My sole New Year’s Resolution for 2016 was to stop buying books – at the very least until I had read all of the ones sitting on my shelf that haven’t been touched (of which there are quite a few!).
In true Martha style, I broke it on the first day by buying Room. In my defence, I hadn’t realised the film was coming out on 15th Jan, and I rarely enjoy reading a book after I’ve seen the film. So, you see, dear reader, I was in quite a bind!
Despite my early transgression, I am back on the wagon, speeding through my To Be Read pile; apparently averaging about 99 pages a day!
To see more about the books I loved and hated, click here.
What I’ve learned this month…
1. I skim read. Both a blessing and a curse, I can finish a book in two to three days, but am forever having to refer back to previous pages!
2. Many, many books do not live up to the hype. I suppose the same can be said of a lot of things, but I’d made a point of reading a few particularly hyped works and was left cold.
See Kate Atkinson’s The Handmaid’s Tale – aka “The Great Work of Feminist Sci-fi” – aka Oddly Uninspiring. Maybe I just don’t like Dystopian Fiction…1984 being a classic example.
See also Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You – aka “The Last 100 Pages Had Me Dissolving Into Tears” – aka Decent Story, Average Writing, Sequel = Massive Spoiler.
See also Jessie Barton’s The Miniaturist – aka “Gripping and Gorgeous” – aka THE ENDING WILL RUIN YOUR EVENING/LIFE.
3. A good ending is everything. See above.
4. Being a feminist doesn’t preclude me judging other feminists. I say judging, I don’t mean catty comments about their sartorial/sexual/shaving choices – I mean calling b*llsh*t on women who think that sexist comments against men are acceptable/helpful in our quest for equality. See He’s a Stud, She’s a Slut for Jessica Valenti’s stunning work of idiocy, and why I’m so entirely appalled.
On the menu for February…
You can see all of my choices and reviews by following me on Goodreads, let me know what you’re reading so I can get inspired!
NB. Some of my reviews do include spoilers, so please check the top of the post for a warning before reading.
Martha Is 
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