Good luck with your reading resolutions, Michelle! :) I don't actually have any but maybe one would be to give up on books if I'm not that into them more often. I do that sometimes but I also feel like I "should" keep reading! lol.
I've mentioned this in another comment but I think you'd like Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum. It's a nice, gentle read. I'll let you know if I come across any other books I think you'd like. :) I'm currently reading The Cloisters by Katy Hays which I'm quite enjoying. It's sort of a mystery/supernatural/gothic book about tarot. Not sure how to classify it exactly!
Also, I liked the sound of Moat Hill Hall which you mentioned in another post. I'm going to see if they have it at my local library.
Thanks! That's a great one – I think all the metrics we're used to on reading challenges and the like mean sometimes we race through books too fast. I take notes as I read now, and it's making my reading so much more enjoyable.
I'm with you on prioritising big books! The Priory is on my list. I'd love to try Russian literature like War and Peace sometime. I was hooked on Fire and Blood! Some say it reads like a textbook but I really enjoyed jumping back into Westeros after having read the ASOIAF series years ago. I recommend reading The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili if you want a chonky modern book about a family saga set throughout the rise and fall of the Soviet era.
I'm about a quarter way through The Priory of the Orange Tree, and absolutely loving it. It's been so long since I got stuck into a big book with immersive world-building and a propulsive plot – v impressed!
So glad you've said that about Fire and Blood! I loved the ASOIAF series and haven't touched the books for years, but I'm looking forward to it. The textbook comments had been putting me off, but perhaps I'll start it as a year-long(ish) slow read?
And thank you for that recommendation! I really love family sagas and, actually, I think my boyfriend would love this too as he's fascinated by the Soviets. A good reason to add it to our stash ❤️
I thought Fire and Blood would be a slow read for me as well, but it was so interesting so I could barely put it down! My copy of the book also had beautiful illustrations in it which was fun.
I really hope you both enjoy The Eighth Life, if you get to it! It's honestly one of my favourite books.
I read a couple of bigger books last year if you need more inspo 🙂 good luck!
War and Peace and The Priory of the Orange Tree have both been sat on my shelf for a while, let's see if we get to them this year! To Paradise and The Covenant of Water are a couple of other chunky books on my list. Otherwise, I'm putting myself on a book-buying ban and solely reading books I own! ♥️
I'm currently reading The Priory of the Orange Tree on my Kindle, which feels far less daunting! It's great so far – haven't read a really immersive fantasy in so long. Ooh The Covenant of Water has piqued my interest for a while. If you get to it, you'll have to let me know how you find it.
Good luck with the book-buying ban (I know first-hand how rough those are!!), and happiest 2025 to you x
I did the W&P slow read last year with Simon from Footnotes and Tangents (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) and this year will be tackling Wolf Hall. I hear you on focusing on quality over quantity. I’m aiming for that in 2025.
Ooh I've seen that doing the rounds! I think February will be my Wolf Hall starting point – terrified already. I love that so many of us are going after quality over quantity.
You’ve hit the nail on the head, somehow the more you read in a year, more average books slip into the pile. I’m going to be taking your lead and aiming for quality over quantity!
Also, a big yes to big books. In the midst of a reading challenge the thought of anything over 400 pages is a frightening thought, but some of the best books I’ve ever read have been pushing on 900. I embraced a few last year, but will not be shying from them this year.
For me I really want to try and read some seasonal style books where possible. I’ve just started Ali Smith’s (great name) Winter - and the scene setting whilst in January is perfect!
Excited to get more recommendations from you this year! ♥️
I do feel a tiny bit stressed in trying to find the good books though!
Ahh I keep meaning to read those seasonal books by her. Perhaps I should do just that this year. Can't wait to hear about the books you pick up this year.
I had a 20 book goal for last year and I managed 24. The most I’ve read in the last 6 years!
This year I’m aiming for 30. I’ve found a good balance between using Spotify and BorrowBox for audiobooks as well as reading physical books so hoping I can achieve it!
That's so good!! Reading takes up so much time and space that it is definitely a challenge to get back into, and it took me years to build the habit back up. Hope you manage to reach the elusive 30!
Good luck with your reading resolutions, Michelle! :) I don't actually have any but maybe one would be to give up on books if I'm not that into them more often. I do that sometimes but I also feel like I "should" keep reading! lol.
