It’s the last day of the month, so time to look at what I read in December. And, of course, since it’s also the last day of the year, to look back over the whole year.
First, I managed 10 books in the busyness of December.
Books for Children
Backyard Beasties, by Helen Milroy (Fremantle Press, 2022). I received this as a review copy from the publisher, and was delighted when I opened the package, having loved the first two Backyard book, Backyard Birds and Backyard Bugs. Like the others, the simple rhyming text is a pleasure to read aloud and the illustrations are rich. A mixture of native and domestic beasts are found – including a dog, a gecko and a possum.
Lion is That You? by Moira Court (Fremantle Press, 2022). And another review copy, again looking for animals. In this case, the reader is taken on a hunt to see if there are really lions in the Australian bush, a nod to various legends that escaped big cats have survived in the bush. Instead, there are range of Australian animals to spot – a kangaroo, a quenda, a dugite and more. I’m looking forward to sharing this one with my grandies, who do love animal books, and rhyme.
The Song of Lewis Carmichael, by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by Marc McBride (Allen & Uniwn, 2021). A lovely adventure story. Matthew is timid and his parents worry about him. A lot. But in a magical adventure lead by a crow named Lewis Carmichael, Matthew journeys to the North Pole, learning a lot about his own strength along the way.
A Glasshouse of Stars, by Shirley Marr (Puffin Books, 2021). This is a simply beautiful book, in spite of – or perhaps because of – dealing with some difficult events. Meixing is a young girl dealing with tragedy, change and displacement, living in a New House in the New Land, and a combination of inexplicable magic and her own courage help her to navigate a way.
-
The Chime Seekers, by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books, 2021). Yanni is really unimpressed with his baby sister, and the way her presence has changed his life. But when an evil faerie steals her on Halloween, he realises how important she is – and only he and his cousin Amy can save her.
Books for Adults
- The Sign of Four, by Arthur Conan Doyle (Audible). The second book featuring Sherlock Holmes and continuing my listening to the collection, read by the inimitable Stephen Fry.
Cold Coast, by Robyn Mundy (Ultimo Press, 2021). I love Robyn Mundy’s writing and she has made stories set amongst the wildest, coldest parts of the world a specialty – reflective of her love of these places. this one is set in Norway, in remote Svalbard and a fictionalised account of Wanny Woldstad, who in 1932 wintered as a trapper. The beauty of the natural world, the perils of humans living there, and the realities of trapping and hunting are woven together in this exquisite novel.
Only Birds Above, by Portland Jones (Fremantle Press, 2022). This one is a review copy, so not out until; 2022. Historical fiction, one of my favourite genres, and exploring the generational impact of war, set in both WW1 and WW2, with a father fighting for the 10th Light Horse and a son a prisoner of war in Sumatra. Not a happy story, but well drawn.
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle (Audible). The third book in the definite collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. I look forward to working my way through the remainder in 2022.
Poetry
Vociferate, by Emily Sun (Fremantle Press, 2021). This took me a little while to get through because, like the best poetry collections, it needed to be savoured, so I dipped into it over several weeks. Lots to ponder and consider, with its exploration of belonging and identity.
So, these ten bring me to a total for 2021 of 153, including my many loves – picture books, children’s books, poetry, fiction, nonfiction.
I have seen lots of friends posting their favourite reads for the year on their blogs or on social media, but can’t bring myself to do this, because I know I will miss something. Every book I finish offers something special. But one thing I really enjoyed this year was rediscovering some of my old childhood favourites and also working through some of the eclectic offerings that my to-read pile, which dates back years, has afforded.
For 2022, I am not yet decided if I will keep posting this monthly list. I like that it keeps track of my reading, and offers a chance to share my thoughts. But there are other ways of doing this, and today I have downloaded an app called Story Graph, which I will experiment with in January before deciding whether to do that instead of blogging, or to do both, or to just keep up with the monthly blog.
In the meantime, Happy Yew Year to you. I hope 2021 has offered you some reading joy, and that 2022 offers even more.