What I Read in January 2022

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

I read this book based on a recommendation, maybe from TikTok. At times this book was incredibly frustrating, but I sped through it.

One-Sentence Summary: A teenager moves to (extremely) rural Alaska with her mother and abusive father.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

I took a 3-week Shakespeare course for my master’s program, which is really the only reason why I read so much Shakespeare this month. Hamlet was definitely worth the time.

One-Sentence Summary: A young man in mourning plots to kill his new step-father (who’s also a murderer . . . and the king).

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

I’d never read Macbeth, so my first reading felt like I was finally “let in” on some cultural references. Lady Macbeth is such an interesting character.

One-Sentence Summary: Three witches tell Macbeth he’s going to be king, so he embarks on a mission to kill everybody in his way.

King Lear by William Shakespeare

I’d never read this play either, and it was a hard one to get through. Definitely one of the darkest Shakespeare plays I’ve read.