January '22 Reading Wrap Up
The year started off a little shaky for me. My whole family was down with COVID, my dad had to go to the hospital, and my grandma passed away. I've also been plagued with migraines this month, including one today, which is why this is a little late.
I thought that I hadn't read a lot this month, but when I looked at Goodreads, I realized I'd read 11 books: 7 novels, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 1 manga volume, and 1 nonfiction. So, I guess not the worst start of the reading year. It still feels like I hardly read anything, however. I don't know, time passed really weird this month.
A side note: I tried out Storygraph, and I really didn't like it. I was hoping this year I could do both Goodreads and Storygraph, and then phase out Goodreads by next year, but I really didn't vibe with Storygraph's interface. It felt way too complicated for my taste, I know a lot of people like all the extra things, but I actually appreciate Goodreads's simplicity. So I won't be using Storygraph anymore.
Okay, let's get into what I read this past January!
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Novels
1. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (Review here!)
Genre: Fantasy, horror, YA
Star rating: 3.5 stars / 6.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 352 pages
Day(s) read: 1.07 - 1.10
Goodreads thoughts: Ooooooooo that was so good!! I love the Welsh mythology, that’s not something you see every day. Ryn and Ellis were fascinating characters to follow, and there were definitely a couple chapters that had chills running down my spine. Emily is for sure on my radar now!
2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Genre: Classics, Adventure, Middle-Grade
Star rating: 4 stars / 7.29 on CAWPILE
Page count: 213 pages
Day(s) read: 1.10 - 1.11
Goodreads thoughts: I can’t believe it took me this long to finally read this story. Growing up, the Wizard of Oz was my most favorite movie (and it’s still way up there), and I had read pop-up books of the story, but never the full thing. This fully transported me to the land of Oz, full of whimsy and magic and creatures.
I loved Dorothy, she’s the epitome of everything I love about childhood—she’s brash and blunt but also wonderfully kind, in a way that only kids can achieve. After Dorothy I think my favorite character is the Lion, because he’s so clearly courageous and protective over his friends but is also so self-deprecating, he definitely reminds me of myself. The Scarecrow and the Tin-man were fun as well though they didn’t quite steal my heart the way Dorothy and the Lion did.
I do feel the ending was a little abrupt, the pacing felt off compared to the rest of the story, which is my only qualm. It was just so nice to visit the land of Oz and see my childhood friends in a new light.
3. Wings of Fury by Emily R. King (Review here!)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adult
Star rating: 4 stars / 7.00 on CAWPILE
Page count: 296 pages
Day(s) read: 1.14 - 1.16
Goodreads thoughts: This was a fascinating story, truly. I went into it thinking it was something entirely different though, so I was definitely surprised, especially at the last 50 pages, where it took a completely different turn than what I was expecting. I'm excited to see how the sequel turns out.
4. We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
Genre: Historical Fiction, Humor, Adult
Star rating: 5 stars / 9.00 on CAWPILE
Page count: 367 pages
Day(s) read: 1.17 - 1.21
Goodreads thoughts: This was so weird and I fucking loved it. I don't know why, and I can't give you details, but this was bloody fantastic is what it was. I may not be an 80s child but I appreciate all of the references, like the music and hairstyles and slang. It was all so ridiculous that you can't help but love it. Despite the hive mind, each character had their own personality and voice, so you'd never mistake one for another. And the increasingly bizarre situations they found themselves in are the exact sort of weird witchcraft-adjacent bullshittery you would expect from a group of high school girls willing to do anything to win, which is something I can appreciate on a molecular level.
5. My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham-Jones
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Adult
Star rating: 3 stars / 5.43 on CAWPILE
Page count: 416 pages
Day(s) read: 1.19 - 1.22
Goodreads thoughts: I...don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, it definitely managed to get the slasher part of it across. There was enough blood and guts to last a lifetime in these pages. But on the other hand, it wasn't...scary? There was nothing that made my heart race, or my breath catch, or make me weary of turning the page. I was honestly bored most of the way through. And yes, I know that slashers are not equated to horror, but come on man, at least make me squirm once!
