Reading Log: June 2026

 The books that I finished reading in June 2026:

June 2026 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"A Place at the Nayarit,” Natalia Molina 

“Six Days of the Condor,” James Grady

“The Postman,” David Brin 

“The Art of Intelligence,” Henry A. Crumpton

Reading Log: July 2025

 The books that I finished reading in the month of July 2025:

July 2025 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Celtic Empire," Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

"The Art of Trader Joe's," Julie Averbach 

"All Systems Red," Martha Wells

"Bat Out of Hell," edited by Don Bruns

"Artificial Condition," Martha Wells

Musical Coda:

Speaking of a Bat Out of Hell:

Reading Log: May 2025

 The books that I finished reading in the month of May 2025

May 2025 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

 

"Parable of the Talents," Octavia E. Butler

"Nightshade," Michael Connelly

Reading Log: April 2025

 The books that I read in the month of April 2025

April 2025 Books" photo by Cliff Hutson

"Sacramento Noir," edited by John Freeman

"Parable of the Sower,"Octavia E. Butler

"The Art of Trader Joe's," Julie Averbach

"Also On View," Todd Lerew

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Reading Log: 2024

A Year of Books

A Book: photo by Cliff Hutson

Here’s my annual list of all the books I read the previous year. (For comparison, this is the one for 2023.)  I read 48 books of fiction, science fiction and nonfiction. While it was two sort of my goal, that seemed like a decent total. But, it is said that; "Comparison is the thief of joy". Thus I felt a bit down when I saw that David Allen, whom I have been measuring myself against for the past few years, read 55.

However, this morning, when The Guardian saw fit to print a headline proclaiming ‘I read 35 books this year!’ I perked up a bit.

Anyway here is my list:

1. "The Hammer of God," Arthur C. Clark

2. "My Gun Has Bullets," Lee Goldberg

3. "Dead Space," Lee Goldberg

4. "The Left Hand of Darkness," Ursula K. Le Guin

5. "A People's Guide to Orange County," Gustavo Arellano et al.

6. "Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team," John Steinbeck

7. "Lives of Weeds: Opportunism, Resistance, Folly," John Cardina 

8. "Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories," Elmore Leonard

9. "The Seed Detective," Adam Alexander

10. "The Secret," Lee Child and Andrew Child

11. "Basketball for Dummies," Richard "Digger Phelps, et al.

12. "The Big Goodbye," Sam Wasson

13. "Ten Birds That Changed the World," Stephen Moss

14. "Shock Wave," John Sandford

15. "Basketball (and Other Things)," Shea Serrano 

16. "Movies (and Other Things)," Shea Serrano

17. "The Four Foundations of Golf," Jon Sherman

18. "Sacred Mounds," Jim Metzner

19. "The Talk," Darrin Bell

20. "Unnatural Habitat," Craig Stanford

21. "Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging," Sebastian Junger

22. "The Last Rose of Shanghai," Wein Dai Randel 

23. "Four Fish," Paul Greenberg

24. "Farewell Amethystine," Walter Mosley

25. "Wildlife Preserves: A Far Side Collection," Gary Larson  

26. "Eats, Soots & Leaves," Lynne Truss

27. "The Perfect Protein," Andy Sharpless and Suzannah Evans

28. "The Invention of Prehistory," Stefanos Geroulanos 

29. "The Bogey Man," George Plimpton

30. "Golf in the Kingdom," Michael Murphy

31. "Golf Dreams," John Updike

32. "Up on the Woof Top," Spencer Quinn

33. "A Farewell to Arfs," Spencer Quinn

34. "Paper Lion," George Plimpton

35. "The Silk Roads," Peter Frankopan 

36. "Outside Lanes," A.J. Stewart

37. "The Waiting," Michael Connelly

38. "Football for Dummies," Howie Long, John Czarnecki 

39. "Women," Charles Bukowski 

40. "The Backyard Bird Chronicles," Amy Tan

41. "The Downhill Lie," Carl Hiaasen

42. "Hoops," Walter Dean Myers

43. "Falling Is Not An Option," George Locker

44. "Black Ball," Theresa Runstedtler 

45. "Tooth and Claw," Craig Johnson

46. "Big Jim and the White Boy," David F. Walker, Marcus Kwame Anderson

47. "The Breaks of the Game," David Halberstam

48. "Evergreen," Naomi Hirahara 

Does anybody care to share what they read last year?

Reading Log: February 2024

 The books that I finished reading in the month of February 2024

February 2024 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"The Left Hand of Darkness," Ursula K. Le Guin

"A People's Guide to Orange County," Gustavo Arellano et al.

"Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team," John Steinbeck

"Lives of Weeds: Opportunism, Resistance, Folly," John Cardina 

Cliff's Notes

"Darkness"

A story based on the proposition that truth is a matter of the imagination. And, science fiction is a genre that allows one to imagine that things can be very different. Most current reviews stress that this book is a study of gender, However, it also speaks to government, psychology, sociology, and human emotions. I highly recommend it.

"Orange County"

I grew up in Southern California during a time when Orange County was known as a land of oranges, oil, and opportunity for white people. This explains how and why it was, and is, much more than that. 

"Bombs Away"

Watching "Masters of the Air" reminded me of this book on the shelf with my collection of Steinbeck works from the Penguin Classics series, which I read quite a few years ago. So, I took it out and reread it.

Written in the early days of World War II, it is a description of how the U.S. Army Air Force recruited and developed a bomber team. It also describes the two planes that they would be flying. Reading it in conjunction with watching the streaming series gives one more insight into role that each crew member fills and the capabilities of the Boeing B-17. (This plane is also known as the Flying Fortress, but I notice that show usual just refers to it as a "Fort".)

Some refer to this work as a piece of propaganda, however I see it as worthy bit of journalism. It is not of the caliber of his novels, but is well worth reading as a part of history.

"Weeds"

Some, unnamed, history professor supposedly suggested that some kinds of problems could be fixed by understanding how they came to be. This book informs us that if there is going to agriculture, there are going to be weeds. This book explains why that is and how we might come to terms with that.

Reading Log: January 2024

 The books that I finished reading in the month of January 2024:

January 2024 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"The Hammer of God," Arthur C. Clark

"My Gun Has Bullets," Lee Goldberg

"Dead Space," Lee Goldberg

Cliff's Notes

"Hammer"

An amateur astronomer discovers an asteroid that is on a collision course with earth. Then the race is on to see if disaster can be averted.

An interesting point is made that a willingness to accept risk is what makes life worthwhile. 

"Gun"

A Beverly Hills police officer is shot by the star of a popular TV show, during a routine traffic stop. The studio buys his silence by making him the star of his own program. Murder, mayhem, and some hilarity ensue.

"Space"

A sequel, of sorts, to "My Gun Has Bullets". Charlie Willis has abandoned his acting career to handle "special security" for the studio. It is not quite as entertaining, in my humble opinion. However, it does provide an interesting look behind the scenes of the network television industry. 

Reading Log: December 2023

The books that I finished reading in the month of December 2023: 

December 2023 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America," Betsy Gaines Quammen

"Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains," Bethany Brookshire

"Hondo," Louis L'Amour 

"Out There: The Science Behind Sci-Fi Film and TV," Ariel Waldman 

Cliff's Notes

"True West"

I was very disappointed in this book, thinking that it would contain more history than personal stories. The author maintains, based on her personal experiences, that America can be brought together if we meet our fellow Americans where they are.

That may be easy for a well to do, somewhat noted, white woman to say. It is not so practical in a land where a service station in Arizona refused to sell me gas, or where my wife were seated in a restaurant in Idaho Falls but never served. 

She does write well though.

"Pests"

"Pests are what happens when we think that we've got nature all figured out, and nature decides to give us the finger."

This was both an entertaining and informative read.

"Hondo"

My newspaper of record recently devoted several paragraphs to a discussion of the movie of the same title and the novel as they both mention a local community - San Dimas. I decided to watch the movie and then read the book, which was based on the movie rather than the usual sequence. They were both pretty darn good. Each in its own way.

See how they differed was illuminating. A novelist can use extensive character description and metaphors.  A screenplay has to solve the problem of how to put necessary information in to the mouths of characters whereas a novel can just tell the reader about it.  

So, at bottom, I will say that I enjoyed the book more. Mostly because it gave me some leeway to enjoy the landscape as it were, rather than have it relegated to the background as I keep an eye on the actors. But, let me go on record as saying that I will never give up one form for the other.

"Out There"

Another enjoyable read. But, then I seem to have an inborn fascination with the juxtaposition between science fiction and real science. I came of age during a time when many of the things first hinted at in books and movies became (more or less) actual technological advances. This book limns the way real life and science fiction may intersect. 

