better.
        The Sky Road ~ Ken MacLeod (1999) science fiction (291 pgs)
A bit heavy on the political end of his universe here, and just never engaged with me.

    May 2019
        Jailbird ~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (1979) novel (241 pgs) RE-READ
Thin novel structure for Vonnegut to hang his musings on history, race, politics, etc.
        Palm Sunday ~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (1981) novel (330 pgs) RE-READ
Now this was core Vonnegut: speeches, letters, a touch of fiction, articles, almost all are fascinating.
        The League of Regrettable Superheroes ~ Jon Morris (2015) comics, history, humor (128 pgs)
Fun overview of a couple of the stranger superheroes in comics history.
        The Legion of Regrettable Supervillians ~ Jon Morris (2016) comics, history, humor (128 pgs)
Follow-up to the heroes book, this time on weird and strange villians in comics histor

    June 2019
        How Did It Begin? The Origins of Our Curious Customs and Superstitions ~ Dr. R. & L. Brasch (2006) reference (317 pgs)
Always love these collections of "why do we do the weird stuff we do?" type books.
        Good Omens ~ Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1990) novel, fantasy (354 pgs) RE-READ
With the book now on TV, thought good time to read again. Still holds up well, and asks just the right questions.
        Smoking Ears and Screaming Teeth ~ Trevor Norton (2011) science, history, (356 pgs)
Great story of all the scientists through history who have experimented on themselves, to learn more about us all.

    July 2019
        The Sun Kings ~ Stuart Clark (2007) science, history (189 pgs)
Who would have thunk a history of the struggle to observe the surface of the sun, and understnad it, could be so engrossing!
        Religions of America ~ Leo Rosten (ed) (1975) religion, history (630 pgs)
Dipping in and out of this for months, overview of dozens of the basic religions in the country, histories, theologies.
        Tunneling to the Center of the Earth ~ Kevin Wilson (2009) short stories (224 pgs)
Nice collection of weird-premise set up stories, kind of things I really love.
        Self-Made Man ~ Norah Vincent (2006) gender (290 pgs)
Interesting, though many of the male-only "worlds" she entered were ones I also have very little to do with.
        Anti-Christ: A Satirical End of Days ~ Matthew Moses (2007) fantasy (392 pgs)
Ham-handed lack of real humor, less a satire and more just violent fantasy with no likable characters at all.

    August 2019
        Secondhand Souls ~ Christopher Moore (2015) novel (335 pgs)
Sequel to “A Dirty Job”, with even more odd characters, more weirdness. And more.. well, more Moore!
        The Word Detective ~ John Simpson (2016) memoir, language (346 pgs)
Oxford English Dictionary editor on how it was all put together, and the wonder of working with words.
        The Eternal Footman ~ James Morrow (1999) science fiction (359 pgs)
Amazingly weird and wild ending of his "“God is dead and we have the body" trilogy

    September 2019
        Bizarro Among the Savages ~ Dan Piraro (1997) autobiography (258 pgs)
Piraro tells about his book tour, staying with never-before-met "fans" across the country.
        The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August ~ Claire North (2014) science fiction (405 pgs)
Amazing new take on idea of multiple lives, time travel, a wonderful page-turning read.
        The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip ~ George Saunders (2000) kids book? (84 pgs)
Sweet, but selling on basis of previous reps of Saunders and illustrator Lane smith. It’s…okay.
        The Story of God ~ Chris Matheson (2015) novel, satire, religion (173 pgs)
The Bible from God’s viewpoint, and he is as confused as the rest of us on why he does such strange stuff!

    October 2019
        Three Moments of an Explosion ~ China Mieville (2015) short stories (382 pgs)
A collection of almost undefinable, but also almost always fascinating, short stories by China. Like no one else.
        Dad Is Fat ~ Jim Gaffigan (2013) humor, essays (289 pgs)
Funny observations on fatherhood, can identify even without having kids.
        In Such Good Company ~ Carol Burnett (2016) memoir (286 pgs)
Her memories of doing her long-running variety show. Liked the personal stuff, a few too many sketch scripts.

    November 2019
        Deadeye Dick ~ Kurt Vonnegut (1982) novel (271 pgs) RE-READ
Touches of the Vonnegut I remember, but kind of kept waiting for a plot to start up.
        Believe Me ~ Eddie Izzard (2017) memoir (348 pgs)
Surprisingly straight-forward memoir. Humor throughout, but more just a tale of his life and career so far.

    December 2019
        Passage ~ Connie Willis (2001) novel (780 pgs)
Interesting idea of investigating near death experiences, but could have been told in a fourth of the pages.
        The Wonder Trail ~ Steve Hely (2016) travel (296 pgs)
Low key travelogue of the author’s journey from Los Angeles to the southern tip of South American.
        The Girl With All the Gifts ~ M. R. Carey (2014) novel (417 pgs)
Unique new take on the zombie story, an engrossing page turner, with a satisfyingly surprising ending.
        Mermaids in Paradise ~ Lydia Millet (2015) novel (290 pgs)
Interesting premise, well written, but I never really engaged with it. More my problem than the author.