As I’ve said in my previous post, I developed an addiction to buying from charity bookshops, and last time I perused the Oxfam on the corner, I found some books I simply couldn’t resist. And with the holiday season coming up (read: do nothing but curl up by the fireplace with a book and a cup of tea), I needed novels to sustain my incoming reading binge.

So, these are the books I’m hoping to get through this month.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

I usually decide to commit to a book if the first page hooks me, but most times I give up mid-first sentence. I don’t think there’s a book platform on the entire internet that hasn’t raved about My Year of Rest and Relaxation, so I was curious if it stood the test. Not only was I hooked by the first line, but I couldn’t tear my eyes off it, and, by the 20^th page, I rushed to the till. Take my money!

From what I’m gaging so far, the book is about a young woman who seemingly has it all: she’s young, beautiful, smart, wealthy, and works a comfortable job at a hip art gallery. Yet, she embarks on a drug-induced hibernation for a full year as a form of escapism from… well, that I have to find out.

So far, the relationship between her and her friend Reva is highly reminiscent of the main friendship dynamic in Boy Parts by Eliza Clark. The vibes are kind of similar too, so I’m curious to see how the plot develops.

In Real Life by Chris Killen

I’ve never heard of this one before, but the premise seemed light-hearted enough for me to breeze through it this holiday season. It follows three college friends who, after graduation, go their separate ways to lead pretty lacklustre lives, despite all their ambitions and potential. In present-day, one of them rediscovers an email thread on an old Hotmail account and decides to call for a reunion.

As a recent graduate with no idea where my life is headed, I felt the need to read about others going through the same thing. This one will either reassure me or make me feel better about myself by comparison. Whichever it is, I welcome the experience.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

You’re lying to yourself if you think this title wouldn’t instantly intrigue you. I certainly fell in its trap! The book opens with: “Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcee. He was eighty-four and she was thirty-six.” And I was hooked. It’s supposed to be a funny twist on stereotypes of Eastern Europeans. And as a fellow Eastern European, I’m curious to see how our culture is portrayed in this book.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

This is a major departure from the previous three books, but I wanted to get into a new epic fantasy series, so I got this one with my monthly credit on Audible.

Ok, I lied. This isn’t technically a “new” series for me. I already read this first instalment ages ago. However, I was 13 and I definitely didn’t understand much. If anything, I remember it being particularly difficult to follow and, even though I somehow finished it, I don’t remember one single plot line. So, I’m returning to it as an adult, and hopefully after completing two university degrees, I now have the brain capacity to comprehend it.

Hopefully.

The story takes place in the Malazan Empire, which is ravaged by never-ending war, infighting, and confrontations with the dark magic of ancient legions of sorcerers. I wish I could tell you more, but even the blurb on Goodreads is twisting my brain a bit. 

However, ever since I finished Brian Stavely’s Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne and its adjacent sequels and prequels, I have been craving a large-scope dark and enthralling epic fantasy, and Gardens of the Moon is praised just for that.

Pray for me I actually understand it this time!

In conclusion…

I might be a bit too ambitious this month, but hopefully I’ll get through these. Stay tuned for my end of the month update to see if I managed to.

What are you planning to read in December?