128 ratings | 59 reviews | avg rating:4.44

Mark’s Year In Books

Mark’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Mark’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Mark’s 2025 Year in Books

Mark Johnson’s Followers (31)

Mark’s Bookshelves

to-read (27)
currently-reading (2)
read (130)
did-not-finish (0)
creative-nonfiction (1)

Mark’s Friends (68)

Stuart

2,439 books | 133 friends

Scottsdale Public Library

4,470 books | 2,541 friends

Carolyn Lloyd

1,280 books | 98 friends

Tom

115 books | 9 friends

Alisa

1,720 books | 43 friends

Jon

455 books | 60 friends

OhTheBill

207 books | 120 friends

Donna Baier-Stein

676 books | 2,094 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Mark Johnson has read 13 of 15 books.

87%

Mark Johnson

Goodreads Author

Born

in St. Louis, Missouri, The United States

Website

http://www.markjohnsonstories.com/

Genre

Memoir, Gay and Lesbian, Poetry

Member Since

May 2016

edit data

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Now, in my sixties, I live happily in Scottsdale, Arizona, among the saguaros and palm trees.

Since retiring in 2014 from corporate life, I've authored six books to pay tribute to vivid people and memories from my experiences in North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois and Arizona.

From Fertile Ground, my first book, is a three-generation memoir and writer's mosaic that explores the importance of family and desire we each have to create our own path.
My second book, Tales of a Rollercoaster Operator, features up-and-down stories from my Missouri childhood. The St. Louis History Museum selected both books (published in 2016 and 2017) for its collection devoted to LGBTQ history in the Midwest.

In 2018, I published A ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Mark Johnson questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Mark Johnson’s books

Average rating: 4.23 · 82 ratings · 32 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	An Unobstructed View: A Personal Journey from Illinois to Arizona 4.24 avg rating — 21 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	From Fertile Ground: The Story of My Journey, My Grief, My Life 4.44 avg rating — 18 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tales of a Rollercoaster Operator: Stories from My Missouri Youth 3.78 avg rating — 18 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	I Think I'll Prune the Lemon Tree 4.47 avg rating — 15 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sixty-Something Days: Essays, Poems, and Fiction 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Path I Might Have Missed it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Mark Johnson…

41 posts
Mark Johnson's Blog

Sixty-Something Days

As Thanksgiving approaches and we prepare to spend time with beloved friends and family, I'm excited to tell you that my sixth book Sixty-Something Days: Essays, Poems, and Fiction is live in paperback and Kindle formats. This memoir tapestry, which I wrote from 2022 to 2025, is a call-to-action to learn, grow, and create during every stage of our lives, but especially in our post-65 years. To fin Read more of this blog post »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 17, 2025 14:02 • Tags: community, fiction, growing, learning, memoirs, new-books, poems, post-65, retirement, teaching, wisdom, writing

View all 41 posts »

Mark is Currently Reading

Mark Johnson is currently reading

Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism

by Rachel Maddow (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

May 28, 2026 02:03PM

Mark Johnson is currently reading

The Goodbye Cat

by Hiro Arikawa

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

May 25, 2026 12:12PM

rss
Mark’s Recent Updates

Mark Johnson liked Tom's review of The Days of Anna Madrigal (Tales of the City, #9): "It's comfort food, spending time with characters I've loved for decades. I cared less about the Burning Man passages, wishing there was some way Maupin could contrive to end this story back at Barbary Lane. Anyway, I loved a lot of this book, and hap" Read more of this review »
15 hours, 46 min ago · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson rated a book really liked it Frog: And Other Essays by Anne Fadiman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15 hours, 47 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Frog by Anne Fadiman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Frog by Anne Fadiman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson finished reading The Days of Anna Madrigal (Tales of the City, #9) by Armistead Maupin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 11, 2026 06:37AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson started reading The Days of Anna Madrigal (Tales of the City, #9) by Armistead Maupin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 05, 2026 09:53AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson rated a book it was amazing Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a book I have wanted to read for years. The soul-searching pain of David's emerging sexuality with Giovanni simmers until the final heart-stopping chapter when the story explodes desperately ... magnificently. ...more
Jun 30, 2026 12:06PM · like · see review
Mark Johnson rated a book it was amazing Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2026 02:34PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson started reading Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 28, 2026 02:03PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Prequel by Rachel Maddow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Prequel by Rachel Maddow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson started reading The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 25, 2026 12:12PM · like
Mark Johnson rated a book it was amazing Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 23, 2026 02:33PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mark Johnson rated a book really liked it Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 03, 2026 07:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Mark's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Reading with Style: SP 19 Awards by Country AbC Plans	17	36	Feb 23, 2019 01:59PM
WACKY READING CHA...: MAR 2019 FEATURED AUTHOR - SHAYLA BLACK	48	43	May 15, 2019 09:06AM
Grab a Book & Pla...: March 2019 Mini Challenge	15	20	May 29, 2019 05:37AM
Reading with Style: SP 19 Completed Tasks	859	73	May 31, 2019 09:01PM
WACKY READING CHA...: MAY 2019 FEATURED AUTHOR - ANN B. ROSS	57	40	Jul 10, 2019 08:10AM
Stress Free Readi...: Hidden Gems Challenge	65	226	Jul 14, 2019 10:17PM

More…

Mark’s Quotes

“Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”
― Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

tags: authenticity, belonging, self-acceptance

727 likes

Mark’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Mark’s Year In Books

Mark Johnson’s Followers (31)

Mark’s Bookshelves

Mark’s Friends (68)

2026 Reading Challenge

Mark Johnson

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Mark Johnson’s books

41 posts
Mark Johnson's Blog

Sixty-Something Days

Mark is Currently Reading

rss
Mark’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

See a Problem?

Preview — Frog by Anne Fadiman

See a Problem?

Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

See a Problem?

Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

See a Problem?

Preview — Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

See a Problem?

Preview — Prequel by Rachel Maddow

See a Problem?

Preview — Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

See a Problem?

Preview — Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Topics Mentioning This Author

Mark’s Quotes

recent posts
Mark’s Groups

Mark’s Friend Comments

Mark Johnson’s Followers (31)

Mark Johnson

Goodreads Author

Popular Answered Questions

rssMark’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

See a Problem?

Preview — Frog by Anne Fadiman

See a Problem?

Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

See a Problem?

Preview — The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

See a Problem?

Preview — Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

See a Problem?

Preview — Prequel by Rachel Maddow

See a Problem?

Preview — Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

See a Problem?

Preview — Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Mark’s Recent Updates