The Selfish Hours

I hit my reading goal for this year. Fifty-one books, against a goal of fifty. I even managed to do it after losing three whole weeks to a vestibular flare this summer when I could barely tolerate a screen, let alone read a book. If anything, reaching my goal means more to me this year because of my recent challenges. Clearly though, my reading goal is not lofty enough, I’ll have to revise it for next year.

I love reading in a way that’s hard to fully explain to people who don’t feel the same pull. Its not just entertainment, though it is certainly that. Its escape when I want it, new worlds, new lives, problems that aren’t mine to solve except by turning a page. And its connection too when I want that instead. A good book gives me something to think about, something to bring up with a friend who has read it, a reason to ask ” have you read this?” the way you ask about a trip someone just returned from.

That’s part of why I’ve been leaning into this blog and why I’ve started sharing more in Instagram too. I want to talk about what I’m reading, hear what others are reading, swap opinions, and build my TBR list (too be read list for you non-bookworms). Some of the best books I’ve read this year came from someone else’s recommendation, and I’d like to return the favour when I can.

Now that I use the library for alot of my books, I don’t tend to buy as many as I used to. This move alone has saved me over $1500 so far this year since January. But I do still buy some books, the ones I love enough to want on my own shelf permanently, ones I know I will reread, or special editions that are too beautiful to pass up. I don’t really have a set library of my own at home, the books I do own are scattered throughout the house on random shelves and bookcases. So I decided I am finally going to set up proper bookshelves and build a real little library space in the house. A place that holds and shows off the books that mean something to me.

So, as my recovery progresses, and I’m able to read more, I’ll be posting some of my thoughts on the books that I read. I’d love to hear your comments on them too!

I just finished Yesteryear and posted a quick carousel on my Instagram yesterday about it. Honestly, it is my least favourite book that I have read so far this year. I know lots of people love it, rave about it, and it has won some awards, but I honestly didn’t enjoy it. The lead character is unlikeable and the jumping timelines sometimes left me confused.

Yesteryear — 2 stars⭐⭐

WTH did I just read?

I went in excited: a woman wakes up to find that the perfectly curated ranch life she’d built for social media has quietly become someone else’s. Great premise.

Then it fell apart for me. I know I’m in the minority here — I nearly DNF’d this one more than once, and only sheer stubbornness got me through to the end. The main character was deeply unlikeable, which I think was intentional on the author’s part, but that, combined with confusing time jumps and pacing that felt like rambling at times, made this one feel like a chore more than a read.

If you’ve read it, I’d genuinely love to know if I’m the outlier here. And if you haven’t — what are you reading right now? I’m always looking for the next one.