It may come as no surprise to you all, but one of my very favorite activities in life is reading. And this year has been an especially rewarding one, as I read a personal record 64 books. For inquiring minds, a couple dozen were library books and the rest I got from our local free library kiosks or purchased for a couple bucks apiece from used bookstores. Ironically, the only books that cost in double figures were a couple e-books from Amazon. 

As longtime readers of this blog likely recall, our minimalist journey began several years ago with radically downsizing our library of more than 1,500 books down to our favorite 150 or so, which we gradually whittled down to only 15 at one point. As of year’s end, our library is back up to 60 titles, about evenly split between hardcovers and softcovers. We also own about 40 e-books that are not counted toward our total, and for the record I much prefer print!

Pictured above is the Wiscasset [Maine] public library, which dates to 1799 and is the oldest continuous circulation library in the nation according to its website. And joining it has given us access to the state’s reciprocal lending program between participating libraries, which we enjoy utilizing. If there was one thing I particularly missed last year it was the temporary closing of libraries here due to the pandemic. 

With winter descending upon us here in Maine and the sun setting as early as four o’clock, reading helps us to weather the elements. As Kathleen Norris wrote, “Just the knowledge that a good book is waiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.” And to that end, I have stockpiled about a dozen books I am very much looking forward to reading as the season progresses. Here is hoping you and yours have a happy new year of rewarding reading also!