Reading Log: January 2023

 The books that I finished reading in the month of January 2023:

January 2023 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Zone One," Colson Whitehead 

"Dignity," Ken Layne

"Reminiscences of a Stock Operator," Edwin Lefèvre 

"The Old Gringo," Carlos Fuentes 

"Sea of Tranquility," Emily St. John Mandel

"The Plot," Jean Hanff Korelitz 

Life

 On the Tenacity of Plants

Tenacious Plant: photo by Cliff Hutson 

"Life, uh, finds a way”  -  Dr. Ian Malcolm

Reading Log: September 2022

 The books I read in September 2022

September 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"The Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta," John Rollin Ridge

"South Central Noir," edited by Gary Phillips

"The Long Tomorrow," Leigh Bracket

"L.A. Requiem," Robert Crais

"On Photography," Susan Sontag 

Cliff's Notes

"Murieta"

Yet another historical novel, depicting an actual person, but based entirely upon myth and supposition. I will say that it is relevant to our times in its depiction of radicalized police violence. However, the author tends to lean toward the side of the perpetrators rather than the victims. But, that could be a reflection of the cultural attitudes of the his times as well as his own beliefs. 

Published in 1854, the novel was not "historical" at the time it was written., but a recounting of recent events.  It is a book of many firsts -- the first novel published in California, the first novel published by a Native American, and the first American novel to feature a Mexican protagonist. 

However, when all is said and done, I don't recommend it.

"Noir"

This book is an anthology of new stories by many well known authors set in both past and present South Central Los Angeles. All of the offerings are strong. Two of my long time favorites are represented -- Steph Cha and Naomi Hirahara.  Gary Phillips, two of whose books I have read over the past couple of months, also contributes a story in addition to editing the book.

 This is the best book of the month and I highly recommend it.

"Tomorrow" 

Said to be one of the first novels to depict a a post-apocalyptic America this is an excellent read. I enjoyed being able to compare and contrast it to "Earth Abides" (see last month) as to how each author thinks that civilization will, will not, rebuild.

A strong "two thumbs up". 

"Requiem"

Elvis Cole is one of my favorite private investigators and I love stories set in LA, so this book is an easy hit. However, it is not one of the strongest in the oeuvre of Robert Crais. The story does have a really cool premise - Joe Pike's ex-girlfriend is murdered and it seems as though he did it. The book also has an interesting glimpse into a backstory for Pike as well - everyone has something to hide.

"Photography"

Sontag maintains that photography is an agent of the surreal rather than a reflection of the real. She presumes that her readers have a much better knowledge of Surrealism than I do. She also has a dim view in the direction that she sees the field as heading.

So the fault may lie within me, but my take on this collection of essays written between 1973 and 1977 is - Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, her opinion, man.

Reading Log: August 2022

 The books that I read in the month August 2022

August 2022 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Earth Abides," George R. Stewart

"Bark to the Future," Spencer Quinn

"Matthew Henson and the Ice Temple of Harlem," Gary Phillips

"A Gentleman in Moscow," Amor Towles

Cliff's Notes

"Earth"

This is one of the most interesting science fiction novels that I have read. Though written in 1949, it speaks to our times as a lethal pandemic ravishes civilization and people have to adapt to the changes that has wrought. The author notes,“All the best-laid plans could not prevent the disaster against which no plans have laid.”. That is as true now as it was then.

And, on a very personal and silly note, I was amused that the opening of the story unfolds near the town of  "Hutsonville".  Not that such a community actually exists nor that it would have been named after a relative of mine.

"Bark"

 Another amusing addition to the Chet and Bernie series. Perhaps not quite as good as those written at the beginning it is still a fun read.

"Matthew Henson"

This is a novel that I find difficult to classify. The title character was a real person. Other people people who appear in the story, e.g, Bessie Coleman, or Nikola Tesla, are historical figures as well. And, its depictions of American culture and race relations during the Harlem Renaissance are well grounded. But, clearly, the story is cut from whole cloth. I guess that its genre could best be described as historical fantasy, with an overlay of science fiction.

While very entertaining, I feel that this book falls short of the author's outing in "One-Shot Harry". Also, I am appalled at the egregious lack of editing and proofreading. Lastly, there is no Ice Temple, unless I dozed off for a couple of chapters as I sometimes do when watching television. 

"Gentleman"

This book is the best of the month, though at first I did not think it all that promising. 

Starting in the year 1922, the describes the life of a Russian man sentenced to house arrest in a Moscow hotel though 1954. How interesting could life be in such a confined environment? It turns out that it is very compelling. And, we  should admire any course of study no matter how arcane if it is pursued with curiosity and devotion.

