Reading Roundup: January 2025

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I most enjoy about reading, what I think reading for “escapism” means to me and how it should be considered when discussing books on social media. Some of the books I’ve read in the last month have pushed this to the forefront of my mind. I’ve just not had the time to shape my thoughts into a blog post, but I think I will write something up soon!

Anyway, on with the roundup. As usual, if the title is linked it’ll take you to my review.

5 Novels

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

This was fun and I was pleasantly surprised by how thoughtful it was. The main theme was not romance but dealing with grief, and the time travel element was an interesting way to explore how people change over time. I was more invested in seeing how the time-travel plot was resolved than the romance itself, but I love a literary device and this was a good time. I’d recommend it.

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

First five-star rating of the year! If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time you’ve probably seen me put this book on numerous TBR lists, well I finally did and I loved it. What a fucked up, weird book… in the best way (people do exaggerate how “gross” this is, don’t be afraid of it!).

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

From the sublime to the… whatever this is. Even glorious sci-fi queen – FemShep herself – Jennifer Hale narrating this could not make it interesting. It’s too fucking long, and it has nothing to say. This book feels like a collection of cool sci-fi tropes from action movies and video games with no substance, all hung on an inconsistent, hollow protagonist. It has no business being 880 pages.

I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan by Alan Partridge (et al)

I can never give Alan less than 5 stars. This was a re-read and it was a joy. I laughed the whole way though. You need to be a fan of Partridge to enjoy this, but if you are and you haven’t had the pleasure of the audiobook yet… what are you waiting for? I can’t wait to carry on my re-read with Nomad and then finally Big Beacon!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

This was also a re-read and a less successful one. I kind of wish I’d left this a pleasant memory because it turns out I’ve grown as a reader in the nine years since I first read and loved this. I’ve read a lot more, a lot wider and a lot better books and now this one just feels juvenile and lacking. It’s by no means bad… it’s just not got the goods to light my fire these days! I also didn’t get on the narrator, so the audiobook format may not have helped!

Marvel Unlimited

Jessica Jones: Blind Spot by Kelly Thompson & Mattia de Iulis

This was the first Jessica title written by somebody other than Bendis and I did enjoy it overall. Jessica felt like Jessica, the art was good and the relationships were really fun. I liked being in this world again and hanging out with the Cages, and I loved Elsa Bloodstone (she’s made my ‘need to check out more’ list)!

The “twist” at the end was spoiled by the title and cover for the second book, so no shockers there.

I’d say this was good but it’s not particularly memorable.

Jessica Jones: Purple Daughter by Kelly Thompson & Mattia de Iulis

I am just not thrilled that we’re rehashing the Purple Man stuff, it feels bit cheap and lazy… I would love more Jessica stories that do not involve that POS!

Honestly, I was just tired by this one, it was obvious what the ultimate ending would be so not really any fear for Danielle or Luke. Reading most of this I was just thinking “ really, we’re doing this again?”

It was fun to have Emma Frost pop up but it wasn’t for long.

This marked the end of my Jessica Jones adventures in Marvel Unlimted. I think there are a handful of other things she pops up in, but I’m ready to explore from X-Men now!

Uncanny X-Men 91963) #1

This was kind of fun, very goofy and dated. Scott is apparently going by “Slim” and Beast isn’t blue or furry. Jean Grey arrives, the only woman in the whole issue, and is sexually harassed by all the characters from her first panel.

Even Professor X comments on how attractive she is before she arrives! Gross.

AHH the 60s.

Also, Ice Man wears little boots in his ice form which are ridiculous and I don’t understand the point of!

Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

Many guides I read online recommended jumping to Giant Size X-Men from 1975 if you find the original 60s run a bit rough going… which I did!

I think that was the right call as I really enjoyed this one. I understand was a relaunch of X-Men after they’d stopped publishing for 5 years.

In this Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird (John Proudstar) and Sunfire are recruited by Prof. x and Cyclops to help rescue the original team (at this point Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), Iceman, Angel, Havoc and Lorna Dane (not yet Polaris, it seems)) after they were captured on the island of Krakoa.

I do think this is a good jumping-in point if you’re interested in reading early X-Men without 66 issues of 1960s stuff. I think I’ll continue from this point.

Currently reading

I actually just finished, in the last two days, The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll and Doppleganger by Naomi Klein both on audio, and I will probably finish Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood on my Kindle tonight! So, it’s new book day all around and I’ve not picked yet what I’ll go with!

Interestingly (and not intentionally) these have all converged on the theme of public appearances, and how (social) media and gossip can run away with a version of you that might match reality.

Adding to TBR

I picked up two Kindle deals last month. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty.

I’ve bought two and read two so I’m square but haven’t made progress on my 48 book TBR collection!

Book Tag/TTT!

I’m really loving joining in with Top Ten Tuesday! I’ve now added a category to my blog for these posts to make them easier to find. It is a really fun way to find new blogs and potential book friends.

1. My 10 Most Anticipated Book Releases for 2025
2. 10 Loose Reading Goals for 2025
3. 10 New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024
4. 10 Books I Read for My Old Book Club

I am horribly behind on reading everyone’s posts, and responding to comments. I’ve just not had a lot of bandwidth for that the last couple of weeks.