What I've Been Reading...
Twitter actually. Lots and lots of twitter.
And lots of news articles from a wide variety of sources, as well as opinion pieces and first hand accounts.
I’ve needed to wrap my mind around the events of 6 January from an American perspective and from a historical perspective. And it’s… difficult stuff. I can’t fully explain the powerlessness I felt Wednesday, not just as an American but as an expat. It was sobering and I still can’t fully comprehend it.
But I’ve also recognized that I’ve needed to get offline and read other things. (Doom scrolling through twitter at 2am is not OK probably)
So, last year, I completed 75 books in 365 days. I had a couple of advantages:
I had nasty morning sickness so I read instead of scrolling. Sometimes.
I found some really great books on Kindle Unlimited that were short and easy (and yes I count books of poetry and some slimmer reads too.)
I bought some really awesome books. (when in doubt, buy books to motivate yourself to read more!)
We were in lockdown for a lot of year and couldn’t leave the house. And after a while, you can only watch so much tv.
But I got a bit behind (like 7 books at one point), and I really hated that feeling. And because I felt I had to read a book every 3 days, I couldn’t really read some of the bigger volumes on my shelf. I relied on re-reading books (Harry Potter Series, L. M. Montgomery, and some easy ones I knew I could fly through in a day or two), and on some more fluffy Kindle Unlimited books (not bad, just not well-written either).
So, this year I’ve set a goal of 50 books. Less than one a week, which is doable, considering everything that is going on this year. It’s nice to have the accountability of setting a goal, so if you’re struggling with reading, set a goal and stick with it. Aaron and I are also using the Streak app this year, and while it was a pricey app for an iPhone, it does remind me of my daily goals and motivates me more than pencil on paper.
What I’ve read:
My first big book is A Promised Land which is massive and it takes me just over a half hour to read every single chapter. Phew. I’m about halfway through it, and it’s interesting and insightful. I think it’s important to remember that you don’t have to agree with people to respect them, and this book is an example of that. (And it’s 700 pages long so yes, it’s an accomplishment to complete!)
I read it end of last year, but Hamnet was fantastic. Compelling and similar to the Wolfe Hall trilogy, this book looks at the little known son of Shakespeare, although it never actually mentions the Bard by name. It was extremely sad and felt very believable, because it was set during an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague. Overall, it was an extremely powerful work and a book I highly recommend, with the caveat, have tissues handy. Additionally, if you can find the special edition from Waterstones, it’s a lovely copy and looks fantastic on the shelf! I can’t stop recommending this book to people; it was that good!
I read The Foundling in two days last week and if I hadn’t bought her newest book, I’d probably reread it again. An easy but intriguing read. Nothing terribly sad or serious and exactly the type of book I’d recommend one read during these tumultuous times. The ending was a bit perkier than I was expecting, but if you’re looking for a true escape read, this is it.
And next on my list:
The World Turned Upside-down by Christopher Hill (about life in the 17th century).
The Familiars by Stacy Hall
Letters from Jane Austen - Funny and so well-written, the first few letters give a glimpse into the mind of Jane Austen. I look forward to completing this book, because let’s agree, nobody does snark like Jane Austen!
Kids books
And because we’re all reading more these days, here are our current favorites for kids books. I’ve found kids books to be a fun pastime and there are just so many great books out there for them to read!
Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale, and Zog all by Julia Donaldson. These are my 2 year old’s favorite books and we read them daily. If baby number 3 speaks only in rhyme, I’ll know why.
Old Bear Stories. I remember reading this book when I was child, so it’s a treat to see those beautiful illustrations again and my daughter is absolutely enamored.
The Storm Whale. A beautiful little book about a lonely boy with 6 cats who adopts a whale for his tub. The illustrations are lovely and we’ve had fun reading and rereading it.
As always, I’m active on Goodreads and I generally update Instagram with books I’ve enjoyed too, but it’s nice to keep a record here and dip my toes back into the world of blogging!