Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lists. Show all posts

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Second Quarter 2026

 Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Second Quarter 2026


It has been an excellent year for reading so far, not my best to date, but my second best. I averaged under a book and a half a day. Faster than the last few years, and so many books and series I am working through. 

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. 

This quarter I read 110 books and I did not any to the ‘did not finish’ list, one of my highest second quarters since I started keeping track, below is the comparison with the last 10 years:

     2026 - 110
     2025 - 118
     2024 - 78
     2023 – 109
     2022 – 110
     2021 – 104
     2020 – 85
     2019 – 102
     2018 – 102
     2017 – 112
     2016 – 36

Year to date by the numbers:

Books Read: 110
First Time Reads: 86
Fiction: 49
Non-Fiction: 61
5/5 Stars: 79
5 Stars Fiction: 44
5 Stars Non-Fiction: 35

The second quarter of this year was great. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled. This year I received a physical Kindle for Christmas; instead of reading on my phone; and my reading has gone up again.

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the second quarter of 2026.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

2. Holy Nurses - Dr. Gosia Brykczynska - CTS Books 
3. Holy Scientists - Fr Douglas McGonagle - CTS Books
4. Rescued II: True Stories for Catholic Kids - Kathryn Griffin Swegart 
5. St John Henry Newman: A New Doctor of the Church - Fr Hermann Geissler, FSO - CTS Books 
6. The People of the Way of the Cross: Walking with Jesus through the Eyes of 14 Witnesses - Marci Alborghetti
7. Great Spiritual Teachers Series - Ave Maria Press
Grace Through Simplicity The Practical Spirituality of Evelyn Underhill - John J. Kirva
8. Letter to a Friend on the Prayer of the Heart - Dom André Poisson and Erik Varden - CTS Books 
10. Stories of Saints and the Beatitudes - Sr Marie Paul Curley FSP 
11. The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence  with Dr. Matthew K. Minerd, Fr. Gregory Pine, Rebecca Dougherty - Ascension Catholic Classics

Bonus Books:
15 Days of Prayer With Series 
15 Days of Prayer With Saint Louis De Montfort - Veronique Pinardon
15 Days of Prayer with Saint Philip Neri - Jean-François Audrain 

Just A Minute Meditations - Pauline Books and Media
Trusting in God’s Love - Kathryn J. Hermes FSP
Growing in Self Esteem - Marie Paul Curley, FSP

Mini Saints & Missionaries Library - Pettyfeather Publishing
Seven Saints for Boys: A First Communion Collection of Courage and Faith

Top Ten Fiction Books:

1. Far Distant Shores and Other Stores - Fiorella de Maria 
2. Closing Accounts - E. P. Cowley 
3. Lioness Lost - Susan Brinkmann - Chronicles of Ariella Book 1 
4. Witchward Series - Cedar Sanderson
Child of Crows Wings of Broken Magic
5. The Fighter - Jim Sano - Father Tom Book  7
6. Running Out of Sand - MaryJo Thayer - Sand and Soul Book 2 
7. The Timeless Series  - Richard Paolinelli and Gibson Buffa
The Timeless - Dreams Of The Storyteller 17
Secret Of The Sphinx - Dreams of the Storyteller 18
8. Dragon Noir - Cedar Sanderson - Pixie for Hire Book 3   
9. Books by Rodman Philbrick
10. Amelia Counterrevolution - edited by Clayton Barnett - Tales from the Lemurverse Anthology Two

Bonus Books Shakespearean Themed Fiction:
Shakespearen Shorts
ERROR 404: LOVE NOT FOUND: A Romeo and Juliet Reboot - Ty Balt
Hostile Takeover: A Macbeth Remix - Rex MacDuff

Shakespeare Murder Series - Guy Hale
The Croaking Raven 

Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare - William Shakespeare and Ted Neill

Bonus Books by A.K. Frailey
Wise Home - Wise Home Book 1

I have averaged just over a book a day over the last decade; and closer to a book and a quarter over the last few years. In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. 

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section.
 
But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list. 


Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 
All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
261 - 2026 January-June
424 - 2025 
363 - 2024  
455 - 2023 
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
 88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
 98 - 2008
 83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
 60 - 2004
 52 - 2003
 97 - 2002
 50 - 2001
 41 - 2000
 71 - 1999
 73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996



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Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books First Quarter 2026

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books First Quarter 2026


It has been an excellent year for reading so far, not my best to date, but my second best. I averaged over a book and a half a day. Faster than the last few years, but I had the first few weeks off work, and so many books and series I am working through. 

