January 2017 Reading Wrap-Up

 I wanted to start 2017 off right – I wanted to read something I knew I would enjoy and that would inspire me. So of course, I reread the entire Harry Potter series! Not only is it my favourite book series of all time, but it also serves as an inspiring and hopeful story that is especially fitting in our current troubled times. Reading Harry Potter always makes me feel a little bit better about the world – I get to spend time with my favourite characters and relive some of my favourite moments. And it reminds me of the important things in life – love, friendship, and fighting for what’s right.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Fantastic Beasts  and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter: The Prequel by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 4/5

Note: This is just a little short story that Rowling wrote for charity in 2008. We get a glimpse of James and Sirius!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

Rating: 3/5

Of course, I read Cursed Child when it first came out last year. I wanted to give it a quick reread to see if my feelings towards it had changed. I won’t go into detail here (I’ll do a more in-depth review at some point) but I will say that it in no way diminishes my enjoyment of the original series but I refuse to see it as part of the official Harry Potter canon.

Pottermore Presents: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 4/5

Sure, all of the writing in these ebooks first appeared on Pottermore for free but I personally like having them all collected in one place – even if they did cost me a few bucks each.

Pottermore Presents: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 4/5

Pottermore Presents: Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide by J.K. Rowling

Rating: 4/5

Probably the closest thing we’ll get to a real-life version of Hogwarts: A History. (sigh)

Carrie by Stephen King

Rating: 5/5

After a short period of PPD (Post-Potter Depression), I picked up Carrie – one of my favourite books by one of my favourite authors. After a seven book series (plus all of the companion books), I definitely needed to read a stand-alone and Carrie is mercifully short. It had been a while since I had read any King and I always forget what an amazing writer he is – and Carrie is his debut novel! If you haven’t read Stephen King yet and don’t know where to start, I highly recommend starting with Carrie. 

So I’d say my reading year is off to a good start! I read a total of 16 books in January, averaging about a book every two days. For my Goodreads Reading Challenge, I’ve pledged to read 100 books so I’ve completed 16% of my challenge! And according to Goodreads, I’m 8 books ahead of schedule! Whoohoo!