#DecemberWrapUp and #HappyNewYear

I had a great December reading month. The Warmth of Other Suns blew my mind. A new non-fiction favorite for sure. It’s a chunky one but I found myself completely immersed. The rest were all solid reads. I’ll be chewing on Detransition, Baby for awhile. More thoughts on these soon. But for now looking forward to what books I will be reading in 2022. I’m contemplating skipping a goal and just going with the flow. I have far too many books on my shelf that I have not cracked open and I need to remedy that. I also want to read slower this year. I think I rushed through a lot to try to meet some arbitrary goal. So although I read a lot, it’s kind of a blur. But also sometimes you can’t help it when you get sucked into a good story. So whatevs. I will do what I want. Another goal is definitely buying less. I’ve definitely bought books when I’m feeling sad for retail therapy purposes and I need to stop that.

In all I am still in love with this space. I’ve learned how I want to exist here (which I’m sure will evolve) and it’s been joyous talking books and other things with so many of you. Bookstagram is still the best space on the internet in my opinion. Of course it’s not an accident I feel that way. I’m very intentional about how I exist here. I want this space to make me feel energized. Not drain me. And I love that that is something I have accomplished this year.

What about you? Any #bookishgoals? Any #bookstsgram goals?

Pictured with a snowy background are the books Seven Days in June, Destransition, Baby, The Warmth of Other Suns, A Light From Uncommon Stars, and Ghost Squad.

The incomparable @johsjournal tagged me in this fun challenge, and I love that it is both reflective of the reading year and also looks to the future, so here we go! (Also I tend to give away books I’ve read. Hence why they’re not pictured. Acts of Desperation was a library book.) A BOOK THAT….

SURPRISED ME: Acts of Desperation. I knew I would like this book, but I just didn’t realize how much of it would stay with me. I think going into it I thought it was going to be a pretty typical exploration of relationships, but I found it more about her relationship with herself. And that was compelling. It is by no means an easy book to read, but it was powerful. Megan Nolan is definitely an author I will read from again.

DISAPPOINTED ME: Klara and the Sun was disappointing. I thought I was going to love it, but I was honestly just kind of bored. I thought a lot of it didn’t really make sense, but not in a good way. Like what the hell was up with cooting’s machine? Whatevs. I’ll definitely read other books by Ishiguro, but this was not my favorite.

5 STAR PREDICTION: Portrait of a Thief sounds so good. I am pumped to read it, I love a good heist story! Daughter of the Moon Goddess sounds so good too! Definitely ones I’m excited for.

PEOPLE LOVE & UNSURE I WILL LOVE: I don’t really know. I tend to withhold judgment until I have read it myself. If anything there are books I thought I would love that I didn’t, more so than me entering a book with trepidation. I’ll give any book a chance. (well almost any) One of the many reasons why I love #bookstagram is because I love seeing everyone’s differing opinions on books. It’s great, and weirdly sometimes if people don’t like a book or find it polarizing it makes me want to read it more so I can inform my opinion.

#Bookstagram #LosAngelesReader #FiveStarPrediction #ReadMoreBooks #YearlyReflection #yearendwrapup

Arsenic and Adobo is classified as a “cozy mystery” which is a genre I had no idea even existed. It was fun, cute, and simple. I unraveled the mystery pretty quickly about half way through, but it was a pleasant read that I needed at the moment. I don’t think it was without it’s issues, but I honestly wasn’t paying enough attention to be able to dissect them here. I do appreciate the authors content warnings at the beginning. I think it shows she cares. I’m sure there are critical analyses of this text out there, but I just didn’t care. If you are looking for a relaxing read this could definitely fit the bill, especially if you enjoy mysteries! It was also just nice to read from an entirely different genre. I don’t think mystery is necessarily my jam, but I do appreciate seeing Filipino rep in literature. And lord did this make me HUNGRY. I read this with @nerdtasticnoms and @enjoyjournaling. I love our little, chill book club.

#ArsenicandAdobo #CozyMysteries #FilipinoAuthors #ChillReads #AlwaysReading