“Embrace the stillness of January; find peace in the calm before the storm of the year unfolds.”
K.J. Caleson
January is such a strange month isn’t it? We simultaneously challenge ourselves to embrace the best version of our lives, whilst trying to survive one of the bluest months of the year – in the northern hemisphere at least. I do wonder if those who are in summer in January feel the same way – I think I would be much more inclined to stick to a new fitness regime if it wasn’t so cold and wet!
Anyway, I digress. January was a suspiciously good month of reading for me, bolstered by my lack of enthusiasm for the outdoors, and a conscious focus on Challenge24. However, we’re now over a week into February and I have yet to pick up a physical book – so in a bid to get inspired, I thought I would reflect on what I’ve read so far in 2024!
Books Read:
| Title | Author |
| Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year | Beth Kempton |
| Enough | Jessica Rose Williams |
| Stuff: Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things | Randy O.Frost + Gail Steketee |
| Simple Matters | Erin Boyle |
| Our Endless Numbered Days | Claire Fuller |
| Smoke Gets in Your Eyes | Caitlin Doughty |
| The Crossroads of Should and Must | Elle Luna |
| Nick + Nora’s Infinite Playlist | Rachel Cohn + David Levithan |
| The Sunny Nihilist | Wendy Syfret |
| Before the Coffee Gets Cold | Toshikazu Kawaguchi |
| The Little Prince | Antoine De Saint-Exupery |
| A Simple Favour | Darcey Bell |
Total keeping: 7 out of 12
I found some great new favourites in January. A stand out for me was Before the Coffee Gets Cold, it is the perfect gentle read and I feel it’s one I will come back to time and time again. I was very excited when I learned it’s the start of a series and I’ve already added the others to my book wish list! I also thoroughly enjoyed A Simple Favour – I was hesitant to read it, having seen the film in the not too distant past, but it’s different enough to be gripping even when the general storyline is known, I’ll definitely be reading that one again in the future.
Total heading for new homes: 5 out of 12.
Honestly, I’m feeling like it should be more, purely based on just how many books there are on my overfilled bookshelves, but – nearly half, I’ll take it for now. It’s a strange concept for me to donate books that I have genuinely enjoyed, such as Our Endless Numbered Days + Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, but I know that I’m unlikely to pick them up to re-read so I think letting go is the right approach. If you’re interested in my thoughts on these two in particular, check out my post on ‘Uneasy Reading’.
All in all, a successful start to the year, some new favourites, some long time lurkers on the ‘to be read’ list successfully ticked off, and a few books winging their way to new homes.
Did you find any new favourites in January? Always open to recommendations.
Nx
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