#bookish december

[lone-nyctophile]

[vividiangelo]

"December's wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer's memory..."

–John Geddes, A Familiar Rain

[bookaddict24-7]

(New Young Adult Releases Coming Out Today! (December 24th, 2024)

___

Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

___

New Sequels:

Heavenly Tyrant (Iron Widow #2) by Xiran Jay Zhao

___

Happy reading!

[aphantomslibrary]

❄️☃️ Lil holiday/christmassy photoshoot! ❄️☃️

I’m from a multicultural home, so we celebrate more than one winter holiday. The season always feels so cozy and warm, and I love capturing that in my photography and art.

[amaliathereader]

[godzilla-reads]

❄️Welcome December❄️

[readtheuniverse]

[freckles-and-books]

Bringing Braiding Sweetgrass, The Spear Cuts Through Water, and I Contain Multitudes into the new year.

[franticvampirereads]

December has been a really great reading month. It was filled with all the cozy holiday reads and bookish Christmas gifts. Here’s what I read this month:

The Sunshine Court (reread) 5⭐️ {review}

You Can Count On Me 5⭐️ {review}

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy 4⭐️ {review}

Merry In Spite 3⭐️ {review}

Ice Palace Prince 4⭐️ (see above link)

Delayed For The Holidays 5⭐️ (see above link)

A Holly Jolly Mess 4⭐️ {review}

To The North Of His Pole 2.75⭐️

Amnesia (a tarot sequence short story) {not pictured} 4⭐️

Ocean’s Echo -currently reading

If Only In Our Dreams -currently reading

My favorite books this month were The Sunshine Court, You Can Count On Me, and If Only In Our Dreams. All of them were so much fun!

[gcantread]

December 2024 reads

[loved liked ok nope dnf bookclub*]

A Memory Called Empire • Jade City • Saga (Vol 2) • Saga (Vol 3) • Saga (Vol 4) • Saga (Vol 5) • Garlic and the Vampire • Beauty*

Remember when I imagined that December was gonna be "sci-fi epics and finishing ongoing series" month? As if I've ever had spare time to read in December? Yeah, file that away under "hilarious jokes by G."

In between all the family obligations and grass-touching (SO much grass-touching) I did manage to read 4 volumes of Saga, so... sort of managed to keep to the sci-fi epic theme? I also had a very bookish time at the Denver Art Museum's exhibit on Maurice Sendak (10/10 definitely recommended if you can get to it; so much creative inspiration and insight on storytelling + art!)

Saga (volumes 2-5) ★★★★☆ - Continues to deliver. I feel like every single character design started out as a "wouldn't it be cool if?" And the answer is yes, yes it would be cool if. Story-wise, it's going in directions I never expected—I can't believe how many more volumes there are. How is that possible when Hazel is aging faster than frickin Renesmee? Here's hoping we follow her well into old age and get nursing home drama.

A Memory Called Empire ★★★★1/2 - Everyone told me it was good and y'all were right. Thematically, conceptually, philosophically, I was picking up everything this book was putting down. Since when are plots so engrossing that the lesbianism is just a nice little bonus? I want a dozen more of these.

Garlic and the Vampire ★★★★☆ - A cute little middle-grade graphic novel I picked up after spotting it in Beastly Books in November. Not much to say other than "it was cute!" I like how tiny the vegetable characters are.

Beauty ★★★★☆ - A reread for book club! I think I liked it better this time around? At least, after reading Rose Daughter, I can appreciate the relative succinctness and tighter plotting (relative term) of Beauty. My favorite part is still the regular ole cottagecore struggles of being the Village Blacksmith's Family. Like yes girl tell me more about how you learned to bake bread or whatever

DNFs: I tried to read Jade City at the beginning of the month and just couldn't get into it—a combination of being too busy and having my attention span shot to hell, I think. I've tentatively shelved it as "maybe some other time when I'm in the right mood." What do you guys think, is it worth picking back up?

