2025 Reading Challenge

"Reading is like a journey to a new place." — Charles M. Schulz

GOAL: 40 BOOKS | BOOKS READ: 40 • 11,350 pages

• Average Book Length: 284 pages | Shortest Book: 26 - Rêves de Noël | Longest Book: 697 - The New Art and Science of Teaching (signed by Bob Marzano)

• Borrowed from the Library: 25; Received as Gifts: 2; Purchased: 9 (2 at library book sales; 2 at Shakespeare & Company in Paris)

• Books Set in Paris/France: 12

• Books in the French Language: 1 (I should read more books in French next year)

• Scandinavian Lifestyle Books: 5 | 6 if you count the Door County book

• Non-Fiction/True Stories: 4; Historical Fiction: 7

• Books for Professional Development: 6

• Books by Female Authors: 29

• Books by Authors I’ve Read Before: 13

• Books by the Same Author: Robert Marzano - 2, Evie Woods - 2, Charles M. Schulz - 2; Kristin Harmel - 4

• Children’s Books: 3 | 5 if you count Peanuts books, but I believe Peanuts are for all ages

• Biggest Disappointments: A Frog in the Fjord — I thought I’d love a story about a French woman spending a year in Norway, but the author’s tone was quite negative. | Daisy Jones & the Six — I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I wonder if I would like the Prime series more than the book, but let’s be honest, that rarely happens.

• Favorite Books this Year: Peanuts Jubilee: My Life and Art with Charlie Brown and Others and The Peanuts Guide to Christmas by Charles M. Schulz — the Peanuts are a perfect way to start and end the year.

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2024 Reading Challenge

GOAL: 30 BOOKS | BOOKS READ: 33 • 9,309 pages

• Borrowed from the Library: 23; Borrowed from Friends: 1; Received as Gifts: 2; Purchased: 7 (2 at library book sales)

• Books Set in Paris/France: 15 (6 more with scenes in Paris)

• Scandinavian Lifestyle Books: 2

• Non-Fiction/True Stories: 17; Historical Fiction: 2

• Photography/Design Books: 5

• Books for Professional Development: 2

• Books by Female Authors: 21

• Average Book Length: 282 pages | Shortest Books: Sylvia’s Bookshop, The Night Before Christmas in Paris (32 pages each) | Longest Book: Fresh Water for Flowers (476 pages)

• Favorite Books this Year: The Little Black Dress, Audrey in Paris, The Night Before Christmas in Paris

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2023 Reading Challenge

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” — Stephen King

GOAL: 30 BOOKS | BOOKS READ: 30 •  9,947 pages

• Borrowed from the Library: 22; Borrowed from Friends: 1; Received as Gifts: 2; Purchased: 2 (1 at Shakespeare and Company in Paris)

• Books Set in Paris/France: 9; Books Set in Wisconsin: 1

• Scandinavian Lifestyle Books: 2

• Biographies/True Stories: 9; Historical Fiction: 7

• Books for Professional Development: 2

• Books by Female Authors: 32

• Average Book Length: 331 pages | Shortest Book: Tiffany’s Table Manners (96 pages) | Longest Book: Surrender (564 pages)

• Favorite Books this Year: Lagom, One True Sentence

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2022 Reading Challenge

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” — Stephen King

GOAL: 30 BOOKS | BOOKS READ: 45 •  15,022 pages

• Books Borrowed from the Library: 20

• Books Borrowed from Friends: 2

• Books I Received as Gifts: 2

• Books I Purchased: 4 | Books I regret purchasing: 1

• Books I Reread: 4

• Books Set in Paris/France: 15

• Books Set in NYC: 7

• Books Set in New England: 5

• Books for Children (of all ages): 2

• Biographies/True Stories: 18

• Books for Professional Development: 3 focusing on grading, gradual release of responsibility, and inquiry

• Books by Female Authors: 32

• Books Outside My Comfort Zone: 4

• Average Book Length: 333 pages | Shortest Book: Grace the Giraffe in Paris (45 pages) | Longest Book: The Guest Book (484 pages)

• Favorite Books this Year: The Last Dress from Paris, The Philosophy of Snoopy

• Most Disappointing Book: The Book of Hope

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2021 Reading Challenge

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” — Mason Cooley

GOAL: 30 BOOKS | BOOKS READ: 35 • 10,696 pages — 385 more pages than last year, despite reading five few books

• Books Borrowed from the Library: 19

• Books Borrowed from Friends: 2

• Books I Received as Gifts: 3

• Books on Scandinavian style and living: 5

• Books Set in Paris/France: 11 (+4 with some scenes in Paris)

• Books Set in NYC: 4

• Books for Children (of all ages): 2 with lovely illustrations

• Biographies/True Stories: 12

• Books By or About Hemingway: 4

• Books By or About F. Scott Fitzgerald: 4

• Books for Professional Development: 4 focusing on design thinking, innovation, assessment, feedback, and leadership

• Books I re-read this year: 3 — The Great Gatsby, The Book of Joy, Launch

• Books by Female Authors: 17

• Favorite Book this Year: North: How to Live Scandinavian

• Most Disappointing Book: World of Wonders

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2020 Reading Challenge

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” — Mason Cooley

GOAL: 40 BOOKS | BOOKS READ: 40 (10,311 pages) Another unpleasant bi-product of the global pandemic was a temporary case of “reader’s block” that lasted throughout the lockdown, putting me at risk for not meeting my goal this year. I did slowly start to rally during the summer, but the return to school was accompanied by a lot of “required reading.” Finally, around Thanksgiving, I hit my stride.

• Books Borrowed from the Library: 14

• Books Set in Paris/France: 14

• Books on Scandinavian style and living: 4

• Books for Children (of all ages): 2 with lovely illustrations

• Biographies/True Stories: 14

• Books for Professional Development: 10 focusing on design thinking, innovation, distance learning, and equity

• Books I re-read this year: We Should All be Feminists, Hope is a Thing, and To Live Deliberately

• Books to re-read: The Book of Joy — I borrowed this book from the library, but it’s one I’d like to re-read and annotate next year.

• Favorites this year: Paris Was Ours, Paris on Air, and Lagom

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