I’m not usually one to set myself New Year’s resolutions of any kind, as I usually end up failing.
But after the nightmare that was 2020, I decided that maybe I should give myself something to do.
So, I set myself the challenge to read 100 books in 2021!
I thought that my blog would be a good place to update my reading.
Seeing as though I’m a month late, here’s my January 2021 reads.
The Falling In Love Montage – Ciara Smyth
I LOVED this book! Maybe it’s my little Rom-Com soul that loved this concept, but I fell head over heels for this book. I saw so much of myself in Saoirse, and love the points raised about every LGBTQ+ storyline having to end in tragedy. I also related to Saoirse in the genetic illness sense, as we both have no idea what the future holds, our prognosis, and how bad it could get. I thank Ciara Smyth for going about this sub-plot is a sensitive way, and not falling down the “looking for a cure” rabbit hole that many illness/disability storylines go down.
8/10, would recomend
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46041462
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? – Caitlin Doughty
I have watched Caitlin Doughty for years, but have only recently started reading her books. I was not disappointed! If you’re interested in the morbid curiosity that is death and what happens to the human body after it like me, you’ll love it too. I enjoyed her conversational tone throughout the book, and also the illustrations separating each question helped to chunk up the book for an easier read.
9/10, definitely recommend
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45033231
Rock War: The Audition – Robert Muchamore
I hadn’t read anything by Robert Muchamore since I was maybe 11 or 12 years old, but I fancied a nostalgia trip, and this novella wasn’t particularly long, so I read it. The book is definitely intended for the age range 10-13, so bare that in mind if you choose to read, but the writing was enjoyable at times, and the book acts as a prequel to the first Rock War novel. It wasn’t as good as I remembered, but I have also matured since I read this which has probably impacted my opinion.
5/10
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21114134
The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice & Virtue – Mackenzi Lee
Oh my goodness. This book.
Shoutout to my good friend Abby (hello if you’re reading) for pestering me to read this book. I was not disappointed! I love Regency Era novels so much, and to have a modern book written in the style of and set in the Regency Era with themes of diabilty and LGBTQ relationships was amazing! I can’t wait to read the sequels as well, and they will probably feature in later lists. I don’t want to spoil it, but you should definitely give this book a read!
10/10, go read this book.
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29283884
Death Of A Gossip, Death Of A Cad, Death Of An Outsider – MC Beaton
These next three books I am grouping together, as they are all from the same series. I actually listened to these as auiobooks on the BorrowBox app, which has become a favourite if mine at the moment. These books are great light reads, as audiobooks, they’re roughly between 3.5-4.5 hours long, and I chose to listen to them as I did admin in my school folders. I enjoyed the stories, however if you’re wanting the next great thriller, these books aren’t for you.
6/10. Easy, light reads, but plots can be repetitive.
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20653515, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20653531, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20653541
Animal Farm – George Orwell
I had already read Animal Farm previously, but thought that I would re-read it again. Reading this book had managed to align itself with my studies of East and West Germany on my A-Level history course, and the differing political ideologies between the Eastern zone and Weatern zones. Despite what most people think, this book is not anti-communist, but rather anti-Stalinist, which I think is evident in the book’s plot and characters. I’d definitely recommend this book, however do bare in mind that Orwell’s style if writing is rather “wordy” and that despite being short in length, I found I felt that I had to read it in small chunks and take breaks.
7/10, fantastic book, but written in a rather “wordy” way
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3149348
This has been my January reading round up, thank you so much for reading!
– Grace
Grace’s Chronic Chronicles 