January 2014 Reading Round-Up
Posted 3rd February 2014
Category: Round-Ups Genres: N/A
10 Comments
As opposed to December, January was full of happiness, laughter, and lots of motivation. I’m glad Christmas is over and I’m glad that after the couple of so-so weeks that tend to follow the holiday, I’m back to a routine, inspired, reading a fair amount, and writing again. Not much really happens in January, and although everyone knows it, it still feels strange when you realise you’ve not done anything particularly interesting yet (for example day trips). I’ve got to keep remembering that it’s going to be that way until sunrise and sunset make a noticeable dent in the amount of darkness.
All books are works of fiction.
The Books
Emma Henderson: Grace Williams Says It Loud – A differently-abled girl, born in the 1950s, struggles but survives life in an institution. The writing is confusing at times but overall this is a good book and very important.
Gillian Flynn: Gone Girl – Amy disappears and husband Nick seems not to care – could he be the killer or is there more to Amy than we think? Yep, I finally read it, and it’s as twisted but awesome as you all said.
Irène Némirovsky – Suite Française – As the Germans invade and conquer France, thousands of refugees move to areas that are still free and later adapt to life as the German soldiers move to live amongst them. An excellent book.
This month, Ana and Iris brought back last year’s successful Long-Awaited Reads Month. I loved it last year and had been looking forward to 2014’s month for a while. I read two out of the four books I said I would focus on, Suite Française and Grace Williams Says It Loud, and once again it was so much fun and very useful. Especially in the case of the Némirovsky, my thoughts were confirmed – I’ve known these past few years that I’ve been passing over a good book, and now I’ve read it I know this for absolute certain and am happy to say I’ve finally read it, credit to Long-Awaited Reads Month. Gone Girl technically counts as long-awaited, too, but as I hadn’t been desperate to read it I’m not counting it. I have no one favourite this month; these reading weeks have been stellar.
Quotation Report
None this time.
January has been good and whilst I know that one month doesn’t speak for the rest of the year I’m happy to look forward to the months to come.
What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?
February 3, 2014, 3:19 am
Yay glad you had an awesome month! And you loved Gone Girl so that’s a plus :-) That book is crazy.
vicki (skiourophile / bibliolathas)
February 3, 2014, 5:02 am
It’s a great month when you can’t pick a favourite! I think it would be a tie for me for January between Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park and Penelope Fitzgerald’s The Golden Child. Both very different and both utterly engaging and beautifully written.
February 3, 2014, 10:05 am
I’m so glad to hear you’ve had an awesome January, 2014 seems to be stepping up nicely to being a much better year for you.
I’m not sure which book has been my favourite of this month, the one still in my mind is A Good School by Richard Yates.
February 3, 2014, 5:46 pm
February is my least favourite month of the year… I can’t wait until March and onwards. :)
February 4, 2014, 12:10 am
Good month for you. I’d love to read Gone Girl.
My favorite read this month was a re-read of Flowers in the Attic.
Happy February reading!
Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader
February 4, 2014, 2:53 pm
Congrats on a lovely month :)
My favorite book in January was Belle Cora…just a gorgeous read!
February 4, 2014, 5:30 pm
I’m so pleased to hear January has been a happy and reading filled month for you :-)
February 27, 2014, 10:52 pm
Trish: I like your thinking! I think you’d like Suite Francaise :)
Tanya: If I hadn’t liked Gone Girl I think I’d have pretty upset, I’ve been looking forward to it so long.
Vicki: Yes! I haven’t read Fitzgerald but I’m not surprised at all to see Eleanor & Park there :)
Alice: Yes, so far, not bad. And excuse the rhyme but I’m glad. I’ve only heard good of Yates – and I think most recently from you :)
Kailana: Yes it’s weird, isn’t it. It’s the shortest month but it doesn’t feel like it.
Freda: Read it :) Even if you don’t like it it’s good to know what it’s about (in detail, I mean). I’ve heard a lot of good about that book. Hope you had a good February!
Jennifer: I’ll have to check out Belle Cora again!
Liviania: Indeed. It’s worth reading even if you’re not keen.
Jessica: Thank you :) February’s not been quite as good, but I suppose it can’t always be (saying that almost feels like a spoiler when you post about it on a blog!)
10 Comments
Comments closed
Trish
February 3, 2014, 2:59 am
I feel like January is solely for recovering from the holidays and February is so short because the weather is so miserable. 26 days until March! ;) I’m also looking forward to the longer days.
I’ve been meaning to read Suite Francaise for years. Glad to see your endorsement!