This week I’ve decided to take part in ‘Top Ten Tuesday’ again hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is ‘Books On My Winter 2021 To Read List’, I’ve just added the start of 2022 to this as I definitely won’t be reading all of these before the New Year.
The Best Short Stories 2021 Edited by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I found this beauty in a little independent bookstore near my dentist, and knew I had to pick it up after loving Sara Pinkser’s ‘Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into The Sea‘ earlier this year. Short stories are quickly becoming something I find myself drawn to – maybe that says something bad about my attention span – but whatever the reason is I’m desperate to read and discover more brilliance in short form.
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
A book that at one point dominated the entirety of my Twitter feed, and one I hope isn’t one of social media’s darlings that really just disappoints in real life. I have admittedly read the first few chapters of this before having to put it down because of a busy schedule, and I was intrigued so I’m hoping the book will remain as interesting as the start.
Hope in Hell by Jonathon Porritt
This seems like a fairly appropriate read for the times we’re living in, and also an aspect of current culture and life I need to be better educated in too. I’m also hoping from this title I may feel a little bit better about the whole thing to, and possibly gain some new ideas on how I can help – even though I’m informed enough to know it’s corporations and governments that really need to step up.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who hasn’t read this yet, and even more shamefully I only bought a copy fairly recently. The idea of a book following the released Mayan God of Death who asks a mortal, Casiopea, to help them in winning back their throne sounds incredible! I have no excuse for not prioritising this sooner, and I am determined to right that wrong.
Tidelands by Philippa Gregory
Despite Gregory being one of the reigning queens of historical fiction, I’ve never picked up any of her works before, and I think that needs to change. This one piqued my interest as it’s set during England’s civil war and witch mania, centred on Alina, a women without a husband and knowledge in herbs and medicine, and I’m really into anything set around suspicious, independent women from the early modern period.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Again, I’m kinda embarrassing that I haven’t read this yet (this seems to be a bit of a theme for this winter). I have looked at this cover several times in the bookstore before finally picking it up and putting it on my shelf, and I will not let it sit there for years like I do with some other reads, I have heard too many good things about this book for that to happen again.
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
To be perfectly honest I’m quite ashamed I haven’t actually managed to read this in it’s entirety yet, especially since it’s been out for so long now. Every time I pick this up I really enjoy it, and each time life throws something at me that means I have to put down whatever I’m reading to take care of myself or someone else. Whilst some may listen to the universe at this point and interpret these interruptions as signs, I have chosen to be petty about instead and it’s renewed my conviction to finish and love this book to spite it. I’m hoping I’ll be able to pick this up over Christmas or get to it in the New Year, and if not I’ll somehow make time to force myself into reading this.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
This is the first in ‘Thomas Cromwell’ trilogy and a book I’ve been wondering if I should pick up for a while, I finally bit the bullet a couple of months ago and have decided that I’m going to try reading this (despite it’s intimidating size). I’m hoping this lives up to all the hype surrounding the series, and if not I’m sure it’ll make a great paperweight with it’s 672 pages – I fear I won’t actually read this out of fear.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
After loving Whitehead’s ‘The Nickel Boys’ (read my review here), I immediately bought another book by him only to leave it sitting on bookcase for too long. I will be fixing that this winter – I am determined. The book takes the Underground Railroad and turns it into a literal railroad as it follows Cora and Caeser’s story as they run, and promises to turn all we thought we know on it’s head, it sounds fantastic and exciting and I want to more.
The Shortest History of England by James Hawes
As a history student, I am looking for more reads at the moment that give me some background into the history of where I lived, because when I was in school I did the two World Wars on repeat for years. Also, if this read goes well I’m hoping I’ll have a bit more background on different eras to pick up more detailed and informative reads.
Moonlit Books 
Great list! I want to read quite a few of these—especially These Violent Delights, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Wolf and The Woodsman (which I recently just bought)! I hope you enjoy all of them 🙂
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