A Month of Reading: January 2017

Oh, you guys. Yesterday I realized that I haven’t been receiving your comments via email for about a week. I have always prided myself on responding to all of your comments and due to this glitch I haven’t been doing that. I have a good friend working with me to help straighten this out but please know that I am reading them even if I’m not emailing you back at this time. Technology is grand, isn’t it? 

Okay, onward to today’s post.

I shared a month of photos, how about if I share a month of reading? Links are to GoodReads followed by my rating and review of each book.

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In January I read:

A Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell

3 stars
This was a great first book of the year read. And the concept of hygge is really appealing to me right now as I face the dark cold days of January. Sounds like the Danes have a lot of things figured out quite well.

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

5 stars
Oh, Louise Penny. I don’t know how you do it but even 11 books into the series you managed to make this one fresh and new and yet, at the same time, comfortable and familiar. I can’t recommend this series enough. Read it.

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

4 stars
audio
A thoughtful and well written book on family dynamics, siblings and the fall out that occurs when relationships fall apart. I won’t say more because there are a couple of surprises in this one that I didn’t see coming and I sure don’t want to give anything away. Recommended.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

5 stars
Charming and sophisticated, this novel is simply wonderful. The life of the Count, as he lives in the Metropol hotel in Moscow under house arrest for years, is full and dedicated to service. The people he encounters, the rules of civility he lives by, the ways he orders his life, are all fantastic. The story is built slowly, layer upon layer, until it culminates in the absolutely perfect ending. Highly recommended.

The Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon

4 stars
Inspiring! And perfect for right now. Hang in there, RBG, we need you more than ever.

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

5 stars
audio
Stunning and captivating, this book is an excellent read. The premise, while creepy, is fascinating and the story is alluring and compelling, making you really think about beauty and tragedy, fate and free will. I’m late to the party on this one but I highly recommend it if you missed it when it came out almost 30 years ago.

I’ve set the bar for 2017 pretty high already with 3 five star and 2 four star books. I will say, though, my to-read list is very carefully curated and I think that leads to a high rating for most of the books I read.

Here’s what I’m reading right now:

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Stoner by John Williams (audio)

What are you reading?

 

 

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. I am rereading William Shirer’s “The Nightmare Years 1930-1940” which I own. He spent those years as an American journalist in Germany and Austria. Compulsive and scary reading.

  2. I’ll be interested in your thoughts once you finish Stoner. I’m currently reading Lucky Boy, and while it’s good so far, it’s also tied pretty closely to current events. I’d like to read for escape now but am having trouble settling into a book.

  3. Always enjoy your reading lists. I had noticed the lack of email from you, but life happens so I didn’t worry about it. There’s also that closely related expression, “Technology happens.”

  4. I just finished reading Swing Time (Zadie Smith) . . . meh. And I’m now reading White Nights (the 2nd book in Ann Cleeves’ Shetland Island trilogy; lots of knitting in there!). I, too, recommend the Louise Penny books as consistent, 5-star reads. So. Good. And I also thought Gentleman in Moscow was brilliant. (Looking forward to hearing what you think of the Museum of Extraordinary Things. We read it for my book group last year. Some of us liked it . . . and some of us didn’t.) XO

  5. Always enjoy your posts on books Carole. Oh the Louise Penny books are excellent!! And A Gentleman in Moscow was fabulous (I want to read Rules of Civility by Towles). Am currently reading A Year of Living Danishly which I am enjoying, but at times find boring. Also reading The Underground Railroad which is almost too disturbing in places – I can’t read it before bed or I don’t sleep well. Finally, on the nightstand are Knitlandia and In the Footsteps of Sheep – both of which I am enjoying.

  6. I’m reading and so trying to finish Louise Penny’s Still Life (#1) and listening to The Nix. I like it so far! Thank-you for your excellent reviews and recommendations. You’ve brought me some good reading!

  7. I am finishing up I am the Messenger and about to start In the Woods by Tana French. The waiting list for Inspector Gamache is LONG – it is hard to be patient! lol

  8. What am I reading? Nothing except The Yarn Whisperper. You have inspired me to get with the program!

  9. I’ll be interested in your views on Stoner. It’s a book I liked very much. I’m rereading The Tsar of Love and Techno for book group and look forward to reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Lincoln on the Bardo is also high on my list!xo

  11. Geek Love! One of my favorite books, but I don’t find many people who have read it. I thought it was a fascinating read. I also concur on Nature of the Beast and A Gentleman in Moscow. Both of these books are elegant books. I want to read Rules of Civility sometime this year. I have not read any fiction yet in 2017 that has grabbed me. I have tried reading Joanne Harris’ new book, Different Class, but it is dragging for me. I also started The Nix, and I am not far in, but so far, it is just a weird set-up. I think I am having trouble settling down to read. Too much chaos!

    You know, Carole, I lerv these book posts. So thanks, and do one anytime you feel the urge!

  12. You are off to a great start! I’m listening to Underground Railroad and reading Days without End (difficult reads both…much about America was far from great in the 1800’s!)

  13. I just finished “The Cruelist Month” Louise Penny’s third and can’t wait to get the next one. I typically listen to them and the narrator has a wonderful voice. Looks like some good recommendations to check out.

  14. I’ve read a string of duds this year it seems.
    The next two in line are Tethered by Amy McKinnon and The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. Both came highly recommended so I’m hopeful my run of bad books is over.

    (and I’m waiting to get Brady and Belichick back from the library – I didn’t finish it before it expired!)

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