I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate, and that you continue to enjoy this winter holiday season! We had a lovely weekend and I am looking forward to the fresh start of the new year. Today and tomorrow I’m talking books: in December I only read a few (hello holidays) but they were good ones!

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – Here is another acclaimed book that totally lived up to the hype for me. I was about halfway through it when I had to put it aside for a few months in order to read book club books and library holds. But when I picked it back up, the details seemed as fresh as ever; it made a serious impression on me. It was slow, vivid, beautiful, intense at times, sad, hopeful, and more. If you love character-driven fiction with a strong sense of place and time, you will adore this. (5 stars)

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick – Having read and highly appreciated Moby-Dick, I was interested in this true story of the tragedy that inspired its writing. And apparently I love a well-written survival story, because I devoured this. (Pun not intended, but enjoyed nonetheless.) (4 stars)

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett – This is actually a novella, coming in at only 120 pages; it’s a lighthearted story of the Queen of England discovering a love of reading at the age of 71. It was a pleasant way to spend a few hours in the car, and it had a slightly surprising ending. (3 stars, audiobook)

Tomorrow I’m excited to share my year in books, including my favorites of this year!