First Reads of The Year - January 2020

Hi, hello.

Happy (very belated) New Year!

One month down. We did it. It's been an intense month for me, unfortunately. I also didn't love a lot of the books I discuss below, but I have high hopes for the books due to be published later in the year.

Surrender the Pink by Carrie Fisher 4/5

Carrie was such a brilliant writer. She wrote funny, uncomfortable dialogue and shared the vulnerabilities of her characters in dark, painful character studies. This is wonderful. I'll be reading her other books very soon.

How to be a Poet by Jo Bell and Jane Commane 3/5

I really want to continue playing with poetry this year, as I found the writing process really cathartic in 2019. I thought this would be a good place to start revising. This has lots of useful prompts, activities and advice for drafting and building a poetry collection and approaching publishers, etc. I'd definitely recommend it if you're interested in learning more about writing poetry.

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron 4/5

Witty and hilarious, these articles are on self-consciousness and the struggles of womanhood. I highlighted whole passages that struck me, and I reckon you will too. An easy, amusing read.

Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoan 1/5

This was another Leena Norms recommendation, which sadly didn't live up to expectation. I started listening to the audiobook expecting cheekiness and sarcasm, but it was just flat. This book aims to bring new perspectives to concerns about married life, but I didn't find it made me any less cynical or more hopeful. Even the  more dramatic stories and descriptions of her and her partner's affairs were uninteresting.

Reading Review: December

Here's a (very overdue) post about the books I read in the last month of 2019!

Tin Man by Sarah Winman, 4/5

This was an interesting portrayal of the friendship between two boys as they grow into men. It touches on grief, masculinity and sexuality. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, but it's genuinely heartbreaking and wonderful.

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler, 1/5 

I wish I'd abandoned this book sooner as it was so frustrating. The story follows a woman at different stages of life. The plot was predictable, there was unnecessary repetition and fat phobia in every airplane scene (and there are loads of airplane scenes...) I felt zero connection to any of the unrealistic characters. Big nope.

When All Is Said by Anne Griffin, 5/5

This is a great debut which had me sobbing by the end. It definitely reminded me I want to read more Irish literature in 2020. In this, an elderly man raises five toasts to people in his life, sharing their stories and painting a picture of his past.

How Much the Heart Can Hold by various authors, 3/5

This is a collection of stories inspired by seven concepts of love. Some were great, others more forgettable. Donal Ryan and Carys Bray both worth noting here.

Set Me On Fire: A Poem For Every Feeling by Ella Risbridger, 4/5

This is a great, diverse anthology which I've bookmarked beyond recognition. Gorgeous. A perfect gift for those who love poetry, or those who are hesitant to delve into the poetry world. Ella guides us through each poem with little notes, and reminds us not to punish ourselves for not 'getting' them at first. 

Can't and Won't by Lydia Davis, 1/5

I enjoyed studying Lydia's work when I was at uni, and she sparked my initial love for micro fiction... but I couldn't get into this collection at all. 

Public Library by Ali Smith 3/5

This celebrates libraries, with short stories and discussions from well known people about what libraries mean to them. An interesting read, but not a favourite. I've not read much of Ali Smith's work so I might try more this year. 

Sudden Traveler by Sarah Hall 2/5 

I liked The Beautiful Indifference by Sarah, but I didn't enjoy this collection as much. The titular story is stunning, especially in audio form. It deals with the concept of time and parenthood. The rest however, weren't for me. 

-