I finished three books in February, one of which was The Picture of Dorian Gray for the Classics Club. I’ll give that its own post. Here are the other two:

I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening), by Sarah Stewart Holland & Beth Silvers

This is a book by two podcast hosts who want to encourage people to come at politics from less of an entrenched/ partisan perspective. On the one hand, I think this is an important message and if we all approached political conversations with more grace, we might do less screaming on the internet (though, maybe not). On the other hand, I’m not sure how well it holds up as a book apart from their podcast.

I think these two are better podcasters than writers, as I found some of the book a bit repetitive (my common non-fiction complaint).

The bottom line is they recommend thinking through what is important to you and why it is important and trying to discuss in a calmer way, not assuming someone who has reached a different conclusion is an uncaring monster. They also suggest looking at the history of a current policy might help shed light on a way forward.

★ ★ ★

Parker Pyne Investigates, by Agatha Christie

Ah, Agatha Christie, how I love you. Usually Poirot or Miss Marple come to mind when thinking of Christie, but this short story collection follows Parker Pyne, who has an advertisement that reads: “Are you happy? If not, consult Mr. Parker Pyne.”

In these twelve stories Pyne helps people who are unhappy for various reasons: the spark has gone out of their marriage; they’re young and single but wish to be married; they are mixed up in a jewel caper; they get into trouble while on holiday, etc. Mr. Pyne seeks to help his clients using “statistical knowledge” of the human heart (which works most of the time…).

While I prefer her mysteries featuring her more famous detectives, these were entertaining short stories read by Hugh Fraser, maybe my favorite Christie narrator.

Favorite story from this collection: The Case of the Distressed Lady.

★ ★ ★

While I’m a pretty fast reader and I do love to read, I also don’t always prioritize reading as I’d like to. It’s so easy to become distracted by other things (especially screens), so I haven’t started off the year with a lot of reading.

Ok, confession time over. I thought that posting the books I’ve read on here, a public (though quiet) corner of the internet might help remind me to keep reading and to think about what I’m reading. Novel thought (pun definitely intended).

Here’s what I read in January

This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

I already gave this a mini review on Instagram: I think this novella is best described as sci fi prose poems between two characters on opposing sides of a time war…. Weird, lovely, and best if you let it wash over you.

This is not for you if you’re looking for well-explained world building or you like detail of how a society works. This book gives fascinating details and glimpses of the two sides of this time traveling war, but not a lot of plot–it’s about the relationship unfolding between Red and Blue.

A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles (via Audible)

Another book with lovely prose, threading the needle of understated and romantically overblown. Count Alexander Rostov is tried by a Bolshevik tribunal and sentenced to life at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. The only reason he wasn’t executed immediately or sent to Siberia was a revolutionary poem written years earlier. The Count is moved from his luxurious suite to an attic room and warned that if he leaves the hotel he will be shot.

Thus, at age 33, Alexander Rostov begins his life of house–er, hotel arrest. The book follows the Count’s adventures as he gets to know the hotel staff and regular guests. The story dips in and out of his life every few years to describe an interesting anecdote or introduce a new character.

Characters are (mostly) rendered in loving sketches as the Count gets to know them, disarming with his charm and eager to make friends in his new life. The style of writing gives time to unfolding friendships and treats difficult events not lightly, but with a light touch. It doesn’t dwell on misery, though there is plenty between the lines in 20th century Moscow, but it is more a meditation on the hopeful spirit of humanity and the impact and consolation we give one another.

While sentenced to a restricted life, the Count did not allow his life to shrivel, and his relationships enriched both himself and others.

Here’s what I didn’t finish reading in January

Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

I wanted to like this book about Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII, but I couldn’t get into the writing style. I abandoned this book after reading 255 pages…I might pick it up again some day, but it didn’t want to make me keep reading.

What didn’t I care for? I didn’t like that some of the dialogue was in normal style (starting a new paragraph and in quotation marks) and some dialogue was just in a paragraph without quotation marks. Is this trying to be more true to history? I have no idea, but it confused me occasionally about who was talking when several characters were referenced in a paragraph and then there was dialogue embedded in the text.

I also thought it moved quickly through parts that were more interesting and slowly through parts that were less interesting to me. Since it’s from Thomas Cromwell’s point of view, the first couple hundred pages he’s not at court often and thus is removed from most of the action. That’s fine, but must we spend so much time on background?

If any of you loved this book I’d be interested to hear why — did I give up too soon? Did I not notice interesting details I should pick up on?