January wrap-up and February Reading Plans

January passed very quickly and we are already into February. I can’t say that I had a very interesting reading month, more leisurely wise. As it was not the best month for me, I took it easy with my choices, which is why they tend to lean on the lighter side.

Read in January

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

En klenod i samlingen by Agatha Christie

The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler

Muhammed by Klas Grinell

Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

4.50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie

Complete Odes by Pindar

Jason and the Argonauts by Apollonius of Rhodes

---

That makes four Agatha Christie in my quest to read all her books. 4.50 from Paddington was the best, I think, and really good. Passenger to Frankfurt started out very well, but I somehow lost track towards the end. These are books where either HP or Miss M are in the story but being side characters.

Anne Tyler is a favourite author and The Accidental Tourist is great. I loved the film when I saw it many years ago. I would like to use this novel for my challenge: Read the book, see the movie. I started to read all of Anne Tyler’s books in a challenge a couple of years ago, but somehow stopped mid way. This is a way to start reading her again. She is a sure observer of human psychology and actions, especially family related.

I have not read anything by Nora Ephron earlier, although seeing several films she wrote. In this book, I Feel Bad About My Neck, we follow her through her life, interests, work and family life and it is gives you a good feeling reading her short insights into her life. Especially, in this confused world we are living in for the moment.

Only one nonfiction book this month, and it is also an audio book. Muhammed by Klas Grinell. He is an author and associate professor of the history of ideas, with a focus on Islamic tradition, cultural heritage and philosophy. It is an interesting, short introduction to the life of Mohammed, his time and deeds.

Finally, two books included in my Curriculum reading of Literature and History.

Complete Odes by Pindar was written in the early 5th century BCE, Pindar’s odes are among the most celebrated works of ancient Greek lyric poetry. Composed to honor victors in the various Panhellenic athletic games. They combine praise with myth, moral reflection, and religious devotion. I found it rather difficult to read and it is very dense. It is famous for offering a glimpse into Greek values of excellence, fame, and the fragile balance between human success and divine favour. I can only recommend it if you are really into the ancient Greek world.

Jason and the Argonauts by Apollonius of Rhodes is more accessible and tells the story of Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece. It is always a fascinating story and I did not really know the details. It was composed in the 3rd century BCE. Unliked Homer’s epics, this poem focuses on psychological depth, emotional conflict, and complex character relationships—most notably the inner turmoil of Medea. Here is an epic full of adventure as Jason and his Argonauts set out to find the Golden Fleece. We meet friends and foes, and some of the most famous people from the Greek myths; Jason and Medea. Especially the second part was written in a style that felt very modern, with thrilling descriptions on how to manage to catch the fleece and get away with it. An interesting mix between a classical epic story telling and more modern tones. This story is for everyone who wants to know the story behind the Golden Fleece.

I have also joined two read-alongs with Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy with host Nick Senger and Paradise Lost by John Milton with hostess GlutenbergBible. I really enjoy reading these two classics in a slow pace.

Plans for February

At the end of 2025 I decided to plan part of my monthly reading by reading specific genres. It did not turn out well in January, as I did not plan it. For every month I would like to read a book from the following genres.

---

Classics/Read-a-long: Anna Karenina - a chapter a day - ongoing until the summer

Classics/Read-a-long: Paradise Lost - certain lines a day - ongoing until the summer

Non-fiction:

Classics:

Novell:

SciFi:

---

I did try to read A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess for January but could not stand the language and gave up after two pages. Yep, although a classic as well.

Apart from the continuous read-along here is what I have planned. I try to use books from my own shelves, to lower the number of unread books crowded there.

Non-fiction: Why We Sleep - Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker - perfect, I hope, for someone who does not sleep very well.

Classics: Makurells i Wadköping by Hjalmar Bergman - A Swedish Classic that made a great success as a tv-series in 1968. It is a satirical novel about a flamboyant, dishonest businessman who schemes his way through a small Swedish town. Through his rise and fall, Bergman exposes hypocrisy, self-deception, and the thin line between success and fraud. I have just started and find it a little bit slow in the beginning.

Novella: Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote - I think it does not need any further introduction. Could easily go under Classics as well.

SciFi: Animal Farm by George Orwell - I have read his 1984 but never got around to this one. Also this one is a classic.

My Curriculum

I am on the road to Antiquity with my reading for Literature and History. The recommendations come from the youtube channel of Dr Jean Menzies; Jean’s Thoughts. She is an Ancient Historian and Author and talks about the Ancient world in an understandable way. This month I will read the following two books

Library of Greek Mythology by Apollodorus is one of the most important surviving handbooks of Greek myth. “Written as a compilation, it traces mythological history from the origins of the gods through the heroes of the Trojan War, preserving countless stories that are otherwise lost or fragmented in earlier sources. Its clear, almost encyclopedic style makes it invaluable for both scholars and modern readers.”

Posthomerica by Quintus Smyrnaeus picks up “the story of the Trojan War where Homer’s Iliad ends, narrating the events from Hector’s death to the fall of Troy and the Greeks’ departure. Composed centuries later in Homeric style, the poem fills a major gap in the epic tradition, blending reverence for Homer with late-antique literary sensibilities.”

These two should give me more insight into the Greek myths, and the fascinating tale of the Trojan War and its heroes. Apart from these reading goals I hope to read a few books that come my way during the month.