January Reads

It’s officially February, which means we are that much closer to spring! This weekend we’ve had a bout of mock spring weather that’s gotten my cravings for spring sunshine at an all time high, although we’re supposed to dip down to below the teens in temperature this week. But because it’s a new month, I’m going to be doing my monthly recap on the books I read in January!

If you didn’t read my 2020 goals post, let me fill you in. I made a New Years’ resolution to read two books every month this year, one fiction and one non-fiction. For January, I started out by reading The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. It’s definitely a book I would recommend to literally anyone who is interested in achieving higher success in any area of their life. Written in a very straightforward, sometimes cocky tone, Hardy gives you straight, hard facts and principles that you need to achieve success in your life.

The main premise of the book is that small habits compounded consistently over time yield the greatest of results. Throughout the book, practical tips are shared to help you track the consistency of your habits, go the extra mile to achieve more excellent results, and channel the motivation you need to stick with your habits. Overall, it was a really motivational start to my new year, and inspired me to start tracking the time I spend on my phone….which honestly so far I’ve been terrible at, but I keep trying to recommit. (lol wish me luck!)

The fiction book I decided to read was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (for like the tenth time probably). This book was a huge part of my childhood and has defined who I am in a major way. After watching the brilliant Greta Gerwig film version at the end of December, it really caused me to start thinking about all the reasons this story is relevant and important today, and decided it was time to revisit it. I’m so glad I did! It’s such a magical and pure book, reading it transports me into a beautiful and innocent world of four sisters who sincerely desire to do good things with their lives and love the people in it with all of their hearts.

The language is a delight to the soul, and the character development actually astounds me. I think that’s the reason this book has been so incredibly popular over the years honestly. The characters are like real people with human flaws and strengths, hopes and fears, and you grow to feel like they are your friends, and that they’re happy to see you when you come back to visit for the umpteenth time.

Also I have to say that re-reading the book made me appreciate Gerwig’s film so much more. She used so many lines directly from the book which I love, but also put that modern touch to make it culturally relevant today….I just can’t. Because as much as we love the old story and want it to stay exactly the same, a story that can change and mold with the times and be seen through a new lens is so much more powerful for years and years to come. It just goes to further prove that Alcott was a genius and way ahead of her times.

Anyway, if you haven’t read Little Women, please, please do. I highly recommend it.

I also wanted to include a mini life update in this post, since we are a month into 2020 already! Really the biggest change that’s occurred is that I started my new job! I’m finally done with training and officially established in my little cubicle, and it’s been really great so far. I love having the opportunity to work with people and help them with their business, it’s one of my favorite things to be trusted with such responsibility and form great relationships with the people I work with!

Wishing you all a delightful and productive February!