Pete's Log: January Reading
Entry #2197, (Books, Writing, n such)(posted when I was 44 years old.)
I didn't really keep track of what I read last year, but I can't help but feel I've already surpassed whatever it was just this past month. Final count for the month is looking to be five and a half books.
- Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller
This book promised personal memoir intertwined with a biography of David Starr Jordan. It delivered those things, but on several occasions blindsided me by not being the book I thought it was. Full of meaning for me personally and probably worth reading for anyone who thinks about meaning in a cold unfeeling universe or wonders if they need more grit as a personality trait. - The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers
This is the fourth book in Chambers' Wayfarer series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first three. It's a cozy character-driven exploration of the Wayfarer universe and an easy low-stakes read. - Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
I actually started reading this at some point last year and made rapid progress through the first book of the trilogy, but then the pace just seemed to fall off and I had a harder time keeping up with it. Overall I enjoyed the story, but never succeeded in suspending disbelief around the whole "math is magic" aspect of the story. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was just regular magic and not somehow inexplicably math-based magic. - Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
An orc decides she is tired of the adventuring business and decides to open a coffee shop instead. I absolutely loved it. Perfect if you're looking for cozy low-stakes fantasy. - Thinking Inside the Box by Adrienne Raphel
This is the only book of the month that I didn't enjoy. It's a non-fiction look into the world of crosswording, but it felt like just a collection of crossword history, trivia and anecdotes without any cohesive narrative to bring it all together. There were also two facts presented that I recognized as untrue/misleading which makes me wonder about the accuracy of the rest of the book. The (mis)use of footnotes in this book was also mind-boggling.
I'm rounding out the month with Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Currently about halfway through, so I'll probably have more to write about it in February. So far it's well-written but gut-wrenching.
Also, I now have an account on StoryGraph to track my reading, so if you're on there, maybe we can be friends.