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. 

This quarter I read 151 books and I did not any to the ‘did not finish’ list, one of my highest quarters since I started keeping track, below is the comparison with the last 9 years:

     2026 - 151
     2025 - 132
     2024 - 119
     2023 – 160
     2022 – 145
     2021 – 97
     2020 – 96
     2019 – 123
     2018 – 91
     2017 – 100
     2016 – 52

One of the things that always causes a spike in the first quarter is I endeavour to pray a Stations of the Cross Friday of the year and each day through Lent. And this is the first Lent I have hit each day, at least so far. At the beginning of Lent this year I had 10 Stations I had never read. I have read 20 new ones and still have 4 I have year read, which I hope to do during Holy Week. But back to this year by the numbers:

Books Read: 151
First Time Reads: 122
Fiction: 37
Non-Fiction: 114
5/5 Stars: 111
5 Stars Fiction: 27
5 Stars Non-Fiction: 84

The first quarter of this year was great. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled. This year I received a physical Kindle for Christmas; instead of reading on my phone; and my reading has gone up again.

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

2. 15 Days of Prayer with …New City Press - Focolare Media
3. Poetry of John Irvine
4. Great Spiritual Teachers Series - Ave Maria Press
Living in the Presence of God The Everyday Spirituality of Brother Lawrence - John J. Kirvan
That You May Have Life: Let the Mystics Be Your Guide for Lent - John J. Kirvan
6. Saint Michael the Archangel Through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Schmit O.Praem and Fr. Peregrine Fletcher O.Praem
7. The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life - Michael Dubruiel
8. Just A Minute Meditations - Pauline Books and Media
Finding Inner Peace - Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP 
9. Art and Prayer - Mary Charles-Murray - CTS Deeper Christianity Series 
10. Lent for Little Folk - Roderick Vonhögen 
12. The Way of the Passion: 40 Stations with Jesus - Julien Chilcott-Monk 

Bonus Books New Stations of The Cross:

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien
With Jesus in Jerusalem: The First Way of the Cross - Étienne Méténier
Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus - Fr. William F. Prospero and Fr. James Kubicki
Stations of Strength: Praying the Stations of the Cross in Times of Suffering - Alice Camille 
Stations of the Cross for Young Catholics - Sister Anne Flannagan, FSP

Top Ten Fiction Books:

 1. A Stranger Among Us - Connor Gallagher
 2. Hypergifted - Gordon Korman - Ungifted Book 3
 3. Pilgrim Tales An anthology of fiction by the Catholic Writers Guild
 4. Tales From Wakken Wood - E. P. Cowley
 5. The Kidnapped Prince - Roger B. Thomas - The Chronicles of Caol, Book 1
 6. The Fixer - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Lessons in Power
 7. Begotten - Antony Barone Kolenc - Incarnate Book 2
 8. Black Dog - Dean Hamilton - A Tyburn Filos Novella
 9. The Ultimate Blindside - Leslea Wahl - Blindside Series Book 3 

Bonus Books:

Conspiracy 365 - Gabrielle Lord
April
Ted Talk - Karina Fabian - A DragonEye, PI, Short Story
Pogue Too - Edited by Liska McCabe - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 72

I have averaged just over a book a day over the last decade; and closer to a book and a quarter over the last few years. In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more.  

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section.
 
But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list.  



Statistics Books Read By Year:
151 - 2026 January-March
424 - 2025 
363 - 2024
455 - 2023 
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996


Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 



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Monday, 5 January 2026

List of Favourite Movies 2026

Favourite Movies and TV Shows 2026

(Note: this list will grow and be updated through out the year.)


Avatar The Way of Water 
...


I started keeping track of the books I finished reading in October of 1995, and movies watched in January of 1996. and Catholic Books by year since 2016. I have lists for:

I also do a Top Ten List of books each quarter and for the year. They can be found here. I was also asked to pick a Top Ten Catholic Books I have read, you can find that list here (and occasionally I add a note when I come across something exceptional.)


