In addition to the changes I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve decided to change the format for my book posts — for the lists of books I’ve finished and reviews of the ones I think warrant a longer write-up.
Rather than publishing a yearly or twice-yearly post listing the books I’ve read with a handful of full-on book reviews sprinkled in, I am pivoting to the format you’ll see below: a list of the books I’ve read and finished*, with quick summaries of each. And then I will post a photo of my favorite book from the month. I may post full-on reviews of some books, but I haven’t decided that yet.
Unless noted otherwise, the books I read are books I’ve chosen to read — they may be recommendations from others or they’ve made appearances on best-seller and “best of” lists, or they are books I see in my bookstore visits.
For the first time in my life, I joined a book club (in October 2024) so I will make a note of the books I read for that. I am also *trying* to train myself to listen to audiobooks so I will indicate those, too.
*: if I can’t get into a book, I stop reading. I typically give a book about 20-50 pages but sometimes I just know it’s not going to be interesting, it will be a waste of time, or it’s the wrong “fit” for my current state of mind. There are so many books I want to read so I have no problem moving on if something hasn’t captured my attention.
The only caveat on this point is for the books I read for book club. So far, I’ve been able to make myself read each month’s book even though there have been two that I would ordinarily have moved on from if they’d been my own choice.
I am not yet sure whether I will write and publish monthly or every other month, as I’ve done for this first post — so that part may also be a work in progress.
January books:
Someone Else’s Shoes — I read every book Jojo Moyes publishes. I always enjoy her plot and characters, and the way she writes about women dealing with very real things. Her books are feel-good easy reads that always highlight strong women. In this one, I loved seeing one of the main characters open her heart to the experience of admitting vulnerability and being in community with other women.
Nobody’s Perfect — This book was just OK. It was a little boring with a lot of “fluff”. It was quick and easy but it’s not one I’d ever read again. It’s also not one that compels me to seek out this author.
I Made It Out Of Clay — I loved this book! It takes place in Chicago, but what drew me to it more than anything is the bit of Jewish mythology the summary promised. The main character was so beautifully complicated and although I didn’t relate to her life circumstances or how she decided to act and react, I did relate to her emotional struggles, her heart, and her mistaken assumptions about the other people in her life and how open she ended up being once those assumptions were proven wrong.
The Great Believers — I moved this one up my “to read” list and bought it immediately after my favorite “bookstagrammer”, raved about it at the end of 2024. I really don’t have much to say, other than that I loved it — even when I expected it to be a really tough and emotional read. It wasn’t an easy read, given the subject matter (the AIDs epidemic in Chicago in the early and mid-1980s), but I really loved the way the author moved back and forth from the 1980s in Chicago to 2015 in Paris. It was so very compelling and I devoured it!
When Breath Becomes Air (book club) — I first read this book right after it came out in early 2016. But when my book club chose it for our January book, I was happy to re-read it and I read it in four hours. It is, without a doubt, one of the very best books I’ve ever read.
It’s moving in a way that I can’t quite explain. It’s not an easy read, given that it’s about walking through terminal illness and is actually quite heartbreaking. But it is also so full of hope and inspiration. Paul Kalanithi’s transition from doctor to patient (and then to first-time dad) was beautifully written and so very relatable. Paul is easily one of the people on my dream dinner party guest list.
February books:
The House Across The Lake — This book had a bit of everything I love when I’m reading on vacation (which I was when I read it): suspense, an unreliable narrator plus a mix of unreliable characters, a compelling plot, and a setting that adds to the ambiance in a way that it’s almost an additional character (think: Lucy Foley and Tana French). I finished this one in less than a day.
There’s Something About Mira — this is the third book I read in the first two months of this year that was set (or partially set) in Chicago. And while this was by accident, it made me wonder if Chicago is having a moment.
I have really enjoyed diving into books about people from other countries and cultures, and reading about how they navigate life in the United States. Books like these open my eyes in ways other types of media doesn’t. This book was no exception, except that more than life in the U.S., I loved the parts of the story that took Mira and Krish to places all over India.
Remarkably Bright Creatures — this book has been on my “to read” list for at least a year. It finally became available in my Libby hold list and I am so happy to have read it! With a touch of magical realism — which is a genre I’ve recently discovered and love (!!) — it’s such a sensitive and openhearted look at friendship, grief, family, and hope. It surprised me and had me crying at the emotional ending; I finished the book ready to start it again!
With characters — both human and cephalopod — that I quickly grew to love, Remarkably Bright Creatures reminded me of a human + elephant story that is one of my all-time favorites; I am finding that I love when stories partially unfold through the eyes of animals!
Prayer: Forty Days Of Practice — I actually read this one and the one immediately below in concert over the course of January and February, focusing on prayer and creating a flourishing prayer life in my Bible Study and quiet time with God. Both books are a mix of words and images, and are meant to evoke responses and communication with God that comes about organically and creatively. They are both simple and profound! I loved starting my year reading and learning from both of them.
May It Be So: Forty Days With The Lord’s Prayer — (see above)
The House In The Pines — This book was OK. It was a quick and easy read and I did opt to finish it, but I got bored with the pace of the story. Things started to feel like they were moving so much more slowly about 100 pages in, and I feel like the middle 100 pages could have been edited down to about 30. The final 100 pages were very good, though.
Forever Home (audiobook) — This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to in at least 25 years, and I really enjoyed it. The story was moody, a little suspenseful, and even a little strange, but it moved along at a good pace and reeled me in immediately. The “whodunnit” piece was unveiled with so little drama and hullabaloo that I was caught a bit by surprise by how it all turned out.
On a related note, I love the Graham Norton show, and Graham himself is the main reason. He is so very good at drawing stories out of the guests on his couch and connecting each person to the rest of the group that his own talent for stories shouldn’t have surprised me. As a fan of British humor, I was hooked after watching my first episode, years ago. But I only recently realized that Graham Norton is also an author. In looking at a list of his published books, I realized he is the reader for all of his audiobooks and I was sold — I am a sucker for Irish and Scottish accents and I plan to listen to more audiobooks, by Graham Norton and others.
Braiding Sweetgrass (book club) — I really struggled with this one! I wanted to love it but I think it was just bad timing for me and it ended up being such a slog! There was quite a bit of repetition and I feel like the book should have been better edited.
There were a few chapters I really enjoyed — especially chapter 4; I loved the author’s illustrations of a gift economy versus a market economy and her explanations of common wealth over private. I also enjoyed her tendency to view everything from a place of abundance and from the perspective of an optimist.
Please send book recommendations in the comments! I am always looking to build my home library and for my next book.
I also wholly agree with these words from Toni Morrison:
and to this quote attributed to Luc van Donkersgoed: "Think not of the books you've bought as a 'to be read' pile. Instead, think of your bookcase as a wine cellar. You collect books to be read at the right time, the right place, and in the right mood."