Lauren Daley| Standard-Times
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Each year, I challenge SouthCoasters to read 100 books in a year to make my BookLovers Century Club. Reading 25-49 books would qualify you for the Quarter-Century Club, and 50-99 books, the Half-Century Club.
Each year, our Club grows.I am one lucky columnist.
Remember: this isnt a competition. Its not about the numbers.
This is about the act of reading every day. Of losing yourself in good books and expanding your mind.
If youre reading every day, it doesnt matter if you get 25 books or 300…Yes, we have Triple Century Club Members. No, Im not one. Nowhere near. I read 70 books this year, and am a proud Half Century Club member.
And in that spirit, well meet some Quarter and Half Century Club members this week, before we meet more Triple, Double and Full Century members next week.
(25-49 books)
Diane Swift, Swansea: 30
Thank you for spreading your enthusiasm and love of reading to the community. I really appreciate you and look forward to your columns each week, writes Diane, a first-time member.
Welcome to the Club, Diane! And you have no idea how much your kind words mean.
Dianes favorites include some Classics, capital C: King Lear, by Shakespeare, Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott, and "David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens.
Woah. Diane, your list is 21 inspiration!
Debbie Carreiro, South Dartmouth: 36
Welcome to the Quarter Century Club, Debbie!
Debbie read 36 books this year, White Ivy, bySusie Yang; Leave the World Behind,"byRumaan Alam; Finding Mrs. Ford, byDeborah Goodrich Royce, and The Secret of You and Me, byMelissa Lenhardt.
My favorite book of 2020 was Dear Edward, [byAnn Napolitano]it was a tragic loss but also about hope, Debbie writes. Could not put it down.
Thanks for that recommendation, Debbie!
Thomas Hunt, South Dartmouth: 26
A longtime Club member, Thomas always has great nonfiction picks.
His three favorites of 2020? Catching The Wind, Edward Kennedy And The Liberal Hour," by Neal Gabler; Dewey Defeats Truman; The 1948 Election And The Battle For America's Soul, By A. J. Baime andA Promised Land, by Barack Obama.
Political readers, take note. Thanks, Thomas!
Carly Baumann, Fairhaven: 46
Iwrapped my 5th year in the BookLovers Century Club with 46 books, tallying 231 in 5 years. I didnt crack into the half-century this year…but audiobooks definitely helped me chug along.
Welcome back, Carly!
I love audiobooks, and I LOVE the idea of going back and compiling your past Club lists for a personal total (Im actually going to do that now myself…)
Carlys favorites of 2020: Know My Name, by Chanel Miller, The Library Book, by Susan Orlean, This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel.
Pam Talbot,Mattapoisett: 40
One of half Team Talbot, Pam returns for her second year in the Quarter Century Club welcome back, Pam! Her husband Ed is a long-time Half Century Club member.
Pams reads include The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett; Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson;Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett; andLong Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park.
(50-99 books)
Ed Talbot: 60
The second half of the team, Ed read one of my favorite of year, Eight Perfect Murders, by Peter Swanson, The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. John Mandel; The House on the Dunes, by Nancy Sweetland and Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman.
Eileen Wilmarth-Guerette, Acushnet: 53
Thank you so much for your wonderful writing, cataloging all the great reads out there, and managing this end of year listing. I and my fellow readers appreciate it. Heres hoping [for] a gentler 2021!
Amen to that, Eileen. And thank YOU for participating! Its work I love.
Eileen read a wonderful mix of fiction and non-fiction: she loved American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins;Tightrope, byNicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, the The Giver of Stars, by Jojo Moyes, The Sandcastle Girls, by Chris Bohjalian and The Huntress, by Kate Quinn, which she called exquisite.
Theresa Lawless, New Bedford: 60
A five-time returning Club member, Theresa writes: Thanks for your column! Its the best thing in the Standard-Times!
Aw shucks, thanks, Theresa! And THANK YOU for reading!
Theresas favorites include: You Dont Want to Know, by Lisa Jackson; Thirteen, by Steve Cavanaugh; All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr; Defending Jacob, by William Landry, andThe Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah.
Linda Thivierge, Acushnet:53
A three-time returning Club member, Linda writes, Reading was a much needed escape in 2020I hear ya, Linda. Welcome back to the Club!
Lindas 2020 reads include Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes; Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee; The Guest Room, by Chris Bohjalian; Evvie Drake Starts Over, Linda Holmes; Pieces of Me, by Sally Field.
Jeanne Gibb, New Bedford: 59
A four-time returning Club Member, Jeanne writes: I didnt read as much as last year, but thoroughly enjoyed all of them.
Love that, Jeanne. Were not about the numbers; were about the experience.
Jeannes favorites include The Guernsey and LiteraryPotato Peel Pie Society,by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows; The Tattooist of Auschwitz,by Heather Morris; Louise Pennys A Better ManandAll the Devils Are Here.
Don Davidson, Westport: 92
Welcome back, Don!
A longtime Club Member, Dons 2020 reads include: Russ Thomass Fire Watching, AJ Finns The Woman in the Window, Catherine Steadmans Something in the Water; Cormac McCarthys No Country for Old Men, (one of my favorites, Don) and Dennis Lehanes Mystic River.
SallyBillington, Dartmouth: 74
Welcome back to the Club, Sally!
A longtime member, Sally always has great picks. Her 2020 reads includeThe Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead; A Better Man, by Louise Penny; Dark Sacred Night, by Michael Connelly; The Giver of Stars, by Jojo Moyes; and Calypso, by David Sedaris.
Great list, Sally!
Linda Bryant, New Bedford: 54
Happy to say I'm returning for the fifth year and very excited that I've finallyreached the Book Lovers Half Century Club, Linda writes. Thank you for the opportunity to participate, I really enjoy it.
Welcome to the Half Century Club, Linda! [Balloons, confetti, cake.] We welcome you with open arms!
Lindas 2020 favorites include: The Giver Of Stars," by Moyes; The Winemaker's Wife, by Kristin Harmel; A Good Neighborhood, by Therese Anne Fowler; This Tender Land, by William Kent Krueger; and The Nichol Boys, by Whitehead.
Carole Rapoza, Dartmouth: 62
Carole writes,Thank you for putting this together.I look forward to your reviews, as I'm always looking for something good to read.
Hey, thank you, Carole. And welcome to the Club! [confetti, balloon, cake!]
Caroles 2020 picks includeThe Island of Sea Women, Lisa See, My Name is Eva, by Suzanne Goldring; The Book of Lost Friends, by Lisa Wingate; The Guest List, by Foley, and When the Wind Blows, by Amy Harmon.
Stay tuned next week my friends, to meet many more of Daleys Century Club: The Biggest Reading Club in SouthCoast!
Lauren Daley is a freelance writer andbookcolumnist. Contact her atldaley33@gmail.com. She tweets@laurendaley1. Read more athttps://www.facebook.com/daley.writer.
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