Books I Read This Month | January

Whenever I start reading a new book, I'll usually snap a pic on Instagram, but I rarely update when I'm finished. Just like I share beauty reviews, I thought I'd start sharing some book mini-reviews. That way you can have a better guess at what you should be reserving at the library or adding on to your Book of the Month-my favourite places to get books!

Never Let Me Go  

Kazuo Ishiguro

I watched the film adaptation of this years ago and had this on my to be read list for a while. I love the mix of a sci-fi backdrop, English countryside, and coming-of-age. Despite the dystopian underpinnings, the story is truly a tale of three friends navigating adolescence, love, loss, and mortality. The movie is a very accurate portrayal of the book, so you won't get anymore explanation of the world, but you do get more of the subtleties of the characters detailed. Recently, I've been seeing people sharing that they are reading What Remains of the Day despite it's original publication in 1989. I'm going to have to give that one a go!

The Essex Serpent 

Sarah Perry

A historical novel with complex characters and neighborly gossip of a mysterious serpent to connect them together. Definitely more about the relationships between the characters than any magic. A mix of narration and letters between friends, lovers, and navigating those stages in between. Despite the story mainly following Cora, a recent widow discovering her newfound freedom, her entourage of friends are given enough page time to really develop and the writing is excellent.

Winter 

Ali Smith

I read Ali Smith's Autumn, in well, Autumn. So I couldn't resist reading Winter this January. If you enjoyed Autumn, you will love this one as well. But don't expect a sequel. The characters are different but those same good intentions, missteps, mental imagery, and lay-people political discussions. The story is basically the fear everyone has before going to Thanksgiving dinner with extended family.

Pond 

Claire-Louise Bennett

You never know the character's name or why we are hearing her story. But this plot-less novel sucks you into the daily activities and musings of our lonely character, and you piece together a little the reason why she now lives in a cottage by a pond. The descriptions are detailed and her thoughts are charming in their bluntness.

The Wife Between Us 

Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

This was my Book of the Month pick for December and quite the opposite of my previous reads. A fast-paced thriller with a few good twists. I would describe it as a combo of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. You have a very genuine telling of the experience of someone in an isolating and abusive relationship that looks perfect from the outside and friends' initial warnings that something isn't what it seems. I appreciated that the twists weren't so outrageous (well, maybe the last, last one-sorry, no spoilers) and added to the moral of the story.

What did you read this January?

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Grown-Up Colouring Books

I can't believe there is only one week left of October! This month has flown by. We had a lot of fun events happening-which I loved, but I am a bit of a homebody and love my nights and weekends in. Reading a good book or making arts and crafts are some of my favourite pajama day activities. One thing I'm glad is gaining popularity is adult colouring books. Yes, it's a thing. Preston got me Johanna Basford's Secret Garden. I love all the intricate, nature-themed images.

Now, these things take time! One book will probably last you a lifetime. Which is a negative, as I want all the grown-up colouring books! Animal Kingdom, Enchanted Forest, Fantastic Cities-so much colouring, so little time.

Are you an adult colourer?

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Hallowreads

Fall time just makes me want to snuggle up under the covers with a good book and a creamy cup of tea. I have a wide interest in genres and am always on the look out for recommendations. I have blogged a few times here and there on my current reads and thought, in honour of Halloween, I would share a spooky assortment.

Thriller

Sometimes you just want that quick, page turner to make the train ride a little more entertaining or that lazy weekend a bit more exciting. My go-to recommendation in that department (and I am sure many others) is Gillian Flynn. If you really haven't read Gone Girl (come on now!), trade that scary movie marathon for the novel instead. Or try one of her other works, Dark Places and Sharp Objects. If you are like really, Kim, of course I have read Gillian Flynn. I have a couple of not-quite-copy-cats but along the same lines. I enjoyed Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins a thriller told through an unreliable narrative. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica is another quick, psychological option as well.

True Crime

If you are looking for something a bit more intellectual and like your horror historical, give The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson a go. A dual story of America's World Fair in Chicago intertwined with H.H. Holmes serial killings make for an engrossing tale. Initially you read it for the Holmes story, but somewhere along the way the historical significance and climate of Chicago architecture in the 1890s begins to grow more and more interesting. I can't believe how many everyday objects began from that fair in Chicago. Plus, if you read it now, you will be ahead of the game when it premieres as a Scorsese movie, starring none other than Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Ghost Story

No real ghosts, but this short story changes position and type such that it reads with the tempo of a tale around a campfire. The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z. Danielewski only takes an hour, so it's perfect for Halloween night-the day the story begins. It's now a tradition for me to read it each Halloween. If you fall in love with the style and want more, House of Leaves is another perfect Halloween read as an uncanny tale. House of Leaves is an endeavor, but I highly recommend it-so start now! And while you are at it, pick up The Familiar Vol. 1 and pre-order Vol. 2 which will be released on October 27th.

Currently, I am reading a horror novel that Preston recommended called Bird Box by Josh Malerman. So far, I am very intrigued. I would say this is your classic horror novel- post-apocalypse, mysterious killings, Stephen King-esque. 

Do you have an spooky book recommendations?

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the life-changing magic of tidying up

This little book is quite popular. As someone whose room feels cluttered daily, I thought it was definitely one to look into. You may be questioning how hard can it be to clean up, but as addressed in the first few pages, we are never really taught how to tidy up, and the temptation of miraculous storage devices are prolific and never as miraculous as they claim to be.

