When all is uncertain,
I count the things of which,
I can be sure of.
Things I can count.
Things I can know.
Things I can see or touch.
Control is an illusion,
But today, this helps.
One.
Breath is in my body.
Two.
I will walk the dog.
Three.
We will see falling leaves.
Four.
I will touch a conker.
I love the feel of a conker.
And,
As it turns out.
Today, I only needed to count to four.
To be sure, to be certain.
When all is uncertain,
I count the things of which
I can be sure of.
No one curses a tree for
Dropping her leaves.
Standing there,
Bare and naked.
She is given her time.
Understood, life is seasons.
So 2020 is over… what a year it was and will always be remembered as “unprecedented” to me too.
Under the circumstances, I thought I might have read a few more books, but it seems there really never is enough time!
I managed 62 books this year which I am still very impressed with. Some have been quite sizeable too – 1Q84 is actually a trilogy and 928 pages – and I’ve also listened to a few books on audible which is a new habit for me now I’m regularly dog walking!
Anyway, here’s the list! Happy reading x
The Reading List 2020
Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
First We Make the Beast Beautiful – Sarah Wilson
The Third Hotel – Laura van den Burg
Full – Asheritah Ciuciu
The Big Sleep – Raymond Chandler
Brooklyn – Colm Tóibín
Melmoth – Sarah Perry
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – John Mark Comer
Reappearing Church – Mark Sayers
Sweet Sorrow – David Nichols
That Glimpse of Truth – Ed. By David Miller
South America – A Lonely Planet Guide
Rules for Living – Sam Holcroft
The Heart’s Time – Janet Morley
Travels with a Mexican Circus – Katie Hickman
The Secret of Literacy – David Didau
Hotel du Jack – Dan Brotzel
A Call Less Ordinary – Rich Wilson
Unlocking the Reader in Every Child – Susan Elkin
The Names of God – Ken Hemphill
Night Theatre – Vikram Paralkar
Tin Man – Sarah Winman
The Circle Maker – Mark Batterson
The Carnelian Fox – Kay MaCleod
The Jesus Way – Eugene H. Peterson
The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling
Doggerland – Ben Smith
The Bible from Scratch – Simon Jenkins
Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
IQ84 – Haruki Murakami
Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster
Toffee – Sarah Crossman
What if Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong – David Didau
Foul is Fair – Hannah Capin
Unreached – Tim Chester
King of Shadows – Susan Cooper
Five Quarters of the Orange – Joanne Harris
The Island – Victoria Hislop
Mere Christianity – C.S Lewis
The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern
A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall – Andy Abramowitz
Queenie – Candice Carty-Williams
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Soul Keeping – John Ortberg
Becoming – Michelle Obama
Some Children I taught and What They Taught Me – Kate Clanchy
My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferrante
Out of the Ordinary – Tim Morfin
Beekeeper of Aleppo – Christy Lefteri
The Gospel of Loki – Joanne Harris
The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth – John C. Maxwell
Amsterdam – Ian McEwan
The Common Rule – Justin Whitmel Earley
The Many – Wyl Menmuir
Mother Tongue: The English Language – Bill Bryson
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Career Coach – Corinne Mills
Educated – Tara Westover
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Devotions – Mary Oliver
Conversations with Friends – Sally Rooney
The Big Issue Presents: Letters to my Younger Self
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Now that I have a book released, I’ve been slowly trying to reach wider audiences that might be interested in my short story collection and other works, as well as keeping current readers and supporters up to date. With the help of a friend, I’ve been working on developing a monthly newsletter.
It’s still early days but I’ve been slowly increasing my reach through social media, book swaps, reader magnets, and giveaways through my newsletter (some of these things I had no idea about and thanks to Kay, she has been willing to give me an idiot’s guide along the way! (Go check out her writing at kaymacleodbooks.com).
Why am I telling you this? Well simply because I started this newsletter back in April and I have only just added this to my blog so I suppose it’s partly delayed housekeeping and partly to see if you’re interested in signing up to my newsletter. As I’ve said, it’s montly and it includes writing updates, book reviews, flash fiction, book swaps and deals for you and more!
To sign up – go to this link: SUBSCRIBE!
Thank you and I hope you enjoy it!
When Strange Calls You Home – Available in Print and Digitial via Amazon.
12 Days of Short Stories DAY 12: FIN DEL MUNDO
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Thanks for following my short story previews, I hope you have had a great Christmas and a happy New Year.
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Overwhelmed and fed up of New York, Artist Gee buys a desolate ranch in the New Mexico desert to focus on her painting and other creative projects. But as solitary and peaceful as her ranch is, she must soon face up to some old fears.
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Available to buy on Kindle or paperback soon!
Follow @kpuntonbooks for more updates!
#shortstories #12daysofchristmas
12 Days of Short Stories DAY 11: SCULPTURES
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Small-town man Hugo has not had an easy life. But when opportunity beckons and he is employed at an art gallery, he is drawn into a whole new world of imagination; one that he finds close to impossible to describe.
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Available to buy on Kindle or paperback soon!
Follow @kpuntonbooks for more updates!
12 Days of Short Stories DAY 10: A LONDON TRANSPORT ENCOUNTER
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Evelyn has been called home from university to discuss an important letter, but she doesn’t want to leave London for long. Then, on the train, she meets an unexpected stranger on one of the busiest days of travel.
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Available to buy on Kindle or paperback soon!
Follow @kpuntonbooks for more updates!
Kelly Punton 