Happy New Year's Eve! As we wind down the final few hours of December, I can't help but think about what an unusual month this has been. I spent much of the first half at home with an awful cold and sinus infection. We missed two holiday parties in one weekend, did most of the Christmas shopping online, and I never baked a single cookie!
The holidays began early when our NYC daughter, son-in-law, and Winnie the Whippet arrived on the 20th for an extended stay. Our CT daughter and SIL joined us on Christmas Day, and for several other meals and activities, too. Everyone left yesterday afternoon... and I took a nap! Today we clean, regroup, and prepare for a quick visit to my parents (weather permitting) before our trek south.
Despite the sickness (or maybe because of it?) December turned out to be a pretty good reading month.
BOOKS READ IN DECEMBER
nonfiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4 by Beth Brower
historical fiction, group reading project, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
nonfiction ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
literary fiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Merry by Susan Breen
holiday, ⭐⭐💫
Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
holiday, ⭐⭐⭐💫
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 5 by Beth Brower
historical fiction, group reading project, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
JANUARY READING POSSIBIILITIES
Sipsworth by Simin Van Booy (reread, in progress)
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
This is an ambitious list for January, typically a slow reading month for me, but we'll see how it goes. I hope to be back in the next few days with my 2025 wrap-up and list of favorites. But if I run out of time, look for it in mid-January instead.
How was your month? What was your favorite December read?
I like that snowy photo up top, wintry. Not a single cookie? ha. I think you deserve a break, especially since sick ... and you do so much cooking during the year. I will be reading Buckeye in either Jan. or Feb. (hope it's good). I had 2 strong reads to close out 2025: Seascraper and Flesh. So I hope to keep it going. Have a Happy New Year and safe travels to FLA.
ReplyDeleteSusan - Great way to close out the reading year! I'm interested in both Seascraper and Flesh, but will likely get to Buckeye first. It's been unusually cold and snowy in CT, so I am counting down the days until we go south... but first heading even farther north this weekend. Brr!
DeleteI want to read Buckeye and I can say Memorial Days was fantastic. It's short but powerful. You did have some good reading but I am sorry to hear you were ill.
ReplyDeleteBe careful on the trip back to Florida. Right now it's 36 degrees in my part of the state but you will get warm as you head south!
Tina - After all the wonderful reviews of Memorial Days, including yours, I knew I'd want to get to it soon. I heard the record-breaking cold in FL extends pretty far south...an outdoor New Year's Eve concert on Fort Myers Beach was cancelled due to the cold weather! (or maybe they moved it indoors somewhere) I hope it's warmer by the time we get there!
DeleteI think we are supposed to have a warmer January this year so, you may come back to brilliant sunshine and nice temps. We met a man walking his dog recently, he was from Texas here visting his brother and he said he had a place on Sanibel too. Loves it there.
DeleteTina - My fingers are crossed that it will be warmer by the time we get there. There's a lot to love about Sanibel!
DeleteJoAnn, first of all, Happy New Year!! Can you believe it's 2026? Seems really amazing. Glad you and your family had a nice time together and hope the same goes for your parents' quick visit. Good luck with the trip south. We have been having 'above average' temps here and that seems like it will continue. I'm OK with that. And my husband has been having some really good golf. Sending you big hugs and take care! We'll try for some great reading in 2026.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay. I still can't believe 2026 is here already. Glad to know you're enjoying some warmer weather. My hubby got me a pair of battery-operated heated socks for Christmas and at first I though it was a gag gift, but I've actually been using them the last couple of evenings! Here's to another year of good books - Happy New Year!
DeleteYay for a good reading month in December and I hope you are feeling much better. Have a happy 2026!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - We are all finally feeling better, but it took way too long! Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2026.
DeleteHappy New Year, JoAnn! I hope you are feeling 100% by now. Several of my friends have been sick with colds, and one has the new flu in spite of getting her shot. I'm hoping Mom, Rod and I all avoid the bugs that are going around!! I didn't bake any cookies, either. We have so many treats in the house, I didn't dare. I keep telling myself that my weight is due to muscle with my 6 weeks of weight-lifting as opposed to over-indulging during the holidays. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have the first Emma Lion book lined up for my January reading. Thanks again for the recommendation. My mom loved it and is eagerly awaiting delivery of the next two books. I'll also be reading Buckeye in January, and now that you've mentioned The Lacuna, maybe I should move that to my nightstand. That would be three big books going at once, though. I've got The Emperor of All Maladies as a daytime read, The Winds of War as an evening read, and When Cranes Fly South as a bedtime read. We shall see!
Favorite read in December? Tied between The Marriage Portrait (O'Farrell) and M. L. Stedman's upcoming release, A Far-flung Life. Both were 5-star reads for me!
Les - I would be happy, even a little relieved, to postpone The Lacuna. For whatever reason, I'm not looking forward to it this month. Buckeye seems to be calling and also I'm experimenting with a chapter a day readalong of War and Peace. The first chapter of the Maude translation is very readable. We'll see how it goes.
DeleteSo happy your mom enjoyed the first Emma Lion! They are such a delight to read and perfect to slot in between heavier books. I didn't read any Maggie O'Farrell in 2025, but this year will be different! Glad to hear M.L. Stedman's new book was a 5-star read, too.
Hope you all continue to avoid the colds and flu. Happy 2026!
I would love to read The Lacuna later in 2026. The Winds of War is over 1000 pages and it's going to take me a long time! I'm trying not to ignore the big books this year. I spy at least a dozen on my shelves. Eeek! Good luck with War and Peace. I've never read it, but I did read Anna Karenina and Dr. Zhivago, both of which were quite long.
DeleteLes - I read both Anna Karenina (when it was an Oprah selection) and Dr. Zhivago years ago, but never attempted W&P. Let's compare reading plans in the spring and see if we can fit The Lacuna in a little later :)
DeleteI do hope you are feeling better. I had a cold that lasted about a week. I thought it was gone, but today I feel like it's come back (maybe because my daughter got sick after me and passed it on?). Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHelen - We are finally all healthy around here! The first half of December was tough, but at least I got to read a lot. Hope you don't get sick again. Happy New Year!
DeleteSorry to hear you were under the weather for the holidays. That is such a drag, but you did find a silver lining!
ReplyDeleteLoved both Vera Wong books--so fresh and fun to read (actually I listened to them).
The Lacuna is my least favorite Kingsolver novel--I really should reread it as I now know more about Freida Kahlo and Diego Rivera than I did when I read it, but I found it difficult to relate to.
Hope your January reads are fantastic!
JaneGS - Thanks for the Vera Wong audio tip. I have the paperback, but will try to get the audio from my library, too. I think The Lacuna is the only Kingsolver novel I have yet to read, but I'm not really feeling it this month. Maybe later in the year... we'll see.
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