The weekly post
The one where I met my 2023 reading goals
Happy new year! The last week of 2023 was incredibly dreary in DC, creating the perfect opportunity to accomplish my reading goals and reflect on my standout books of the year (2023 Goodreads wrapped here in case you missed it). I am so grateful for the time I had last week, free from work and overly scheduled calendars, to cozy up with my stack of books and my dog, and I could not have chosen a better book to end the year.
Looking ahead to the start of this week… it will surely be challenging to get back into the swing of my work schedule. I’m hoping to commit 10-15 minutes each day to reading and also may be plotting out a little social reading activity (stay tuned through the end of this post). Wishing you all a smooth start to the new year and reading that reminds you of the magic of books!
Recent Recommendation
DEMON COPPERHEAD by Barbara Kingsolver (4.5 stars). Where to even begin? Demon Copperhead is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize, as well as Oprah’s 2022 Book Club choice, and I have heard nothing but rave reviews for months. You can officially count me in the fan club. The strength and consistency of this narrator’s voice is overwhelming - for 546 pages, Barbara Kingsolver brings to life the story of a young boy in southern Appalachia, and from the very first page, I felt as though I was reading someone’s personal memoir for how distinctly and viscerally the narrator documents his experiences moving in and out of the foster care system, experiencing loss in his family and community, finally getting a taste of security and success, losing it just as quickly, and fighting like hell for some semblance of belonging and connection.
My heart broke a thousand times over for Demon: I wanted him to catch a break; I wanted an adult to finally act like one and take care of this boy; I wanted to tell him to do better and fight for himself. I felt proud of him and afraid for him all at once: when things start looking up and he’s discovered a natural ability to play football, I felt myself bracing for impact, knowing that the other shoe surely must be about to drop, and I have to imagine that mirrors the narrator’s own experience as well. There are moments in this book that are difficult to stomach, yet I needed to bear witness to his story.
Without spoiling, I have heard mixed reviews on the ending of this story. On the whole, the last fifth of the book dragged on for me a bit, but I loved the ending. I had hopes of where it was going to go, doubts about how it would land, and a quiet calm as I turned the last page. For all the turmoil and chaos and heartache this book captures, the actual rhythm of the story is steady and matter-of-fact, and I think Barbara’s ending allowed both of those truths to shine.
One aside if you’ll indulge me… every year, for about eight years, I made a practice of rereading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving around the holidays. I start around Christmas Eve and finish sometime after the New Year, and every year, I manage to find some new hidden gem or perspective or life lesson within the pages. For the past two years, I have not been able to pick the book up and have found myself both missing the experience and knowing I need a break. Demon Copperhead is in so many ways nothing at all like A Prayer for Owen Meany, and yet, both tell a story of a young boy, a complex relationship with a distinct place called home, and a quest for belonging in a masterful and beautiful way. I feel grateful to have had this story this holiday season.
Recommend for… readers of Educated by Tara Westover, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Currently Reading
YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang. This has been on my list and my coffee table for many months, and I’m excited that it will kick off my 2024 reading adventure. I’m only about four chapters in so far and already intrigued as to how the story will unfold. I know many of you have read it so please do share your thoughts!
Read Ahead
I spent *a lot* of time in the car over this past weekend, and it got me thinking about how to make reading a little extra fun through these colder winter months (a time of year when I am more inclined to stay indoors and make moves on my TBR stack). I’m scheming a book-themed Bingo board that would add a dash of delight every time you finish a book outside of your genre lane, complete a series, discover a new favorite author, etc. Let me know what you think! Is this exciting? Cheesy? Both? I’m going to keep thinking on it and would love to hear from you in the meantime.
Three Words
Discovering reading magic.