At the end of last year, I decided that I really should put more time into reading books again. To help me meet this goal, I gave myself a reading challenge to finish 12 books this year. Well, I am very happy to say that I am already almost meeting the target!
These are the books I read in January and February:
I never thought that I would enjoy reading a book about tidying, but this definitely sparked joy! I agreed with a lot of her philosophies, and found her highly inspiring. Although, I have to confess, that I have yet to really entirely Konmari’d my house… A lot of good tips on decluttering, and many of those not only apply to your home, but also your life. Good read!
The Clockmaker’s Daughter, by Kate Morton
I had already written a review for this book before, so I won’t be saying much here. Suffice to say though that I loved it.
Not bad, quite an easy read and quite enjoyable, but it’s not one of those that I would rave on and on about. It’s set in Australia, so I could identify with some of the story elements, but that’s about it. I am, however, interested to pick up another one of Jane Harper’s book, ‘The Dry’, after this.
Roar: Thirty Women Thirty Stories, by Cecelia Ahern
If you’ve read any of Cecilia Ahern’s books before, you’ll know that she’s a bit of the whimsical style. This book is the same. If you like it, then great. If you don’t, you’ll probably find the stories a bit weird. In any case, there are empowering messages for women in all 30 stories. But I have to admit that towards the end, I was just speed reading through.
And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie
Let me first warn you: you will most likely get lost within the first few pages. And I do mean lost lost. There are 10 main characters in this book, and they are all introduced in the first few chapters – it gets quite overwhelming. I found myself flipping back a few times to check, who exactly is this character again? Well a tip for you if you’re gonna read it: the characters don’t really play a big part in the plot, so you don’t really have to know them or be able to distinguish them one from another. The plot itself is extremely suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The Essence of Watercolour, by Hazel Soan
I very recently discovered Hazel Soan and I am in love with her watercolour style. This book is full of her paintings. Just that in itself makes it worth buying! There were a lot of tips and guidance as well, but it’s not really a step-by-step book. I think it did more to inspire and to open my mind when it comes to watercolour painting. I’ve heard good things about her other books too, so perhaps I’ll get those soon.
I Owe You One, by Sophie Kinsella
Hmmm. Sophie Kinsella is one of my favourite authors, and I enjoyed most of her past books immensely. I don’t know if that means I’ve got crazy high expectations of her books? In any case, this book was enjoyable. It had some funny dialogues. It’s like a light rom-com. But somehow when I finished, I didn’t feel totally satisfied with it. Maybe I was expecting more on the romance, or maybe the ending seemed too easy. But then again, it is meant to be light and easy.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
This. Book. I had been seeing it on Instagram and everywhere, but I had put off reading it for so long. I don’t even know why. I’m so glad I’ve read it though. It’s such a good read. So nicely written. I like how Gail Honeyman chose not to spell everything out plainly, but gave the readers space to interpret and understand. I loved it. A great book about loneliness, relationships, and kindness, with a good twist at the end.
The Other Miss Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn
I used to be a fan of romance novels. And I had quite enjoyed Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. However, since expanding my reading genre, I realised that I somehow did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would have. I can imagine it being made into a movie though. There were funny banters and enough romantic scenes to put silly smiles on a girl’s face. But perhaps the plot was not strong enough.
Have you read any of the books listed? Do share your thoughts!
Love,
Natalie