January reading

The books I finished in January.

The two books at the bottom are 1920s books linked to lectures. I have a few more of the same era lined up - fascinating to be reading books published just 100 years ago

‘North Woods’ was by far the most engrossing book of the month. It looks like a big book but it isn’t really. However, it is epic in its scope - four centuries in the life of a cabin in woods in New England. Stories of all of the inhabitants are told in different, and often quite startling, ways, but all are connected. A brilliant book, as much about the history of the woods, as of the house and its inhabitants, and all related to the history of a country. Not an easy read, but very satisfying.

It is our village book group meeting tomorrow night and I shall go having not read the chosen book - ‘Horse’ by Geraldine Brooks. I bought a copy, read about six chapters and could go no further. It is set in two timelines: Kentucky 1850 and Washington DC 2019. However, I have no interest in, can’t think I have ever been close to one and am probably a little afraid of. . . horses. And that is what the book is all about - horses, horse breeding and racing, paintings of horses - clue is in the title I suppose! I will see whether the others in the group can persuade me it is worth getting past all this to get to a good story.