January 2019 Reading List
Books on my January 2019 reading list, including The Only Woman in the Room, Winter Stroll, The Last Romantics, The Familiars, and My Flag Grew Stars.
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When putting together my January 2019 reading list, I decided to back off a bit on the volume as I consider how I want to approach reading in 2019.
A new year always feels like a good time to assess what’s working, what’s not, what I’d like to do differently, and what I might like to try.
Reading time is limited, so I want to be sure I’m making the most of it. In addition to reading books I enjoy, I want to keep reading exciting,
In 2018, my goal was to read my shelf as much as possible–and I had mixed success there (I’ll have an update on that coming soon).
I realized that, while I enjoy backlist books and will continue to read them, I’m not immune to the excitement of a new release.
Since joining the book blogging world, I’ve realized how much fun it is to discuss new books with other readers, and to help non-blogging readers determine which ones might be worth trying. I want to do more of this in 2019.
With this in mind, I’ve started to venture into the world of advanced reader copies (ARCs), and it’s been fun to peruse the new and upcoming titles. However, I’m trying to be measured in my requests so I can continue to have a balance of new and backlist books.
This is also a great test of my ability to choose books. Book selection is something I’ve always done intuitively, with little input from others, and I’ve had great success in doing this.
I’m hopeful that this will continue as I’m considering which new releases to read and that I’m able to help you find the right books for you this year.
I’m also still working on how best to manage reviews of new books on my blog–all things that I had hoped to figure out by the start of 2019, but the end of 2018 got away from me.
You may see some starts and stops and experiments over the next few months as I figure it out–bear with me, and please give me feedback!
So far, I have a pretty good reading plan for the next few months (if not a writing one), but I’d love to hear from other bloggers with more ARC experience about how you manage your schedules and requests.
The five books below are ones that I definitely plan to read in January. There are also a few that I started in 2018 but put aside to finish later, so I’m hoping to get to them as well.
Related: 11 Books for Your Winter Reading
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January 2019 Reading List
The Familiars
This historical fiction novel is set during the English Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. It promises an intimate exploration of the lives of seventeenth century women and the motivations behind witch hunting.
Related: Read my review of The Familiars
The Only Woman in the Room: A Novel
I don’t know much about Hedy Lamarr, but I’ve always been intrigued when I heard about both her brilliance as an inventor and her role in World War II. This fictionalized account of her life involves her insider access to the Third Reich’s plans, her escape from her Austrian arms-dealer-husband, her rise to film stardom, and work on radio frequency inventions for the Allies. Update: Read my full review.
The Last Romantics: A Novel
With comparisons to Commonwealth and The Interestings, I knew I had to check out Tara Conklin’s The Last Romantics. This promises to be a sweeping family story told over decades, from a childhood summer in which siblings ran free and cared for one another to a family crisis two decades later. I love stories about family histories and loyalties put to the test, so I have high hopes for this one. Update: Read my full review.
My Flag Grew Stars: World War II Refugees’ Journey to America
This nonfiction book has been on my TBR for a while, and my dad–who worked with the author–brought me a copy on his last visit. The book details her parents’ journey and struggles to survive, starting with their escape from Hungary, her father’s German conscription and capture by the Americans, to their eventual life in Minnesota.
Related: My review of My Flag Grew Stars (and other recent reads)
Winter Stroll (Winter Street #2)
I had never read a “Christmas book” before, but on a whim I picked up Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street–not knowing that it’s the first in a trilogy. As Christmas approached, I found that I kind of enjoyed reading a holiday-themed book. It wasn’t challenging, but it wasn’t as formulaic as I expected either. The Quinns and their inn on Nantucket were a pleasant reading diversion from my usual heavier fare, and I’d like to see how their story plays out. Besides, winter is kind of depressing after Christmas, so maybe this will keep my spirits up a bit longer.
Related:
February 2019 Book Reviews: including The Familiars and My Flag Grew Stars
January 2019 Book Reviews: including Winter Stroll and The Only Woman in the Room
What are you planning to read in January?
