No.881: What I Read in December 2024

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#82. BEFORE THE CHANGE: TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR PERIMENOPAUSE by Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

I’m so thankful that I found this book!  I need a blood test to officially confirm if I’m actually in this stage yet, but I feel like I have a plan for when the worst of the symptoms come.  I really loved how the author focused on the importance of good nutrition – most of our complaints can be mitigated or reduced simply by making sure our vitamins and minerals are at optimal levels!  A very empowering read.

#83. BAD BLOOD: SECRETS AND LIES IN A SILICON VALLEY STARTUP by John Carreyrou // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

I flew through this book because the story is WILD!  This is about Elizabeth Holmes and her fraudulent company, Theranos.

#84. THE MAN IN THE QUEUE by Josephine Tey // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

A police procedural with an ending I did not see coming!  It took me a bit to get used to Tey’s writing and her love of looong paragraphs (sometimes filling almost an entire page!), but I enjoyed it.

#85. SHOP CLASS AS SOULCRAFT: AN INQUIRY INTO THE VALUE OF WORK by Matthew B. Crawford // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

Equal parts philosophy and real talk from a motorcycle mechanic.  Really thought-provoking.  (I also read this for my Reading the Alphabet Challenge.)

#86. THE HOUSE OF SILK by Anthony Horowitz // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

A Sherlock Holmes retelling and definitely a page turner!  Unfortunately, the twist at the end was quite sordid and disturbing, which lowered my overall reading experience.

#87. WHY IS IT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU? THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF NARCISSISM by Sandy Hotchkiss, LCSW // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This book is an interesting introduction to narcissism, both in individuals and in greater society.  Lots of good tips and coping strategies.

#88. ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

Diane Setterfield has a way of incorporating magical realism into her stories that just straddle the line between enchanting and unbelievable.  This book revolves around a small child that seems to have died, but then returns to life.  Who is she and how did this happen?  I enjoyed this novel but only really got into the story at around the halfway point.  There is a full cast of characters that I struggled to keep straight!  Still a solid three star read.

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MY 2024 UNREAD SHELF PROJECT

Unread Books as of January 1, 2024: 209
Books Finished in December: 7
Books Donated/Sold in December: -3
Books Added: +0
Unread Books Remaining as of December 31, 2024: 206