Into the Archivist's Mind: December Books
Writing about the nine books I read in December + my reading challenge!
The December wrap up is here! What a fantastic reading year this has been.
I don’t care as much about challenges as I did when I was younger, but I still enjoy setting personal goals, it is absolutely not that serious — it’s just for fun! Every year, I set my reading goal to 50 books, this year I surpassed that goal in a few months! So I decided to raise it to 100… and I did it for the first time ever! This year I discovered some amazing books (and a few… well, not so great ones). But I always say that every book I read shapes my taste as a reader, so I’m grateful for each one.
This December, I managed to read nine books (one of them on my kindle… progress!) and I’m excited to share my thoughts on them. I wanted to say thank you to every single one of you for sticking around this year and for always reading my thoughts, I never take it for granted.
Wishing you a wonderful start of the year and as always, happy reading!
— Ella.
The Copenhagen Trilogy written by Tove Ditlevsen.
Childhood is dark and it's always moaning like a little animal that's locked in a cellar and forgotten. It comes out of your throat like your breath in the cold, and sometimes it's too little, other times too big. It never fits exactly. It's only when it has been cast off that you can look at it calmly and talk about it like an illness you've survived.
A child who dreams only of becoming a writer, despite growing up in a home where she’s told it’s impossible. A girl who works tirelessly and falls in love over and over. A woman who, caught between lovers and children, succumbs to the grip of addiction but never stops growing and changing and never stops writing. This is the story of Tove Ditlevsen, told in three unforgettable parts: Childhood/Youth/Dependency. Her prose is honest and direct, yet undeniably poetic and never cold. Here, she invites us into key chapters of her life — a life tragically cut short by suicide at the age of 58. What struck me most about this trilogy was the depiction of human relationships: often difficult, but always deeply authentic. The honesty with which Ditlevsen shares her fascinating, intense life is real and complex, often terrible and tragic. From the very first pages, I was transported into her world, choosing to read slowly and trying to truly connect with her. I put the book down reluctantly each time, driven by the desire to truly know this remarkable woman. I also loved that she included some of her poems in this memoir, I think they added depth and felt like I was navigating her mind even more deeply, a mind that I now admire so so much.
A little Princess written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
If Nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that – warm things, kind things, sweet things – help and comfort and laughter – and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all.
This was my second novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, I read it over the holidays (I love losing myself in children’s books during this season). In this one, we follow Sara, the sweetest protagonist ever. After being raised lovingly by her father, she is sent to a boarding school in London, where her wealth and privileges earn her the nickname “the princess.” But when her father dies, she finds herself penniless and confined to an attic as a servant. I called her “the sweetest protagonist” because I love the way the author wrote her: she’s always full of kindness and generosity, even when she’s treated horribly and with cruelty. She manages to remain hopeful through her imagination, I think this isn’t just a story for children — I do wish I had read it as a child — but it’s a story where everyone can learn something, it’s also beautifully written and doesn’t feel cheesy or too childish. I still preferred The Secret Garden but this is a beautiful timeless classic.
The wood at Midwinter written by Susanna Clarke.
“You have visions. You can’t see any difference between animals and people. You can’t see any difference between spiders and people. And you’re really only happy when you’re in church. Or in a wood.”
“A church is a sort of wood,” said Merowdis, musingly.
“A wood is a sort of church. They’re the same thing really.”
I think the best way to describe this little short story is in Susanna Clarke’s own words: “wind; woods; animals; snow; the insistence that the category of things we love could be larger; and a woman who is so single-minded in following where love leads that she barely notices she has left sanity behind.” I read this story at the beginning of December but I wish I had saved it for Christmas Day. It’s the perfect companion for a quiet winter afternoon, perfect to read it under a blanket with a cup of tea. The story is enchanting but what captivated me most was the afterword. The author reflects on her inspiration for the tale: Kate Bush and her music. This was a nice surprise! I’ve always found it so fascinating to glimpse into an author’s creative process, I particularly loved this paragraph: “The wood speaks because a tree is a kind of person. Trees exist on a different timescale from us, but they have certain sorts of thoughts and a certain way of looking at the world. I have believed this since I was a child.” The childlike wonder is just beautiful. I also wanted to take a moment to appreciate the illustrations, which I think made this book even more lovely. Absolutely pick this up if you’re looking for something magical and atmospheric.
The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
There are things in that paper which nobody knows but me, or ever will.
This short story is well known and it’s easy to see why. Written in journal form, the narrator describes her days confined to a room with a disturbing yellow wallpaper, slowly becoming obsessed with it. Locked up by her husband under the excuse of treating her “hysteria,” the story includes themes of patriarchy and the oppressive treatment of women in the 1800s. I found the plot haunting and interesting but I think the real strength of this story lies in its message. The commentary on mental health and gender roles remains deeply relevant, as women are still often treated with hostility and we are still called “crazy” so often. This is short enough to read in an hour and I’d recommend it for the powerful social critique it holds.
