Resolutions have been made and some of them might have been fulfilled already. Have you all set your reading goals for the year yet? Me neither. 😄 In fact, I’m not going to set any. I like my challenges challenging, but I like my reading meaningful, and so in my situation “a reading challenge” is an oxymoron. But, I’ve already started my reading year, and so I can tell you about some books I’ve read and a few others that I’m still reading.
1. What We Buried by Kate A. Boorman
I won this book in a Giveaway organised by Lili @ Utopia State Of Mind. Thank you Lili!❤️ I had no idea I was in for such a treat! The book will be out in the end of February, so I will post my review later. I can say now that I’m starting to suspect I’m still a young adult, because it’s yet another young adult novel that I have liked really much. It’s surreal and absolutely gripping! It tells a story about very complicated family relationships. The book is not without its flaws but it’s very entertaining.
2. The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Sarah Perry was my love at the first line. I am enjoying reading her stories even when nothing spectacular is happening for half a book. I am fine with the lack of action if the writing is that good. But I do know some bloggers (hello Wellreadtart 😉) who might strongly dislike the book for this very reason. I think The Essex Serpent is what they call a slow burn. It burns slowly, but oh so beautifully 😍.
3. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
I’m still reading this book, and I have to say I am treading the story very carefully because I have a lurking suspicion I might abandon it eventually. This book did absolutely nothing to deserve this, but it reminds me a chic lit genre which has repeatedly disappointed me recently. Meanwhile the story is quite charming. It’s a story about book sales rep and a book shop owner. It has so many different books mentioned that I keep taking notes not only about the book itself but about the books that are mentioned there.
4. Patrick Melrose novels #3 and #4
I grew very much attached to Patrick, a character with a very difficult childhood, a history of drug addiction, and with some hope for a better future. I’m less than two novels away from the end of his story, so no matter what happens in the books I am not going to quit. But, as you see, I still haven’t posted a review of Some Hope, Patrick Melrose novel #3. That’s because Edward St. Aubyn’s talent to write a whole novel based on just a few events reached unbearable levels in this third book. It’s a curious case of a book that you read for a long time, but afterwards can’t say much about. I’m reading the fourth novel now, called Mother’s Milk where Patrick is even older, and the author gives the book a new perspective that I’m not sure I’m happy about.
If you are curious, here are my reviews of the first two novels: Never Mind, Patrick Melrose novel #1 and Bad News, Patrick Melrose novel #2.
5. The Turning, short stories by Tim Winton
Can you tell me how it is possible that short stories are losing popularity? At least, that’s what I heard. I mean, people seem to prefer short Twitter messages over longer blog posts but they still don’t like it when a whole story is told very shortly and thus it is even more focused and intense?
Anyway, back to the topic. I’ve read a few short stories from The Turning and I loved them. They are very atmospheric and thought-provoking. My only little problem with them is the writing, which is very abrupt. It’s obviously just a style so I can’t hold it against the book.
That is it for these first five days of the fresh new year. I’m wishing you happy reading. Tell me what you are reading right now if you want to chat.
If you are interested in similar posts from previous months, here they are:
Reading books in December
Currently reading in November
Currently reading (a post from October)
I love Gabrielle Zevin. I didn’t read The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry yet, but might give it a try! Hope you don’t end up DNF-ing it and actually enjoy the book!
Really? That’s good to know. I’ve actually never heard about the author before. I just liked the description and the writing seems quite good so far. I had bought it before I read several chic lit stories that I didn’t like so by now I think I developed some intolerance to certain aspects of this genre and I feel like they might happen here too. But I still have hope 🙂 And I’m not even sure it’s chic lit, it seems to have a wider range of topics.
It does sound like chick lit! My favorite from her is Young Jane Young. Great book.
Well, it turned out to be better than any chic lit I’ve recently read. (if it’s a chic lit at all). It’s more complicated even though it’s still very easy to read. I liked it 🙂
I read the AJ Fikry book and I felt somewhat the same as you do – in fact, I skim-read the last third just to get to the end and I was sort of wishing I hadn’t waited so long into the book to do even that. I just got bored with the people in it after a while.
Thanks for letting me know. That’s what I suspect might happen to me too, but I’ll keep trying so far. I’m still in the beginning. Do you know those books they mentioned?
It’s been a while, so I had to think. Hmmm. I knew there were some I did know and others not (I got to where I was more interested in the books they mentioned but I didn’t do anything about it…) Anyway, I just thought – maybe someone else kept a list, and googled it. Lo and behold, someone did! I looked it over and was reminded of old favorites and hmmm – some ideas for new ones.
https://www.listchallenges.com/all-of-the-books-and-short-stories-mentioned
Well, as you know I am very thankful to you for finding the list! Also, I love the phrase “Lo and behold” :))
I’ve read The Storied Life of A J Fikry… some time ago. I remember enjoying it. Sweet little story, but not particularly deep. I just finished A Terrible Country as an audiobook, and am reading Fruit of the Drunken Tree.
I’m so happy to see you here. Thank you! How was the audiobook? I find these the hardest to find. I mean those that I would like. How is the Fruit of the Drunken Tree going (that’s an interesting name)?
You can reply on Twitter if you want, all variants are ok with me.
It was the first audiobook I’ve tried. We had a long car ride and I hoped it would make it less tedious, but was worried my mind would wander. I think I heard most of it. I’d give the story a 3 or 3.5. Slow start, uneven read, with some interesting parts. Fruit of a Drunken Tree is a pretty serious read, about life for some young girls in Colombia, from different socioeconomic backgrounds. It’s been quite interesting so far.
I think listening to mediocre books is even harder than reading them. When you read you can skip some parts if it gets too much (too tedious or too badly written) but when you listen you have to go through it all 🙂 That’s why I find it so hard to discover really good audiobooks. I just ended up listening to podcasts. This other book is set in modern days, right? I’ll look it up. Although now I want something gothic. Can’t wait to start another du Maurier book :))
🙂 I always admired your love for reading.
Thank you for highlighting those books!
Thanks Renard! 🙂 Do you also find time for reading? You probably prefer non-fiction (it’s just a guess 🙂 )
🙂 You are welcome!
And, yes, I do find the time for reading.
Brilliant guess. I prefer reading books that are non-fiction.
I knew it! 😄 I used to focus on non-fiction too, but then I allowed myself some fiction, and it pulled me completely into that world and there has been no way back since.
I actually enjoyed The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry when I read it a year or two ago. Nothing too deep, but I found it heartwarming to say the least. I hope you’ll end up finishing it. I’m curious to know what you thought of it.
Guess what? I finished it in one day! You are right, it is heart-warming. I was actually thinking to call it this way or not, because I thought that it might have felt this way only to me. I’m happy to see you also thought so. I just posted my review of it. Did you review it anywhere?
Only on Goodreada if I recall correctly. I might have even given it a 5 stars. Although it seems like a 4 stars to me now. Maybe I’ll change it, maybe I won’t haha it was enjoyable at least