January was a full month at our house.
We settled on plans for the house we are building in 2016. We completely redid our budget to make sure we are on track to build that house in 2016. I blogged every Tuesday and Thursday of the month for the first time ever. I started sending out an email newsletter about my novel progress (sign up here!), and managed to keep myself from reading more than 4 books for the month.
With one month down in The 2015 Book Project, I’m happy to say that I am on track and enjoying the limitations. It’s forcing me to read more thoroughly and with more thought, which was the whole goal.
The scoop on January:
READ – Classic: The Poisonwood Bible
READ – New Release: Prep
READ – Nonfiction: The War of Art
READ – For The Soul: The Best Yes
Here’s what I will be reading in February:
1. Classic: The Color Purple
2. New Release: Americanah
3. Nonfiction: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
4. For the Soul: Grace for the Good Girl
Follow along and post your reads on social media using the hashtag #BookProj2015. I’ll be using it primarily on Instagram and Twitter. Maybe Tumblr, too.
Happy reading!
What is next on your “To Read” list?
My December 2014 was actually quite full of books but January 2015 slowed down a little. I did reach All the Light We Cannot See by Anothony Doerr (very good, recommend) and The Missing Place by Sophie Littlefield (this was an “in-between-book” where I was actually waiting for a book to get in at the library, but I couldn’t wait so I ran to Target and grabbed something. Decent read but not necessarily a recommend). I’m currently reading The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey (really like so far! very Independence Day meets The Walking Dead with aliens).
On my list for February is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bread & Wine (per your recommendation). There are many others, so we’ll see what I feel like at the time – Big Little Lies, Station Eleven, Still Alice.
I am on the wait list for “All the Light We Cannot See” at the library! It has gotten so much good press, so I’m excited to hear you recommend it, Beth. Sounds like you have a good February planned, too!
I feel the same way you do about PREP.
Have you read any of her other books? I can’t remember the title, but I thought AMERICAN WIFE was intriguing.
Glad to hear my feelings about PREP aren’t just me being old and grouchy, going on about “youths” these days. :) AMERICAN WIFE looks intriguing! Might have to add that to my list. Thanks for the recommendation!
The Poisonwood Bible is one of my all-time favorites! I recommend it to everyone who loves reading (and some people who don’t). I thought the War of Art was pretty good, too. Not as great as most bloggers made it sound, but still worth reading.
I haven’t read any of your February picks. I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of them! Reviews from other readers with good taste is the #1 way I discover new books. :)
I’m now honored to fall under the “other readers with good taste” banner. :)
Glad I’m not the only one who hasn’t gotten around to “Unbroken” yet! I’ll let you know what I think.
I haven’t read any of your February books before (and now that I think about it I have no idea how I made it through an African American Lit. class without reading The Color Purple. Wow.)
I’m really excited to hear what you think of them! Especially Grace for the Good Girl – I’ve heard about it, but haven’t decided if I’m ready for it yet. I’m interested to see what you think!
Re: The Color Purple: I know, right? I think my professors assumed everyone had read it (or seen the film) so they just skipped it.
I’ll let you know about GFTGG toward the end of the month – Unbroken and Americanah are both library loans, so they are getting read first. :)