What I read in Jan 2023

January is always a good month for reading for me. Hopefully you too received a few new books for Christmas and were able to enjoy a bit of a relax on summer holidays.

My 3 faves:

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus was everything I wanted it to be. Loved it. A funny and smart, uplifting read. Read my review here.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel was so good. Speculative fiction with moon colonies and parallel time, yes please. Must read more from her.

Magpie by Elizabeth Day was awesome, a dark psychological thriller with a masterful twist. Well worth all the fuss it received in 2022. (Note TW for infertility).

Also enjoyed:

Lessons by Ian McEwan. I’m a big fan so I read everything this man writes. But Lessons was great because it spanned modern history and the way world events can shape our individual stories.

Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Sister novel to A Visit from the Goon Squad and written in a similar style. Jumps between stories and timeframes, and I like the way she plays with formats, with several chapters written as lists and email trails.

Slightly less:

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer. Sequel to the Pulitzer prize winning Less, similar fun and perhaps just too much more of the same.

The Couple Upstairs by Holly Wainwright. An entertaining audio book but I preferred her book I Give My Marriage a Year.

Non-fiction-wise, my top 2:

Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales. A reminder to be grateful for the ordinary days! and tread with kindness.

Not Now, Not Ever by Julia Gillard. A look at that speech 10 years on and its impact in Australia and internationally.