Notably, it is also set against real history that many of us are familiar with on some level and offers some comment on actual sociopolitical events while the author develops a delightful cast of fictional characters. 

I would suggest that, at heart, its moral is that being a good person is more important than having good taste. 

Looking Back: The Books of 2021

All the books that I finished reading in 2021:

Still-life with Book & Cat: photo by Cliff Hutson

1. "Your House Will Pay," Steph Cha
2. "Next to Last Stand," Craig Johnson
3. "50 Ways to Cook a Carrot," Peter Hertzmann
4. "Are You There God? It's Me, Margarita," Tim Federle  
5. "What It's Like to Be a Bird," David Allen Sibley 
6. "The Ninth Inning," A.J. Stewart
7. "Deacon King Kong," James McBride
8. "Lords of the Fly," Monte Burke
9. "Shakespeare in a Divided America," James Shapiro
10. "Why We Sleep," Matthew Walker, PhD
11. "The Zombie Survival Guide," Max Brooks
12. "Nick: a Novel," Michael Farris Smith
13. "City on the Edge of Forever," Peter Lunenfeld 
14. "The Day of the Locust," Nathanael West
15. "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," Isabel Wilkerson 
16. "Underland: A Deep Time Journey," Robert Macfarlane 
17. "Black, White, and The Grey," Mashama Bailey and John O. Morisano 
18. "An Indigenous People's History of the United States," Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
19. "The Reindeer Chronicles," Judith D. Schwartz 
20. "Dirt: The Erosion of Civilization," David R. Montgomery
21. "Past the Post," A.J. Stewart
22. "Of Mutts and Men," Spencer Quinn
23. "A Cat's Tale: A Journey Through Feline History," Baba the Cat as dictated to Paul Koudounaris 
24. "Project Hail Mary," Andy Weir
25. "Chasing Darkness," Robert Crais
26. "World Travel: an Irreverent Guide," Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever 
27. "Animal, Vegetable, Junk," Mark Bittman
28. "Deliverance," James Dickey
29. "Tender is the Bite," Spencer Quinn
30. "The House Without a Key," Earl Derr Biggers
31. "Chinatown Beat," Henry Chang
32. "Interior Chinatown," Charles Yu
33. "The Chinese Parrot," Earl Derr Biggers
34. "Red Earth, White Lies: Native Americans and the Myth of Science," Vine Deloria, Jr. 
35. "Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth," Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford 
36. "Squeeze Me," Carl Hiaasen 
37. "The Age of Wood," Roland Ennos 
38. "How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe," Charles Yu
39. "Clark and Division," Naomi Hirahara 
40. "The Botany of Gin," Chris Thorogood and Simon Hiscock 
41. "This Is Your Mind on Plants," Michael Pollan
42. "Behind That Curtain," Earl Derr Biggers
43. "The Black Camel," Earl Derr Biggers
44. "Sorry Please Thank You," Charles Yu
45. "Charlie Chan Carries On," Earl Derr Biggers
46. "The Keeper of the Keys," Earl Derr Biggers
47. "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation," Michael Pollan
48. "Diet for a Small Planet: 50th Anniversary Edition," Frances Moore Lappé 
49. "Every Tool's a Hammer," Adam Savage
50. "Weapons of Math Destruction," Cathy O'Neil
51. "It's a Wonderful Woof," Spencer Quinn
52. "On Juneteenth," Annette Gordon-Reed
53. "Sapiens," Yuval Noah Harari  
54. "Where the Deer and the Antelope  Play," Nick Offerman 
55. "Good Clean Fun," Nick Offerman
56. "On Animals," Susan Orlean
57. "The Dark Hours," Michael Connelly 
58. "Coffee Lids," Louise Harpman and Scott Spect  
59. "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics," Carlo Rovelli
60. "The New Yankee Workshop," Norm Abram

There you have it. I completed sixty books the second year of the pandemic. That total is fewer than I read in the previous year, but not too far off my average of 58 from 2015 through 2020 - give or take a book.  However, it puts me well behind David Allen, who I like to measure myself against. However, I will register a protest in that fourteen of his were audio books, listened to while he was in his car. There are those amongst us that do not count that as actually reading. Be that as it may, here is my recap:

The Best:

There were a lot of excellent books in this lineup. Rather than pick just one I am going to divide them into two categories. The best in fiction (in this case hard science fiction) was "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir, author of "The Martian." As one of the main character's bosses says; in “When the alternative is death to your entire species, things are very easy. No moral dilemmas, no weighing what’s best for whom. Just a single-minded focus on getting this project working.” Advice that would be well heeded in our times. And, the problem solving that unfolds is a delight to follow.

