January Reading Recap

I am trying to be more intentional in my reading in 2020, and I am hoping that by recapping what I am reading each month, I’ll be able to get to the heart of what I am reading, what I like reading, and what I need to work on.

In January 2020, I read 18 books–which is less than the count I was making in 2019, but I feel better about it. They were almost all pretty hefty books, many books I’d been meaning to read for awhile, and I spent a good amount of time with many of the books. That included 1 book of poetry (the new Amanda Lovelace), one shorter Audible book (The Minimalist Way), and two audiobooks over 13 Hours. Plus, I read 2 ARCs I had been highly anticipating, 2  BOTM picks, and the book for my DAR January Book Club.

Here’s a breakdown

• March Sisters: On Life, Death, and Little Women (audio)
• The Minimalist Way (audio)
• The Beautiful (BOTM)
• One of Us is Lying
• One of Us is Next
• Tattooist of Auschwitz (DAR Book Club)
• Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons (audio)
• Full Disclosure
• The Betrothed (ARC)
• The Chain
• Stand Off
• Les Liaisons Dangereuse
• First: Sandra Day O’Connor (audio)
• Break Your Glass Slippers (poetry)
• The Water Dancer (BOTM)
• Influence (ARC)
• And Go Like This (short story collection)
• Theft by Finding: 1977-2002 (audio)

I’m really happy with my reading this month. I’m trying to be intentional, check out less library books (an issue since I you know…uh…work at a library), and my audio picks were great. I love David Sedaris on audio, and I had a $5 coupon for audible and it was $5.95 on sale, so a great deal for me.

I also loved reading the OG Danger Liaisons novel, and I was highlighting constantly throughout. That made me think that maybe each month I should try and read one classic, especially one I haven’t read–though I am itching to reread Little Women bad. If you have suggestions–let me know. I was an English major so I’ve read most of the usual suspects (Austen, etc) but maybe I should do a Dickens deep dive?

In February, I am trying to catch up on my library holds (thanks ALA awards…) and read at least 2 BOTM picks, and then I’ll spend March reading all the Newbery winners since 1995 (the year I was born). I’m still undecided if I want to reread the ones I have read recently (Graveyard Book, etc).

Right now, I am reading Daughter of Chaos (one of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina novels), and going to start an audiobook of Trust Exercise. From there, I’m excited to read Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts, The Witches Salem 1692, Genesis Begins Again, Hearts Unbroken, More than Maybe, Anna K, Anonymous Girl, Beartown, They Both Die at the End, and Stepping Stones. I got an ARC of Stepping Stones I am so excited to dive into!