AH, a new year, fresh start and a brand new pile of “To Be Read” books at my side to conquer in 2019. Add in a few snowy days and nothing on the t.v. and it is time to read. Even so, it was a busy month for me. I had one college-aged baby to get ready for a semester abroad and the other hanging out at home for a bit for perhaps the last real time he would have the same address as us. Add in work and other stuff that comes up, and I didn’t read as much as I would have liked. I did attempt 7 titles this month, but two of them wound up as DNF – Did Not Finish. One of these was a big surprise that I just couldn’t continue a single additional page. Read on to see what I did like and finish and even what didn’t make it very far! Two of these titles were on my 2019 To Read List, (one of 2019 new releases, and the other of previously published books) so I am already making a dent in that. Cheers to that! 🍷
Watching You – Lisa Jewell
While this wasn’t the very first book I opened of the month/year, I am putting it at the top of the list as it was my first 5 star/wine glass 🍷 book of the year. I loved Jewell’s Then She was Gone last year, and this may have been even better. The story opens with a murder scene and everything that happened prior begins to unravel. There was a point I debated stopping as I have a very low tolerance for certain topics. But I powered on and it paid off. Is Lisa Jewell Queen of Creepy for me? Yes, at least right now she is. She is a gifted story teller and master of suspense and the guessing game. An excellent read for a wintery night. Technically this is on my To Read List of Books Published Before the New Year, but it was so close to the end of 2018 when it came out that we can still call it a new release.
5 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
I started Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine last year and did not finish it at that time. I gave it another try as it was picked for one of my book clubs this month. I finished it this time and did rather enjoy it. Eleanor is quirky, odd and really quite funny. She has been through a lot in her life and without spoiling she is stronger than I ever realized in the beginning. Her point of view from the narration of her thoughts is engaging and I did feel more connected to her this time around.
3 🍷🍷🍷
The Library Book – Susan Orlean
How is it that I did not know of the fire that destroyed the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986. It probably had to do with me being a self absorbed teenager at the time, unaware of much of what was around me. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one as Orlean didn’t learn about this tragic fire until she moved to L.A. as an adult. I really enjoyed 80% of this book – it is interwoven with the history and mystery of the fire as well as the history of libraries in L.A. and elsewhere. I learned a lot about libraries that I didn’t know and gained a larger appreciation for how they have evolved over time. Occasionally, the history was a bit TOO much for me and I lost concentration. I listed to this on audible read by the author and did find my mind wandering here and there from time to time. I think that those involved in the book industry or libraries in general would eat this up from cover to cover. I found it to be a good solid read but it wasn’t as entertaining as other books I’ve enjoyed. I do recommend it, as long as its understood this isn’t my regular type of recommendation of a can’t-put-down-kind-of-book. You will learn a lot and probably appreciate the history as much as I did.
3.5 🍷🍷🍷
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living – Shauna Niequistz
I thought this would be a typical, I am super, crazy busy, super crazy stressed, super crazy successful, super crazy in general and want a simpler life without getting burn-out type of book. While that is all great, I felt the author was great is describing all the things she did and didn’t want it her life but for me fell a bit short on how to actually get there. I didn’t feel connected to the author and she seemed a bit cold to me and to be frank a bit whiny. Her spiritual awakening, if you want to call it that, has quite a bit to do with the book and I had not expected with the path it went. There is so much out there that has had a more inspirational impact on me. Some of the stories she tells are pretty good, but as an inspirational instructional book, it fell a bit flat.
3 🍷🍷🍷
The Last Anniversary – Liane Moriarty
I have said before that Moriarty for me probably isn’t the same high-caliber author as she is too others. Even with that said, this title was in my Audible library and I gave it a whirl. It kept me company as I drove to and from work for a week or so. It felt like a typical chick-lit book, filled with looking for romance, a little bit of mystery and the most engaging part for me, a new mother suffering from severe postpartum depression that goes completely unnoticed by everyone around her. Without that story line, I probably wouldn’t have finished but I had to see what happened to Grace as I prayed for her to receive the help and support she needed. I do feel done with this author though and I believe this will be her last I book I crack open.
3 🍷🍷🍷
DNF – Just couldn’t keep going
The Ex-Wife – Jess Ryder
An Anonymous Girl – Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Neither of these books did it for me.
The Ex-Wife sounded enticing and has some high reviews but I put it down at about 30% in. It was all just far too unbelievable to me and I couldn’t go on. Perhaps it got better but I will never know.
I was excited to read An Anonymous Girl (last year I read The Wife Between Us and really enjoyed it) but I just couldn’t do it.I had even put it on my 2019 New Release To Read list. I think I made it about 25% in before calling it quits. It wasn’t feeling suspenseful or thriller-ish to me at all, but instead one woman planning out a cat and mouse game for what I am guessing is some revenge on the entire female gender for a love gone wrong. That is just a guess though. It just wasn’t for me. But perhaps it is for you as it too is getting rather high reviews.
My January book of the month: Watching You.
Here’s to hoping for more winter nights in February to curl up in front of the fire with a great book! Cheers! 🍷
If you like my January book list, you may like some of my others if you are looking for something to read!
What Should I Read Next – Favorite 4 & 5 🍷 Selections
My Books to Read List for 2019: Books Published Before the New Year
My Books to Read List for 2019: New Releases
2018 in Reading & My Favorite Books of the Year