Hi there! I’m glad to be back. I’ve been sick with pneumonia and an unpleasant ear infection these past two weeks, so blogging was not at the top of my priority list. Taking my antibiotics and rewatching Parks and Recreation for the twelfth time held that distinction. Anyway, I’m finally feeling better, and I’m happy to be posting again.
Today I’m sharing what I read in January. I read nine books, so I’ll be brief with my thoughts on each one so it doesn’t take you thirteen hours to read this post. Let’s get started!
Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise
by Ruth Reichl
Rating: 4/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Ruth Reichl is the well-known food critic who once worked for the New York Times. This book is about when she moved to New York to start her new gig and the complications that ensued. Restaurants around the city knew who Reichl was and had her picture taped up in their kitchens. She knew she’d never be able to get fair service if the staff knew her, so she thought up several elaborate disguises in order to dine anonymously.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
This book is so much fun to read. Reichl’s passion for great food is evident on every page. I’d prefer a cheeseburger to most of the food Reichl describes in this book, but her excitement and joy when eating is contagious.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
People who love spending time in the kitchen will definitely enjoy this.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Rating: 4/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Becoming chronicles Mrs. Obama’s life from her childhood in Chicago to the end of her husband’s administration.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
I love reading books about politics and presidents, so I knew I’d like that aspect of Becoming, but what I ended up loving most was the story of Obama’s early years. Learning how a black girl from Chicago’s south side ended up as First Lady was fascinating. I also appreciate that Obama repeatedly cites education as the key to her success.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
Fans of the Obamas will love this, but readers of any political background should pick this up. Themes like family, love, and education should be universally appealing.
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
Rating: 4/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Tish and Fonny are young and in love. They’re about to have a baby and start their own family when Fonny is charged and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Baldwin explores their relationship, their families, and how injustice tests everyone involved in this powerful story.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
The range of emotions I felt while reading this book is noteworthy considering its short length. Baldwin captures the sweetness between Tish and Fonny so well, which makes the idea of them torn apart deeply upsetting.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
If you’ve meant to read Baldwin or already love him, don’t miss this one.
Nothing Good Can Come from This by Kristi Coulter
Rating: 4/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
This book is a collection of essays about Kristi Coulter’s life as a sober woman. She acknowledges the seriousness of her addiction, but her writing is funny and full of wit.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
Coulter is frank about the toll addiction took on her life, yet writes about her journey with constant vulnerability infused with humor.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
Goodreads says fans of David Sedaris, Sloane Crosley, and Cheryl Strayed will like this, and I agree completely.
Looker by Laura Sims
Rating: 3/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
The unnamed narrator of this book is facing the loss of her marriage and is grieving over the fact she can’t conceive a child. She becomes obsessed with the actress, a famous woman who lives with her family on the same block. As the narrator’s life spirals more out of control, her obsession with the actress grows even more intense.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
The premise of this book intrigued me as soon as I heard about it, and it delivers on the tension. I wish the book had contained more depth, but it’s a fast-paced story with a satisfying ending.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
If you like suspense books with unreliable narrators, you’ll enjoy Looker.
For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt
Rating: 3/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Will and Natalie meet during law school. They eventually marry and have a son named Charlie. Their lives have grown a little dull until the principal of their son’s school—who’s a friend—is seen taken away by police due to some terrible accusations. Once they realize their son is involved, they set off a chain of events they could never have imagined.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
For Better and Worse is definitely a page-turner. Natalie is a fascinating character who keeps you guessing until the very last page.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
Anyone who shares my love of thrillers and stories about complicated marriages will like this book.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Rating: 4/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
When Sadie is 19, her little sister Mattie is killed. She thinks she knows who’s responsible and without notice, she sets out to find the killer since the police haven’t. Meanwhile, a podcaster named West hears about the murder and Sadie’s disappearance. He puts it in the back of his mind until he gets a phone call from the woman who’s a stand-in grandma to Sadie and Mattie. She asks him to pursue the story and get some answers, so he develops a new podcast series called the Girls.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
Sadie is written in the form of the podcast and Sadie’s first-person thoughts. This style makes for a unique and effective structure that perfectly suits this suspenseful, brutal story.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
Readers who don’t mind dark stories and enjoy unique narrative structures shouldn’t miss this novel.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
Rating: 2/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Darby is a college student who just found out her mom has cancer. She heads out to see her a couple of days before Christmas and gets stuck in a blizzard. She’s forced to stop at a rest stop with four strangers until the weather clears up. While walking around outside trying to get a cell signal, Darby sees something horrifying in a van parked out front: a little girl locked in a cage. Darby knows she has to save the child but doesn’t know how or who she can trust.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
No Exit offers a lot of exciting twists and turns. The bad news is that they don’t make much sense sometimes.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
Fans of thrillers who don’t overthink every chapter will be most satisfied with this one.
Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
Rating: 3/5
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
After serving almost two decades of her prison sentence, Jodi gets a surprise release. (Readers learn about Jodi’s crime through flashbacks.) Jodi’s plan is to go live in the house she inherited from her grandmother, but first, she stops to check in on the brother of the woman she used to love. During her journey, she meets Miranda, a mother of three who’s addicted to pills. Jodi and Miranda have an instant connection, and the two set out to build new lives together.
WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT
THIS BOOK?
What I like most about Sugar Run is the setting, which is West Virginia. I don’t recall reading anything else set there, so I enjoyed the glimpse of life in Appalachia.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
I’d recommend this book only to readers who don’t mind incredibly bleak stories. This is a tough read that grapples with things such as addiction, poverty, and violence.
I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading lately. What was the best book you read in January?
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Andrea Is Reading 