From The Pumpkin Patch

After a long period of avoiding books completely, I got back into reading again at the start of last year.

I set myself a goal of 12 books during 2022, which worked out to one book a month. My success gave me confidence, so I increased my goal in 2023 and challenged myself to read 15 books this year.

I’m so happy to say I succeeded!

I’m starting to find my groove, discovering what I like and don’t like. I’ll devour a creepy murder mystery or edge-of-your-seat thriller, and I absolutely love collections of short stories.

If you want to know which books I read this year and how I felt about them, keep reading!

Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton ★★★★★

As a long-time Paris Hilton fan, I just had to pick up her new book as soon as it launched.

I was expecting something similar to her 2004 release, Confessions of an Heiress, but this was much deeper and more honest than I could ever have imagined.

Say what you want about Paris, but she is a huge inspiration to me. She used hard work, imagination and the power of self-belief to get herself out of a bad situation and build the life of her dreams. This book is her shaking off the labels that were assigned to her by others and taking back her power.

That’s hot.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner ★★★★★

I loved this simple yet powerful true story of a woman coming to terms with her mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis, turning to traditional foods as a way to connect to a part of herself that is at risk of being lost forever.

We all have those meals that are weaved through our lives like a tapestry, linking us to people, places and memories.

The author’s descriptions of delicious Korean foods that she enjoyed throughout her childhood and adult life are dotted throughout the book, and each one made my mouth water.

It goes without saying that a book about a mother’s death will leave you in tears, but it’s a necessary emotional journey that will give you a deeper understanding of the fleeting beauty of life and love.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery ★★★★★

I’d been meaning to read this much-loved classic for years, but only found the time and inclination during my trip to Japan back in May.

Ever since, I’ve been kicking myself for not picking it up earlier. It is an absolutely wonderful book.

Packed full of insightful lessons and morals, Anne of Green Gables paints the most delightful picture of an idyllic rural lifestyle set in the 1870’s. I could just see the rolling hills, deep woodlands and red roads of Prince Edward Island season after season as the years passed by.

Anne herself is loveable and inspirational from the moment we meet her, and I quickly fell just as in love with her supporting characters. Many of her thoughts and experiences are surprisingly relatable despite the story being written many years ago, and I both laughed and cried alongside her.

I’m thrilled to learn that this is a multi-book series and even has a supporting TV show on Netflix, so I can truly sink into the wholesome world of Avonlea and Green Gables.

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery ★★★★★

The second book in this wonderful series, Anne Shirley is firmly grown up now as a beloved schoolteacher in Avonlea – although she hasn’t lost that famous imagination.

Her hands are full with work, friendships and juggling the two twins that Marilla has taken in, particularly the irrepressible and mischievous Davy. There are engagements and marriages to celebrate, unprecedented thunderstorms to weather and of course, many delicious meals to share with loved ones.

I always want to be a better person after reading these books – they contain so many valuable lessons about etiquette, character and values that I can’t help but strive to improve myself.

Anne of Avonlea was just as unputdownable as its predecessor, and I felt warm and cosy from the first page to the last.

Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention by Johann Hari ★★★★

I’ve noticed my attention span and focus dwindling over recent years, particularly since the pandemic.

As a child I could sit and read for hours, or simply get lost in my own thoughts without that habitual pull that always seems to be tugging me back to my phone.

Johann Hari argues that there are many factors driving this loss of focus including deliberate manipulation by social media companies, increased stress, processed foods and lack of sleep. While there are many things we as individuals can do to improve our attention, it is only by bringing about large-scale changes to our society that we will truly be able to get a handle on the situation.

I can proudly say that I have now deleted my Instagram account, and it joins Facebook and Twitter in the graveyard that was once my social media addiction. It’s a great start, but we all have a long way to go in the fight towards reclaiming our collective attention and focus.

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai ★★

I picked this book up because of the cover, as I so often do.

It featured a black outline of a man, a featureless blob that was almost alien-like. It unsettled me, and this foretold how I would feel about the book.

The protagonist of No Longer Human is a young man who shapes his life around acquiescing to what he believes the world wants him to be. As a child and teenager he becomes the class clown, always terrified of being found out as a fraud. As an adult he forms parasitic relationships with women, gets married, attempts suicide several times and eventually develops a severe drug and alcohol addiction.

I can tell that this book is fantastic, but I just didn’t particularly enjoy it. I found it ugly and depressing – two qualities I usually enjoy in art, but it just didn’t work for me this time.

Running on the Cracks by Julia Donaldson ★★★★

I recently finished an online writing course featuring internationally-acclaimed children’s writer, Julia Donaldson. It taught me a lot about the world of children’s books, and I can share that I am currently working on something very exciting…

But enough of that for now. You’ll have to wait and see!

While I’ve been very inspired by Julia’s famous picture books, I was also intrigued to learn that she has written a book for teenage readers. Running on the Cracks is a runaway thriller that follows Leo as she escapes from her creepy uncle and ventures to Glasgow, where she hopes to track down her long-lost extended family members with the help of her new friend Finlay.

I really enjoyed this book and found it oddly nostalgic. It dealt very sensitively with topics such as mental health and unwanted sexual attention, and I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of various delicious-sounding Chinese dishes dotted throughout!

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro ★★★★

I suppose you could classify Never Let Me Go as science fiction, but it’s more of a mystery and a love story weaved together with some dystopian elements.

It’s difficult to write a review without giving away the plot, so I’ll just say this: the story follows Kathy as she looks back on her childhood within the seemingly idyllic world of Hailsham, the English boarding school that she attended alongside her friends Ruth and Tommy.

Ironically, Never Let Me Go is about a set of people who end up having to let everything go – their lives. their futures and each other.

