2019 Recap/Review

2019 was a good year overall. I got some solid climbing in on mountains and walls. And I've got to say I am not as fond of the big granitic or sandstone walls as I am of snow and ice-covered slopes. Somehow, the exposure on the walls seems greater.

Climbing a pitch. Photo Courtesy of Jack Tyson

I also got in a couple of 25K trail races. And again, while I think races are fine, I much prefer to run solo or with a couple of friends than to be part of a herd of people at an event. I realize that some need to have a goal. But most often, I prefer the journey where running is concerned (unless it is to do something crazy like run across, Joshua Tree, Zion, or some other park/desert. Then the goal defines the journey).

I played a lot of disc golf. My game got a bit better. I won my division in a doubles tournament with my buddy, Paul. My group of disc golf friends also started traveling more to courses around our region. There are some fantastic ones nearby in both large cities and tiny burgs.

My favorite travel spot again this year was Leadville. It is a special place for me. The altitude, mountains, trails, hiking, biking, paddling, and running opportunities make it, for me, my top destination in the US. Next year will again find me traveling around the world. But 2019 saw more time spent in the mountains in the US than in previous years. I hope to be back again in Summer 2020.

Sangre De Cristos - Descending from Basecamp with a very heavy pack.

In 2019, a chunk of my reading was dominated by a French author, Philippe Besson. I had seen that M. Besson's latest book, translated by Molly Ringwald (yes, that Molly Ringwald - who knew?), had been blurbed by one of my favorite authors, Andre Aciman. So I checked it out of the Lawrence Public Library and sat down to give it a read. About 2 days later I was done and immediately sought out every book Besson had written that had been translated into English. His writing is so exquisite that it make you want to earn to read/speak better French so that it can be enjoyed in the author's native tongue. I found two more of his novels at Watson Library on the KU campus. And then there were no additional translations available in any library or for purchase. He has a new-ish novel out. It is my hope for 2020 that it will be translated into English. So with that explanation, here is the list of my favorite reads from 2019.

FAVE BOOKS 2019:

1. In the Absence of Men - Philippe Besson 

2. Lie With Me - Philippe Besson

3. His Bother - Philippe Besson

4. Climbing Everest: The Complete Writings of George Mallory - George Mallory

5. The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen - Jacques Pepin

6. Betty Blue - Philippe Dijan

7. The Passion of Michel Foucault - James Miller

8. No Friend But the Mountains - Behrouz Boochani

And now a new category - worst books I read in 2019. There were actually 3 that I read because they were by writers I like, were blurbed by writers I like, or suggested by friends, but they were either so terrible, or disappointing, that I would not recommend reading them. One, I will say, got great reviews, but it has such glaring plot flaws that it is beyond me (and an editor buddy with whom I discussed it) as to how anyone could like it.

LEAST FAVE BOOKS 2019L

1. Out East: Memoir of a Montauk Summer - John Glynn

2. The River - Peter Heller

3. M Train - Patti Smith (who I normally absolutely LOVE - I wish her book hadn't been so disjointed, boring, and self-indulgent).

BEST THINGS I'VE WATCHED

Those who know me know that I strongly prefer European movies where people sit around pieds-á-terre and say pithy, relevant things, have affairs, and nothing much else happens. I love that type of movie. I see almost no American movies (just 1-2 each year). I also love movies and TV about adventure, travel, sports, and cooking. That being said.

1. Rocketman
2. Pavarotti - Ron Howard Dir.
3. Andy Murray: Resurfacing
4. Around the Next Bend
5. Ride with Norman Reedus
6. Mid 90s
7. Hillary (Season 1)
8. Sanctuary
9. American Ninja Warrior
10. Eighth Grade

I may add to, or change these lists as I recall other things I read and watched. But this is a good start.