January '22 wrap-up

I can't believe the first month of 2022 is over! It's been an incredibly strong start to the year in terms of reading for me -- I decided to stop "saving" books and read some which I'd been highly anticipating for various amounts of time. Good choice.

This month I read:

Nightbitch — Rachel Yoder

I mean I was never going to not love this. It's exactly my favourite genre of weird contemporary female-authored literary fiction. It surpassed even my (very high) expectations though, and was an excellent first book of 2022. It's witty, disturbing and brilliantly written.

Beautiful World, Where Are You — Sally Rooney

All other books I read this month took me about 3 days each. This took 16. Ultimately, though, I landed happily back on team Rooney. Despite some passages being a little too self-indulgent and even pretentious (in my opinion), there were some absolutely beautiful meditations on life and its meaning(s). It's Sally Rooney at her absolute Sally Rooney-est, and though I was worried about the actual book being overshadowed by its hype and expectations, I eventually realised I was in safe hands all along.

In the Dream House — Carmen Maria Machado

This is another one I had been intrigued by for such a long time. It's a powerful and important memoir which has been intricately crafted into a unique form. It was a moving experience, though I do think that at times the "artistry" of the form undermined the meaning and the impact of the actual words.

Everything You Ever Wanted — Luiza Sauma

This book took me by surprise. Going into it I recognised tropes and images from other contemporary favourites of mine, so I knew I would enjoy it but maybe wouldn't find it revolutionary. However, I blazed through it and was left breathless. A wonderful book.

Station Eleven — Emily St. John Mandel

Well wasn't it about time I read Station Eleven? Another book I'd been putting off because I wanted so badly to read it (...logic?) I'm so glad I did pick it up though. It was just as moving and beautiful as I'd expected. It was also interesting thinking about my current context: I do think the actual pandemic added to my sentimentality (of course), but at the same time possibly things were less impactful than they might have been had I had no experience of pandemics.

All About Love — bell hooks

I'd borrowed this book off a friend nearly two years ago, read the first 30 or so pages and then put it down. It's not the type of nonfiction I would typically pick up, but I really enjoyed it, definitely learned a few things and am glad I picked it back up!

ALSO THIS MONTH:

I've been listening to FKA twigs' CAPRISONGS. Of course. She's incredible and the album is genius.

I have been taking immense comfort in the glory that is Queer Eye. The new season is gorgeous, as always, and celebrating the sheer goodness of people is the perfect start to a new year.