The best in nonfiction is a close call. However, my pick is "Caste" by Isabel Wilkerson. The author examines the social divisions in American society, many of them generally unacknowledged but which have certainly affected my life, using comparisons with India and Nazi Germany. I may not be in 100% accord with her argument, but it is a very well written book.

A close runner up is "On Juneteenth."

The Most Disappointing:

A book I read back in the 1970s had a fairly big impact on my wife and myself. So, I was eager to pick it up again when I saw that a new edition was being released. What a let down!

The book is "Diet for a Small Planet: 50th Anniversary Edition" by Frances Moore Lappé . While it provides a new and "timely introduction plus new and updated plant-centered recipes" the bulk of it contains the same data from the original - which I see as scarcely relevant any longer.  The author and her daughter, who is responsible for the new and revised recipes, should have just released a cookbook. The point of the book is still pertinent, but newer ones are better suited for the present day. 

What Lies Ahead:

Tsundoku: photo by Cliff Hutson

Self-fulfilling prophecy can be a thing, and I would hate to fall into that trap. But, 2020 may see me competing even fewer books. It is the middle of January and I have yet to finish one. Also, my tsundoku has a couple of heavy volumes in it (see above) and others on physics and philosophy which may be heavy going. So, we shall see. 

Reading Log: August 2021

 The books that I finished reading in the month of August 2021:

August 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth," Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford 

"Squeeze Me," Carl Hiaasen 

"The Age of Wood," Roland Ennos 

"How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe," Charles Yu

"Clark and Division," Naomi Hirahara 

"The Botany of Gin," Chris Thorogood and Simon Hiscock 

"This Is Your Mind on Plants," Michael Pollan

Reading Log: May 2021

 The books I finished reading in May 2021:

May 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Past the Post," A.J. Stewart

"Of Mutts and Men," Spencer Quinn

"A Cat's Tale: A Journey Through Feline History," Baba the Cat as dictated to Paul Koudounaris

 

"Project Hail Mary," Andy Weir

"Chasing Darkness," Robert Crais

Looking Back: The Books of 2020

Reading

Book on Table: photo by Cliff Hutson

Reading has long been the first thing that I turn when I have leisure time. And, last year I had a lot more idle hours than I had before as an adult. But, surprisingly, my total of 65 books was the the greatest number I have read in any year since I have been keeping records, it is only eight more than my average for the previous four years.

This might be due to a difficulty to concentrate, to which others have alluded.  This led me to watching more TV and movies (at home) than I usually do. Not to mention the hours that I spent doomsurfing.

But, still I put up a passible record, here is the complete list:

1. “Residue,” Michael McGarrity

2. “The Fallen,” Ace Atkins

3. “The Boat Man,” Dustin Stevens

4. “The Dark Wind,” Tony Hillerman 

5. “Coyote Waits,” Tony Hillerman

6. “Y is for Yesterday,” Sue Grafton

7. “A Thief of Time,” Tony Hillerman

8. “Skeleton Man,” Tony Hillerman

9. “Talking God,” Tony Hillerman

10. “The Good Son,” Dustin Stevens

11. “The Ranger,” Ace Atkins

12. “The Greatest Books You’ll Never Read,” Bernard Richards

13. “The Western Star,” Craig Johnson

14. “Darkest Hour,” Anthony McCarten

15. “Cover Fire,” Dustin Stevens

16. “The Partnership,” Dustin Stevens

17. “The Return of Jeeves,” P. G. Wodehouse

18. “Justice,” Dustin Stevens

19. “The Scorekeeper,”  Dustin Stevens

20. “The Shape Shifter,” Tony Hillerman

21. “The Bear,” Dustin Stevens

22. “Heart of Barkness,” Spencer Quinn

23. “The Harlem Hellfighters,” Max Brooks

24. "The End is Always Near,” Dan Carlin

25. “50 Things to Do with a Penknife,” Matt Collins

26. "Stuff White People Like,” Christian Lander

27. “Sixkill,” Robert B. Parker

28. “Saturn Run,” John Sanford and Ctein

29. “Iced in Paradise,” Naomi Hirahara

30. “Stalking the Angel,” Robert Crais

31. “The End of October,” Lawrence Wright

32. “L.A. Requiem,” Robert Crais

33. “Fair Warning,” Michael Connelly

34. “The Dreamt Land,” Mark Arax 

35. “On Tyranny,” Timothy Snyder

36. “Devolution,” Max Brooks

37. “The Driver,” Dustin Stevens

38. “No Country for Old Men,” Cormac McCarthy

39. “To Have and Have Another,” Philip Greene

40. “The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook,” Joanie Zisk

41. “Cooking Through Trader Joe’s Cookbook,” Kelsey Lynch

42. “Alton’ Brown’s Gear For Your Kitchen,” Alton Brown

43. “Annihilation,” Jeff VanderMeer

44. “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” B. Traven

45. “Station Eleven,” Emily St. John Mandel

46. “One Bowl Meals Cookbook,” Williams Sonoma

47. “The Lola Quartet,” Emily St. John Mandel

48. “Alton Brown’s Good Eats: The Early Years,” Alton Brown

49. “The Science of Good Cooking,” the Editors of “Cook’s Illustrated

50. "Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food," Paul Greenberg

51. “Good Eats 2: The Middle Years,” Alton Brown

52. “Good Eats 3: The Later Years,” Alton Brown

53. “Matty Matheson,” Matty Matheson 

54. “Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean,” Edward Kritzler

55. “Cooking for One,” America’s Test Kitchen

56. "The Silence," Don DeLillo

57. "The Law of Innocence," Michael Connelly

58. "The Drunken Botanist: the Plants that Create the World's Great Drinks," Amy Stewart

59. "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," Emmanuel Acho 

60. "Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist," Tim Federle

61. "Black Sun," Rebecca Roanhorse  

62. "Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America," Ijeoma Oluo

63. "East of East: The Making of Greater El Monte," edited by Romeo Guzman, Carribean Fragoza, Alex Saye Cummings and Ryan Reft

64. "American Tacos: A History and Guide,' José R. Ralat 

65. "Desert Oracle: Volume 1," Ken Layne 

Looking over the list this afternoon, I am  amused as I observe the trend from mysteries at the start of the year to cooking and drinking toward the end of it.

Highlights

I always find it difficult to pick a  ranked "best of list".  But, certainly, “Saturn Run," John Sanford and Ctein was one of my best reads of the year. “Station Eleven,” Emily St. John Mandel would also be a contender. 

Two that rank as most useful, but not necessarily best reads, are “The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook,” Joanie Zisk and “Cooking for One,” America’s Test Kitchen. The latter alone can rate just for its tip on how to fry eggs. 

Biggest Disappointment 

There is no doubt at all as to which was the most disappointing of them all - “One Bowl Meals Cookbook,” Williams Sonoma.

One Bowl Meal: photo by Cliff Hutson

The book can be easily summed up: cook almost any meal that you would ordinarily prepare for yourself or your family and serve it a bowl instead of on a plate. Still, I would rate it two out of four stars as it does not require one to go on a spiritual quest for the perfect bowl as so many of the books of this ilk ask you to do.

Looking Ahead

With only one book finished so far in 2021, I seem to be behind the curve. It will be interesting (to me anyway) to see how the year finishes. 

Reading Log: October 2020

The books that I read in the month of October 2020 

October 2020 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Good Eats 3: The Later Years,” Alton Brown

“Matty Matheson: A Cookbook,” Matty Matheson 

“Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean,” Edward Kritzler

“Cooking for One,” America’s Test Kitchen

"The Silence," Don DeLillo

Reading Log: August 2020

 The books I finished reading in August 2020

August 2020 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

• “To Have and Have Another,” Philip Greene
  
• “The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook,” Joanie Zisk
  
• “Cooking Through Trader Joe’s Cookbook,” Kelsey Lynch
  
• “Alton’ Brown’s GEAR For Your Kitchen,” Alton Brown
  
• “Annihilation,” Jeff VanderMeer
  
• “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” B. Traven
  
• “Station Eleven,” Emily St. John Mandel 
  

Reading Log: May 2020

The books that I finished reading in May 2020

May 2020 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Saturn Run,” John Sanford and Ctein

“Iced in Paradise,” Naomi Hirahara

“Stalking the Angel,” Robert Crais

“The End of October,” Lawrence Wright

Reading Log: November 2019

The books that I finished reading in November 2019

November 2019 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

Yes, I am way behind with this. Don't ask!


"The Night Fire,” Michael Connelly

“Black, Buckskin, and Blue,” Art T. Burton

“Cockroaches,” Jo Nesbo 

“Wanderlust,” Rebecca Solnit

“Robert B. Parker’s Angel Eyes,” Ace Atkins

“A Canticle for Leibovitz,” Walter M. Miller