I finished this epic series in November. I have no idea how many times I've read these books, but every time, I find something new to love. The stories, while simple, teach complex ideas, which make them timeless.
The Problem of Pain by C.S.Lewis ★★★★/5
I am a little frustrated with myself for not making notes on this book, so I remember very little of the details, but this book was a fairly quick read and full of interesting ideas. Next time I read it, I will be sure to make more Note Bene.
C.S.Lewis and the Catholic Church by Joseph Pearce ★★★/5
I enjoyed this work insomuch as it provided copious information about C.S.Lewis's life and works, but I have found in this book, as well as other Joseph Pearce books, a penchant for intrigue where it seems no intrigue exists. Pearce tends to take a small fact, and run wild with imagination over what it might possibly mean, without much evidence. Overall, worth reading if you are an avid Lewis fan and also interested in his relationship with Catholicism.
Letters to Malcom Chiefly on Prayer by C.S.Lewis ★★★★★/5
This might be my favorite 'academic' book of Lewis's that I've read. I love the raw banter between Lewis and his friend, which you wouldn't find in a published academic work. I felt that it gave me a vivid insight into Lewis's personality, which I didn't get from some of his other works. I would highly recommend this one!
Bone Broth Diet by Kellyann Petrucci MS, ND ★★★/5
I have Hashimotos disease, and I'm always looking for ways to improve my diet so I feel better. I found a lot of the ideas in this book helpful, but there wasn't a lot that I didn't already know. I have started making my own bone broth quite frequently, and it's really yummy and good for you!
Helena by Evelyn Waugh★★★/5
I read this book back in high school, and it didn't change my life. This time around was no better. As much as I love Evelyn Waugh, I couldn't get in to his strange 1920's style banter which he worked into this novel. It felt odd at best and trivialized an important story in my mind. Maybe there's something I'm missing here, but I wouldn't read it again.
The Weight of Glory by C.S.Lewis ★★★★★/5
Ah, again, I made no notes about this book, except that I gave it 5 stars. Let that be enough of a recommendation to try it yourself.
The Code of the Woosters; Joy in the Morning; Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves; Right Ho, Jeeves; The Mating Season; Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit; How Right You Are, Jeeves; Thank You, Jeeves; Aunts Aren't Gentlemen all by P.G.Wodehouse (Most of these are a ★★★★★/5 star rating, except Thank You, Jeeves, which I don't recommend based on some unfortunate racist messages)
Somewhere in the cold of November, I found down the P.G.Wodehouse rabbit hole for the second time this year. Hoopla still has the wonderful audio-books of Jeeves and Wooster (look for the Jonathan Cecil narrated version) and I listened to these 9 over the course of a few weeks. Yes, I've already read every one of these books this year. I can't help myself. It's like having a favorite sitcom that you watch way oftener than you care to admit.
Sanctuary by Nora Roberts ★★/5
I've got to give it to Nora Roberts. She's a genius. This book is pure trash, but somehow, good old Nora keeps 'em coming every year. She's written something like 250 (?) books. 250! And she makes a lot of money. I have to say, she's inspired me because if she can get paid for this dumpster fire, maybe my dreams of writing a novel aren't totally out of the realm of possibility.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson ★★★/5
I have to say, my rating is between a 3-4 for this one. While I liked it, I'm not sure if I would read it again (which is my criteria for a 4-5 star rating). It was delightfully bizarre, but not my favorite book by any means.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ★★★★★/5
Our Jane Austen Bookclub spent a cold December evening reading this lovely book aloud. I think it took around three hours from start to finish, but it was time well spent. Sam concocted a delicious brew of mulled wine, and food and fun were shared by all. I hope we continue the tradition in years to come.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ★★★★/5
Like The Haunting of Hill House, I found this book spectacularly bizarre. I enjoy Jackson's writing style. Unlike the very modern horror films you might see on Netflix, she takes very every day scenes and circumstances, and makes the horror with subtleties in her writing. Genius.
Stay With Me: A Novel by Ayobami Adebayo ★★★★/5
It seems like Stay With Me has been everywhere over the past couple years, and it's been on my shortlist for quite a while. I will be interested to read this author in the future (this was her first novel). I listened to the audio version, which I think was a smart idea, considering how little I know of Nigeria and it's language. The reader was Nigerian, and did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. While I thought this novel was stunning, I will warn you that I didn't love the story. It was very sad, and often strange to me, especially since I know nothing about Nigerian culture. I think if you're in my shoes, go in with an open mind, knowing that the cultural differences might shock you.
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Phew! I think that's it. I ended the year having read 106 books, exceeding my goal! I kind of cheated because I read some books twice this year, and I counted them twice. So if you want to be REALLY technical, I probably only read about 99 individual books. That's good enough for me! I'm looking to reach 100 books again in 2021, and I'm already 10% of the way!
KPA
