January 2022 Reading

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I do a monthly round up for everything we’ve read each month. Himself focuses on science articles and forums and news, so he’s not getting a section – books only!

Large boy

The Red Pyramid and The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

He says they were good, all about Sadie and Carter Kane who have to try and kill Set the Egyptian god of chaos. They also have to stop Vladmir from releasing Apophis the huge serpent.

He has been saving this series for quite a long time and has really enjoyed finally reading them. Scoring millions of reading points in the process.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

He says this was too complicated, he’s going to save it and read if again with the rest of the series when he’s older. I think he did quite empathise with Arthur’s anti-Thursdayness.

Small boy

Small boy is 6 and a half. He’s just in year 2 having learned to read over the last two years with the marvellous Read Write Inc phonics scheme. It’s brilliant and he’s made huge progress since we began home learning back in March 2020, especially through the spring of 2021. Well, I’m thrilled that he’s now reading so confidently and independently that his section of our monthly round up has been promoted above mine. He’s currently juggling: a guided reading with his group at school (no idea what) and a school book during term time, Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis (himself and I are reading it to him at bedtime), his own choice of book to read out loud to us, and some junk he’s reading to himself at bedtime, and a Dinosaur Encyclopedia in the living room so he doesn’t have to go upstairs to fetch something else. I don’t know how he’s keeping track of all the different stories but he’s getting 90% or 100% on his quizzes so it doesn’t seem to be bothering him.

Toto the Ninja Cat and the Mystery Jewel Thief by Dermot O’Leary

He claims to have forgotten all about this “that was weeks ago mum!” and refuses to provide a review. So my feedback is that it was pretty hard going with some tough words in places but it made up for that with silliness and fun capers. The good guys won in the end of course.

Amazing Animal Babies by Chris Packham

He loves this, discovered facts that even he didn’t know and told me lots of other things he knew but the book didn’t say. He’s always been a Chris Packham fan, first with his T Rex documentary on the BBC when small boy was 2 and a half. This is no different.

Genius Ideas (Mostly) by Liz Pichon

Totally independent reading on this one. I’ll have nothing to do with this tosh. However, small boy giggled his way through and is so proud he’s reading some of the same books as his brother.

Me

The Night Thief by Joy Ellis

Ah this was so interesting, I love my Jackman and Evans pairing and this was such a twisty turny tale. The premise is that someone is sneaking into single women’s houses and stealing pictures of 10 yr old boys. There are several wrong turns before the tragic reason becomes clear. Totally gripping. I would never expect less from Joy Ellis.

One Lost Soul and Bury Your Past by J M Dalgliesh

Ah look, I found a new detective series. Tom Janssen and Tamara Greave are my new favourite pair. Two very different stories with some parallel threads and a good dose of mystery.

Set in Norfolk, where himself and I met and lived for several years, there’s plenty of nostalgia for me too. Tom seems effortlessly cool while Tamara is calmly professional and a little aloof. I can see their partnership growing into a riveting story to observe. Yeah, I’m on book three already.

How about you?

What books have you and your family enjoyed lately?

6 thoughts on “January 2022 Reading”

Pingback: February 2022 Reading – Smelly Socks and Garden Peas

Love to see how all of you are reading and you’re putting the updates together in post. Hope you have a great reading February!

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Brilliant reading within the family there.

My grandson learned to read (before he started school) by making his on words playing in the bath with a foam alphabet letters, and reading car number plates. He entered infant school as a confident reader and was tested as having the reading ability of a 16 year old as far as reading separate words. He’s nearly 8 and a total bookworm.
I was reading a lot of what I consider tosh with him before with his family (my daughter and son-in-law) they moved to Cleethorpes where they could afford to buy a house. I miss reading tosh with the boy.

Heck, I totally dislike football, and cars, yet I listen to the audiobooks about Rashford, Ronaldo, Mbappe, etc that I bought for him for when he’s at my home as I miss him so much.
I’ve read grown up biographies of Arsene Wegner, and Jensen Button (interesting lives but the statistics about their respective professions and equipment was a bit boring to me- though my grandson goes online finds these tables and improved his handwriting by copying them out.

In my home all forms are equal. Comics, printed books, kindle, and audiobooks. I’m a lifelong bookworm who is currently learning braille so I can go back to quietly reading while listening to the rain. I’m registered blind and the little sight I have is deteriorating steadily.

I’m glad I found your blog.