Monthly Roundup – January 2026

As ever, my New Year started with a parkrun, New Year’s Day being the anniversary of when I started to take part in these meetups. This year I debuted my new milestone 250 t-shirt – earned at my home event the previous Saturday (you may read my run report for this here). Unusually for us, we returned to Chippenham the following week as husband picked up an achilles injury so was volunteering. Since then he has pulled a muscle in a calf – not the best start to his running year.

While I have thus far managed to avoid injuries, I did suffer a bad dose of flu earlier in the month – something that floored me for around a week. I am still working to build post-viral energy levels but am generally feeling much improved.

Thankfully, all the family were well enough to celebrate daughter’s birthday with a weekend of good food and sporting achievements. Elder son ran his 50th parkrun. Daughter won player of the match at hockey.

I posted reviews for 8 books in January, a mix of those read for Bookmunch and others plucked from my TBR pile – many of which should have stayed there. To read my thoughts on each of this month’s books, click the title below.

Fiction

 

the long way to a small angry planet by Becky Chambers, published by Hodderscape
The Pelican Child by Joy Williams, published by Tuskar Rock Press

 
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson, published by Tinder Press
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling, published by Bloomsbury

 
Looking for Alaska by John Green, published by Harper Collins
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, published by Bloomsbury

 
One Sun Only by Camille Bordas, published by Sceptre
Facing the Bridge by Yoko Tawada, published by Granta

Sourcing the books

Just a few titles received in the post but these do sound good.

As ever I wish to thank all who send me their books to review – the arrival of book post remains a cheering event in my day.

My thanks also to those who share my words across their social media platforms – whichever ones you are now using – your support is always appreciated. I am no longer on Twitter but you may find me on Instagram and Threads.

And to everyone reading this, I wish you and yours a happy and healthy winter season, whatever the weather may throw our way. May you find time to snuggle up with some good books, ones that take your mind of whatever else is going on in our increasingly mad wider world.