The 2015 Book Project: How January Went

Feb 3, 2015

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The 2015 Book Project | Inkwells & Images

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 by Barbara Kingsolver – Adored this book! Kingsolver’s language is mesmerizing – she crafts each phrase with deliberation. The characters are more vivid than most I’ve ever encountered. Full review coming next week.

READ – New Release: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld – This book was okay. A little more of a anti-climatic downer than I was expecting, but well-written and an unusual take on the boarding school experience. I just did not like any of the characters at all the entire book.

READ – Nonfiction: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – Pressfield makes some great points about sitting down to do the work. Worth a read from anyone who feels perpetually stuck on a creative endeavor. I wrote a full review here.

READ – For The Soul: The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst – This book would have been good for me if I’d found it last summer. As it is, it confirmed for me the decision to take a step back from a lot of things, so maybe that was worth reading it a few months too late anyway. Full review coming on Thursday.

The 2015 Book Project - January | Inkwells & Images

Here’s what I will be reading in February:

1. Classic: The Color Purple by Alice Walker (I don’t know how I managed to get a degree in literature without ever reading this.)

2. New Release: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Everyone loves it. I can’t wait to see what they are all talking about.)

3. Nonfiction: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (Everyone has been raving about this for a couple of years, so I’m finally giving it a go.)

4. For the Soul: Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman (I’ve started this book twice and not finished. I wasn’t ready. I’m hoping I am now.)

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?

Comments

8 responses to “The 2015 Book Project: How January Went”

Beth

February 3, 2015

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.

Reply
1. Abbigail Kriebs
  
  February 3, 2015
  
  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!
  
  Reply
Callie Feyen

February 3, 2015

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.

Reply
1. Abbigail Kriebs
  
  February 3, 2015
  
  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!
  
  Reply
Ashley Brooks

February 3, 2015

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. :)

Reply
1. Abbigail Kriebs
  
  February 3, 2015
  
  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.
  
  Reply
Tabitha Huizinga

February 3, 2015

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!

Reply
1. Abbigail Kriebs
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  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. :)
  
  Reply

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