The Bear and the Nightingale written by Katherine Arden.
Wild birds die in cages.
Finally, a fantasy novel! I’ve always been drawn to this genre, but I find it hard to come across one that I truly enjoy — especially enough to go through a whole series. Describing the plot of The Bear and the Nightingale is not that easy but essentially, it tells the story of the Vladimirovich family, focusing on the youngest daughter, Vasya. She possesses extraordinary abilities, including the power to see mythical creatures. Reading this book felt like stepping into an enchanted world: cold, yet cozy at the same time. It takes place in medieval Russia, this setting is stunning and beautifully atmospheric. I enjoyed the story, though it’s clear this is the first book in a series; I’ll likely need to read the second one to fully immerse myself in the heart of this tale. I loved, loved the elements of folklore and religion, they were my favorite parts of the whole book. I have to be honest though, I expected a little more from the writing, but as a debut novel, I actually think it’s impressive.
Cold Nights of Childhood written by Tezer Özlü.
What we need most: to understand what life is, to come to terms with it. Instead the real world into which we must descend stands before us like an alien object. Like the globe they bring out in geography class. No one mentions that life is none other than the days, nights and seasons through which we pass. We sit there waiting for the sign. Preparing. For what?
This is a short one. I’ve never been a fan of the stream of consciousness style and unfortunately this book didn’t change my mind. But it still feels unfair to critique the structure of a deeply personal and painful story. This was a haunting read. The protagonist of this short novel is a Turkish woman and we follow her journey through love, sexuality, and the complexities of life. As always, the childhood scenes were my favorite parts (I guess you can tell by now that I’m a deeply nostalgic person). As the novel progresses, the narrative grows darker and more heartbreaking. She founds herself locked up in multiple psychiatric wards, where doctors force her to the electroshock treatments. These parts were extremely hard to get through, made even more heartbreaking by knowing the story is based on real events. In the end, Cold Nights of Childhood is an unsettling but strong portrayal of pain and strength.
Heidi written by Johanna Spyri.
The happiest of all things is when an old friend comes and greets us as in former times; the heart is comforted with the assurance that some day everything that we have loved will be given back to us.
Yes, I read another children’s classic! This one brought back so many fond memories for me. I grew up watching the cartoon adaptation of Heidi, so it’s crazy to think that I’m only reading the book for the first time as an adult. The story is timeless and well known: Heidi is an orphan raised by her aunt, one day she is left with her reclusive grandfather in the mountains. This marks the beginning of Heidi’s beautiful relationship with nature, the goats, and her friendship with Peter, the local goatherd. These were some of my favorite moments in the book — I love nature, and the descriptions of the Alps truly transported me there. Johanna Spyri’s simple but magical writing really made me feel the fresh mountain air. Later, Heidi is sent to Frankfurt to be a lady companion to Clara, a wealthy young girl who is unable to walk. Clara and Heidi form a pure and innocent friendship, even though Heidi struggles with homesickness for her beloved mountains and her grandfather. This is mostly Fraulein Rottenmeier’s fault, the perfectly written “villain” of the story, one of those characters you just love to hate. I loved Heidi’s free spirit, innocence, and joy for life, these characters traits never bore me and especially here, felt very genuine. The author’s portrayal of Heidi’s character is so pure and hopeful that it’s impossible not to fall in love with her. Even though this book was written for children, it can still be a beautiful escape for readers of any age. As the author herself said, “This is a book for children and for those who love children.”
L’invenzione Occasionale written by Elena Ferrante.
Il futuro che mi interessa è un futuro di assoluta apertura all'altro, a qualsiasi essere vivente, a tutto ciò che è attraversato dal soffio della vita.
I read this in Italian as it is my first language, but I urge you to pick up this remarkable collection in any language you prefer. This book is a collection of Elena Ferrante’s monthly columns for The Guardian, a collaboration where the editors would propose a topic and Ferrante would write a response. Written in Italian and translated into English by Ann Goldstein, some of these short essays lean toward lighter themes, while others are more on the heavier side. She writes about motherhood, politics, her younger self, writing, the creative process, and even the transformation of her books into movies. Having read all of her novels, I often think Elena Ferrante is the most fascinating person in the world, even if her modesty still persists after all the recognition she has received over the years. As always, I still suggest starting with her novels before diving into her nonfiction work. That said, this is a gem, and it’s nearly as beautiful as La Frantumaglia. Don’t miss it!
I read more children's lit this year and it's been so so comforting, especially when I felt like my brain couldn't handle anything else but I still wanted to read. Definitely intrigued by the ones you mentioned!
Added so many to my list! All of these covers are gorgeous too! Happy holidays 💕