Books I've read in 2024

To preface this blog post, I want to say that I didn't plan for this to fall on the day after the 2024 election. To all the women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and people of color whose rights are now threatened in the most real way of my lifetime - I'm so sorry, I am grieving alongside you. I am now looking for ways to go forward, to encourage change within my local community. I'm scared to consider moving back to my hometown because of the conservative agenda that has already been enacted. I encourage you all to stay safe, do what you must to protect yourselves. While the weight of last night's election feels soul crushing, I am hoping that the United States of America's democracy will survive, and the consequences of the next four years will bring Americans to return to decency.

To return to a lighter tone - here is today's post:

This year I challenged myself to read 36 books, and below is a not quite comprehensive list of what I've finished so far. I'll update you all in the New Year, but right now, I am unfortunately NOT on track to finish! I am 8 books behind schedule, and if I've being even more transparent, many of the books I have read are re-reads. This second half of the year I've been in quite the reading slump. Honestly, I feel like I've been in an everything slump; in the past few months work had really ramped up it's pace, and I'm mentally exhausted by the time I get home each day. I'm trying to be active, especially now that we're having an engagement party at the end of December, and I feel like my only free time is spent doing the mundane tasks of life.

I'm hoping to work on romanticizing my life this winter - maybe even catch up on my books before the end of the year. If you have any recommendations for candles, lamps, or anything to mitigate the onset of S.A.D. our home thanks you in advance.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

I saw the movie adaptation before reading the novel, and I was devastated both times. Each time I wanted to scream at Briony, and I was so angry with how unfair life was for both Robbie and Cecelia. For their love story not to overcome their circumstances ought to be illegal.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

An uncomfortable read from a unique perspective. This novel tackles the grief that comes before the death of the one you love; the denial, the bargaining, the knowing death approaches. Klara is at the same time incredibly observant and deeply naive giving insight to both Josie and her mother, while misunderstanding the world around her at the same time. The things we do for the ones we love.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

I thought this was going to be the cross over of the century, and I was a little disappointed. I love Bryce, but I feel like Sarah J. Mass formula'd a little too close to the sun with this series. I also am not obsessed with Bryce and Hunt as a couple- it's not the perfect match crack that I'm addicted to and now expect! It feels too 'real life' for me in this fantasy, but I am 100% going to read the next book. I'm holding out for a plot twist where Hunt and Bryce fall out of love and she and Adias end up in love, or something with a little more chemistry pleaseeeee.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Was simply entertaining. For me there wasn't enough world building for the situations to be believable, so me questioning the likelihood of XTZ happening kept taking me out of the story.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham

I love guessing who-dun-it's, and to be honest, I didn't guess who it was. I was suspicious of everyone, but I didn't connect to any of the characters to give it any more than 2.5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (Re-Read)

Amazing re-read, inspired by my girl Kiera on Bookstagram, her talking about Cousin Harry was giving peak nostalgia so I needed to clock into the series again. I like to pretend that Emma Watson wrote the stories so that I can forget that I'm supporting terf filth by buying consuming HP media.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I feel like I am connecting to my Midwest Woman roots while I read my historical fiction novel. I am officially a part of the Jamie Fraiser fan club, but being confronted with the dangers of womanhood back in the day is unsettling. If you are thinking about reading, be warned- this book is incredibly rapey. However, my connection to the characters over powers how uncomfortable I am during the non consensual scenes.

I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

McCurdy's prose did an amazing job showing readers the naivety of the child's perspective when confronted with adult issues. It's a hard read, simply because I wanted to pull Jennette aside and let her know how bat shit and abusive her mom was. Memoirs like this remind me how important it is to always consider your children's development while parenting, and even interacting with your children. Over sharing adult issues/details about the relationship between parents, finances, etc is abuse. I believe it's important to use specific language when describing relationship dynamics like the one we call between McCurdy and her mother, so there aren't parents who are unaware of how much they are dumping on their children mentally and emotionally! Your children are NOT your best friends, and you shouldn't treat them as such. If you need to talk to someone, seek therapy.

Heavy by Kiese Layman

A memoir of the American experience through the eyes of an overweight black boy, busy becoming an adult. This book was a part of a social work class I took in college - we'd had reading groups and I hadn't been assigned this specific book, but I remember this being the book for another work group. It's interesting to look back to our group discussions and consider how a different reading may have altered my perspective and answers. While reading the memoir I thought a lot about how I'd felt semi-canceled in the class for saying I was lucky to be born white, and how offended people were that I'd said it. Back then I didn't get it, white is the dominant culture, and when handed my metaphysical cards, I pulled the white one. Looking back now as a 25 year old I can see how stupid I was to be so in-eloquent and expect people to understand my heart, I'm sure that to a lot of my peers it came across as though I preferred white-ness, which I am horrified to think about. It was also refreshing to hear a man talk about disordered eating habits, and it was moving to watch Layman recount emotional eating episodes with a frankness that is almost uncomfortable.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Follows two high school lovers, Marianne and Connell, throughout their journey into young adulthood . I liked this book because it gave the audience that feeling of longing that is so so real when you're in those first romances. Normal People gave a raw account of life when you're enamored with flawed human being. I loved the ending, although it gave you that 'unfinished' feeling (which I find a little addicting).

Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson

I read this as an audiobook - Pamela narrated it and I couldn't stand her voice. It took me out of the story time and time again, I feel like I'm being a little bitchy but I haven't been bothered by most narrations. She has a spiritual and poetic perspective on life that I wasn't expecting from a sex icon.

If You Tell by Greg Olson

A novel based off the true story of seral killer Shelly Knotek, as told by her three daughters; Nikki, Sami, and Tori. Shelly was an absolute mad woman, and I cannot comprehend being able to torture someone to death without feeling guilt.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

I thought I was going to LOVE this book, but I was a little disappointed. It felt a bit like trauma porn to me, with books like this I really want happy endings for characters who have experienced so much abuse in their lifetimes.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

With all the Sarah J. Maas hype on bookstagram right now, I felt like I had to re-read her first series. I like comparing my initial reactions when reading them for the first time, to my reactions now as an older version of myself. To be honest, this book read quite juvenile the first time I read it, and it felt mostly the same this time around.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

The second book of the Outlander series - not for the faint of heart, but I really did enjoy the book. If you're into historical romances, I can't recommend the series enough.

Hello Beautiful by Amy Napolitano

A beautiful retelling of Little Women with a tragic but lovely ending. Another novel with deeply un-likeable characters.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Another re-read of the Throne of Glass series. It's wild to me that the first book of this series was so tame in comparison to the rest of the set. I find Chaol insufferable the entire time I found myself scoffing aloud when I read his dialogue with Aelin.

Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

Honestly, this was hitting a little too close to home , especially as I edit this post election. I genuinely feel like this is the future we're looking at. I'm sick to my stomach.

I'm wrapping this up - short and sweet. Life doesn't feel real right now... I plan to continue love my neighbor, and support what I believe is for the good of all people. If you voted for Trump - fuck you. When your blind faith in your worldly idols fall, and you feel the wrath of your own choices, know that you deserve it.

Until the next post,

Tiffany Githens-Galeazzi - a proud voter for Kamala Harris, and a believer in human rights for ALL.