I never read a single book for class throughout my high school career. Yep, you read that correctly. Zero. I still managed to ace my English classes, but I always felt like I was just barely getting by. There was the occasional series I would read on my own, but they were few in number. I had loved reading as a child, but as I got older it felt more like a task, especially as my reading comprehension seemed to stop progressing in middle school.

During my first attempt at college, I had to take a semester off. I moved back home with my parents. I didn’t have a job, and all my friends were two hours away, still at school. One can only watch so much Netflix before becoming bored. So, I started reading, and I haven’t stopped. In the last three years, I have read approximately 150 books. Through reading, I have found a healthy way to deal with depression. It has been a stress reliever, and an escape from reality. It has helped me in more ways than that though.

Reading almost every day in the last three years has increased my reading comprehension. It has also improved my own writing skills. This has boosted my confidence and encouraged me to start writing more often. I am now writing a fiction book, I write and edit for Odyssey, and I am an officer for the SNHU Book Club. This has also helped me become a better student. I’m able to read and comprehend the text more for each class, and do well on the assignments because of my better writing skills. I truly love it, and can’t imagine where I would be right now if I hadn’t become a bookworm.

Because I read so much, I have decided to start doing a written version of a book haul. In short, a book haul is a review of the books read each month. They are typically done as a video, but until I have the proper equipment to do that, I will be writing mine. For an example, watch this video. So, at the end of each month I will discuss the books I read, the books I bought, or received, and then ask for your thoughts and suggestions.

January was a hectic month for me. Between school starting back up, and taking on more responsibilities for Odyssey, and various school clubs, I did not read as much as I had hoped, which is why this article is a bit of a combination piece. In January, I only finished one book. It was called “Mark of Distinction” by Jessica Dotta. It’s the second book in the “Price of Privilege” trilogy. Set in Victorian London, it is about a young girl who has dealt with the loss of her mother and father, and who tries to find a suitable husband to avoid being shipped off to Scotland to work as a maid. There are several plot twists, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out… you’re wrong! Think Jane Austen with a murderous twist. I loved both books, and am currently reading the third one, so look for the final review of the trilogy next month!

In January, I bought “Carve the Mark,” Veronica Roth’s new book, and “An Unquiet Mind”, a psychology based book by Kay Redfield Jamison. I plan on reading these in February, as well as the third installment of the “Red Queen” series, “King’s Cage” by Victoria Aveyard, which will be released on February 7. I am so excited for it!

I want to know what you are all reading though. I read a lot of YA Fiction, and am wanting to change it up a bit this year and try some other genres. Whether it’s YA, or a different genre, comment any suggestions you have below! If you’ve read any of the books I ever mention, feel free to reach out either on here, or Twitter! I love chatting about books!

Until next time,

~Cait

P.S. The cover photo at the top of this article are all the physical books I got in 2016. This doesn't include the couple dozen of e-books I also purchased.