Book Club: February
Everything I've read over the past 4 weeks plus my thought on the consumption of books
I’ll go into this more in the second half of this email, but I’ve been really thinking about how much I read and how many books I buy recently. I think the most books I’ve read (since I’ve been keeping track, and certainly not including my crazy 10-books-a-week as a teenager) is around 10 per month, but lately it’s been more like 4-6. This seems to be the new reading rhythm I’ve fallen into. Roughly one book a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. If I’m travelling, perhaps more. I don’t want to compete with anyone or set myself targets - I just want to find time to read books that spark something in me and leave lasting memories.
I tend to go through different moods with my reading. At the moment, I’m reading a really great book but I just don’t feel compelled to pick it up very often. I’m distracted by other things - work, socialising, worrying about things. At other times, the books I’m reading completely consume me and I will cancel plans so I can stay in and read them.
Below, I’ve outlined four books I’ve read recently, before delving into my thoughts on books and over-consumption.
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Some of the books mentioned below were sent to me by the publishers to review (ad/pr). Most of the links below are affiliate links. This means I receive a small portion of the sale if you purchase a book via my link, but you will be charged exactly the same amount of money. Please note - I have only linked to Amazon when I can’t find the book anywhere else.
Recent reads
I really enjoyed this literary thriller (a genre I’m getting more and more into, thank you Tana French). The plot kept me hooked - a youg woman falling deep into an online rabbit hole of conspiracy theories ten years after her sister’s disappearance - but it was the layered characters that I’ll remember. Overall, a really interesting look at how grief affects us, rather than a traditional whodunnit.
Land Of Milk And Honey by C. Pam Zhang
This book seems to be complete marmite, and I’m honestly quite surprised that I enjoyed it. Yes, it’s very pretentious and yes, the characters are mostly awful (some of the descriptions of what they eat are stomach-churning) but it’s really, really beautifully written. I couldn’t get enough of the descriptions of food and pleasure (even when the meals they were describing were utterly vile and of very bad taste). I’m very into dystopian fiction, and loved this take on a ‘slower’ end of the world scenario.
I first read and loved The Outrun several years ago, but picked it back up at the beginning of the month for my local book club (and because I wanted to re-read it before I watch the film). I think I enjoyed it even more on my second reading, picking up more on the parallels between Amy’s struggles with her addiction and her time back in Orkney.
This Is How You Remember It by Catherine Prasifka (released May 2024)
I really enjoyed Susannah Dickey’s Tennis Lessons when I read it a few years back, and this instantly reminded me of it being an Irish novel written in the second person, chronicaling the childhood, teenage and twenties of a female protagonist . I did enjoy this and whizzed through it, but it is nowhere near as memorable and well written as Tennis Lessons.
Are we buying too many books?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much I read and how many books I acquire. There is a rush to receiving books in the post or carrying a heavy stack to the till in a book shop, that I have previously felt with clothes and magazines (both of which I now buy infrequently). Am I buying too many books? Probably, yes.
I’ve never felt like I need to buy books to ‘show off’ or compete in any way, but I know there’s a huge issue with this on various social media channels. I’ve seen people building up stacks of books that they will never get through, filling their shelves with books for aesthetic value only that they have no intention of reading, or claiming to read up to 100 books a month. Reading is not a competition. Whether you read one book a year or one book a week, if you enjoy reading those books, that is what matters.
I had a clear out at the beginning of the year, when I went through my pile of books to read and donated half of them to the ‘little libraries’ of free books around my town. I only kept the books that I really want to read, and although I have added to this pile, I am only buying books from the strict list I put together or if something unexpected catches my eye that I simply cannot wait to read. I don’t need to buy any more books at all; I already have enough books piled up to keep me busy for most of the year.
A caveat: there is absolutely nothing wrong with reading a lot of books, if you genuinely love reading and are a fast reader. What has been bothering me lately is that I feel some people are purchasing a huge amount of books simply to take photographs of them or to compete in some bizarre way.
Personally, I think I’ve over-consumed on adding books to my shelves in the past because of social media. We’re constantly bombarded with suggestions of what to read and book recommendations, and it’s oh-so-tempting to just add another book to your basket and check out. There’s something about shopping online that can feel removed from the reality of actually spending any money.
What are your thoughts? Do you follow people on social media who promote owning hundreds of books they’ll never read? Do you get a buzz from adding books to your own shelves? Leave me a message and let’s start a conversation.
Currently reading: Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly.
Next on my pile: Salt Lick by Lulu Allison
Let me know what you’re reading!
Emma xx
I totally agree! My brain also functions best when I have fewer books on my shelves to read. It’s a hard process to be ruthless with culling and intentional about buying but I think it’s so worth it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I am also reading Greta & Valdin at the moment. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Thank you Cassandra. It’s crazy isn’t it? Reading isn’t a competition! It was really interesting to read about your reading habits. Curious about your two shelves - how do you decide which books you hold onto?