I finished December with three books which brought my yearly total to 52, 8 books short of my reading goal of 60. I read 59 books in 2017 and was hoping to beat it, but I am still very proud that I managed to read one book per week (on average). I also ended the year with three books I would all highly recommend for you to put on your to-read list!
The life she was given by Ellen Marie Wiseman (★★★★☆)
Wiseman knows how to weave a story. Lilly Blackwood has spent the first 10 years of her life locked up in the attic of her parents’ mansion before her cruel mother sells her off to the traveling circus. 20 years later, Julia Blackwood returns to her family’s mansion after her parents’ death, left to figure out the mystery of her family.
I really enjoyed this book about two young women in the middle of the 20th century whose lives, as we find out very early, are mysteriously connected, but we only find out much later in which tragic way.
Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot (★★★★☆)
This is an emotion-driven memoir about a Native American woman’s struggles with abuse, mental illness, and survival, packaged in a series of stream-of-conscience essays. It’s not a straight-forward story to read, but if you allow yourself to dive in and absorb Mailhot’s words, it’s well worth your time.
Tell me more: Stories about the 12 hardest things I am learning to say by Kelly Corrigan (★★★★★)
This was my first introduction to Kelly Corrigan’s writing and based on this book, I am looking forward to reading more of her work. This felt like sitting down with a friend and talking about the unpredictabilities and inevitabilities of life.
Corrigan captures wise life lessons (the 12 phrases being the headings of the chapters in this book) that we all have to navigate throughout our lives (grief, love, marriage, parenthood, friendship) and guides us through the emotional work that we all have to do at one stage or another. Her experiences are relatable and she emphasizes the need to enjoy and embrace every season of life.
What did you read in December? Anything you’d like to recommend? Leave a comment, and then add me on Goodreads to keep in touch.
Lacey
January 4, 2019 at 12:22 pmOoooh definitely adding The Life She Was Given to my list! I just posted my December reads the other day. <3
ShootingStarsMag
January 4, 2019 at 1:06 pmI’m glad you ended 2018 with some great reads. I think I’m most curious about Tell Me More.
-Lauren
Lisa of Lisa's yarns
January 4, 2019 at 1:42 pmI haven’t read any of these books so will have to check them out. Tell Me More has been on my to read list for quite awhile – I need to bump it up the list, I think! My best book of December was probably The Lost for Words Bookshop. I love reading books that are set in a book shop and this one has some depth to it (some book shop books are pretty light – which is fine, too!).
Akaleistar
January 4, 2019 at 4:53 pmI loved Tell Me More!
Stephany
January 5, 2019 at 7:39 amI have Tell Me More and The Life She Was Given on my TBR, and I’m thrilled to know you loved them! I can’t wait to read them – hopefully soon.
My favorite book of December was, by far, Becoming by Michelle Obama. AH. It was so, so good. I listened to the audiobook and it was perfect in every way.
Sara
January 5, 2019 at 2:48 pmI didn’t read a whole lot in December by I did read The Last Lie by Alex Lake and it was a pretty good psychological thriller. It’s not normally a genre I go for but I got it for review and I really liked it a lot.
Beth
January 7, 2019 at 8:50 amTell Me More is at the top of my TBR list right now. I love Kelly’s writing so much. I hope I’m able to get my hands on a copy of it soon! The other two I haven’t heard of but I might have to add to my list now!
Charlotte
January 9, 2019 at 2:35 pmI haven’t heard of any of these books! Thank you so much for sharing with me <3 I'll be honest, I thought that was the cover of "Water for Elephants" when I saw the jacket of "The Life she was Given" and they're both about circuses! Okay, I guess the tent was a giveaway :) Regardless, all look like fantastic reads. XO
terra
January 18, 2019 at 9:36 amI really, really enjoyed Heart Berries. It was so honest and raw and her commentary in the back was also really great, with her talking about telling her story and stripping it down and moving it from what was fiction to the memoir that it became.