What I've been reading in January

Wow, how is it the last day of January already? This month has flown by! The start of 2015 has been a bit of hectic one for me, lots going on, some of it good, some of it much less so. Thank goodness for being able to curl up under my cosy blanket of an evening with a good book and a cup of tea. I think I'm trying to hibernate.

So far this year, I have finished three books, all of which I have enjoyed (though to very varying degrees). Here they are....

1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (★★★★★ 5 stars). I loved this book. It's a big, old doorstop of a novel, packed full of rich, vibrant storytelling and utterly gripping from start to finish. It was a perfect blending of fantasy and historical fiction, two my favourite genres. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book is written in the style of the period in which it is set. For me, that made it all the more absorbing. Overall, one of the best books I have read in ages. Can't believe I didn't get round to it sooner!

2. A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond (★★★ 3 stars). This book is a unique, lyrical re-telling of the classical Orpheus myth. This is one of those books that draws you in right from the very start, with a first page that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the tale:

"I need to cast the story out and live my life. I'll tell it fast and true to get it gone, right now, while darkness deepens over the icy North and the bitter stars shine down. I'll finish it by morning. I'll bring my friend into the world one last night then let her go forever. Follow me, one word then another, one sentence then another, one death then another."

This book is beautiful, heart-breaking and raw. The supernatural/mythological elements are spell-binding and beautifully written. However, one of my favourite things about this book is how grounded it is in the real world. David Almond's descriptions of the characters' haunts in Newcastle and the wild Northumberland beaches are so vivid. His characters also feel powerfully real; the voices, thoughts and feelings of young people on the cusp of adulthood captured beautifully. While overall there were things about this book that just didn't work for me, it's nonetheless still a great read and beautifully written.

3. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (★★★ 3 stars). I've heard lots of good things about this book and thought it would be my cup of tea. Sadly, although I did enjoy it for the most part, it didn't "wow me" as much I'd hoped. I loved the setting of "New World" and the concept of Noise was fascinating. There were also some incredibly powerful and bold scenes. However, as the book progressed I found the constant cycle of danger and escape became a little tedious. Also, there was a lot of information that Todd, as narrator, withholds for much of the book that is too easy to guess, meaning there isn't that sense of shock when it is ultimately revealed. This said, however, I am still more than intrigued to know what happens next so I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

My current read is The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. I'm only on page 96 but I am really enjoying so far. After that, I'm hoping to read either Station Eleven or Hollow City, depending on which arrives first at the library. Then on to tackle my TBR pile in earnest!

Hope you have had a good start to 2015. What have you been reading and what are your plans for February?