December 2024 Reading Recap

Hi, hello! I'm back to my regularly scheduled posts–and my first post of 2025! I'll be doing my 2024 Reading Wrap-up next week, but for now let's get into my December 2024 Reading Recap.

I didn't go to book club in December for a couple reasons, one of which being that neither my library system nor their inter-library loan system had the book, and I didn't feel like buying it. So, I'll just be highlighting four categories this month: Nonfiction, Paper TBR, Advent, and Mood Reads. All covers are linked to Goodreads!

Nonfiction

The Third Gilmore Girl, by Kelly Bishop

★★★★

Genre: Memoir

"Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy." (From Goodreads)

The first chapter didn't grab me, but somewhere around the 50 page mark, I think, I started devouring this book. While I didn't always agree with Kelly Bishop's opinions, she presented them so frankly that I felt free to accept them as her opinions only and move on. I loved learning about her early career, especially her role in A Chorus Line (I've already listened to the soundtrack twice). And, of course, her role in Gilmore Girls. Kelly Bishop is an amazing lady!

Paper TBR

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

★★★.5 stars 

Genre: Classic

"The Catcher in the Rye is an all-time classic in coming-of-age literature- an elegy to teenage alienation, capturing the deeply human need for connection and the bewildering sense of loss as we leave childhood behind." (From Goodreads)

I always think of The Catcher in the Rye as being written by Holden Caufield, which I think it a testament to how well J.D. Salinger nailed his character's distinctive voice. While this book is a masterclass on character voice, however, the plot is rather lacking. I did enjoy this, though.

The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton

★★★.5 stars 

Genre: Classic

"The return of the beautiful Countess Olenska into the rigidly conventional society of New York sends reverberations throughout the upper reaches of society." (From Goodreads)

I actually really enjoyed this! I had to read a third of it in one day, though, because once again, my library copy failed to renew and I had two days to finish it. I enjoyed it enough that I already watched the 1993 film adaptation with Winona Ryder and Michelle Pfeiffer–keep an eye out for a book vs. movie post soon(ish)! 

Advent

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

★★★★

Genre: Children's Chapter Book

"Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start! When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to reimagine it in their own way." (From Goodreads)

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book. This year, I read it aloud to my husband, who doesn't particularly care to be read aloud to, but who enjoyed this book. (Although he got very hung up on why the ladies called the fire department instead of 911 when there was smoke in the bathroom.)

Three Holidays and a Wedding, by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley

★★★

Genre: Romance

"Three times the holiday magic. Three times the chaos. As strangers and seatmates Maryam Aziz and Anna Gibson fly to Toronto over the holidays—Maryam to her sister’s impromptu wedding, and Anna to meet her boyfriend’s wealthy family for the first time—neither expect that severe turbulence will scare them into confessing their deepest hopes and fears to one another. At least they’ll never see each other again. And the love of Maryam’s life, Saif, wasn’t sitting two rows behind them hearing it all. Oops. An emergency landing finds Anna, Saif, Maryam, and her sister’s entire bridal party snowbound at the quirky Snow Falls Inn in a picture-perfect town, where fate has Anna’s actor-crush filming a holiday romance. As Maryam finds the courage to open her heart to Saif, and Anna feels the magic of being snowbound with an unexpected new love—both women soon realize there’s no place they’d rather be for the holidays." (From Goodreads)

Pros: Cute, fun holiday romance with no spice and lots of good vibes.

Cons: Trite, fluffy holiday romance with mediocre writing.

Mood Reads

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett

★★★★.5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

"A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series." (From Goodreads)

I loved this! It reminded me of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst and A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan in all the best ways. From the characters to the plot to the setting (I knew it took place during the winter, so I saved it until December), this was exactly what I needed. I'll definitely be reading the second and third books!

The Answer is No, by Fredrik Backman

★★★★

Genre: Short Story

"In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control." (From Goodreads)

Delightful, absurd, and heartwarming! I'm guessing that Lucas is a version of Fredrik Backman himself, as he would be if he didn't have a wife and kids. Perhaps this is his exploration of a different path he could have taken.

Tress of the Emerald Sea, by Brandon Sanderson

★★★★★

Genre: Fantasy

"The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?" (From Goodreads)

Not only was the world-building phenomenal, as Brandon Sanderson's world-building always is, but the characters were delightful, their arcs marvelously satisfying. And having Hoid be the narrative voice was just brilliant. I really, truly loved this book. Also, this isn't really a spoiler, but when Salay thinks that Tress is a King's Mask, and Fort questions that assumption by asking if it isn't suspicious that an eighteen-year-old girl would be a King's Mask, I was like, "Huh. In most YA fantasy, Tress would be a King's Mask." But the beauty of Tress of the Emerald Sea is that she's not. She's just an ordinary girl trying to get her boyfriend back. And that's refreshing, to be honest.

Did you read any 5-star books in December? What are you looking forward to reading in the new year? I'd love to chat with you in the comments!