Everything I Read in January, 2026

January:

1. How to Sit by Thich Nhat Hanh - From a small set of 5 Thich Nhat Hanh titles given to me as a Christmas gift, this small volume talks about how it's not necessary to formally meditate but instead to just take a few minutes out of your day to breathe, and how to do so mindfully. He suggests some mantras to use and/or how to clear your mind by simply breathing in and out and thinking, "Breathing in, I breathe in. Breathing out, I breathe out." Illustrated, short, and very digestible. If you read my blog regularly, you know I love Thich Nhat Hanh and usually read several of his books each year to keep myself centered and relaxed. I always, always highly recommend his books. 

2. Where Hope Comes From by Nikita Gill - One of the poets recommended to me when I recently asked for "accessible" poetry suggestions, I grabbed a book of hers at random. Where Hope Comes From is actually poetry written and published during the pandemic, and because Gill is British and they had genuine lockdowns, not just the wimpy one-week-and-we-have-to-reopen-everything kind of experience we had in the US, she was legitimately lonely and upset. So, this volume of poetry is both about the fear and loneliness as well as her optimism. Things will get better, keep your head up poetry. My pandemic experience was neither lonely or dull so I prefer the poems that are more generically written — not so much about her pandemic experience as life in general. Having said that, I am quite excited at the prospect of reading more by Gill as she has that upbeat attitude I love in Mary Oliver's poetry.

3. Evidence by Mary Oliver - Speaking of whom, I panic-bought two of Oliver's titles when I realized I had none left that are unread on my shelves and remembered that I have to start the year with Thich Nhat Hanh and Mary Oliver. As in her other titles, there's a great deal of focus on nature and optimism. She talks about aging (she was over 60 and starting to think about death — which rather stopped me in my tracks as I'm now over 60) and faith. My favorite poems were all about trees, including one imagining angels in the trees. You cannot lose with Mary Oliver. 

4. The Most by Jessica Anthony - I bought my copy of The Most toward the end of 2025 on a whim, in spite of the fact that it has dramatically polarized reviews (lots of 1-star and 5-star ratings at Goodreads). November 3, 1957. Virgil and Kathleen Beckett have been married for about 10 years. On the day that Sputnik 2 is launched, Kathleen is feeling a little sick until she decides to go swim and soak in the apartment pool. It's unusually warm for the season, so she feels better in the cool water and stays there all day while Virgil goes golfing. As we follow the two throughout the day, their pasts are revealed: how they met, their indiscretions, Kathleen's years as a tennis champion and the shocking end to Virgil's last job. This novella is an understated slice of life and I'm on the positive end of the rating scale. Had it been more heavily focused on the indiscretions (aka, cheating, as I'm not into books about adultery), I would have disliked it but it's more of a big-picture story about a couple on a single day with a lot of reflection on the past so I enjoyed it. 

5. How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh - The second in the 5-book boxed set mentioned above (after How to Sit), How to Eat talks about being mindful of the food that goes into your body, breathing to stop thinking about other things so you can concentrate on your food, using food as a way to gather community, eating silently, smiling at your companions briefly and then concentrating on your food, and being aware of where the food came from — how the sun, the rain, and the people who grow and deliver things played a part in getting the food to your table. Again, short paragraphs on each page and illustrations make How to Eat a quick read. I plan to read Thich Nhat Hanh's Savor, later this year. It goes into greater depth about nutrition and mindfulness when we eat. 

6. We Can Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde - I've wanted to read Mariann Edgar Budde's How to Be Brave since I heard about it after her sermon at the National Prayer Service in 2025, where Budde addressed the president, asking him to be merciful and treat the marginalized and immigrants well, basically making the president turn red with anger and conservatives attack her choice of wording. We Can Be Brave is both updated and slightly rewritten as a "youth" version. I didn't realize it was a youth version; I only read so far as to know it was updated and that made me think, "I'll get this one." It may be geared to younger people, with additional blocks of information in the margins, but I'm glad I got this particular version because it contains some interesting thoughts in the introduction as well as the full sermon from the National Prayer Service. The rest of the book talks about milestones where we need to make a personal decision and having the bravery to make a change or stay in place, how Budde has experienced major life changes and ups and downs, including some major failures in leadership. I liked this book but didn't love it, however, I'm glad I found this updated version of Budde's original book about facing change and carrying on despite failure. 

7. 3 Days of the Condor by James Grady - I've always loved the 1970s movie version of 3 Days of the Condor that stars Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway, so when I found a copy of the book at a library sale, I snatched it up. While it's different from the movie in many ways, the bones of the story remain consistent. Malcolm works for the CIA in a building labeled as a literary society. His job is to read books and look for any clues or hidden messages in them. But, when he goes out to fetch lunch, his office is hit and everyone is killed. Knowing he must be a target, as well, Malcolm goes on the run while trying to figure out who killed his co-workers and why, with the help of a woman he kidnaps. After figuring out the secret that got his friends killed, Malcolm's bent on revenge. The first chapter is set-up, but then the story becomes rather a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat read. It's short at only 182 pages but a genuinely thrilling novel. 

