I’ve decided to try a new feature this year, where each month I recap what I read. (I was inspired by by Chelsea at The Girl Who Loved to Write.)
You would think I made a New Year’s resolution to read a bunch of audiobooks, but it honestly just sort of happened as I started running low on my podcast queue. So while I only read three books with my eyeballs from start to finish in January, I’ve read eight additional books thanks to the wonders of the audiobook.
The Audiobook Reads:
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (Middle grade contemporary)
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Septys (reread) (Young adult historical fiction)
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (Non-fiction/self-help)
Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater (Middle grade fantasy contemporary) – The narrators were absolutely perfect for bringing this story to life!
Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan (Humor)
Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling (reread) – I listened to this solely because it was narrated by Eddie Redmayne, ha ha… (Fiction)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (reread) (Young adult fiction)
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (reread) (Young adult fiction) – I actually can’t remember if I finished this in January or early February but let’s just say January…
Read With my Eyeballs:
Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows (Young adult fantasy)
Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (Classic literature)
(DNF at page 146) Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore (Young adult fiction)
Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes (Young adult contemporary)
Favorites?
I have to say that rereading Salt to the Sea was such a good life decision, holy cow. Read it if you haven’t already! The audiobook of it was pretty good too. I also still love The Hunger Games. As far as new reads, I really enjoyed Goodbye Stranger, Rilla of Ingleside, and Girl Against the Universe. Time will tell which is my real favorite of the month.
DNF Already?
I can’t believe this. I purposely set aside about one book a year without the intention of ever picking it back up. Most years it’s late in the year, last year it was March, and this year it was freaking January. And it was a book I bought in hardcover. Disappointed is such an understatement. The concept was so cool, but I just didn’t like any of the characters.
Next month I hope to format this in a way that’s a little more interesting and in a more timely fashion. Let me know what you would like to know about my reads each month!
What did you read in January? Which was your favorite?
I loved Salt to the Sea.
It’s so wonderful!
That sucks about Jane Unlimited, especially since the cover is so shiny. And because I also have a hardcover of it. And wow I did not know that Fantastic Beasts was narrated by Eddie Redmayne!
You might feel differently; I know other people who liked it. Just expect it to be bizarre. The Eddie Redmayne narration came after the movie; I’m not sure if they released another version of the audiobook beforehand with another narrator.
I love a good audiobook. I always listen to books in my car during my commute. I haven’t listened to Dad is Fat, but he had one about food–I can’t remember the name–that was hilarious. I’m thinking of doing Goodbye, Stranger with my middle schoolers, so I’m happy you enjoyed it.