December Wrap Up | Books and Baking

I can’t actually believe that it is time to share my last monthly wrap up of the year! This has been a tumultuous year and I for one am glad to see the back of it. I hope that 2021 is better for everyone! Anyway, lets get into my December Reading Wrap Up.

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I managed to read 5 books in December which brings my total for the year to 68 books which is an unbelievable number of books for me! For the most part I enjoyed all of the books I read this month, Dear Martin really stood out for me and I would recommend that the most out of the books I read!

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Dear Martin by Nic Stone

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you”

I buddy read Dear Martin with two friends and we all really enjoyed it. I think that Dear Martin is a must-read book for everyone and it really covers some important issues that need addressing. The writing style complements the topics that are discussed within the book and it is such a quick read too. The story and the message are very important, and I can’t wait to read the sequel Dear Justyce!

Rating – ★★★★

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

“I wasn’t aware that words could hold so much. I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.”

This was definitely a bookstagram made me do it book, but unfortunately it just didn’t live up to the hype for me. That being said, I loved the idea and the messages behind this book and the language was at times really beautiful, especially the poetry and descriptions of the marsh. There are some quotes that will stay with me for a long time and so will Kya’s story. However, I just feel like I didn’t fully connect with the story and it took me a while to get through.

Rating – ★★★

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Ryan’s Christmas by LJ Ross

“Christmas can be murder…”

I managed to fit in a Christmas book this year and I really enjoyed Ryan’s Christmas! I wasn’t aware that this was the 15th book in the DCI Ryan series by LJ Ross but it could be read as a standalone! I particularly loved that the book is set in a Northumberland castle and the descriptions really made the book come to life. The mystery was good and I didn’t guess the ending either which is great! It was in the style of a ‘whodunit’ with loads of viable suspects and a cosy but ominous setting. It was the perfect Christmas mystery!

Rating – ★★★★

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Points of Origin by Diao Dou

“The sudden appearance of the cockroaches cast an enormous black shadow that dimmed and blurred the lamplight of Zhangji from that day on”

I read Points of Origin as the first book for my university course book club and it was definitely a different read than I am used to. It is translated from the Chinese author Diao Dou’s original text and I appreciate how much time must have gone into translating it for an English readership. I think that I struggled to read this short story collection because I don’t have a big knowledge of Chinese history, however I’ve definitely learned a lot and I am looking forward to reading more translated fiction next year.

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Macbeth by William Shakespeare

“What’s done cannot be undone”

I wanted to squeeze in one more book this year and what better to end it on than Macbeth! Shakespeare is one of my favourites and Macbeth never fails to amaze me. I definitely recommend the adaptation with Michael Fassbender in (check trigger warnings and ratings before watching!). I want to read more Shakespeare next year, and I’ll probably read The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew as I haven’t read them yet!

Rating – ★★★★

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I’m so excited to start a new reading challenge next year and to read some new books! I shared some of my 2021 bookish resolutions on my bookstagram @booksandbaking_ and I may write a blog post on it!

Let me know your bookish resolutions in the comments! Happy Reading.