January in Books
I only read 5 books in January, but I'm pretty pleased with my choices: 3 from the backlist, and 2 new releases. Read on to find out what they were!
My first read of 2022 was one that was recommended to me a long time ago, and which I unexpectedly received this Christmas: The Oxford Murders, written by Guillermo Martínez and translated by Sonia Soto.
The Oxford Murders wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. The writing style is beautiful, although the women could have been written better, and I loved the Oxford setting. This cosy mystery has a delightfully twisty plot, and I read it straight through in one sitting, which isn't something I do very often. A great way to kick off the New Year.
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Next up was Persuasion by Jane Austen, another Christmas present, and my last of her six main novels.
Persuasion was a great choice to leave until the end, as it is just as well-written as Pride and Prejudice, the first Austen I tried and my personal favourite, but very different in tone. I liked that Persuasion is about a slightly older woman, and I enjoyed the more subdued tone. Austen's writing never fails to sweep me away, and this was no exception.
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Book 3 of 2022 was one I gifted to someone else for Christmas, which they then lent to me to read: The Passenger, written by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz and translated by Philip Boehm.
The Passenger is a brilliant book. Set over the course of only a few days, in November 1938, the story focuses on one German Jew, living in Berlin. It captures so much of the nuance of this period in history, as well as revealing much about human nature in general. This is a very well-written book, and I love the way the story is told. A good choice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first 2022 release was the highly-anticipated To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara.
I had a lot of thoughts on To Paradise, and you can read my full, spoiler-free review on Goodreads or on Instagram. There are so many great moments in this book; so many great ideas; so many thoughts just perfectly expressed. But this is a lo-ong book, and I didn’t think the whole was as good as the parts deserved. Definitely worth your time though.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with another 2022 release, and Waterstones' Thriller of the Month: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.
I loved The Sanatorium. What started off as an interesting murder mystery in a fantastic location soon became much more than that. I was really impressed by the sensitivity with which Pearse handled all the different issues that she brought into play. The Sanatorium is a gripping read, with blessedly short chapters, and a really interesting storyline that keeps you guessing right up until the last page.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I spent the last few days of January starting Anna Karenina, which is sure to keep me going until well into February!
My first read of 2022 was one that was recommended to me a long time ago, and which I unexpectedly received this Christmas: The Oxford Murders, written by Guillermo Martínez and translated by Sonia Soto.
The Oxford Murders wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. The writing style is beautiful, although the women could have been written better, and I loved the Oxford setting. This cosy mystery has a delightfully twisty plot, and I read it straight through in one sitting, which isn't something I do very often. A great way to kick off the New Year.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next up was Persuasion by Jane Austen, another Christmas present, and my last of her six main novels.
Persuasion was a great choice to leave until the end, as it is just as well-written as Pride and Prejudice, the first Austen I tried and my personal favourite, but very different in tone. I liked that Persuasion is about a slightly older woman, and I enjoyed the more subdued tone. Austen's writing never fails to sweep me away, and this was no exception.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Book 3 of 2022 was one I gifted to someone else for Christmas, which they then lent to me to read: The Passenger, written by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz and translated by Philip Boehm.
The Passenger is a brilliant book. Set over the course of only a few days, in November 1938, the story focuses on one German Jew, living in Berlin. It captures so much of the nuance of this period in history, as well as revealing much about human nature in general. This is a very well-written book, and I love the way the story is told. A good choice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first 2022 release was the highly-anticipated To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara.
I had a lot of thoughts on To Paradise, and you can read my full, spoiler-free review on Goodreads or on Instagram. There are so many great moments in this book; so many great ideas; so many thoughts just perfectly expressed. But this is a lo-ong book, and I didn’t think the whole was as good as the parts deserved. Definitely worth your time though.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I followed this one with another 2022 release, and Waterstones' Thriller of the Month: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.
I loved The Sanatorium. What started off as an interesting murder mystery in a fantastic location soon became much more than that. I was really impressed by the sensitivity with which Pearse handled all the different issues that she brought into play. The Sanatorium is a gripping read, with blessedly short chapters, and a really interesting storyline that keeps you guessing right up until the last page.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I spent the last few days of January starting Anna Karenina, which is sure to keep me going until well into February!
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