Book Review: December 2024
I’m closing out 2024 with 5 books in the month of December. My goal for 2024 was to read or listen to 75 books (I hit 77 in 2023) so I was a little bit behind that with 56 on the year. But that’s still more than 1/week which I’m really stoked for. And in the end, it’s not the number of books consumed, it’s what they meant to me. Reading continues to be an essential way for me to learn and be entertained…it’s one of my greatest joys.
Check out my review for December and let me know what you loved reading / listening to.
My goal for 2025 is 60 books which feels manageable and still enjoyable. Cheers, book nerds!
"All the Living and the Dead" by Hayley Campbell
4 stars
Tell me you're a Scoripo rising without telling me you're a Scoripo rising. I'll go 1st: because I read books like this. Death is a part of life, yet one that our Western Culture doesn't seem to do "well" . I love exploring the theme of death because it gives us an insight to how we are living. Hearing the stories from different folks that touch death in both a scientific and a humanistic way was really interesting.
"The Mountain in the Sea" by Ray Nayler
4 stars
Futuristic without being out of touch. Exploring themes of culture, consciousness, language and "what else is out there." Set in the near future, this book was easy to read and relate to the characters. The villains, the heros and the future of the world all connect in one moment, both in the future and right now. We're creating the future every day, so how do we want it to look and who is calling the shots? Interesting and really cool.
"The Last Bookshop in London" by Madeline Martin
4 stars
A book for book lovers about the power of reading to connect folks, even in the darkest of times. As London is bombed in WW2, a book shop keeps citizens' spirits alive. For those of us who have been touched by books and find refuge in words, this is a great historical fiction read. A touch cheesy in parts, but I sort of expected that. I loved the themes of dedication, female friendship and intergenerational caring.
"Friends and Strangers" by J. Courtney Sullivan
5 stars
A top 10 (maybe 5!) fiction book of 2024 for me. I literally could not put this book down. I was flabbergasted at the end (no spoilers here). It's real, honest and so damn relatable. It's funny and sweet and shows just what weird creatures humans are. As someone who has friends in different stages of life (those still in their 20's and those in their later 50's) this one really hit home. If you want to feel like you're friends with the characters, this is a book to dive into.
"Existential Kink by" Carolyn Elliot
4 stars
Weird and esoteric shadow work? Yes, please! I heard about this book, concept and the author on a podcast about understanding the parts of ourselves we suppress through a Jungian approach. I did a lot of journaling around my scarcity mindset and the weird parts of me that I don't want anyone to know about. Integrating the shadow and light is work I am drawn to right now. Perhaps you are as well? If so, go slowly and gently...you are the most fascinating project you will ever work on. More about the author can be found here.
Monthly book total: 5
Annual book total: 56