As I mentioned in this Instagram post, one of my goals/intentions for the new year is to read more.

Reading, much like writing, brings me so much joy, and I’ve been a bookworm for most of my life. I know many of you guys who keep up with A Cup of Catherine are voracious readers, too, so I thought it might be fun to share and recap the books I’ve read each month.

If you’d like to take part in a “virtual book club” and share your own reviews or opinions (or offer suggestions/recommendations for future reads), just use the tag #cupofcatherinereads on your social media and we can discuss our thoughts together.

#CUPOFCATHERINEREADS – JANUARY BOOK REVIEWS

Becoming by Michelle Obama *****

I do enjoy the occasional biography, but it’s not a genre I normally choose.

However, Michelle Obama has been a role model of mine since she first became publically known, so naturally, I loved reading about her life.

I thought the book was extremely well-written, and she managed to evoke so many emotions within me by sharing stories of her lower middle class upbringing, her close-knit family, her experiences and challenges as a minority, her deep drive and sometimes-crushing perfectionism, her early relationship with Barack Obama, and her attempts to balance career and motherhood to the best of her abilities.

Michelle, due in part to her childhood experiences and desire to work within the community, was long averse to politics, so it was intriguing to read about her transformation from corporate lawyer with zero political ambition to high-profile, widely-revered FLOTUS.

Michelle is remarkably intelligent, self-aware, and committed, and this book showcased how extraordinary—yet normal—she is. I chose to read Becoming slowly so I could savor the prose and intimate details, and I wholeheartedly give it 5 stars.

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin **** ½

If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?

Oh, how this book wrangled with my emotions! The story begins in 1969 Manhattan on the Lower East Side, when four siblings—Simon, Klara, Daniel, and Varya—sneak into the home of a fortune teller who reveals to each sibling the date of his/her own death.

What I loved most about this novel was how it made me think. It raised philosophical questions and encouraged me contemplate my own future/mortality. Would it be comforting or terrifying to know when I will die? Would I choose to live in a way that protected my vulnerabilities or would I throw all caution to the wind and live a life of hedonism and frivolity?

And would I be able to change my destiny by making careful choices and guarding myself? Or are our fates predestined?

The four siblings live—or exist—with different interpretations of these questions, and each section of the book follows their paths through life.

While I thought the writing was beautiful, and I developed such attachments to the characters (Klara in particular), I thought Benjamin left their development a little one-sided. Some plot points and descriptors were crucial to the novel’s arc, but at other times, I felt like the stories were rushed through, when a more psychological exploration of the characters’ motives and worldviews was needed.

All in all, though, I loved this book. Books that make me slightly uncomfortable and stuck in my thoughts/questions are great books, indeed, so I give this one 4 ½ stars.

Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton ***

My initial reaction to this book—the first few chapters, at least—was “what truly horrendous writing!”

I almost stopped reading because the characters’ language, lifestyles, and personalities were just too ridiculous to take in, but I trudged through and suspense eventually took over.

But don’t be fooled—this book was still a rough read. I’m quite comfortable with unlikeable characters, but these characters just seemed foolish and took “unlikeable” to the apex. 

Who is named “Beowulf” in real life? Do young socialites actually live like this? Are people truly this narcissistic?

I did like the focus on social media and our “highlight reel” lifestyle, so I thought Burton made a nice commentary about how we’ve taken our indulgent, electronic lives to extremes. But, not to share any spoilers, I did question her understanding of cellular/internet data and traceability through IP addresses and GPS (some of you will understand my interest in those things, haha) toward the story’s end.

Suspense trumps painful writing, thus I’m giving Social Creature a generous 3 stars.

Introducing #CupofCatherineReads book club + thoughts on my January reads Share on X

In February, I plan to read the following:

The Mothers by Brit Bennet

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

Feel free to join in! I’ll be sharing my thoughts along the way, and you can expect a review like this one at the end of the month or in early March.

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So tell me…

• Are you a bookworm or not?
• What is your favorite recent read?
• Have you read any of my January and February choices? If so, what were your thoughts?