2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge

This year I didn't complete my Goodreads reading challenge goal of 50 books, but I read 33 and listened to 10.

Some interesting book stats:

Fiction was only 60%, the second-lowest percentage since I've been keeping track.  

Of that, about 27% were science fiction or fantasy (mostly fantasy).  Of those, my favorite was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V.E. Schwab, about a young woman who no one can remember once she's out of their sight.  Really cool premise.  I also really enjoyed The Loss of the Burying Ground, by J Anderson Coats, a YA novel of that rare and wonderful genre that's basically historical fiction of a place that never existed--like fantasy with no magic or supernatural elements.   

About 15% were historical fiction.  My favorite was The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn, about a woman and her son who survived the sinking of the Titanic and took the opportunity to escape their old lives.  

Other favorites:

 -Stranded, by Melinda Braun.   A YA survival tale. 

-Tell Me an Ending, by Jo Harkin.  A sci-fi story about people paying to have memories removed.

-None of This is True, by Lisa Jewell.  A creepy sort of women's fiction thriller.

-Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng.  A really well written, character-driven story that takes place just long enough ago to feel not quite contemporary.

-The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett.  Clever and creative comedic fantasy by the king of comedic fantasy.

Nonfiction:

As with most years, the largest percentage (47%) were related to animals.  My favorite was a memoir by a woman who runs an animal rescue farm:  Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals, by Laurie Zaleski.  I also really enjoyed Vanishing Treasures:  A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures, by Katherine Rundell.  

I also read (or listened to) three book about thru-hikes (though they were all larger in scope than just the backpacking):  A Walk in the Park, by Kevin Fedarko (Grand Canyon), The Man Who Walked Through Time, by Colin Fletcher (Grand Canyon), and Wild, by Cheryl Strayed (Pacific Coast Trail).