That’s it. 2020 is over and we’re staring a new year. It feels good that it’s all behind us but I can’t pretend that 2021 is magically going to be better. After all, the virus is still raging and it’ll be a while before the vaccine is really rolled out. Then there’s Brexit which has the potential to fuck everything up. It might cause problems for food and shopping. There’s also the chance it will create issues with the vaccine. So, who knows where we’ll be this time next year. I’m hoping that the Leave voters were right and we’ll be fine. However, I can’t see it being that rosy. Anyway, enough about the future. We’re hear to look back. I’ve already posted my 2020 review post but I still wanted to breakdown the books I read in December.
Number of books read: 10
Number of rereads: 1
Number of physical books: 10
Number of ebooks: 0
Number of audiobooks: 0
THE INVISIBLE CHILD AND THE FIR TREE BY TOVE JANSSON
I was trying to focus on all things Christmas this December. I guess this isn’t the most festive book that I could have picked but it was something that I was excited to check out. These are stories from previous collections but that didn’t matter. It’s an adorable little book and helped me give something to charity.
BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD BY TOSHIKAZU KAWAGUCHI
This was a reread for December’s book club and I was looking forward to reading it. Especially considering that I’d only recently read the second book. The majority of people in the club didn’t really get on with it but I was probably expecting it. It’s a very quirky and kind of meaningless book when you really think about it.
A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES BY DYLAN THOMAS
It’s been a cold and dreary month so I’ve really enjoyed being curled up inside with a good book. Especially ones that look back on nostalgic Christmases. This book by Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, offers us a look at his childhood. It’s a super sweet and charming read for this time of year.
A CHRISTMAS MEMORY BY TRUMAN CAPOTE
I bought a gorgeous copy of this book at the start of the month and was excited to read it. Unfortunately, that beautiful edition now has a huge blood spot on the front. I was getting ready for work the other week and must have cut my finger. Of course, I didn’t realise I’d bled onto this book until it was far too late.
HOLIDAYS ON ICE BY DAVID SEDARIS
I don’t think that I’ve read anything by David Sedaris before. If I have, it clearly wasn’t that memorable. This short collection of essays sounded like a fun thing to read before Christmas so I got my hands on a copy. The edition didn’t fill me with confidence because the cover art didn’t see right. I got over my misgivings and was pleasantly surprised.
THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE BY CHARLIE MACKESY
Okay, so I realise that I’m way behind on this one but better late than never, eh? I have been meaning to pick this up for a while but couldn’t really justify the price. Then I saw the latest limited edition on sale at my local supermarket. To be honest, I think I was just excited to be in a shop again for the first time in months.
THE NUTCRACKER BY E.T.A. HOFFMANN
I’ve had a copy of this book for a while but I’d never actually read the original story. I think the only one I’m familiar with is the Alexandre Dumas one that inspired the ballet. As I needed a quick read at this point in the month, I set about finally tackling this.
MURDER MOST FESTIVE BY ADA MONCRIEFF
I love a good cosy crime novel at this time of year, so I was secretly looking forward to this one. Something that was trying to emulate the works of the Golden Age of crime fiction sounded like it was tailor made for me. Of course, I still don’t really trust contemporary murder mysteries and I was still worried that it would let me down.
This was a late edition to my December TBR but one that I was very much looking forward to. It seemed like the perfect book to get stuck into during the week after Christmas. Not only was it set around that time of year but it was also short. Just what you need at the end of the year.
ONE BY ONE BY RUTH WARES
I feel like this was a risky choice for my final book of the year because it was longer than the other books I’d been reading this month. I’ve not read a book that’s nearly 400 pages for a while and I didn’t want to be carrying this over into 2021. So, it was a pretty desperate race to finish this before midnight on the 31st but somehow, I managed it with time to spare. It just shows what I can do if I don’t let myself get distracted.
Yipee ki-yay, motherbooker 
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