January 2018 Reading Wrap-Up

Reading is many things to me.  It's entertainment and education.  It's the broadening of mind and spirit.  It's escapism.  Looking the books I read in January, I can see how each of those elements is represented in my reading choices.

Harry Potter was pure escapism.  Reading it was a chance to get reacquainted with old friends, to ride alongside in an adventure I could fully anticipate because it was well known and comfortable, even in its saddest moments.  And that last book is so very sad!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists was meant to broaden the mind and spirit by exploring the challenges faced by women around the world.  I discovered that while we still have a ways to go here in America, Nigeria seems to have an even longer road ahead of it when it comes to equality for all.  Little slights or outright abuses need to be addressed and rectified whenever necessary.

What If: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions was equally entertaining and educational.  The author's answers to those absurd questions were often laced with humor.  After attempting to explain a complex scientific fact or work through a compound math equation, he'd throw in a bit of welcome levity to make the dry science more palatable.

Moonheart and Ricochet Joe were pure entertainment.  New to me stories that held the potential to delight.  It took me a bit to get into Moonheart but eventually the setup began to pay off and the tension built to a satisfying conclusion.  Ricochet Joe, which I would consider a novella or novelette, had an interesting premise but seemed too brief and underdeveloped for my tastes; I expect better from Koontz.

The Bell Jar was terrible.  Just terrible.  I learned that I do not enjoy Plath's writing and will never pick up another one of her novels.  On the bright side, I've been meaning to read this for many years and can finally cross it off my list.

As These Relate to My 2018 Book Challenge

The Original Reading Goals Image

In January I read:

• 2 non-fiction titles.
• I read 3 Kindle books purchased prior to 2018.
• I read one modern classic.
• I read a total of six books toward my overall goal. 

As the Challenge Stands After January:

• Read 4 classics.
• Read 20 books from my physical TBR piles.
• Reread 1 series.  
• Read 17 Kindle books purchased prior to 2018. 
• Read 3 non-fiction books.
• Read 69 books total.

I also read three comic books in January but I do not intend to count them toward my goals as they are so quick and easy to read.  Counting them feels like cheating!