Everything I Read in January
Ok, I read A LOT this January. Blame it on Covid or blame it on winter boredom; either way, I was devouring books this month. Here are the books I read and a short summary. Honestly, I didn’t read a bad book this month, so these are all highly recommended. Plus, they are all incredibly different, so there is something for almost everyone!
Friends and Strangers: J. Courtney Sullivan
This book (audible) was the perfect companion on my ride home from Charleston over New Years! It tells the story of a friendship between two women, who are in very different stages of life. It weaves in romantic relationships, having children, the pursuit of a meaningful career as themes in this fascinating story, allowing me to relate to the characters at different points. This book is just a fun read!
Ask Again, Yes: Mary Beth Keane
Ok, I have to admit that this book was not my favorite. It is a powerful story about two families, who become intertwined and irrevocably tied together through a tragic event. It is not a light read, and left me thinking and feeling deeply. It was beautifully written and showcases the powerful force of forgiveness. Just be prepared to leave with a heavy heart!
Evening and Morning: Ken Follett
I LOVE historical fiction, and it doesn’t get any better than Ken Follett. The Evening and Morning is the prequel to his best-selling book, The Pillars of the Earth. Set in the Middle Ages, this tells the story of a small town in England following characters from the nobility to the working class. It highlights the difficulty of life during this unstable time and depicts the complexity of how church and state become so easily intertwined. The characters and plot are so richly developed that this 900+ page book just becomes easily devoured.
The Wife Upstairs: Rachel Hawkins
I read so many psychological suspense books in 2020 that I made a promise to expand my reading palette in 2021! However, I wanted just one to cure this fix and The Wife Upstairs did just this! It has many twists and turns, keeping me guessing to the very end. This is a fun and fast read (or listen in my case)!
The Girl with the Louding Voice: Abi Daré
This was the BEST book that I have read in a long time! If you know me personally, I will most likely will bring this book up in conversation, and then tell you that you MUST read it. It is that good! This book tells the story of a 14 year old girl, living in rural Nigeria. Set in 2014, young women living in remote villages are often married to much older men to help financially support their families. This story follows the miraculous journey of Adunni, who escapes her village in pursuit of an education and to find her louding voice.
Daisy Jones & the Six: Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book has won so many awards that I don’t know why I waited so long to read it! Daisy Jones & the Six tells the story of a rock band in the 70s and shifts narration from all the bandmates. Yes, there is sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll in it, but there is also so much more about human emotion and relationships. Read this one now, and then enjoy the upcoming tv show that Prime is making to bring this story to life!