January 2023 Reads

One of my goals for 2023 is to read at least 40 new books – it's a little ambitious considering my habit of rereading well-loved, practically memorized books. For whatever reason, I have a difficult time committing to a new book. I will read an entire book in one sitting or over the course of a weekend, then spend a week trying to decide which book to read next or reread chapters of the book I just finished. It’s a semi-frustrating pattern that basically defined my January. That said, I did break the cheesy romance loop I have been in for the past few months with some of the most moving and memorable books I’ve read in a long time.

HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE by Jennifer Niven

Rating: 3.5/5

This was one of those books I bought spontaneously on a trip to Target and hoped I would like having already read (and loved) another book by the same author. Although not as captivating or moving as All the Bright Places, Holding Up the Universe was an overall good read. One of my favorite things about Jennifer Niven is that she creates characters who are relatable but also struggle with things that aren’t commonly discussed in books (in this case, being overweight and being diagnosed with prosopagnosia). The openness of these characters and the stream-of-consciousness writing style provide a unique perspective that feels authentic and proves that people are more complex and more interesting than whatever their “condition” or biggest insecurity may be. That said, I wasn't in love with these characters and felt the ending was fairly predictable.

THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

Rating: 5/5

Earlier, when I said I had read some particularly moving and memorable books in January, I actually was almost exclusively referring to The Song of Achilles. Even now, nearly three weeks after finishing it, I find my mind wandering to specific moments and lines from the book. Having no knowledge of Greek mythology, I had zero expectations save for the rave Amazon reviews, which perhaps made the story all the more beautiful. While The Song of Achilles has had an overwhelming amount of five-star reviews, the few negative comments relate to Miller’s particular interpretation of the Iliad and the creative liberties she took with the story of Achilles and Patroclus. So if you decide to read this book, maybe try to forget everything you may or may not know about Greek mythology. Accuracies aside, the story is a poetic tribute to love, although love is not so plainly stated. I could ramble on about this forever, but to keep it (somewhat short), this is an emotional and powerful read that speaks to the complexities of love, fate, honor, pride, sacrifice, and relationships. While I gravitate toward sad books, very few have brought me to tears; this one did. I wholeheartedly wish I could experience reading The Song of Achilles for the first time.

Side note: If you loved reading Call Me By Your Name, this book is a must-read. If you did not like Call Me By Your Name, you might prefer this book, or we have to accept that we do not share the same taste in books.

BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Rating: TBD

To be fair, I think any book I would have read immediately after The Song of Achilles would have been somewhat of a letdown. After reading a few reviews, I had high hopes for this book. However, I struggled to connect with the characters and didn’t love the writing style. Although I am not very far into the story, it was one of those books I could easily put down and never pick back up…, which is pretty much what happened. However, take my review with a grain of salt and the knowledge that I am only 50 pages in, and almost 50% of the 12k people who left a review on Amazon gave it five stars.

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE by Dolly Alderton

Rating: 4/5

Everything I Know About Love is Dolly Alderton’s memoir about love and life in your teens through your early thirties. Honestly, this book is a bit difficult to explain because it’s comprised of anecdotes, letters, inner monologues, recipes, and text messages – essentially anything and everything that requires thought and can be used to tell the story of someone's life. While Alderton’s teenage years will probably resonate with many people, I couldn’t relate and therefore didn’t enjoy the book until she started to recount her early twenties. Although I’m usually one to give up on a book that doesn’t hook me immediately, her witty writing was entertaining enough to sustain me through those first few chapters. Aside from that, the book is as unpredictable as life itself; there's humor, heartache, moments of awkwardness, and stories that make you roll your eyes and think back to your own failed relationships. More importantly, it is a story about the messiness of life, female friendships, and the love that exists outside of romantic relationships.

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