January reading

For the past two years, I have participated in the Year of Book, hosted by Laura at Circle of Pine Trees. Laura is now hosting her Year of Books on Twitter and Instagram rather than on her blog. I don't do Instagram and I rarely tweet so that's probably the end of that for me. Still, I like to share my reads and, with your help, find new books to explore.

So, without further ado, here is what I read in December. First up is 'The Fall - Tales from the Apocalypse', a short story collection of post-apocalyptic scenarios edited by Matt Sinclair. I am not sure what to say, some stories were fun, others were a bit silly. Cats stuffing corn down zombie throats to kill them? God accidentally scheduling judgement day too soon on his iPhone? Really? Still, I was entertained for a few hours.

My next read was also set in the immediate aftermath of a world changing event, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on the United States. I liked the Audible blurb, which described how three individuals stranded on the highway far from home try to understand what's happening, and eventually attempt to reach home and family. To tell you the truth, the book is complete pish, don't go near it. There are three groups of people living in the United States, if the author is to be believed: disaster-ready well armed Christians, unprepared stupid idiots and villains. The unprepared stupid idiots make up the majority of people, perishing by the thousands. The villains reveal their true nature within hours of the EMP, roaming the lands raping, murdering, robbing and burning. The disaster ready well armed Christians get their guns loaded. Two of the three main characters belong to the latter variety, the third is a numpty who dies within 24 hours after being hit on the head by a villain and drinking water from a burn, cause of death a combination of head injuries and diarrhoea. John, the survivor, is a 'good man'. Jill is a 'good woman'. They meet en route (of course) and continue their way home together, leaving in their wake countless dead villains and many grateful stupids. They frequently refer to each other as 'good people'. Really. A completely wasted Audible credit. I refuse to believe that any society like the one described in the book exists. Survival of mankind requires more than guns, prayer and a chicken coop, yes? Oh, the title of the book is 'Once upon an Apocalypse', the author is Jeff Motes.

I also read a short and sweet book by Neil Gaiman, 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane'. This book is about a middle aged man finding himself. In a way. Here an excerpt from the Goodreads blurb: 'Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.' I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a gentle read about a a childhood not quite perfect, a book about lost memories and fantastical adventures. 

My last read was 'Last Night in Montreal' by Emily St. John Mandel. We meet Lilia in New York, where she has just left Eli, her lover. Lilia is forever leaving. She was abducted by her father when she was seven years old and spent her childhood and adolescence travelling, constantly changing identities, often times followed by a private detective (hired by her mother) who doesn't seem to want to reveal her whereabouts. Lilia carries on leaving places long after her father has settled down once more. When she leaves New York for Montreal, Eli follows her, determined to find out her secrets and to make sure she is ok. It is a sad and touching tale of loss and love, sacrifice and abandonment, and of finding a way home. If you have read 'Station Eleven' by the same author, you know you won't be disappointed.

I have started listening to some lighthearted crime novels set in London. I need some light entertainment to crochet those long long blanket rows. 

What have you been reading lately? 

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my duffle coat post, I really liked reading them all. I am glad you like my coat! Unfortunately it is far too wet to wear it now, and far too warm, too. What's wrong with the weather??

Have a great rest of the week! xx