Books are small universes—affordable and easily carried, yet filled with endless possibilities to expand and enrich the mind. Through their pages, I explore new experiences and worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and deepen my understanding of humanity.
These are the books I read in January 2025, listed chronologically, and graded by recommendation (highly recommend, recommend, and do not recommend).
First World War Story Collection
What was once called “The Great War” is nearly forgotten now. Read this great collection of poignant stories and let the unheeded lessons of history wash over you; highly recommend.

The Well of Loneliness
You’d never know with such a rollicking title, but this is one of the saddest books I’ve ever read. Loneliness chronicles the life of Stephen Gordon (a woman, it’s like with Elliot on Scrubs) and her struggle to accept, reconcile, and thrive whilst being gay.
This was published in the 1920’s, and it’s obvious, by the protagonist’s so-unremarked-upon-it-seems-natural self-loathing.
On the bright side, this book prodded Patricia Highsmith to write “Carol.” (She said that she hadn’t been exposed to stories about lesbians that had happy endings, so she wrote her own.)
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great writing. But it made me understand more about trying to move in a world that denies you. I hope no one else feels like poor Gordan; highly recommend.

Kingmaker
Pamela Churchill Harriman was a helluva woman, and shaped the geopolitical landscape TWICE in her lifetime (WWII and the last 20ish years of her life), in ways that can be felt and measured today.
People call her a courtesan with a sneer, but that’s what she was. An extremely successful one, too.
Also, more than one thing can be true at one time. She was a courtesan, a genius, a fighter, and much more. Learn about all of Pamela’s layers by reading this biography, highly recommend.

Crime Novels of the 1950’s
This is a collection, but I only read The Talented Mr. Ripley. It’s something I’ve wanted to read for years but couldn’t get my hands on. Thanks to MRL’s Evergreen system, this was delivered straight to my local library!
Ripley deserves its reputation as a classic, highly recommend.

The African Trilogy
These three novels tell the generational tale of the colonization of Nigeria.
Some community members submit to the British, some fight, and others flee. Yet, all seem to meet the same fate: destruction.
Trilogy is composed of heavy material, delivered lyrically; highly recommend.

The Green Hills of Africa
It’s an adventure novel! No, it’s autobiographical non-fiction! No way, it’s a travel guide!
Eh, it’s mostly an excuse for Papa Hem to tell us about all the big animals he took out and the “real men” he impressed along the way.
Hills of Africa is a good skim, well-written and interesting; recommend.

Earthlings
Natsuki’s life revolves around various types of abuse. In a haze of disassociation, desperate for explanation, she surmises that she is from a different planet.
The Earthlings around her can sense her alienness, and that’s why they lash out. Natsuki finds her own ways to cope, though. Some are better than others.
This was a bizarre and disturbing book. I mean that in the most flattering way possible. Like with Green Hills of Africa, I’m not sure what this novel *is.* A fantasy? Horror? An allegory?
Unlike Green Hills, I want to know more; highly recommend.

From Here to the Great Unknown
I’m not an Elvis fan, let alone a die-hard one (apparently, they give Swifties a run for their money), but I really enjoyed this book!
The premise of the book is from the perspective of Lisa Marie, Elvis’ daughter. However, she’d only got as far as transcription, before asking her daughter to help.
Lisa Marie died a few weeks later. Riley decided to forge ahead, using the hours of tapes as her guide.
What results is a fascinating fusion of POV’s. The majority is from Lisa, but Riley chimes in (with a different font) to flesh out the narrative.
Lisa Marie had an interesting, but overall very sad, life; highly recommend.

Don’t Believe Everything You Think
If I could make everyone read this book, I would. It’s an extremely helpful manual, hammering home the difference between thoughts and thinking (yeah, there’s a super important distinction!).
Don’t Believe includes an exercise that I’ve continued to use to get out of my own head (the PAUSE method); highly recommend.

Conclusion
I hope my January 2025 bite size book reviews opens up new literary adventures for you!
These recommendations are more than just pages bound together; they are invitations to explore, imagine, learn, and feel.
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Happy reading!
Love,
