Reading Goals

2/26 of

I usually turn to romance novels as a palate cleanser, especially when life feels overwhelming and I want to read just for pleasure, without worrying about tracking every small detail of the story - not every book is supposed to alter our life. Sometimes the stories are just meant to be enjoyed in the moment without any lingering heavy emotions. Picking up 'And Then There Were None' by 'Agatha Christie' during an already hectic January ended up being exactly that- a perfect distraction.
There’s no need to introduce this book or dwell on Christie’s writing; her legacy speaks for itself. It was one of those books where I didn’t feel the need to overthink it; I just let the story take over. With the sound of rain outside and winter settling in, cosying up in bed with this thriller and immersing myself in the world of Soldier Island felt like the perfect escape.



[Winter Reading, Dublin Reads, Agatha Christie, And then there were none, Thriller Reads]

Eager to begin 2026 Reading Journey

Book 21 of

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa is a haunting account of how people can adapt to the impossible when their ability to remember, and even question it, is slowly taken from them. It felt very 1984-esque in the way it shows control, not through violence alone, but through quiet erasure.
Some moments genuinely stayed with me: the grief of losing memories of loved ones, R not being able to see a photograph of his son, the slow heartbreak of losing the old man, and the eerie acceptance from everyone around them when they start losing themselves physically at the end. It’s the lack of revolt that disturbed me the most; how easily life continues even when something important is gone.
It was a fitting book to end my 2025 reading with.

Book 18 of

Been meaning to read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson since last year when one of my book clubs picked it. As someone who gets scared easily (would get a fever after watching a few episodes of Aahat), horror stories have always been difficult for me to get into, and so I dropped it last year. This year, though, another book club picked it as the monthly read for our Dublin bookclub and since it’s Halloween season, I decided it was finally time to be brave and finish this book once and for all.

The first few chapters were slow, and it took me a while to get used to Eleanor’s perspective - a complex character shaped by years of isolation and caregiving. The story gives us a glimpse into how uncomfortable it is for her to suddenly be in social situations she doesn’t quite understand. Told through her eyes, we see her account of Hill House, Dr. Montague, Theodora, and Luke - how she fabricates parts of her life for the others and constantly wonders if they’re perceiving her the way she hopes.
By the middle of the book, I was completely engaged. The suspense builds quietly into a chilling narrative and ends on a deeply unsettling, psychological note. Chapters 7 and 8 especially had me so creeped out I could feel my heart racing with fear.

It’s definitely a fitting Halloween read- eerie, haunting, and fast-paced. I understand now why it’s such a popular pick for the spooky season.
Will I reread it soon? Probably not - maybe if I’m feeling brave again next Halloween. 🎃