It's hard to be thankful this year. Every day we've seen shameful things---lies, corruption, cruelty, hatred---coming from our country's leaders. Every day we've seen people sick with this virus and dying while others brazenly go about their business, life as normal, ignoring the best advice available from medical personnel. I was shocked to see a person I call a friend write on FB: "I'm not canceling my Thanksgiving plans."
It's enough to make us all deeply disheartened. Weary. Bleak, even.
I refuse to do that.
I'm going to continue to push on, to work for the good, to do what is right, stumbling as we all do from time to time, but getting right back up and being thankful for all we enjoy.
What bookish things am I thankful for this year?
(1) I got to attend the Edinburgh Book Festival and the National Book Festival for the first (and probably the last) time.
(2) I've read more books this year---currently 665 books---than I ever have before in my life.
(3) I've read some amazing books this year; I'll be revealing my favorites at the end of this year.
(4) I've discovered the delights of e-books when my library closed in March.
(5) I found it was an excellent idea to have an enormous TBR here at home when my library closed.
(6) My library reopened, offering curbside service.
(7) I began to purposefully buy books from independent bookstores rather than Amazon.
(8) I love the many Zoom author readings and talks.
(9) This year will soon be at an end, and I am thankful for that.
(10) I've relied on my blogging friends this year more than ever before for good book suggestions and general moral support. Thank you all so much!
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
I am with you on all of these positive bookish things, especially the amazing book community. It's been a joy to visit blogs during this pandemic.
ReplyDeleteOoh nice ones! I'm envious that you were able to attend any festival this year! By the time my annual ones came about 2020 had been canceled. Hopefully 2021 will be better!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Hi there Debs, I am sooooo grateful that I started blogging again and can talk to someone as wonderful and inspirational as you on at least a weekly basis. The unexpected blessings of this year!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Elza is grateful for
What a beautiful list. I'm glad your library reopened for curbside service!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by earlier.
I love the way you think. I have relatives who are getting together in person for Thanksgiving this year despite some of them being terribly high risk. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteBut we must keep pressing forward. There are better days ahead. I just know it. :)
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I refuse to be disheartened, too, although like you, some people I thought I knew surprise me sadly. But there is much for which to be grateful for and I love your list! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteIt's true that this year, we're thankful for a huge physical TBR ! It's so easy to be depressed these days that you are absolutely right to look on the bright side. I'm also thankful for my cats, who are loving and playful, and the beautiful landscape that I see through my windows every morning. Not the most gorgeous ever, but I like it just fine :) Thanks Deb !
ReplyDeleteDeb, like you I try to think of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for. For me: no one I know has contracted COVID (probably because we listen to the health professionals), thankful for my kids, grandkids and having enough of everything we need. That is an incredible number of books read in 2020, I'm at 115 and pleased with that. This Thanksgiving will just be the 2 of us but I'm still preparing a big meal and cooking a 15lb bird LOL Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may we both be around next year to celebrate with loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Diane!
DeleteSo thankful for digital reading this year! I’m also so spoiled by online shopping and curbside pick up that I may never go into a store again! Happy Thanksgiving and stay safe!
ReplyDeleteI like your take on this week's topic. #1 makes me jealous in the nicest possible way. What incredible experiences both must have been.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great list and many of them would be on my list, too. But... Right now I am at about 100 books for the year, not as many as last year but still a good amount for me. How do you read over 600 books in a year?
ReplyDeleteIt's a form of madness, I think.
DeleteI am grateful that this year afforded me the time to resurrect my book blog and rejoin this community. I'm glad you've found so much to be thankful for as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Just recently heard the same kind of comment from my sister. (“I’m not letting this virus rule my life!”) But, like you, I won’t be dragged down by the frustration or weariness. Gotta focus on the good. Still plenty to be thankful for. And Zoom gatherings and library curbside pickup and good ones!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely grateful for the books I've read this year.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/11/24/top-ten-tuesday-291/
I've seen some surprising and dismaying things on Facebook as well from people I thought I knew better. You just never know! Great message though- and the Edinburgh festival sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Thanksgiving!
WOW! That's an impressive number of books read.
ReplyDeleteWait - 665 books? How in the world did you do that? Amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing which were your favorites.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Lots of picture books!
DeleteWow for the books and festivals and all the other.
ReplyDeleteSeems a different, but not so bad year, as we thought...
(I read only 60 books in a year)
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DeleteNot so bad. (And you should never say, "I read only 60 books in a year.)
DeleteThis is such a great list and I am in awe over your number of books read this year. And yes to those Zoom bookish events. I was so grateful for those since I normally don't have opportunities to attend author events where I live.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool image of those leaves. They look as if they're floating!
ReplyDeleteIt has been a very difficult year and I'm finding it hard to not get angry/jealous/upset when I see people going about their lives as if they weren't living in a pandemic. We have sacrificed so much this year while others just go on living life as they see fit. Sigh. It's time for me to start making a gratitude list every morning. Thank you for the inspiration. And your friendship. Take good care.
I photographed them on a glass table at the place we were staying in Arizona. Thank you, Les.
DeleteThis was a good reminder to be thankful for books, book events, and bookish things.
ReplyDeleteOh man, how I hear you. The selfishness I've seen on FB is ridiculous. They don't want to be controlled and yet, they don't see how defying the health orders is just making it worse. This is the year of entitlement. The virus really is not the issue here. It's that it flushed out all this horribleness. We will recover from the virus but it will take years to fix this country.
ReplyDeleteI am in a horrible anxiety-ridden place and I am hardly ever anxious. I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. My husband said it's because of one episode of The Crown that I watched that was particularly sad. Nope. That just made it worse. I am trying hard to enjoy this time. I know, it's weird to enjoy a shut down but next year I will be crazy busy again, I'm sure and I really needed the break. So, I shall make the most of it. Hang in there. WE can get through this.
We can. I've had to take some extreme measures to combat this wash of horribleness that has been rolling through for the past few years.
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