My Den 2003

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Sunday, 4 January 2026

List of Movies Watched 2026

Movies and TV Shows Watched 2026

(Note: this list will grow and be updated through out the year.)



Avatar The Way of Water 
The Bourne Ultimatum 
The Bourne Legacy 
V for Vendetta 
The Thursday Murder Club 
Cross - Season 1 
Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery 
Running Man - 2025 
Transformers - 2007 
Columbo - Season 1 
The Running Man - 1987 
Will Trent - Season 1 
Will Trent - Season 2 
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 
War Machine 
Shelter 
Transformers: Dark of the Moon 
Columbo - Season 2 
Punisher - Season 2 
Instant Family 
Road House - 2024 
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 
Jack Ryan Ghost War 
Marshals - Season 1 
Project Hail Mary 
Will Trent - Season 3 
Project Hail Mary 
Epic the Musical Animatic - Gigi 
The Crow - 1994 
Cross - Season 2 
Punisher One Last Kill 
The The Grey 
Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses 
Citizen Vigilante 
Normal - 2026 
The Sheep Detectives 
The Agency - Season 2 
Batman Begins 
The Dark Night 
The Dark Knight Rises 
Drive Angry 
Enola Holmes 
Enola Holmes 2 
Avatar 3 Fire and Ash 
Reacher - Season 1 
Reacher - Season 2 
How To Make A Killing 
Reacher - Season 3 
Payback - 1999 
Con Air 
The Rock - 1996 
The Presideo 
Law Abiding Citizen 
Jesse Stone Night Passage - 2006 
Jesse Stone Stone Cold - 2005 
Jesse Stone Death in Paradise - 2006 
Barbie & Her Sisters in a Pony Tale 
Jesse Stone Sea Change - 2007 
Jesse Stone Thin Ice - 2009 
Jesse Stone No Remorse - 2010 
Jesse Stone Innocents Lost - 2011 
Jesse Stone Benefit of the Doubt - 2012 
Jesse Stone Lost in Paradise - 2015 
Barbie Video Game Hero 
Motor City   
...


I started keeping track of the books I finished reading in October of 1995, and movies watched in January of 1996. and Catholic Books by year since 2016. I have lists for:

I also do a Top Ten List of books each quarter and for the year. They can be found here. I was also asked to pick a Top Ten Catholic Books I have read, you can find that list here (and occasionally I add a note when I come across something exceptional.)



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Saturday, 3 January 2026

List of Favourite Books 2026

Favourite Books 2026

(Note: this list will grow and be updated through out the year.)


My First Saint Nicholas Book - Amanda Lauer and Julia Seal 
Lobster Boy - Rodman Philbrick - aka The Young Man and the Sea 
Title Undecided - T.M. Gaouette 
Better the Devil - J.D. Kirk - DCI Logan Book 22   
Privateer - Page Zaplendam - Hinterspace Book 1
Falling into Place - Susan Brinkmann - Chronicles of Ariella Book 2 
Abide in Love The Gospel Spirituality of John the Evangelist - John Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series 
Taiwan Under Attack: Operation Reunification - Simone Nespolo 
Put Out The Light - Guy Hale - The Shakespeare Murders Book 3 
15 days of Prayer with Saint Vincent de Paul - Jean-Pierre Renouard 
Joan of Arkansas - Sarah Robsdottir 
Strange Invaders - Rodman Philbrick and Lynn Harnett - Visitors Book 1 
Killing Me Softly - Guy Hale - The Come Back Trail Book 1 
Jumping Jack - Diane Capri - Hunt for Reacher Book 25 
Spenser A Mysterious Profile - Robert B. Parker 
The Last Latitude - Cole Winters 
St. Michael and His World - Mike Aquilina 
Sleep No More - Guy Hale - The Shakespeare Murders Book 4
Orphan X - Gregg Hurwitz - Orphan X Book 1 
The Godwulf Manuscript - Robert B. Parker - Spenser Book 1 
15 Days of Prayer with Saint Faustina Kowalska - John J. Cleary                
... 


I started keeping track of the books I finished reading in October of 1995, and movies watched in January of 1996. and Catholic Books by year since 2016. I have lists for:


I also do a Top Ten List of books each quarter and for the year. They can be found here. I was also asked to pick a Top Ten Catholic Books I have read, you can find that list here (and occasionally I add a note when I come across something exceptional.)

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. 



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