Lauren Daley| Standard-Times<\/p>\n
Columns share an author's personal perspective and are often based on facts in the newspaper's reporting.<\/p>\n
This is what local journalism is all about.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Each year, our Club grows.I am one lucky columnist.<\/p>\n
Remember: this isnt a competition. Its not about the numbers.<\/p>\n
This is about the act of reading every day. Of losing yourself in good books and expanding your mind.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
(25-49 books)<\/p>\n
Diane Swift, Swansea: 30<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Welcome to the Club, Diane! And you have no idea how much your kind words mean.<\/p>\n
Dianes favorites include some Classics, capital C: King Lear, by Shakespeare, Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott, and \"David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens.<\/p>\n
Woah. Diane, your list is 21 inspiration!<\/p>\n
Debbie Carreiro, South Dartmouth: 36<\/p>\n
Welcome to the Quarter Century Club, Debbie!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Thanks for that recommendation, Debbie!<\/p>\n
Thomas Hunt, South Dartmouth: 26<\/p>\n
A longtime Club member, Thomas always has great nonfiction picks.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Political readers, take note. Thanks, Thomas!<\/p>\n
Carly Baumann, Fairhaven: 46<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Welcome back, Carly!<\/p>\n
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…)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Pam Talbot,Mattapoisett: 40<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
(50-99 books)<\/p>\n
Ed Talbot: 60<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Eileen Wilmarth-Guerette, Acushnet: 53<\/p>\n
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!<\/p>\n
Amen to that, Eileen. And thank YOU for participating! Its work I love.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Theresa Lawless, New Bedford: 60<\/p>\n
A five-time returning Club member, Theresa writes: Thanks for your column! Its the best thing in the Standard-Times!<\/p>\n
Aw shucks, thanks, Theresa! And THANK YOU for reading!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Linda Thivierge, Acushnet:53<\/p>\n
A three-time returning Club member, Linda writes, Reading was a much needed escape in 2020I hear ya, Linda. Welcome back to the Club!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Jeanne Gibb, New Bedford: 59<\/p>\n
A four-time returning Club Member, Jeanne writes: I didnt read as much as last year, but thoroughly enjoyed all of them.<\/p>\n
Love that, Jeanne. Were not about the numbers; were about the experience.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Don Davidson, Westport: 92<\/p>\n
Welcome back, Don!<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
SallyBillington, Dartmouth: 74<\/p>\n
Welcome back to the Club, Sally!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Great list, Sally!<\/p>\n
Linda Bryant, New Bedford: 54<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Welcome to the Half Century Club, Linda! [Balloons, confetti, cake.] We welcome you with open arms!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Carole Rapoza, Dartmouth: 62<\/p>\n
Carole writes,Thank you for putting this together.I look forward to your reviews, as I'm always looking for something good to read.<\/p>\n
Hey, thank you, Carole. And welcome to the Club! [confetti, balloon, cake!]<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Stay tuned next week my friends, to meet many more of Daleys Century Club: The Biggest Reading Club in SouthCoast!<\/p>\n
Lauren Daley is a freelance writer andbookcolumnist. Contact her atldaley33@gmail.com<\/a>. She tweets@laurendaley1. Read more athttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/daley.writer.<\/p>\n Get the news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our Newsletters: Morning, afternoon, sports, entertainment and breaking news.<\/p>\n Support local journalism: Sign up for an online subscription for less than 50 cents a day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more here: <\/p>\n BookLovers Century Club: What your neighbors were reading during the pandemic - SouthCoastToday.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lauren Daley| Standard-Times Columns share an author's personal perspective and are often based on facts in the newspaper's reporting. This is what local journalism is all about. Continue reading