Bluebird Books

January and February have two vibes for me: #goals: in bed by 7pm 1. Cozy and comforting...think steaming cups of tea, fuzzy blankets, stacks of books 2. Dreary short days of blistering cold...think shivering, exhaustion, and having to put on many layers of clothes to take the dog out There really doesn't seem to be a middle ground.  When vibe #2 is bringing me down, I start thinking about this list to distract myself. Here are some of the things that are making me happy in the bleak midwinter.  Reading Infinite Jest My friend and I are committed to finishing this book by the summer. Our pace is twenty-five pages per week and that seems to be manageable.  I know I've written about this one before so I won't belabor the point, but this book is the most challenging book I've read. From the subject matter (so much poo) to the style (long tightly spaced rants and detailed descriptions of a kids' game which included graphs), to the format (barely any dialogue, jumps in t

 I know, I know...most people put out their favorite book lists of the year in December. I just can't do that. For one thing, I need to finish December reading. I'm always worried a last-minute favorite will sneak in on December 31st. I like to take my time with my list too. I make the list, think about it, let it sit for a few days, and see if I still feel like it's the best representation of my favorites.  living my best reading life in 2021 But it's finally done! Drum roll please... ta-da! When thinking about favorites, the criteria I used was pretty simple. Did the book make me laugh, stick with me for months after I read it, cause me to slow down and think, or fill me up with feelings? If so, I added it. My list is mostly back-list fiction...which is telling. But there are a few new releases that just completely stunned me.  Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my favorite books of 2021: 1. The Razor's Edge --My husband has asked me for yea