JANUARY BOOKSHELF
If you’re in the mood for some winter reading, here are a few good books I read this month, along with some notes on each.
Wintering by Katherine May
Relaxing, timely, and reflective. This book was written in 2018 but published in 2020, during a period that could be described as a global wintering.
Some criticisms of this book are that it’s too self-oriented. (“The book is about the author’s life which isn’t that interesting,” reads one review.) It is, indeed, told from a first-hand perspective; that said, the writing is lovely and there are several highlight-able passages, which for me offset this fact.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
I tore through this book in 24 hours and couldn’t put it down. I carried it around the house with me, so that I could sneak in a few pages during every possible break during the day. It’s thought provoking, compelling, and provides a provocative examination of several elements of our society that are quite broken, through the lens of captivating fiction.
A few passionate Amazon reviewers have recently been tearing this book apart. I respectfully disagree with their venomous sentiments (and, as Seth says, the critics are never going to be happy with us anyway). In our “familyhood,” a neighborhood group of women who check in on each other and in this case share books, we’ve been passing the book around, and so far it’s been receiving high reviews.
The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennet
Excellent, compelling, and thought provoking. There is much to love about this book. The character development is excellent, the examination of the topics of lies and illusions is powerful, and the historical context is as relevant as ever.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
What a beautiful book! It starts off slow, but picks up. Even after finishing the book, I find myself thinking regularly about the main characters.
The Home Edit and The Home Edit Life
I would consider these “guilty pleasure reads” - basically, elevated coffee table books that provide an excuse to look at gorgeous photos of rainbow colored shelves and celebrity homes. If you’re visual, like I am, you might find them to be cathartic - and particularly relaxing during this time when we’re spending so much time at home.
