Happy 2019 Reader Friends! I hope you have all had some cozy time to curl up with a blanket and a good book in the past few weeks. I am… cautiously on my way to my goal of 100 books. It still seems a bit lofty but 8 books in January is a solid start. I even resurrected and cleaned up my old Goodreads account to track my books!
Here are my reads and quick reviews (book links are to Amazon):
#1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (☆☆☆☆☆) This was my first read of 2019 and so far my favorite. It’s unclear how a book about murder can be so lovely, but, well, this book makes it happen! The main character Kya is lonesome and loveable and you will want to journey through the marsh with her. I enjoyed this read so much that I made it my real life Book Club pick for the year. I also listened to a podcast with this author and learned it is her first book and took her about 10 years to write. She did not disappoint and I hope to read more from her in the future.
Especially Read if you like: The Nightingale, The Great Alone or any of Kristen Hannah’s work
#2: Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (☆☆☆)This book weaves the stories of five women together surrounding a political sex scandal of a young intern. It is definitely about reinvention and second chances and will make you angry for all women out there who have to reinvent themselves while their male counterparts don’t face quite as dire consequences. (While also showcasing that females are strong as hell. Obvi.)
Especially Read if you want to SMASH THE PATRIARCHY or like author Emily Giffin
#3. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh (☆☆☆) Ya’ll. I still feel conflicted about this book. It’s been about a month since I finished reading it and I am STILL on and off thinking about it. The main character - we never learn her name - is, in my opinion, extremely unlikeable and mired in extreme privilege. The premise is her taking an entire year of her life (A WHOLE YEAR!) in a pill-induced state while she recovers from various grievances - albeit big ones - in her life. None of the foul language or hard truth scenarios bothered me; I just didn’t feel like I identified with her AT ALL. But, you know, maybe I’m not supposed to.
Especially Read if you like: The HBO Series Girls or love Lena Dunham or the raw David Sedaris style
#4: Becoming by Michelle Obama (☆☆☆☆☆) This book was easy to rate 5 stars. I adore Michelle Obama and her ‘life swerves’. Her voice is clear and concise and, while reading and savoring this book, I could easily imagine sitting across from Michelle over a cup of coffee or a cocktail. I definitely did not grow up on the South Side of Chicago, but I felt connected to her early life and her family ties. Add me to the Michelle fan girl for life category!
Read if you like: Strong, honest and hardworking women
#5: Angel & Bavar by Amy Wilson (☆☆☆☆) To be 100% transparent, I won this book in an Instagram contest (which never happens!!!) from Harper Kids. It came with another Amy Wilson book, The Lost Frost Girl. Angel & Bavar is targeted to middle readers and I’m still trying to convince my 5th Grader to read it. As for me, I got way into it and I am not sorry! It is a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast and I love the development of both the Angel and Bavar characters, and, more, the way this sweet book is about seeing, really seeing each other - both in the ‘real’ world and the magic one.
Especially Read if you love: HP (magic - duh) or all things fairytale related
#6: Vox by Christina Dolcher (☆☆☆) I totally bought into the hype surrounding this book and it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I was both intrigued and enraged by the premise - 100 words per day for each woman and girl in the US, measured by a bracelet she wears on her wrist. The book follows the story of a female linguist named Jean who I kind of wanted to throttle for not joining her friend Jackie in the world of protest “before things got bad.” Jean is a professional & busy mama with complicated and changing relationships with both her husband and children. In the end, I thought the novel wrapped a little too quickly and a little too neatly.
Read if you like: 1984, Station Eleven or, ya know, The Onion ;)
#7: Golden State by Ben Winters (☆☆☆☆) This was my January 2019 Book of the Month Club pick. I almost skipped this month’s box AND I was a little hesitant to select a book by a male author (I was aiming for 2019 as the year of lady authors, but, you know, one won’t hurt, right?), but I’m glad I selected Golden State. The main character, Lazlo Ratesi, kind of stole my heart with his dedication to his job and his actions as both of those things very much fall apart and he is forced to make decisions on his own version of the ‘truth.’ It is very much a dystopian narrative but I enjoyed it quite a bit and could most definitely see it being a movie or a mini-series.
Read if you like: 1984, Minority Report, Fahrenheit 451
#8 Sourdough by Robin Sloan (☆☆☆) Dammit. Another male author! (HA!) Sourdough was my final read of January and was also a gift from my husband! We both enjoyed Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore (the first book by this author) and wanted to try this one out! It started off strong and I was REALLY into the main character, Lois, who is a robot-arm programmer by day and bread baker by night (er… early morning.) This book will make you crave bread and doing ALL THE THINGS with your life goals; however, the end fell a bit flat for me. Still, this read is quick and enjoyable!
Read if you like: Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, books by Neil Gaiman
Happy Reading Friends! Xoxo.