Goodbye 2023! I’ll be sharing my annual list of the best books I’ve read this year shortly, but for now, just a quick post to recap what I read this holiday month.
I didn’t get too much reading done this month. It ended up being pretty busy with holiday activity — a trip to Minnesota, holiday card writing, cookie baking, family celebrations, Christmas bar trivia nights, celebrations with friends…
I did get a chance to read two books this month, though — and one of them was fantastic!
(As a reminder: I always track my reading both on Goodreads and via Instagram stories.)
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“A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW” BY AMOR TOWLES
In 1922 Russia, Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and as punishment, is sentenced to a life of house arrest inside the attic of the stunningly extravagant Metropol Hotel, located across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov accepts his sentence with humility and grace, and as Russian history unfolds outside the Metropol’s doors, Rostov settles into a life of routine and introspection.
I started this book a few years ago, but put it down after failing to get into it after the first chapter. I decided to try again this year, and found myself hooked once I got into it. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. In theory, you should hate the pretentious Rostov and find him insufferable, but somehow, you love him. He’s charming, humble and agreeable. I loved following along with his adventures and friendships and self-growth inside the Metropol. The dry humor won me over. This book reminded me a lot Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” but with beautiful writing. I couldn’t get enough of it.
“THE HALF MOON” BY MARY BETH KEANE
Malcolm Gephardt’s whole life has revolved around the Half Moon, a bar in his hometown that he’s worked at for essentially his entire life. When the bar is put up for sale, Malcolm buys it without a second thought, much to the dismay of his wife, Jess, a lawyer who has spent the couple’s life savings on fertility treatments in an attempt to have a baby. One day, a snowstorm hits Gillam. The power goes out, Malcolm learns shocking news about Jess, a long-time bar patron goes missing and both Jess and Malcolm must address the growing cracks in their marriage.
I didn’t really love this book. The description touched on a bar patron missing, and shocking news about Jess, and kind of made it seem like a murder mystery, or something with a little more depth, but this entire book is about the collapse of Jess and Malcolm’s marriage. It was really, really slow and could have been about 100 pages shorter. I also didn’t really like Malcolm or Jess, which made it hard to get into.
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Whew! A year of reading done. I’m really happy I met (and exceeded!) my goal of 50 books this year, but I think I might set my goal a little lower next year as a way of encouraging myself to read some longer books I’ve been wanting to read for years now.
Also: Goodreads Choice Awards winners were announced! I love these lists because they’re a great way to find new reading material. I’ll definitely be checking out a few of the winners and nominees next year.
Already ready for next year’s books!
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