Another year has passed, and I have now recorded five years of Reading/Viewing stats. I have added a few categories and taken some away over the years, but the core of how many movies and streaming shows I have watched and how many books and comic books I have remain the core of my reflection.
Looking at the statistics, I am down in all the categories except movies watched. Thinking about the year, there are a few possible reasons for that. First is the new category that I added. I did not multitask (reading or watching things) when I was listening to the baseball games. Many of the 80+ games I listened to would have been spent reading or streaming a show. Second, I did read a ton of gaming rulebooks. I don't count those unless I read them cover to cover, but I usually read only the parts I need or are interested in at that moment.
I do have some standout favorites of the year. My top novel is I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys. Her works are so well-written and researched, and I Must Betray You is my favorite of all her books and a standout this year. This book about the Romanian Revolution in 1989 really highlights the fear of living in a regime built upon lies and violence.My favorite movie experience this year was watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off with my family. My wife and I laughed at the out-of-date references and jokes, but our favorite was the relationship between Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Grace (Edie McClurg). Even more was how our high school graduate daughter caught many of the references.
Two streaming programs stood out to me this year Andor: Season Two and Taylor Swift: End of an Era.
Andor: Season Two brings the story of Andor and the Rebellion up to the events of Rogue One. Additionally, this series sheds light on the evil and dangers of the Empire that continues to bring cost and depth to the original trilogy. Taylor Swift: End of an Era is an excellent documentary of the Eras tour and who Taylor Swift is on a personal level. It documents the behind the curtain life of not only Swift, but many of her dancers, singers, and band. It humanizes this group of people whom we otherwise only see as stars of the music industry.I continue to read through the 1980/1990s X-Factor run. It is taking me forever to do this as I am only reading in spurts instead of buckling down to just finish it. Regardless of how I am reading this series, I am enjoying it. I have also enjoyed the current run of The Amazing Spider-Man as it is making its run up to issue 1000.
Book Titles:
Void Rivals: Vol. 1 More than Meets the Eye by Robert Kirkman Art by Lorenzo de Felicia (Graphic Novel)
The Salt Thief: Ghandi's Heroic March to Freedom by Neil Bascomb
The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfred Lupano and Leonard Chemineau, art by Christopher Bouchard (Graphic Novel)
Phandel we and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
The Davenports (abandoned)
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetya
Dungeons and Dragons: Worlds and Realms by Adam Lee
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Meirlich and Oga's by Annabelle Hiel
Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole
Operatic by Kyo Maclear art by Byron Eggenschwiler (Graphic Novel)
X-Men: Bizarre Love Triangle by Peter Milligan Art Salvador Larroca
Starfinder: Era of the Eclipse by Tim Pratt
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Movies Watched:
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Wicked
Captain America: Brave New World (Theater)
Inside Out 2
Rogue One
Star Wars: A New Hope (theater)
Elemental
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Thunderbolts (theater)
Hamilton
Avengers: Infinity War
Superman (theater)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Back to the Future
Fantastic Four
Home Alone
It's a Wonderful Life
White Christmas
T.V. Series Watched:
Skeleton Crew
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Music By John Williams
Andor season 1
Fur Babies
Disney Treasure
Light and Magic season 1
Andor Season 2
Star Wars Rebels
Dance Moms Season 2
Dead to Me season 1
Dead to Me season 2
Dead to Me season 3
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld
Pepsi, Where's my Jet?
Star Wars Visions Season 3
Vox Machina Season 1
Stranger Things Season (various eps.)
Stranger Things Season 5
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2
Wizard of Paws season 2
Taylor Swift End of an Era
Podcasts:
Rebel Base card Podcast (3)
60 Songs that Explain the 90's (2)
The Colbycast (4)
Teachers in the Dungeon (1)
Lost Ballparks (13)
Classic Baseball Radio (5)
Coffee with Kenobi (2)
MLB Team's Games listened: (min 5 innings)
Chicago Cubs (34)
Detroit Tigers (27)
San Francisco Giants (5)
Seattle Mariners (4)
New York Yankees (2)
Texas Rangers (2)
New York Mets (2)
Kansas City Royals
Washington Nationals
Pittsburgh Pirates (2)
San Diego Padres
Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Brewers
Boston Red Sox (2)
Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets
Tampa Bay Rays