The overall message is to keep what you love and donate what you don't. As a sentimental person, this can be difficult for me. The most useful tips for me were the rationalizations of why it's okay to get rid of something, even if it's a gift or something you used to love. To thank the item for serving its purpose, and move on. To have a house with only the things you love the most, things that spark joy, and you will never have to tidy again. It may seem like a lot of 'throw things away', but I actually read it as the converse-to consciously decide what you want to keep.

I haven't started the method yet, but I am excited to go through it. There is a certain order of what to go through, a lot of practical tips, and examples from her clients. It's like a capsule wardrobe, home, etc. but without arbitrary rules of how many of this or that to keep. The only criteria-keep what you love.

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts?

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Birchbox Book Club | Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

One of my reoccurring New Year's Resolutions is to read one book a month. This month it was Better Than Before Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin. It's the Birchbox book of the month. I have read several of BB's other book picks and have enjoyed their selections, so it was fun to be able to read and review this.

Better Than Before is a self-help, pop psych book about how to start, shape, grow, and keep habits. I can be a bit wary of the pop psych genre being trained as a psychologist, but there are enough personal examples that it makes it not read overly authoritative. In fact, the biggest message is that not one size fits all when it comes to habit formation. It was interesting to hear her reactions when she was testing out her new habit theories on friends and family and when worked for her didn't work for them.

It's super easy to read. I had a few long commutes this past month and having this with me actually made it not so bad. I found it interesting to think how her different principles applied to myself and my friends, and how to think of those differences not as better or worse but as what they are differences. There is actually a little section about the tendencies and distinctions. I thought I would list mine out. If you read the book, leave your answers in the comments! I almost wish there was a little quiz...

UPHOLDER, QUESTIONER, OBLIGER, REBEL

The tendencies are her overarching philosophy on habit formation. She breaks people down into four categories: Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel. She refers to these archetypes throughout the book to give strategies a different perspective for the types and describe how some strategies work well for one type of person but might backfire for another. I am definitely an Upholder, but no offense, to the author Gretchen, who is also a fellow Upholder-I am not as overbearing...And as a side note, who doesn't like pets, games, or music? Preston is a Questioner, I have met many Obligers, and my sister is, no doubt, a Rebel.

The distinctions are your preferences for activities, habits, projects, etc. Knowing how you operate can help you know how to best frame your habits to be successful.

LARK V. OWL

No matter how badly I want to be a lark, I am an owl. My prime time is 10pm and later. I think I would love a super late night shift but that isn't really how the world works. 

MARATHONER, SPRINTER, PROCRASTINATOR

This one was a little harder for me to answer. I would have to say I am more of a sprinter. I like being against a deadline and setting a lot of time to focus on one thing. What tripped me up was that I seem to like my productivity bursts right when I am first assigned or decide on a project and then right before it's due. I guess the excitement of a new thing and the completion of it makes it easier for me to work.

UNDERBUYER V. OVERBUYER

I am sure you all could guess this one-overbuyer. Honestly, I am proud of my overbuyer-ness. If I need something, I am not afraid to pick it up, and I am always prepared for anything. I am pretty good at not going too crazy. Like for the typical exercise example, I wouldn't shell out huge expenses before a commitment like a gym or a treadmill, but I would buy a new outfit and some dumbbells to jump-start. 

SIMPLICITY LOVER V. ABUNDANCE LOVER

This one was another hard one to decide. The line that put me over the abundance lover edge was the example of a full pantry. It probably goes hand-in-hand with my overbuying. I also really liked her point on how to use your preference to your advantage-if you are a simplicity lover to save money you might cut down on something, but if you are an abundance lover you might consider making more money by starting a side gig. 

FINISHER V. OPENER

I'm a finisher. I like to see things through to completion, but like I mentioned in the sprinter question, I like to start new projects too. I think what got me is her story about her husband opening all the bags of granola instead of finishing them-Preston does this too, and it drives me crazy. 

FAMILIARITY LOVER V. NOVELTY LOVER

Familiarity lover. I like to feel super comfortable and know what I am expecting. Whenever I start a new habit,  I research it to death and once I get used to something I stick to it. 

PROMOTION FOCUSED V. PREVENTION FOCUSED

Promotion focused. I strive for achievement and gains-to mastery. I never really thought of this being a dichotomy, but it makes sense-adding a good habit is the same as decreasing a bad habit. It's all about perspective.

SMALL STEPS V. BIG STEPS

I want to go with medium here? Several medium steps along the way. I like having big goals and to see progress, but I try to be realistic to not get overwhelmed or feel like I let myself down.

 

If you are trying to resurrect your New Year's Resolutions or keep wondering why you have a hard time keeping habits, check this book out. Even to just feel like you aren't alone in having trouble with it. She goes through quite a few different strategies and how to best use them to your advantage with a lot of anecdotes from herself, her family, and comments from readers of her blog. I have heard a bit about her other books like The Happiness Project, and I think I will have to give that one a shot.

If you read Better Than Before, let me know your thoughts-and your tendency!

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Books I've Read in 2014...So Far

Every once in awhile, I will share a recently read book in a monthly favourites, but it's definitely something I don't get too much into on this here blog. After making a New Year's Resolution to read at least one book a month, I thought I would let you know my progress with a check-in at the half-way mark. Where did 2014 go??

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