January 2022 Reads

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

Here’s what I read this month…

Beach Read by Emily Henry

This was a fast read, but longer at 380 pages, so it took me about a week to read it. This was the first book I read on my new Kindle (loving it!). A rom-com with some teeth. I was not prepared for how emotional it would make me. I really enjoyed it. Definitely adding Emily Henry’s other books to my TBR list. Kindle book, personal purchase. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

This read was just OK. I’m glad that people like Flanders are out in the world figuring their ways through (and out) of things like alcoholism, debt and over-buying, sharing their experience to inspire others, and I wish this had more substance. She mentions often the data she gathers from her experiments, but there wasn’t much of it in the book. I would love to see all of that data. I would’ve preferred to read the original blog posts rather than the over-arcing story of her experience living through this year. Kindle book, personal purchase. ⭐️⭐️

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

Somewhere there is a tea shop that is a resting stop for people after they’ve died. Hugo Freeman, the tea shop owner and ferryman for the dead, hosts Wallace Price after he dies suddenly of a heart attack. A little magical realism plus a queer love story, not to mention characters reflecting on their lives and the value of spending our lives doing the things we want to do and loving the people we want to love. And allowing ourselves to be loved. I was hooked. I was a huge fan of Klune’s The House On The Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door did not disappoint. Hardcover, personal purchase. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1) by Louise Penny

My first Louise Penny book, but it will not be my last. I already have book two of this series queued up. A murder mystery that was quiet, interesting, and cozy without being boring or violent. It made me (continue to) ache for winter and quaint small towns with amazing bakeries. Kindle book, personal purchase. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

I was geared up for this book and waiting (impatiently) to get a copy from the library. Sadly, it wasn’t what I wanted. I just finished it, so I’m still processing my thoughts. Mostly I liked the main character, an AI named Klara (the story is from her point of view), but I wanted it to go deeper into her relationship with the child she is meant to befriend, Josie. It never got dark, deep, emotional or interesting enough for me. It was well written though. Hardcover, library. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would love to know what you’re reading these days. I am in the works of creating an “un-book” club that will meet bi-monthly on Zoom where we can all talk about our love of books and reading. Stay tuned for more info!

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My reading goal for 2022 is 28 books. You can read about my favorite 2021 reads here.