December superlatives

Next up:

I started January off with a vacation involving many planes, car rides, and lounging around the beach because the waves were too rough to swim—ideal reading conditions! I doubt I'll beat last January's total of 14 books, but then again I'm already 7 books in (and just started #8, The Lies of Locke Lamora), so... maybe? We'll see if I get snowed in again lol

previous months:

july august september october november

[bellasbookclub]

Fairy Tale December is SO BACK 🥀🏰🐾

Why is the tale of Beauty and the Beast inherently wintercore? Doesn't matter, it just is—which is why BBC's December book is fairy tale retelling Beauty by Robin McKinley! Read the book before the last rose petal falls and then join us for our Discord discussion on Christmas Adam December 23rd. Fairy tale? More like furry tale 🌹✨

Discord discussion: Monday 12/23 8 PM EST | Tuesday 12/24 11 AM AEST

***note: Robin McKinley has written two novels that are Beauty and the Beast retellings. We are reading the one entitled Beauty ✅, NOT the one called Rose Daughter ⛔

Join the Storygraph readalong here!

Bella’s Book Club is an interactive virtual book club created by the Three Books One Plot podcast. Our monthly Discord discussions are open to all! More info here.

[falcon943]

Ye December ki sard raat har saal apne saath kuch na kuch naya laati hai

Kabhi apne saath naye malal naya zawal lati hai

Kabhi naye shouk naye zauk naya khouf lati hai

Kabhi naye log naye sog naya rog laati hai

Har December ki sard apne saath kuch na kuch naya laati

[bookaddict24-7]

(New Young Adult Releases Coming Out Today! (December 10th, 2024)

___

Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

___

New Releases:

The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

We Are the Beasts by Gigi Griffis

You're Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker

New Sequels:

The Voice of the Wretched (A Court of Miracles #2) by Kester Grant

___

Happy reading!

[aphantomslibrary]

❄️ There’s just something about reading as the snow falls…

[books-and-strawberry-tea]

New Words this Year(ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ.ﾟ

Thanks to my kindle, its easy for me to keep track of new words I come across while reading. I look at the definitions and keep the word highlighted for later. So here are some of the words I came across this year that I either have heard but dont know what they mean, or new words entirely.

Tumblr seriously hated me while I was making this post. Nothing but problems. Wouldn’t let me post it. Undoing all my formatting multiple times. So if you see any mistakes please let me know 🥹 (ugh it’s gotten rid of my numbered dot points too. I’m so sorry this post is a nightmare)

The Scarlet Veil ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

Egad

Expressing surprise, anger, or affirmation. First recorded in 1665–75; euphemistic alteration of oh God!

Herculean

Requiring great strength or effort. 1590–1600; < Latin Hercule ( us ) of, belonging to Hercules + -an. Digging the tunnel was a herculean task.

A Court of Thorns and Roses ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

Conflagration

an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property. A destructive fire, usually an extensive one.

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin conflagrātiōn- (stem of conflagrātiō ), equivalent to conflagrāt(us), past participle of conflagrāre “to burn up”; con- ( def ), -ate 1( def ), -ion ( def ). Latin flagr- of conflagrāre is akin to fulgur “lightning,” flamma ( flame ), Greek phlóx ( phlox )

A Court of Mist and Fury ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

Odious

Extremely unpleasant; repulsive. Deserving or causing hatred; hateful; detestable. Highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting.

1350–1400; Middle English from Latin odiōsus, equivalent to od(ium) “hatred,” odium + -ōsus -ous

House of Roots and Ruin ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

curlicues

A decorative curl or twist in calligraphy or in the design of an object. An ornamental, fancy curl or twist, as in a signature.

trellises

A framework of light wooden or metal bars, chiefly used as a support for fruit trees or climbing plants. late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; trellis, -ed

Charm ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

compunction

A feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad. A feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse. Any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.

An Education in Malice ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

proffered (Proffer)

Hold out or put forward (something) to someone for acceptance. Put before someone for acceptance; offered: Thanks for all the proffered advice. He concluded that something was better than nothing, and agreed to the proffered terms. Proffer = to put before a person for acceptance; offer.

milieu

A person's social environment. Surroundings, especially of a social or cultural nature: a snobbish milieu. Synonyms: setting, sphere, background

dour

sullen; gloomy:The captain's dour look depressed us all. Synonyms: moody, sour, morose

severe; stern:His dour criticism made us regret having undertaken the job.

Scot. (of land) barren; rocky, infertile, or otherwise difficult or impossible to cultivate.

bacchantes

A female bacchant. Bacchant -

a priest, priestess, or votary of Bacchus; bacchanal.

a drunken reveler.

First recorded in 1690–1700, bacchant is from the Latin word bacchant- (stem of bacchāns, present participle of bacchārī to revel). See Bacchus, -ant

matriculate

to enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree.

to register (a coat of arms), used especially in Scottish heraldry. 1480–90 for earlier sense; < Medieval Latin mātrīculātus (person) listed (for some specific duty), equivalent to mātrīcul ( a ) list ( matriculant ) + -ātus -ate

peaty

Of, pertaining to, resembling, or containing the substance peat.

Peat -

a highly organic material found in marshy or damp regions, composed of partially decayed vegetable matter: it is cut and dried for use as fuel.

such vegetable matter used as fertilizer or fuel.

equivocation

the use of equivocal or ambiguous expressions, especially in order to mislead or hedge; prevarication.

an equivocal, ambiguous expression; equivoque: The speech was marked by elaborate equivocations.

Logic. a fallacy caused by the double meaning of a word.

Mephistopheles

Medieval Demonology. one of the seven chief devils and the tempter of Faust.

succinctly

In a concise or verbally brief manner: Students must demonstrate the ability to correctly and succinctly communicate research findings.

pedagogy

the function or work of a teacher; teaching.

the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.

tempestuous

characterized by or subject to tempests:the tempestuous ocean.

of the nature of or resembling a tempest:a tempestuous wind. Synonyms: stormy, violent

tumultuous; turbulent:a tempestuous period in history.

Temptest -

a violent windstorm, especially one with rain, hail, or snow.

a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult.

subjugated

Subjugate -

to bring under complete control or subjection; conquer; master. Synonyms: overpower, reduce, vanquish, overcome

to make submissive or subservient; enslave. Synonyms: overpower, reduce, vanquish, overcome

magnanimous

generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness:to be magnanimous toward one's enemies. Synonyms: kindly, charitable, big

high-minded; noble:a just and magnanimous ruler.

proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc.:a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.

wizened

withered; shriveled:

a wizened old man; wizened features.

impervious

not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable:The coat is impervious to rain.

incapable of being injured or impaired:impervious to wear and tear.

incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected:impervious to reason; impervious to another's suffering. Synonyms: closed, invulnerable

Belladonna ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

mirth

gaiety or jollity, especially when accompanied by laughter:the excitement and mirth of the holiday season.Antonyms: gloom

amusement or laughter: He was unable to conceal his mirth.

First recorded before 900; Middle English mirthe, Old English myrgth. See merry, -th

Leather & Lark ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

pyroclastic

Geology.

composed chiefly of fragments of volcanic origin, as agglomerate, tuff, and certain other rocks; volcaniclastic.

First recorded in 1885–90; pyro- + clastic

Multifaceted

having many facets, as a gem.

having many aspects or phases:a multifaceted problem.

saccharine

of the nature of or resembling that of sugar:a powdery substance with a saccharine taste.

containing or yielding sugar.

very sweet to the taste; sugary:a saccharine dessert.

cloyingly agreeable or ingratiating:a saccharine personality.

exaggeratedly sweet or sentimental:a saccharine smile; a saccharine song of undying love.

nonplussed

completely puzzled or perplexed by something unexpected:She blows a hole in the wall and escapes, and the nonplussed aliens are left wondering what happened.

not dismayed; indifferent or unexcited; calm:I hadn’t yet told my girlfriend I was leaving—I didn't want to risk being crushed by a nonplussed response to the news.

