I’ve been feeling a little burnt out after Novellas in November, so when I spotted this on Laura’s blog I thought it might be just the thing to help me sort through my December reading plans while I wait to get my reviewing mojo back.
- Is there a book that you started that you still need to finish by the end of the year?
Yes … too many. Pictured are a dozen 2024 releases, a mixture of review copies and library books, that I still hope to get through. Some of them I’m a good way into; others I’ve barely started. (Not shown: All Fours by Miranda July, from NetGalley on my Kindle; and Nine Minds by Daniel Tammet, which I’ll be assessing for Foreword Reviews.)
- Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year?
Autumn is the hardest season for me to assign reads to. I’m already in winter mode, so it’s more likely that I’ll pick up one or a few of these wintry or Christmassy books.
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Is there a release you are still waiting for?
Published last week and on my Kindle from Edelweiss: the poetry collection Constructing a Witch by Helen Ivory. Otherwise, it’s on to January and February releases for my paid reviewing gigs.
- Name three books you want to read by the end of the year.
From the stack above, I haven’t properly started Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel or opened Fire Exit by Morgan Talty, and I’m still hoping to read those two review copies in their entirety. I will also try to squeeze in at least one more McKitterick Prize novel entry.
But I also have up to five 2025 releases to read for paid reviews that would be due early in January.
Over the holidays, I fancy dipping into some lighter fiction, cosy and engaging creative nonfiction, and thought-provoking but readable science and theology stuff. Here are some options I pulled off of my bedside table shelves.
- Is there a book that could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell and Dispersals by Jessica J. Lee are both very promising. I’m nearly 1/3 into the Greenwell (it’s my first time reading him) and I’m so impressed: this is patently autofiction about a medical crisis he had during the pandemic, but there is such clarity and granular detail that it feels absolutely true to the record yet soars above any memoir he might have written about the same events. He’s both back in the moment and understanding everything omnisciently. Greenwell has also written poetry, and I was reminded of the Wordsworth quote “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity.”
I’ve only read the first chapter of the Lee so far, but I’m a real fan of her hybrid nature memoirs and I think the metaphorical links between her life and plants will really work.
- Have you already started making reading plans for 2025?
So far I’ve read something like 11 books with 2025 publication dates, most of them for paid reviews. I will feature some of those soon. I’ve also compiled a list of my 20 Most Anticipated releases of 2025 and will post that early in January.
Apart from that, I expect it will be the usual pairs of contradictory goals: reading ahead (2025 stuff) versus catching up (backlist and my preposterous set-aside shelf); failing to resist review copies and library holds versus trying to read more from my own shelves; reading to challenges and themes versus preserving the freedom to pick up books as the whim takes me.
Speaking of themes, I fancy doing a deep dive into the senses, especially the sense of smell, which particularly intrigues me. (I’ll make it a trio with The Forgotten Sense: The New Science of Smell—and the Extraordinary Power of the Nose by Jonas Olofsson, which will be published on 7 January and is on order for me at the library.)
Bookish Beck = Rebecca Foster. American transplant to England. Freelance proofreader and book reviewer.
Bookish Beck 
I’ve started compiling the list of ‘best books of 2024’ according to all of the critics that publish ‘best of’ lists in December. Interestingly, a handful of the books you have in your ‘still to read’ stack appear in the compilation list (I won’t say which ones, but you can probably work it out!).
All Fours by Miranda July was one of my favourites this year. I seem to have conversations with people about it every few days! That’s probably a reflection of my age (52, so menopause is a MAJOR theme in discussions with friends) but I also thought there was so much in the book that was thought-provoking.
I haven’t got reading plans for the rest of the year, with the exception of finishing a particular book that allows me to tick off the last category in the Nonfiction Reader Challenge.
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Ooh, intriguing! I have doubt the Greenwell is on there — it’s been much admired, especially by his fellow writers. There was a time when it seemed like everything that came into my inbox was an interview with him, or an author praising his work.