I've mentioned this in another comment but I think you'd like Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum. It's a nice, gentle read. I'll let you know if I come across any other books I think you'd like. :) I'm currently reading The Cloisters by Katy Hays which I'm quite enjoying. It's sort of a mystery/supernatural/gothic book about tarot. Not sure how to classify it exactly!
Also, I liked the sound of Moat Hill Hall which you mentioned in another post. I'm going to see if they have it at my local library.
Zania 😊
Fantastic resolutions! Mine is simply to read more carefully and more deeply instead of just flying through each book in a hurry 😂
Thanks! That's a great one – I think all the metrics we're used to on reading challenges and the like mean sometimes we race through books too fast. I take notes as I read now, and it's making my reading so much more enjoyable.
I'm with you on prioritising big books! The Priory is on my list. I'd love to try Russian literature like War and Peace sometime. I was hooked on Fire and Blood! Some say it reads like a textbook but I really enjoyed jumping back into Westeros after having read the ASOIAF series years ago. I recommend reading The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili if you want a chonky modern book about a family saga set throughout the rise and fall of the Soviet era.
I'm about a quarter way through The Priory of the Orange Tree, and absolutely loving it. It's been so long since I got stuck into a big book with immersive world-building and a propulsive plot – v impressed!
So glad you've said that about Fire and Blood! I loved the ASOIAF series and haven't touched the books for years, but I'm looking forward to it. The textbook comments had been putting me off, but perhaps I'll start it as a year-long(ish) slow read?
And thank you for that recommendation! I really love family sagas and, actually, I think my boyfriend would love this too as he's fascinated by the Soviets. A good reason to add it to our stash ❤️
I thought Fire and Blood would be a slow read for me as well, but it was so interesting so I could barely put it down! My copy of the book also had beautiful illustrations in it which was fun.
I really hope you both enjoy The Eighth Life, if you get to it! It's honestly one of my favourite books.
I read a couple of bigger books last year if you need more inspo 🙂 good luck!
https://open.substack.com/pub/cmweer/p/my-half-year-in-books-7c6?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=pkaiz
War and Peace and The Priory of the Orange Tree have both been sat on my shelf for a while, let's see if we get to them this year! To Paradise and The Covenant of Water are a couple of other chunky books on my list. Otherwise, I'm putting myself on a book-buying ban and solely reading books I own! ♥️
I'm currently reading The Priory of the Orange Tree on my Kindle, which feels far less daunting! It's great so far – haven't read a really immersive fantasy in so long. Ooh The Covenant of Water has piqued my interest for a while. If you get to it, you'll have to let me know how you find it.
Good luck with the book-buying ban (I know first-hand how rough those are!!), and happiest 2025 to you x
I did the W&P slow read last year with Simon from Footnotes and Tangents (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) and this year will be tackling Wolf Hall. I hear you on focusing on quality over quantity. I’m aiming for that in 2025.
Ooh I've seen that doing the rounds! I think February will be my Wolf Hall starting point – terrified already. I love that so many of us are going after quality over quantity.
You’ve hit the nail on the head, somehow the more you read in a year, more average books slip into the pile. I’m going to be taking your lead and aiming for quality over quantity!
Also, a big yes to big books. In the midst of a reading challenge the thought of anything over 400 pages is a frightening thought, but some of the best books I’ve ever read have been pushing on 900. I embraced a few last year, but will not be shying from them this year.
For me I really want to try and read some seasonal style books where possible. I’ve just started Ali Smith’s (great name) Winter - and the scene setting whilst in January is perfect!
Excited to get more recommendations from you this year! ♥️
I do feel a tiny bit stressed in trying to find the good books though!
Ahh I keep meaning to read those seasonal books by her. Perhaps I should do just that this year. Can't wait to hear about the books you pick up this year.
I had a 20 book goal for last year and I managed 24. The most I’ve read in the last 6 years!
This year I’m aiming for 30. I’ve found a good balance between using Spotify and BorrowBox for audiobooks as well as reading physical books so hoping I can achieve it!
That's so good!! Reading takes up so much time and space that it is definitely a challenge to get back into, and it took me years to build the habit back up. Hope you manage to reach the elusive 30!