First recorded in 1600–10; nonplus ( def ) + -ed 2( def )

flummoxed

Informal. utterly bewildered, confused, or puzzled:

When I walk into a store to buy video equipment and see the multitude of options, I’m befuddled and flummoxed.

The Thirteenth Child ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

wedgelette

I...I have no idea what this means and when I google it only the book comes up XD

perdition

a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation.

the future state of the wicked.

hell ( def 1 ).

utter destruction or ruin.

Obsolete. loss.

The Pale Dreamer ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

mercurial

changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic:a mercurial nature.Synonyms: indecisive, inconstantAntonyms: steady, constant

animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.Synonyms: spiritedAntonyms: phlegmatic

pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Mercury.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the planet Mercury.

milliner(s)

a person who designs, makes, or sells hats for women.

First recorded in 1520–30; variant of obsolete Milaner “native of Milan, dealer in goods from Milan” ( Milan was formerly accented on the first syllable); -er 1

haberdasher(s)

a retail dealer in men's furnishings, as shirts, ties, gloves, socks, and hats.

Chiefly British. a dealer in small wares and notions.

1275–1325; Middle English haberdasshere, of obscure origin; compare Anglo-French habredache haberdashery, hapertas perhaps a kind of cloth

trepidation

tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation. Synonyms: disquiet, apprehension, panic, alarm, fright, fear, dread, anxiety

Archaic. trembling or quivering movement; tremor.

craven

cowardly; contemptibly timid; pusillanimous.

Synonyms: timorous, fearful, dastardly

assent

to agree or concur; subscribe to (often followed by to ):to assent to a statement. Synonyms: acquiesce

to give in; yield; concede:Assenting to his demands, I did as I was told. Synonyms: acquiesce

perfunctory

performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial:perfunctory courtesy. Synonyms: uninterested, thoughtless, heedless, negligent Antonyms: diligent, careful

lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic:In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker. Synonyms: uninterested, thoughtless, heedless, negligent Antonyms: diligent, careful

Spark of the Everflame ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

raucously (raucous)

harsh; strident; grating:raucous voices; raucous laughter. Synonyms: raspy, rough Antonyms: dulcet, mellow, soft

rowdy; disorderly:a raucous party.

Glow of the Everflame ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

reticence

the state of being reticent, or reserved, especially with regard to speaking freely; restraint:

His natural reticence seemed to disappear under the influence of alcohol.

apoplectic

of or relating to apoplexy or stroke.

having or inclined to apoplexy.

intense enough to threaten or cause apoplexy:an apoplectic rage.

extremely angry; furious:He became apoplectic at the mere mention of the subject.

Hopefully you learnt some new words! I definitely have!

(These words have been collected since May 2024 when I got my kindle and are whats listed in my kindle as of posting on the 29th Dec 2024.)

[godzilla-reads]

☘️ December Reading Wrap Up ☘️

Hello 🩵 and welcome to the last day of December 2024 🎉 This month I finished 11 books, bringing my final yearly total to 145 books finished! Huzzah! 🥳

My Top 3 Choices were “Crush” by Richard Siken; “Song of the Golden Hare” by Jackie Morris; and “La Bastarda” by Trifonia Melibea Obono (trans. Lawrence Schimel). The other great books I read were:

🩵 Winter: A Folio Anthology edited by Sue Bradbury

🥀 Roses: A Romantic History with a Guide to Cultivation by Janet Browne

🐦‍⬛ Crows: An Old Rhyme by Heidi Holder

🐛 In a Jar by Deborah Marcero

🍃 Nature Myths by Margaret W. Metcalfe

🦢 The Names Upon the Harp: Irish Myth & Legend by Marie Heaney and P.J. Lynch

🌲 Flower Fairies of the Winter by Cicely Mary Barker

🧚‍♀️ The Faerie Queen’s Creed by Annie Dowdell

What did you read?