Monday, February 1, 2021

January 2021 in Review

 

What a cold, windy month with some white stuff as well. We were able to walk most days the first 3 weeks despite the cold but, the last 10 days have been windy and very cold.  Good reading weather though so not all bad.  I cut out desserts this month as well as most processed foods and managed to lose 5 pounds so I think I'm on to something here. Hoping long term this will help my knee.

READING: I felt my reading choices for January made me happy for the most part with just a couple so so books.

I read (14) books and had (2) DNF.

(3) children's books

(11) Fiction

(0) Non Fiction

(6) print books - (4) from my shelves and (2) from library

(3) audio books - (2) from library and (1) publisher download

(5) eBooks/eGalleys - (4) publisher downloads (1) library download

(11) female authors

(3) male authors


Places traveled through the books I've read:  United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Kentucky, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Alabama

                                                                         Favorite Books 




  1. Sleepless Nights; Elizabeth Hardwick (4.5/5) Settings: KY, NY, Maine, CT and Europe (Jan)
  2. Those People; Louise Candlish (3.5/5) Setting: South London, U.K.
  3. Fifty Words for Rain; Asha Lemmie (4/5) Setting: Japan
  4. Monogamy; Sue Miller (5/5) Setting: MA and VT
  5. My Grandmother's Braid; Alina Bronsky (4.5/5) Setting: Germany
  6. Brood; Jackie Polzin (3/5) Setting: Minnesota
  7. The Push; Ashley Audrain (4.5/5) Setting: unspecified
  8. Over the Shop; JonArno Lawson (4/5)
  9. So You Want to Be an Owl; Jane Porter - (5/5)
  10. Miss Mingo and the 100th Day of School; Jamie Harper (5/5)
  11. The Children's Blizzard; Melanie Benjamin - (3.5/5) Setting: NB, ND
  12. Every Vow You Break; Peter Swanson - 2.5/5 Setting: mostly Maine
  13. Transcendent Kingdom; Yaa Gyassi (5/5) Setting: AL
  14. The Midnight Library; Matt Haig - (3/5) Setting: England (Jan)

DNF (Because Life is Too Short to Read a Bad Book)
  1. Night Boat to Tangier; Kevin Barry - January
  2. Pretty Things; Janelle Brown - January 
How was January for you?

33 comments:

  1. You had a great month! I've read Those People, and The Push is on my TBR. I'm trying hard to cut out most sweets, but it's a challenge. I add a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips on top of oatmeal in hopes that will satisfy my sweet tooth. Some days it works, others not so much!

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    1. It's funny the longer I go without sugar, I really don't miss it. I still take a spray of reddi-whip when my husband has ice cream LOL

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  2. Great month, Diane! Weather up here in Canada is relatively mild but we're supposed to get a cold snap by the weekend. Great job on cutting out sugar for January. I did the same but only because it doesn't help my anxiety.

    Anyway, can't wait to see what you'll get up to in February!

    Have a great week, Diane!

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    1. Yes, the weather had been mild here and then WOW did it get cold and windy.

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  3. You sure had some good ones in January!

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  4. You did have a great reading month, Diane! Glad you guys got to walk for most of the month, but I do understand about the rest of the time. I'm impatiently waiting for spring flowers and less pollen that messes with my head. You know, they have told us in WW that each pound lost is equal to 4 pounds of pressure off the joints. Not sure that is completely true, but I like to think so. So, using that a measure, 20 pounds pressure off your knee. ;-)

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    1. Yes, the doctor mentioned (3)lbs for each (1) so there must be something to that.

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  5. An excellent January! I'm planning to read Transcendent Kingdom sometime this month and hope to get to Monogamy soon, too.

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  6. Good luck on your journey to a healthier you!
    Great job with the reads! Sorry to see a couple of DNF's. Happy February!

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  7. Congrats on losing 5 pounds. I need to do something like that, but I just can't seem to give up the chocolate. :)

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    1. I stopped buying that and even though I have chocolate chips in the house and hot chocolate, they don't tempt me.

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  8. I picked up Transcendent Kingdom from the library just this morning. It will be a while before it comes to the top of the stack, but I'm looking forward to it.

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  9. You had a good reading month! There, I took note of all the places I travelled this month and then forgot to mention it in my post. Head like a sieve. But you certainly travelled about bit!

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  10. Congrats! I need to phase out more processed foods as well... and it's been snowy here as well. Looks like you had a nice mix of books in January!

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    1. Thanks Greg, it was a good month for books and sugarless stuff too LOL

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  11. Congrats on the weight loss, Diane. I know its not easy. I have Monogamy on my wish list - hopefully this year.

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    1. Thanks Mary, I hope you will like Monogamy as much as I did.

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  12. Excellent list! I am gearing myself up to read Push. Good work on the weight loss! That is always so satisfying.

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    1. The Push was a pleasant surprise, sometimes books about young mothers don't work for me but, this was good.

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  13. I don't think I got out for a real walk (just strolling with my hubby a few times) at all in January. Too much rain! I see a break in the clouds, though, so maybe today will be the start of nicer weather. I miss my walks along the ocean bluff. Congrats on losing those 5 lbs.! I'm also down about 4, which I attribute to my consistent bike rides on the Peloton. I'm hoping the additional outside walks will help knock off the last stubborn 5.

    You had an amazing month of reading! Twice as many as I read. I have Monogamy on my shelf and hope to get to it either this month or in March. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!

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    1. Congrats on sticking to an indoor exercise routine. Hope February is a good month for you.

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  14. Congrats on your weight loss and making those diet changes. I have such a hard time cutting out sugar. Baked goods are my weakness! Looks like you are on your way to a great read year.

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    1. Iliana, I just avoid having them in the house - too tempting.

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  15. We actually got some white stuff here in the Phoenix area last week! It was crazy. We get flurries occasionally, but not often enough not to elicit a lot of excitement and delight from us desert dwellers. Stay safe in all that wintry weather!

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  16. Love it that you were able to read a lot of good books in January and walking and eating healthier! Sounds like a wonderful start to the year. I just read your review of Transcendent Kingdom - I've been putting off this book for a while because I loved her first one and wasn't sure if her second can outdo that. I'm glad to hear that it was as good a reading experience for you!

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  17. What a great list of books for January!

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  18. I am glad you had a good reading month in January. Transcendent Kingdom sounds so good. I am glad you enjoyed it. The weather here has been really pleasant as of late. I have been able to open the windows during the day. I hope you have a wonderful February!

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  19. Despite the DNF's, you had a great reading month in January - nice variety and good start to the reading year.

    We've had snow here in Wales a couple of times this year, but only one true snow day. I hope you're able to get out and about more in February.

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