I thought I would share pictures that inspire me to stay indoors and read as I share my lists of books read. And with this post, I will be up to date on sharing my reading progress! I didn’t complete many books in January. I’m not quite sure why. Must have been too much television and too many magazines.

Books Read in December 2023:

1. The Bone Hacker-Kathy Reichs

Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist, travels to the Turks and Caicos Islands on this unexpected case. Bones are found on the island, and everything is hush hush because it would be bad for tourism. Tempe uncovers evidence that is leading to the killers, but will she solve the case in time?

2. The Milkweed Lands-Eric Lee-Mader (Non-fiction)

This book has lovely illustrations to go along with the text. Very informative with information about various insects and animals, life stages, and much more.

3. Pretty Pastel Style-Selina Lake (Non-fiction)

This is about decorating in pastel colors. It covers every room in the house, plus workspaces and outdoor spaces. The pictures are gorgeous.

4. A Simple Act of Gratitude-John Kralik (Non-fiction)

The author decides to see if he can change his less than happy life by being more grateful. He undertakes a year plus of writing 365 thank you notes. This book was not fast paced or full of exciting stories. I kept with it because I thought I would obtain value from reading it, and I did. There are lessons to be learned about the difference simple, kind acts can make.

5. Botanical Style-Selina Lake (Non-fiction)

A design and style book with beautiful photographs. There are some simple projects included too.

6. The Land of Lost Things-John Connolly

This is a dark fairy tale that begins and ends in our world. I enjoyed the story of Ceres who falls through a hole in a tree and comes out in another world. She must fight off all sorts of evil creatures to return home to care for her daughter. I did not realize this is the second book in a series, but it stands alone so that was ok. I will read the first book (The Book of Lost Things) sometime because I enjoyed this fantasy world.

7. Treacle Walker-Alan Garner

This is a short little book with another story that I would call a fairy tale. I found the story to be confusing and hard to follow. I understood enough to get something out of the tale though.

Magazines:  Entertain & Celebrate Christmas, HGTV The Christmas Idea Book, Hobby Farms, Cottages & Bungalows

Books Read in January 2024:

1. The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp-Leonie Swann

I had a bit of trouble following the plot because some of the characters suffer from forgetfulness and dementia. A group of elderly folks live together in a house rather than going into residential care. They all have responsibilities and look out for each other. This works well until the murdered bodies start appearing. They must solve the crimes to stay safe and continue living in their home. The plot took some unexpected turns that kept me reading once I got past the slow start.

2. The Edge of Maine-Geoffrey Wolff (Non-fiction)

A National Geographic Directions book. The author talks about his experiences sailing the coast of Maine, peppered with local lore and history. Some stories are more interesting than others. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

3. Dead Mountain-Preston & Child

This is the first book I have read by these authors, and I will be reading more. FBI agent Corrie Swanson calls in her friend, archaeologist Nora Kelly to work on a case. Nine hikers disappeared under mysterious circumstances years ago and the case was never solved. Two more bodies were recently found, and the two women work together to try to solve the case. There are numerous twists and turns as new information is discovered.

Magazines:  Cottages & Bungalows, Christmas Joy, Woman’s Day (2), Good Housekeeping (2), Food & Wine

No one of these books really stood out to me among the others, although several were good. If you want a thriller that will keep you reading, go with Dead Mountain. Otherwise, it just depends on your mood. I find that I like different books at different times. And I am often reading two simultaneously. I usually have a fiction book and a non-fiction one that I am working on. My mood and how quiet the house is decide which one I will pick up.

Grab a book and a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy!