January’s Reading List 2024
I’ve always wanted to keep a running list of the books I read throughout the year. What better time than now to start tracking them?
This is a list of books (with short summaries and my ratings) I read throughout January 2024.
If you’ve read any of the books on this list, I’d love to chat about them! And if you have any recommendations based on my ratings, PLEASE SEND THEM! <3
**Books are linked on the image. No affiliate links, just for easy access!**
1. Living Resistance by Kaitlin B. Curtice
Curtice explains how resistance is necessary for everyone and in all stages of life if we want to build a better world.
She goes through four different stages (signified by the circular diagram on the cover art) of our lives and how we can practice healthy resistance in each stage.
This is a self-help book, and it’s kind of a roller coaster of enthralling stories and dry chapters. Overall, I’d say it’s ⭐⭐⭐.
There were also many highlighted and memorized takeaways, quotes, and recommendations, too. While I may not read this book again, there are many notes that will stay with me.
2. Pretty Boys Are Poisonous by Megan Fox
Please note that this is a poetry book. This rating is also likely biased because I do have a slight (immense) crush on Megan Fox, and this book is a beautiful and heartbreaking look inside her life.
As an actress, as a mom, as a wife, and as a woman.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The poem that hit the most for me is on page 87:
i’ve humbled kings
alone
i’ve fought wars
against titans
still they foam at the mouth
attempting to silence me
because i am a mirror
that reminds them
of what they cannot have
you mistook me for a possession
when i was a nuclear weapon all along
you wanted marilyn monroe but you got joan of arc instead
If you like modern-style poetry and an insider’s look into Hollywood, you may love this.
It’s giving I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jaenette McCurdy, but Megan Fox, relationships, and poetry.
3. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
This is the ultimate (and simplified) guide for creatives in our digital age.
It's all about how you can share your creative journey with the world, from the messy beginnings to the final masterpiece.
Austin Kleon's advice is super practical, and he makes it easy to understand how to build an online presence, connect with your audience, and, most importantly, get your work noticed.
So if you're an artist, writer, or creator of any kind, this book is like your secret weapon to make your mark on the world.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here are a few of my favorite lines, reframes, and advice:
Be An Amateur (p. 14)
“There’s nothing wrong with saving things for later. The SAVE AS DRAFT button is like a prophylactic – it might not feel as good in the moment, but you’ll be glad you used it in the morning.” (p. 59)
“Fear is often the imagination taking a wrong turn.” (p.151)
“A successful or failed project is no guarantee of another success or failure.” (p. 187)
“The thing is, you never really start over. You don’t lose all the work that’s come before. Even if you try to toss it aside, the lessons that you’ve learned from it will seep into what you do next.” (p. 199)
4. SNOTGIRL Volume 1 by Bryan Lee O’Malley & Leslie Hung
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (for both artwork andddd storyline!!!! LOVE)
This comic is a wild blend of fashion, social media, and a whole lot of drama. It follows the life of Lottie Person, a 25-year-old fashion blogger (which we love) who seems to have it all together online but is a hot mess express IRL. It's a story that keeps you guessing while offering a fascinating peek into the world of social media influencers and the not-so-perfect lives they lead.
To be completely honest, the first thing that caught my eye was the stunning cover art. Like, *swoon*. I couldn't resist the urge to own it, even if it was just to admire the cover on my shelf.
If you're into snarky humor and a mix of the real and surreal, this graphic novel series is right up your alley.
(Yes, I just ordered the third volume, too. 10/10 will read in February, no doubt.)
(Also, I’m a simp for green hair. That’s all.)
5. Crying in HMart by Michelle Zauner
I’ve had this memoir on my TBR list since it came out in 2021, and I’m glad I put it on my 2024 reading list because wow I LOVED IT. The hype was warranted.
I am literally JUST finishing this, lol. I spent my morning reading the last ~60 pages of Crying In H Mart so I could ethically share this book with you on this list. 😂 I did not want it to end. That doesn’t happen often.
It's a story of love, loss, and identity, wrapped up in the journey of a Korean-American woman finding her roots through food and music.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(chef’s kiss. well done. very well done.)
Michelle's writing is raw and emotional, taking you through her experiences with her mother's illness and eventual death. I can’t remember the last book that made me cry, but this did.
(I don’t recommend reading this during a fast, though. Lol, poor timing on my part. Every page sounds delicious.)
Here are a few of my favorite lines…until I was too enthralled to stop reading to make notes:
“I came to realize that while I struggled to be good, I could excel at being courageous.” (p. 23)
“From day one, I’m told, nothing about me was easy.” (p. 50)
“I sang teenage songs longing for simpler times, not realizing that’s exactly what these times were supposed to be.” (p. 59)
The End.
P.S. Please drop a comment if you’ve read any of these, have recommendations, or added one of these to your TBR!
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