I felt very bleak after turning the last page of this book, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for this Japanese-turned-British author in the future.

Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi ★★★

Japanese authors are some of my favourite to read, as I just love the way they tell stories.

Shibata is tired of her role in the workplace – as a woman, she is expected to excel at her daily tasks as well as make the coffee and clean up the communal kitchen.

So one day, she spontaneously decides to pretend to be pregnant as a social experiment to see how she is treated. To her surprise, she finds that she has never felt better – she gets to leave work early each day, cook nutritious meals, bond with other pregnant women and exercise regularly.

But what will happen after May comes and goes – her supposed due date?

Diary of a Void is a commentary on the intense Japanese work culture as well as the way women are treated in the workplace.

Although I really enjoyed this book, I’m giving it three stars because of the ending. I simply didn’t find it satisfying enough, although it was definitely intriguing.

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore ★★★★

This was the perfect book to read during October – filled with pumpkin spice, apple cider doughnuts and all the autumn vibes.

Jeanie has recently left her stressful job in Boston and moved to the small town of Dream Harbour to run her aunt’s cafe. There she meets Logan, a handsome farmer with a tragic past. With the town’s eyes on them, will their autumn romance become something more permanent?

I gave this book four stars not because it was particularly well-written or meaningful, but because it does exactly what it says on the tin. If you’re looking for a romance set in cosy small-town America during the autumn months, you can’t go wrong with The Pumpkin Spice Café.

Halloween Night by R.L. Stine ★★★★★

I can’t help giving an R.L. Stine Point Horror book five stars. They’re just so nostalgic. Particularly when they’re set during Halloween season.

Brenda can’t stand her cousin Halley. She’s taken over Brenda’s room, stolen her boyfriend and destroyed her car. Now Halley is messing with Brenda, writing sick messages in blood on her wall and leaving rotten meat in her bed.

It’s time for payback. It’s time to get rid of Halley once and for all. And what better setting for a murder than a Halloween party?

This was such a fun, creepy read. I figured out the twist pretty early on, but it was still entertaining to watch it all play out.

I recommend reading Halloween Night right before Halloween. It’s the best way to get excited about the spookiest night of the year!

Britney Spears: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears ★★★★★

It’s funny – I never usually read memoirs, but this is the second one I’ve read this year.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun to read about Britney’s meteoric rise to fame, from a little girl singing on the Mickey Mouse Club to selling out packed stadiums and arenas.

Britney ruled the world in the 90s and early 2000s, and I loved following along with her music and watching her scandals play out over the years. But I never stopped to think about what she must have been going through behind the scenes.

The Woman in Me is a heartbreaking description of the years of abuse that Britney endured under her conservatorship. It’s impossible not to feel angry with her family for treating her like a criminal, when all she wanted was her freedom.

It sounds like she feels much more in control of her life now, and all I want for her is the peace and happiness that she deserves.

Autumn Chills by Agatha Christie ★★★★

I just had to pick up this seasonal collection of short stories as soon as it was released.

It took me a little over two months to finish Autumn Chills, as I took my time and read the occasional story whenever I was in the mood. I wanted to savour it throughout the autumn months, and I’m happy to say I succeeded.

I enjoyed all the stories, but some more than others. My favourites would have to be Murder in the Mews, The Case of the Rich Woman, Four and Twenty Blackbirds and The Witness for the Prosecution. I love a good twist, particularly when I don’t see it coming!

My only criticism of this book is that it wasn’t quite as autumnal as I had hoped. I had imagined the stories to be set during September, October and November, but this wasn’t always the case and I often struggled to find the link.

However, you can’t go wrong with a good murder mystery on a misty night, and the cover alone was enough to get me in the cosy and spooky mood.

Red Rain by R.L. Stine ★★★

Did you know that R.L. Stine published a horror novel for adults back in 2012?

I had no idea, but I had to reserve Red Rain at the library as soon as I found out.

The story starts with Lea, a travel blogger who visits an island with a creepy reputation, After a devastating hurricane. she comes across two beautiful twin boys who have lost their parents and home. She feels an immediate connection with them, and brings them back to the house she shares with her husband and two children.

But there’s something wrong with those twins…

This book was definitely more grown-up than Goosebumps and Fear Street, with descriptions of brutal murders and a lot of adult language. It even had a fairly graphic sex scene, which made me cringe a little and completely scarred my childhood.

I just wish Stine hadn’t chosen to give the twins those odd accents – apparently they were a mixture of English and Irish, but the constant ‘bruvver‘ and ‘boyo‘ quickly started to grate on me. Who talks like that?

While I rated Red Rain fairly low for my standards, I did actually really enjoy reading this book. I found it cosy and nostalgic, mainly due to the fact that it was a distinctively R.L. Stine story.

It may not be great literature, but it was a lot of fun regardless!

No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara ★★★★★

After three years, I finally caught Covid in early December. I needed something to keep me entertained while I recovered, so I picked up No One Saw a Thing as it’s been on my list for a while.

And boy, did it keep me entertained.

I intended to read in short bursts throughout the week, but this book had me hooked from the first page. I ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting – that’s six solid hours of reading.

Sive and Aaron are visiting London to meet up with some old friends. One morning as Sive is grappling with the pram, her two little girls slip in front of her and end up on the tube… alone. They are reunited at the next station, but only one of her children is waiting for her.

What follows is an action-packed mystery full of twists and turns that literally kept me reading until the end. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, new information would surface that would change my mind completely.

This was a great book to end my reading challenge on, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author.

I’m proud of myself for completing my reading goal again this year. It can be difficult to find the time to get lost in a book, but I’ve enjoyed expanding my world and stepping into someone else’s life for brief periods.

And the best part? This rekindled love for books has inspired me to start writing a story of my own, which is one of my goals for 2024.

Watch this space…