january wrap-up and february tbr
Welcome to 2025! I had a quiet month on the life front which meant a busier week on the reading front. I read five books in January which is a pretty good for me. Even better, I really liked every single book I read. It was a great start to the reading year and itβs making me feel like I have a lot to look forward to.
I also had a non-fiction heavy month, which is fun! I really want to read more non-fiction this year, possibly even a 50/50 ratio
Here is what I read in January!
Birnam Wood, Eleanor Catton | β°β°β°β°
I bought this in New Zealand and Iβm so pleased I made it my first read of the year. This was really great, and a nice way to ease out of my New Zealand trip. I really liked this! Itβs a character driven eco-thriller set in New Zealand with an explosive third act. I actually enjoyed the slow-burn of this one, the first two thirds is just getting to know the character, seeing threads weave together and letting the politics simmer away but I never really found myself bored. Eleanor Catton has a really engaging and witty writing style that kept me hooked. Iβm trying to focus on my read around the world challenge a bit in 2025 so this was a nice start there.
Beauty, Bri Lee | didnβt rate
Bri Lee is one of my favourite Australian authors and in reading this book, Iβve now read everything sheβs written. This was unfortunately my least favourite of her non-fiction works. This essay collection seeks to explore beauty through Bri Lee and her experience suffering with anorexia but I just didnβt find the essays to be very successful. I honestly thought a lot of this was actually quite triggering. I do think sheβs a great writer and parts of this were very raw and compelling but I basically donβt think I can recommend this to anyone as a book that explores the topic of beauty and the beauty industry.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Samin Nosrat | didnβt rate
Iβve been reading this for months but I finally decided to finish it. This is a cooking theory book mixed with cookbook and Iβd say itβs possibly a little too beginner for me but it did have some information that was helpful and interesting. I did learn a lot of the βwhyβ behind things I do in the kitchen which was fun. But I donβt feel like Iβd need to reach for this again to reference it.
The Season, Helen Garner | β°β°β°β°β°
βReally Iβm trying to write about footy and my grandson and me. About boys at dusk. A little life-hymn. A poem. A record of a season we are spending together before he turns into a man and I die.β
One of my favourite authors writing about my favourite sport... I love AFL I knew I'd love this book but it hit me even harder than I expected. "A nanna's book about football" I found myself so touched by the relationship between Garner and her grandson, the contemplation on the cycles of life - he growing up as she's preparing for her death, love and friendship and the idea of sport as something that can bring us together. I was actually moved by this, of my favourite pieces of media on sport ever! I also switched to the audiobook halfway through which was a great choice, she narrates it herself and that really added a nice touch to it.
Evenings & Weekends, OisΓn McKenna | β°β°β°β°
Another highly anticipated read Iβm so glad I ticked off the list. Reading this book, I realised how much I really love books set in specific time periods and specific places. I love when a book really labours over the details and this book does a lot of that. Itβs a true recommendation for fans of Sally Rooney because of itβs close examination of characters minds, actions and the incongruence between the two. I loved reading this book and Iβm so excited for McKennaβs next one.
goal check in:
owned tbr - 1/22
Ticked off βBirnam Woodβ by Eleanor Catton
25 in 25 - 1/25
Febuary TBR
currently reading:
A Dance with Dragons (part one), George R.R Martin
Iβm still making progress on this book (Iβm at page 300) though it was put down for a moment to focus on other things. That is okay - I feel like I know the story well so I donβt mind working through it slowly and I wonβt forget whatβs going on. I will say the middle section wasnβt as strong as the start, but Iβm still having fun with this, even if some of the POV chapters weβre focussing on now arenβt my favourite characters.
Pixel Flesh: How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women
I finally got my hands on this book! After what feels like months saying I would read it, itβs finally happening. At first I was VERY worried because I didnβt love the opening two chapters, but Iβm toward the middle now and settled into it and liking it a lot more. I think this is very well researched. The most recent chapter I read, βColoniser Cultureβ I think was the strongest essay yet. So hoping it continues the trend and just gets better.
Mister Impossible, Maggie Stiefvater
This is sort of a fun pick but I want to read a fun book! I love this series and definitely intend to finish before the end of the year. Whimsy is my 2025 word and I feel this fits in perfectly.
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, Patrick Radden Keefe
I actually started this (on audio) but decided to put it down to wait to get the physical copy because I just felt it was a little too dense and I wasnβt absorbing everything via audio. If I get my hands on the physical this month, Iβll definitely be finishing it, because it was really good so far.
Cassandra in Reverse, Holly Smale
Book club pick for the month! This one I am reading on audiobook.
What is on your TBR for this month?