8. Geography III by Elizabeth Bishop - I originally planned to read one poetry book per month and here I am, three poetry books into the year. This is partly thanks to my delightful friend Carrie of Care's Books and Pie, who sent me a small pile of poetry books, Geography III among them. And, I have to say that I absolutely loved this thin volume of poetry. In the first poem, "In the Waiting Room," the author, at 6 years old, waited for her aunt while reading a National Geographic from 1918. Wow, would I love to get my hands on a National Geographic that old. But, she died long ago so it was probably not horribly old, at the time. The second poem is told from the point of view of Robinson Crusoe and I loved both so I knew by that point that I was going to love the entire book (I was correct). The bottom line is that this is a very accessible little book of poetry (only 50 pages long) and if there's more poetry out there by Elizabeth Bishop, I'd really like to read it. 

9. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool - Another book I read because of Carrie, this time a buddy read, Moon Over Manifest tells the story of Abilene. 12 years old in 1936, Abilene is being sent by her father Gideon to Manifest, Kansas. Gideon spent time in Manifest with a man named Shady Howard but has since traveled the country as a train worker and till now Abilene went with him. In Manifest, Abilene hopes to find out about Gideon's past. What she finds is a storytelling Hungarian woman, two friends to hang out with over a hot, dry summer, and a very welcoming community heavily populated by immigrants. As the Hungarian "diviner" reveals the stories attached to objects in a box Abilene has found, she continues to wonder why Gideon's name never comes up and works to unravel whether or not there was a spy or a ghost in the woods. What an amazing story. Moon Over Manifest is a middle grade book that won the Newbery Medal, one of two awards that I have long thought are consistently first-rate and it is much deserved. I usually give away my middle grade books because there are so many teachers in need of books for their classrooms but ugh, no way. I'm going to have to reread this one. It has so much depth. Highly, highly recommended.

10. How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh - The third in my boxed set of "How to" books by the Buddhist monk is about love and how we must first learn to love ourselves or we can't properly love others, how to know when to tell our loved ones that they're doing us harm or making us sad, and how to know when our "flowers" (loved ones) are in need of watering, or special attention/encouragement. For such tiny books with just a paragraph of two of text on each page, plus illustrations, I feel like I'm getting an awful lot out of each small volume. I also think the fact that they're so brief makes them particularly great for keeping by the bedside to use when one is in need of a refresher to remind you how to be mindful of the various topics. 

11. How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino - A rather unusual book, this Japanese translation published in 1937 tells the story of Copper (that's a nickname), a young teen whose uncle is trying to teach him about the world by spending time with him, encouraging him to think, and writing to him in a notebook. Copper has some deep thoughts for a youngster. Through the series of essays in his uncle's notebook, interspersed throughout the book, you see how the uncle expands on lessons about science, history, ethics, courage, poverty, and other topics. Meanwhile, Copper has a small circle of friends that expands when he goes to check on a bullied classmate who hasn't shown up for longer than a typical illness keeps children away. He learns that the boy is hard working and admirable and they become friends, as well. When Copper experiences a challenge and fails, how will he deal with it? How Do You Live? is especially interesting when placed in context. The author was imprisoned during a time when Japan was becoming increasingly authoritarian and he and a friend decided to write the book to help youngsters understand certain principles. It's quite an irony that it ends on an upbeat note about uniting the world with WWII just a few years from beginning. A very philosophical read. 

12. The Year of Less by Cait Flanders - The Year of Less is a memoir about a 20-something's attempt to declutter and stop buying all but essentials. Before the decluttering and determination to be less of a consumer, Flanders had already done several self-challenges: eating better, becoming sober, and paying down $30,000 of debt in 2 years. Writing a blog to keep herself accountable, the author also relied on friends. But, some friends caused her more grief than aid and this is where I could most relate as I've never been a drinking person and people like to loudly announce that you don't drink at events if you've chosen not to drink alcohol. We both also had a similar experience with swearing off meat. The Year of Less is not a how-to; it's very general. If you're looking for advice on how to do any of the above, you won't get it from The Year of Less. I found it inspiring, though, reading about her determination and occasional failures. It's a light, chatty read. It has terrible ratings, for the most part so I advise reading a sample or checking it out from the library before buying. 