Yes, All Fours has really struck a chord with women at midlife (again, it seems like everyone on my social media or in my Substack feed has just read it!). I’m 41 so a little on the younger end for it, but I can still the appeal. I’m at 22% so it hasn’t gotten too weird yet apart from dropping $20K on redecorating her hotel room.
How lovely to have a free December! I should put fewer obligations on myself.
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Prepare to be surprised (the Greenwell is polling well).
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Oops, I meant to write that I have *no* doubt the Greenwell will be on the list!
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I have the Greenwell to read and hope to get around to it for the paperback edition. Fire Exit’s on my ‘to buy’ list but perhaps I’ll wait and see what you think of it.
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Have you read Greenwell and Talty before?
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I read Greenwell’s debut and enjoyed it but wasn’t quite so blown away as other reviewers seemed to be.
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Goodness, I could answer barely any of these questions: or even particularly wamt to. Serendipity rules, but then I’m not a professionl reader, as you are. My choices are often informed by the wise words of book bloggers like you, or a striking cover on a book I’m shelving in the library!
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I’m a planner in general, but yes, when there are deadlines attached to paid reviews it’s a necessity. I would like to have free choice more often!
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I’ll bet.
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Small Rain has really been grabbing my attention recently–I read What Belongs To You way back in the day and was impressed (though I didn’t love it), while this one seems potentially loveable. (I guess it helps that I absolutely love the poem that the novel takes its name from–I’ve heard there’s at least one terrific poem analysis in the book.)
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(You and Susan both, it sounds like.) Small Rain is gorgeous. I’m having trouble putting my finger on what makes it so special when there is other autofiction out there that does the same thing. It may just be the fact that Greenwell is also a poet. I read a terrific two-part interview that Molly Wizenberg did with Greenwell and they discuss some of the poetry that inspired him. It’s on her Substack.
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You’ve got your work cut out for you!
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I’ve already finished one book from that first stack and hope to finish another today.
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Wow!
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I laughed at your admission that your 2025 goals are contradictory. There is always this tussle isn’t there between wanting to read the newest, possibly best ever book, and the feeling of guilt about all those unread books you already have.
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Finding a balance seems nearly impossible!
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So true!!!
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I admire how you seem to be at peace with the tensions of your reading goals!
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I wrestle with them each year, and never seem to figure out a good strategy that ensures balance. I’ll just muddle through…
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Well, still in the middle of two books.
But, here’s the struggle- I somehow have to insert in a third (“A Christmas Carol” is Holiday Tradition is read every year, so how you insert it in the middle of the two books you are currently reading. I can’t read 3 books at once
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A Christmas Carol is short enough to read in one evening sitting by the fire and/or Christmas tree — easy peasy!
I tend to read 20-30 books at once, but I know I’m an outlier in that respect.
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Ooo… I’m looking forward to your deep dive into the senses!
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I’ve read a few books about them before, especially the sense of smell. It’s an endlessly fascinating topic!
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A deep dive into the senses sounds like an intriguing topic to explore in 2025. I’ll have to check out some of those titles you mention, especially as I’ve been getting back into burning scented candles and running my essential oil diffuser… Hope your holiday reading proves enjoyable. Merry Christmas 🙂
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Hope you had a great Christmas! Smells are so evocative, including of the holidays.
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I’m curious to see how Dispersals fares in your experience; I really enjoyed spending time with her on the page this year. And I can relate to the tiredness you felt once November was done, even though I’m sure your hosting duties were much more demanding than mine for MARM (at least in an administrative, pay attention) way). You certainly read your heart out: 30 novellas. What a great meme to pull yourself back into the habit of posting. (I’ve not read Greenwall. A gap for sure.)
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LOVED Dispersals. It only narrowly missed out on my Best of 2024 list.
I have to catch up on Greenwell’s other work now.
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