December has been a stellar reading month. I look at my Notion books tracker in amazement, counting and re-counting the number of books I’ve read. 8 books, a 9th in progress, and a 10th almost finished. By the time the month, and the year, ends, I would have read 10 books during the month! Even I’m not quite sure how that happened!
Reading wrap-up for December
But since there are so many books, I’m doing this wrap-up slightly differently. Below, you will find mini reviews of 3 of my favorite reads this month, along with a list and rating for the rest of the books. (1 star for terrible, 5 for excellent).
(Click on the book covers to purchase the book on Amazon.)
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshanathan (Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction)
In 1981 Jaffna, 16-year-old Sashikala’s dearest dream is to become a doctor like her eldest brother Niranjan and her late grandfather, who was a renowned physician in Colombo. But over the next decade, a vicious civil war tears through her home. As violence ensues between the warring factions — the Sinhalese government and the Tamil militants who are fighting for an independent state free of persecution of the Tamils — her idyllic life shatters.
And as her four beloved brothers and their friend K are swept up in the mounting violence, Sashi is drawn into a life she had never imagined for herself — a medical student also working as a medic for those serving in the movement. As she bears witness to the politics, the violence, and the activism of the 1980s, Sashi begins to question where she stands. When one of her medical school professors, a Tamil feminist and dissident, invites her to join a secret project documenting human rights violations, she embarks on a dangerous path that will change her forever.
Set during the early years of Sri Lanka’s three-decade civil war, Brotherless Night is a heartrending portrait of the devastating civil war in Sri Lanka and one woman’s moral journey as she navigates the violence. This is one of those rare books that is difficult to read yet impossible to put down; often reading as a true account rather than a work of fiction. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the working of the LTTE; the impact of the war on civilians and even the role of the Indian peacekeeping force; and left me wanting to learn more about the civil war in neighbouring Sri Lanka. This was one of my favorite books of 2024, and I can’t recommend this book highly enough!
The Forgotten Palace by Alexandra Walsh
London, 1900. Alice Webster has made the worst decision of her life. When her parents save her from the clutches of a fickle lover, she is convinced that her broken heart will never mend. But her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour, and she jumps at the opportunity to get away from the glare of scandal. Their itinerary is fluid, and a chance encounter on a train bound for Paris takes them to Crete, where Alice joins the dig at the archaeological site at Knossos.
Meanwhile, in present day London, Eloise De’Ath is preparing for her husband’s funeral. She is meant to be a grieving widow but if people knew the truth about her late husband, they’d understand why she can’t even pretend. Needing an escape from everything that happened, Eloise heads to Crete, to the house her father-in-law Quinn left her. There, she discovers Quinn’s life’s work: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Fascinated by the diaries of a young woman from the dig, Eloise is drawn into Alice’s tale of lost love and stumbles upon her dream diary, which reveals a stunning secret: both Eloise and Alice shared dreams of Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth, the Minotaur’s sister.
This is a beautifully written time slip novel, weaving in historical details from the Knossos dig and discoveries and the real individuals who were part of it. There’s also a fascinating exploration of the Theosophy movement and the concept of the Akashic record, which serves as a bridge between the women’s experiences.
The stories of both the women are woven together quite interestingly, and I loved their characterizations as well as the touch of darkness at the heart of Elose’s story, which emerges slowly as the novel progresses. And tying it all is the recurring story of the Minotaur and his labyrinth, of Ariadne and Theseus and a really original interpretation of the Minotaur myth. Highly recommended!
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. 40 years ago, he lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost.
Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.
Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made.
As Laura and Eunice’s stories unfold and overlap, in differing timelines that eventually converge, long lost things are eventually found and old ghosts are laid to rest. I quite enjoyed both Laura and Eunice’s stories, as well as the weaving in of some of Andrew’s stories related to the lost things he found. There were also some interesting themes explored in the book, related to family and aging, memories and the loss of them, and the many shades of love. Quite a lovely read!
Notable mentions
Heavy Are the Stones by J.D. Barker
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4.5
Serial killers, religious fanaticism, and virtual reality games that have an impact in the real world. This was one heck of a thrilling read!
The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4
Life in a small French town, a book club that brings together an eclectic group of people, and the friendships that are forged over a shared love for the classics. A rather delightful read!
The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman
Genre: Short stories
Rating: 4
Frederik Backman’s delightful wit and humorous take on modern life. Need I say more?
The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
Genre: Historical fiction/romance
Rating: 4
An inter-racial, class divide romance that lasts a lifetime. Quite an interesting read from the masterful Isabel Allende.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Genre: Personal development
Rating: 3.5
A rather interesting primer on how to form habits. There are some interesting insights, though at times it got a bit too corporate/aimed at excellence for something as simple as habit formation.
A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 5
There are some absolute gems in here. Mary Oliver’s poetry is a balm for the soul.
Currently reading: The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk
Genre: Gothic fantasy/YA
Magic, witches, and, apparently, ware wolves make for an interesting combination!
Over to you! What was on your reading list this month?
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