December 2018 Reading List
The books on my December 2018 reading list, including The Dreamers, There There, From the Corner of the Oval, Belong to Me, and Today Will Be Different.
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For most of my December 2018 reading list, I am aiming for two things: lighter reads and flexibility. So my list here doesn’t have quite as many books as I usually list. Because of everything else going on at this time of year, I’m looking for some pure escapist, enjoyment reading. There is one heavier book listed here, because of library hold timing, but the others feel lighter and a little indulgent.
Beyond this list, I’ve finally found some space to fit in audiobooks. I tend to choose these from what the library has available and how I’m feeling at the time. I’ve also been eyeing a couple of favorite books I’d like to reread, or I may grab some unlikely library reads.
I haven’t quite shaken the slightly “off” feeling that’s plagued me this fall, and the holidays just bring more to the table. It’s fun, and I’ve always enjoyed the holidays, but at times like these I also tend to need more time to retreat and recover from the chaos.
So, hello literary therapy!
I’m linking up with Literary Quicksand, Rachel at Never Enough Novels, and Allison at My Novel Life for the TBR Mix ‘n Mingle. On the first Wednesday of each month we share the books we’re planning to read.
December 2018 Reading List
The Dreamers: A Novel
I loved Karen Thompson Walker’s The Age of Miracles, one of the quieter dystopias I’ve read, so The Dreamers has caught my attention. When college students start falling asleep–and not waking up–the college and town go into a panic. Then doctors find that those with this strange sleeping disease have higher brain activity than has ever been recorded, begging the question of what they could possibly be dreaming.
There There
While this one doesn’t quite fit my overall plan for some “lighter reads” for December, I’ve had my eye on this book for a while, and I’m looking forward to diving in when my library hold comes up this month.
From the publisher: Tommy Orange has written a stunning novel that grapples with a complex and painful history, with an inheritance of beauty and profound spirituality, and with a plague of addiction, abuse, and suicide.
From the Corner of the Oval
I’m about halfway through this memoir of a young woman in Washington, DC, who responds to a Craigslist ad and ends up with a stenographer job in the Oval Office for Barack Obama. It is alternately frustrating (in that endless-stupid-decisions-in-your-twenties kind of way), fascinating, and entertaining.
Belong to Me
I’ve never read Marisa de los Santos, but some trusted sources seem to enjoy her books. Frankly, I’m a little hesitant about this book that brings together three very different suburban women, but the summary promises more complexity than the “mommy politics” I’m fearing and that never really work for me.
Today Will Be Different
This book by the author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette hasn’t gotten great reviews, but it’s been on my shelf for a while. This story about a wife and mother trying to hold it together through normal and not-so-normal chaos seems like something I might relate to in this busy season.
I hear you on the holidays – when you have little kids it just becomes such a stressful time (all the organizing of gifts, shopping for everyone else, coming up with ideas for gifts for other people to buy my kids – how did this become a thing?! – Xmas cards, having to attend a million events at the kids schools, etc). I used to love Christmas, but now all the stress has made it something I dread every year. Isn’t that sad…
Anyway – From the Corner of the Oval is the perfect book for this time of year! And I’m so excited to read The Dreamers as well…I’ve been hearing such good things.
I’m all about lighter fun reads this time of year! I’m a particular sucker for anything remotely related to Christmas.
This is DEFINITELY the time of year for enjoyable, escapist reading!! I also try to pick books that are easy to stop and start (short story collections are perfect!), to allow for distractions and craziness. I’m coming off a big bender of dead-white-men books, so I’m really eager to sink my teeth into some more diverse reading over the holiday season. Hope you make it through December without too much stress! ❤️
Christmas I seem to love every other year. It depends on what’s going on with my adult kids. Last year was amazing, but this year will be much quieter. No matter what I dislike all the pressure to get everything done. This year I teach through the 21st which is much later than usual, but we don’t have to be back until the 7th and I’m thrilled about that.
The Dreamers is coming up in my TBR list, too and I’m very excited about it. Loved The Age of Miracles and so hope this one holds up. I think you’ll love From the Corner of the Oval.
I have been on the lookout for shorter reads this December. Just finished The Child Finder which I thought it was a fantastic book, although not exactly light reading. This is the second time I’ve had someone recommend There, There this week. Think I’ll have to try that one out. Thanks for the recommendation!
I loved Where’d You Go Bernadette! You’ll have to let me know how Today Will Be Different Goes. Great list!
You’ve got some great options! From the Corner is a fascinating look at life during the Obama presidency and There There is some of the most powerful fiction I read this year.
I’m kind of on the same path as you for December, but I call it free-range reading. I just keep hitting the library and whatever catches my eye is what I read. It has been awesome so far. Our library has a thing where each branch has some of the biggest new releases available for immediate checkout- no holds/no waiting. You can’t renew it and you only get it for two weeks, bu what fun! So far, I’ve read The Library Book, Elevation, and My Sister, the Serial Killer and all were excellent. Next up is PriestDaddy and The Leavers.