13. Here by Wisława Szymborska - This slim volume of poetry contains both the original Polish (on the left-hand pages) and an English translation of her poems. Szymborska was recommended to me when I asked for recommended poets who are accessible on Threads, recently, and ended up with a full 4 pages of suggestions. Thumbs up to this suggestion. Szymborska's poetry is both accessible and often quite witty. I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to reading more of her work. 

14. How to Walk by Thich Nhat Hanh - Another book from the set of five by Thich Nhat Hanh that I got for Christmas, How to Walk is about being mindful of your steps on Earth, aware of the fact that you're alive, and learning to enjoy nature as you walk, if possible. He includes some mantras to help you with your breathing and mindful thoughts, and reminds you that even if you can only take a few mindful steps it's worth the effort. Still loving this series. Only one to go!

15. Out of Range by Heidi Lang - Abby, Emma, and Ollie used to be close sisters but since Abby joined Cross Country and has made new friends, Emma has felt left behind. Ollie, the youngest, always felt ignored. So, they start a prank war to try to get Abby's attention and the result is that they're sent to a wilderness camp where they must hike and then sleep in tents; the idea is to try to make the sisters close, again. When the pranks continue and camp owner Dana becomes angry, she makes them pack up their possessions and follow her on a hike for punishment. But, the path becomes harder to follow and when Dana leaves to look ahead at the path's condition, the girls decide to head back to camp. Unfortunately, they become lost. As they face increasing challenges, they also wrestle with the problems that led them to the point of going to camp and becoming lost — and learn a lot about their own lives. My only complaint with Out of Range was that there was no indication of a large-scale search effort. No whirring helicopter sounds, no big deal about being annoyed by the press or getting checked out in the hospital. Since it's a middle grade book, maybe the author thought all that was unnecessary to the story and she might be right but it felt a little off to me. I still loved it and gave it a 4/5 rating. 

16. The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck - I've lost track of the little challenge box from which I grabbed a challenge for January with the word "winter" in the title (there's a screenshot of the monthly challenges floating around somewhere) but I'm very glad it prompted me to finally get around to reading The Winter of Our Discontent. Ethan Allen Hawley comes from an old Mayflower family, once wealthy but now the only remaining evidence of their former wealth is the house his family lives in. Ethan works in a grocery store in part of the town that used to be owned by the Hawleys, which is filled with bits and bobs from their whaling years. When his wife's friend sends in a man who tries to bribe Ethan and then that same friend does a tarot reading that says he'll be coming into a fortune, Ethan starts to get ideas about how to make that come true and talks himself into believing it's no big deal if he breaks a law, here or there. A book in which nobody seems to have ethics or morals, I can imagine The Winter of Our Discontent would make a good discussion book. It's a strange, convoluted story and sometimes I didn't understand what the main character was thinking or trying to say but I was still fascinated. It took me forever to read because there were so many beautiful sentences that I felt obligated to stop and reread repeatedly. 

17. How to Relax by Thich Nhat Hanh - The last of the set of books my husband bought me, How to Relax is about learning to make space for relaxation, even if you can only find a few minutes to focus on breathing in and out. I was stupidly tense while reading How to Relax and I don't recall why, but as often happens with a Thich Nhat Hanh book, I started out reading in a drifting-off-to-other-thoughts with my shoulders up by my ears way, but he pulled me back in and made me focus. And about midway through the book, I realized that the concepts were starting to sink in, my breathing was slowing, I was reading instead of having that hamster-wheel, running-brain problem. If it hadn't been so cold, I would have plopped down on the floor to try relaxing my whole body as recommended. But, it was in the 20s, so I stayed on the sofa. I loved this entire set of books and highly recommend them, especially if you're looking for simple/quick dips into Buddhist concepts. 

So . . . my reading month was a fun one. While I decided to ditch reading goals, I'd originally planned to read at least one poetry book per month and I ended up reading four. Yay, poetry! I read three older novels from the 1930s to 1970s, including a translation from the Japanese, all five of the set of Thich Nhat Hanh books I got for Christmas, a memoir, two middle grade books, a book about bravery, and a novella. And, honestly, I enjoyed them all, even those that were controversial or didn't have the best ratings. I was very happy with my reading, this month. And, that's in spite of all of the horror that's been unfolding. I think it helped to read some lighter books. I know a lot of my friends were struggling to read because of current events. 

Our month ended with our niece coming down from Oxford, MS to stay with us for a week while her power and water were off after the big ice storm his North Mississippi and shut down Ole Miss for two weeks. She was a cheerful presence and while I know it was frustrating for her having her routine interrupted, we enjoyed having her around. Fortunately, it's finally warming up. I haven't checked to see if the groundhog saw his shadow but I have a feeling we're done with winter. We usually joke that true winter in MS only lasts two weeks but that's really fairly accurate and this year . . . we had more like three or four weeks of genuine cold. I'm ready for some moderate weather. 

Happy Reading to all!

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