Hello rosebuds!π
I decided to combine my December Wrap-up and January TBR for today’s post. I’m not quite sure if this will be a permanent change or not, but I am contemplating it because I am changing my posting schedule for 2019. I basically decided to do two posts a week instead of three. Three was just too much for me, and now that I have a job where I am working 5 days a week I really don’t have the time for that much anymore.
Overall, December was a decent reading month considering how busy I was. Even though I pretty much failed at both of the readathons which I participated in, I ended up completing four books which isn’t too shabby. For the month of January, I am being a bit ambitious since I will be traveling during the first and second week.
All that aside though, let’s get into today’s post!
DECEMBER WRAP-UP
1.Β A Very Vintage Christmas
by: Tilly Tennant
A Very Vintage ChristmasΒ is an adult romance novel that takes place during the holiday season. In it, we follow Dodie who loves everything from years past, and who also happens to own a vintage clothing shop known as, Forget-Me-Not Vintage. One day, when Dodie is looking through some of her vintage finds, she spots a love letter in the pocket of an old jacket. From that point on our protagonist makes various attempt to deliver the letter to itβs rightful owner.
I read this book for the Tistheseason-a-thon back in December, and absolutely adored it. This was one of those narratives where I just could not find it in me to put down. Not only was the writing super easy to get through, but the characters were just so lovable as well. It also helps that the ending caught me completely off guard. In order to keep from spoiling anyone though, I won’t say much more. If you are looking for a cute holiday romance to pick up at the end of 2019, this might be your story.
My Rating:
2. Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares
by: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Dash & Lilyβs Book of DaresΒ is a YA contemporary that takes place in NYC during the holiday season. In it we follow Lily, who one day decides to fill a notebook full of challenges and leave it on a favorite bookstore shelf. Lily is convinced that whoever comes along and accepts the dares is the right guy for her.
This was the second book I completed for the Tistheseason-a-thon last year. I seriously flew through this in about five days. Considering I had just started a new job at that point in time, five is a pretty impressive number.
Again, the writing was super easy to read and you will certainly find yourself rooting for Dash and Lily 100% of the way. All throughout the book there are tons of obstacles that seem to either keep them from meeting or just tear them apart. In the end though, I was completely content with the conclusion. I didn’t really hear great things about the next book, so I don’t think I will pick that one up.
My Rating:
3.Β Christmas or The Good Fairy
by: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Christmas or the Good FairyΒ is one of many short stories in Barnes and Nobleβs collectible edition ofΒ A Christmas Treasury. Inside this gorgeous hardcover you can find a wide array of Christmas themed tales written by famous authors such as L. Frank Baum, L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and much more.
This tale was just okay, hence why I am giving it just three flowers. In it, we basically follow a young girl who is discussing with her aunt all of the presents she would like to gift her friends and family for Christmas. Her aunt, then explains that there are people out there who can’t afford such luxuries like she can. After that, we read on as this girl purchases simple, every day items that the average individual would turn the other cheek at, but a person who suffers from severe poverty would simply rejoice over.
I liked the message of the story, but when it comes down to it, the narrative was way too short to have any kind of impact. Not only that, but the ending was super abrupt as well.
My Rating:
4.Β Mary Poppins Comes Back
by: P.L. Travers
Mary Poppins Comes BackΒ is the sequel to the childrenβs classic,Β MaryΒ Poppins. Considering it is the second book in a series, I wonβt go into the synopsis for the sake of spoilers. I will however, tell you about the first book.
Mary PoppinsΒ tells the story of a nanny who is blown by a fierce wind to the doorstep of the Banks family. From that point on, a series ofΒ whimsical and nonsensical events occur. Mary Poppins does things that no one can explain, and as it turns out, no one ever does!
As with the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. The writing is just as whimsical as before, and the plot just as fascinating. The only reason I didn’t rate this a full five flowers was because Mary’s character is starting to annoy me. Mary was just as conceded, and just as snarky in the first tale, so I’m not sure why it is bothering me now. Either way,Β I am still going to continue on with the series, because I am seriously obsessed with all the wonderful kookiness.
My Rating:
JANUARY TBR
1.Β Little Women
by: Louisa May Alcott
Little WomenΒ is a classic childrenβs book that I think most of us have heard of by now. The narrative follows four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy during the American Civil War era. We watch as they go through their day to day lives doing things from putting on a Christmas play, all the way to forming a secret society. We also follow the sisters as they grow up and go from little girls to little women all while their father is away fighting on the war front.
It is taking me way too long to finish this book. I mean, I kind of knew this would happen, but I was really hoping to complete Little Women before the new year. It has nothing to do with the quality of the story, because I honestly love it. I think I’m just so intimidated by the length, that I get discouraged every time I go to pick it up. That sounds super strange the more that I think about it, but either way, now that it’s already 2019, I am just going to take my sweet time with this chunk of a book. I won’t include it on anymore TBRs for the sake of not being too repetitive. I will however, include it in a wrap up whenever I do finish it.
2.Β Pippi Longstocking
by: Astrid Lindgren
This puffin chalk edition tells the tale of a young, parentless girl named Pippi Longstocking. Pippi is a rambunctious child with red hair and a freckled face. She also just so happens to possess the fascinating ability of super human strength. Strange, I know.
The narrative begins when Pippi returns from traveling around the world by ship with her pet monkey and horse, and moves into a house all by herself. She then meets her neighbors, Annika and Tommy who instantly become her best friends. Throughout the novel we follow Pippi and her companions as they go on various adventures including an eventful trip to the circus.
I actually already finished this book, and I have to admit that I really disliked Pippi’s character. Although she has some of those quirky qualities I often enjoy in children’s lit heroines, I found that she was mainly just rude and downright annoying. Whenever Pippi was called out for her rudeness by another character, she would just tell this sap story about how she has no parents and asks if one can really blame her for being that way. Nine times out of ten the other character would suddenly feel bad for her. That’s what really bothered me.
I won’t give you guys my rating just yet, because I want to save that for my monthly wrap-up. Just know, that Pippi’s persona was enough for me to bring that overall number down.
3.Β The Garden Party
by: Katherine Mansfield
The Garden PartyΒ is a classic short story collection written by Katherine Mansfield. Each narrative tells a different story about the struggles and tragedies that occur in our everyday lives.
I am currently reading this collection, and have to admit that 80% of the time I have no clue what is going on. I also really just don’t like Mansfield’s writing style, as it is takes me forever to get through just one page. I am going to spare the fine details for my monthly wrap-up, so keep a look out for that later on.
4. Two on a Tower
by: Thomas Hardy
Two on a TowerΒ is a love story that follows a man and woman who are 10 years apart in age. They meet for the first time in a column that is eventually converted into an astronomy tower, and continue to have an affair that is kept a secret due to the judgment of others.
I started reading this at the end of this past summer. I was really enjoying the story, but had to put it on hold for a readathon I was participating in. Unfortunately, I did that thing where I just never picked it up again, so I would really like to remedy that this month.
5. Anne of Windy Willows
by: L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Windy WillowsΒ is the fourth book in theΒ Anne of Green GablesΒ series.Β As per usual, for the sake of not spoiling anyone I wont go into the synopsis.Β Just know that Anne is now out of school and currently has a new job..and love interest.
I hope you enjoyed reading my December Wrap-up and January TBR!
Until next time,
The Garden of Read-En 