Also I hated Jade. Her voice, I mean. She was so annoying to read from. I'm not sure how SGJ is going to turn this into a series, but yeah, I'll probably pick up the sequel even though this didn't blow me away.
6. The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Star rating: 4.5 stars / 8.57 on CAWPILE
Page count: 384 pages
Day(s) read: 1.23 - 1.25
Goodreads thoughts: Yessssssssss this was so good!!! Wyatt is one of the snarkiest, fieriest, most badass characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about. Combined with “cinnamon roll who can kill you” Briar and “I’m sexy AND vulnerable” Emyr, I would die for this cast of characters in a heartbeat. This whole story was ridiculous and incredible and exactly what I needed in my life. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
7. Goldilocks by Laura Lam
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Adult
Star rating: 3 stars / 5.71 on CAWPILE
Page count: 352 pages
Day(s) read: 1.23 - 1.30
Goodreads thoughts: Eh? I liked the premise of the story—a desperate last-minute mission to save the human race from Earth’s demise—but it became more about politics and emotions and character studies, and less about the actual science, which is what I thought the main focus was going to be.
The romance was okay, I definitely was rooting for the two characters, but again I didn’t feel any deep particular attachment to them, or anyone for that matter.
Novellas
1. Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism, YA
Star rating: 4.5 stars / 8.71 on CAWPILE
Page count: 160 pages
Day(s) read: 1.22 - 1.23
Goodreads thoughts: Ahhhhh I loved this. I love this world, I love these characters, and I love the writing. I especially loved the fact that we got to see the next chapter of Regan's story, who was the main character in the previous novella, Across the Green Grass Fields. I was so happy when I saw her name pop up! This also fed all of my curiosity I had about the "other school" that rivals Eleanor's. And we got some new worlds too! Whose world will we see next? I don't know, but I'm excited to find out.
Story Story Collections
1. People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami
Genre: Magical Realism, Contemporary, Adult
Star rating: 2 stars / 3.29 on CAWPILE
Page count: 121 pages
Day(s) read: 1.01 - 1.04
Goodreads thoughts: That was extremely odd, though it’s the exact flavor of magical realism that Japan seems to be known for. However I don’t think it’s really my thing. I’ll definitely be trying more of Kawakami’s writing, but I would be surprised if this ended up being my favorite by her.
Manga
1. Spy x Family vol. 6 by Tatsuya Endo
Genre: Mystery, Humor, Shonen
Star rating: N/A
Page count: 200 pages
Day(s) read: 1.25
Goodreads thoughts: Ridiculous as always. I love it.
Nonfiction
1. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Genre: Memoir, Feminism, Adult
Star rating: N/A / 10 on CAWPILE
Page count: 368 pages
Day(s) read: 1.26 - 1.30
Goodreads thoughts: I don't rate nonfiction, but you should know this is a perfect ten across the board.
Throughout the experience of reading this book, I had angry, hot tears in my eyes and streaming down my cheeks. But at the end, I was crying tears of hope and relief. Chanel has taken back her name, her life, her January 17 in 2015. And in her pages she has lifted up every victim, every silenced woman, every little girl who has been violated and kept in the dark, had their attacker, their rapist, walk free.
I remember reading about the case back when it was in trial, even before when it was first reported, and feeling so disgusted, so violated, and I could very clearly imagine how Emily Doe was feeling, because I had felt the same things. The fear, the anger, the confusion. And I followed the case throughout the years, with more anger rising in me every time I saw someone defending her rapist, wanting someone, anyone, to speak out on her behalf. And now she's gone and done it herself, and I am so happy.
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Total page count: 3,229 pages
Favorite book of January: We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry, Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Worst book of January: People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami
DNF'd books this month: Fire by Kristin Cashore
Unfinished books this month: Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul
January book haul: A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
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Okay, that's all for this month! What was your favorite book of January? How many books did you read? Let me know in the comments or tweet at me @AllyEmReads.
Until next time!
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