books to read in january (and hand creams to save your skin from winter)

hello.

there are an abundance of books i’d like to read in january. this list is not realistically possible for me to get through and so i’ll only be choosing a handful of them, but i wanted to share my full tbr in case there’s something that catches your eye. some of these books are re-reads, some are project books, some are short and sweet- a vast array of options for you and me.

as someone who tends to plow through books as if my life depended on it, i’m making an effort to be more intentional about the books i read this year. devouring slowly, annotating, and taking my time to get to know each book intimately. i always make sure to have at least 3-4 books to rotate through during the month because i’m very much a mood reader. i tend to read a lot of heavy existential and philosophical literature, but i’m not always in that mood. if i’m feeling a bit anxious or weary, that’s the last thing i want to read. so, i always ensure that i have a comfort book to grab just in case. one of my comfort books this month is kitchen by banana yoshimoto. (a forever favorite).

before we get into books though, i want to talk about hand cream. random, i know, but it’s january and my hands are so dry and i’m pretty sure yours are, too. let me share some of the best hand creams that actually work.

weird random hand cream section before we get into books:

-la roche posay cicaplast balm b5: this is my ride or die tried and true best hand cream i’ve ever tried. it’s thick and moisturizing and helps a lot with anti-aging or wrinkled hands. highly highly recommend. also, this is not greasy at all.

-la roche posay cicaplast: this is another great one similar to the above but less thick and a good portable option for your tote bag or purse for reapplication throughout the day. and non-greasy!

-l’occitane shea butter hand cream: this is the hand cream you wear before bed. she is thick, and she smells warm and balmy and comforting. my mom used to give this to me when i was younger so anytime i smell it, i’m immediately transported back to my childhood.

-cerave therapeutic hand cream: a great drug store hand cream that actually works. my derm loves this one as well.

-o’keeffe’s working hands hand cream: i’ve used this a few times and it definitely works well. very functional, nothing fancy.

-eos vanilla cashmere hand cream: if you’re a fan of the vanilla cashmere lotion, here’s a really good bundle to get. this one smells yummy, but it’s not as thick and nourishing as the others. as a fan of the body lotion, this one is nice to apply a light moisturizing and good smelling pick me up.

the following are more expensive hand creams that work well and smell good (but you absolutely do no need them. the ones above can do just as much if not more for your hands from a functionality standpoint):

-aesop rejuvenate hand cream: the citrus one is nice, too. the rejuvenate has a mandarin orange, vanilla, sandalwood scent that is fresh and warm and cozy. this hand cream is very nourishing as well.

-frederic malle iris hand cream: a light moisturizing cream with a fresh and fluffy scent of iris wrapped in cashmere and musk. this is one of my favorite smelling hand creams of all time. it’s not offensive, plays nice with other fragrances, and perfect for any season.

-le labo hinoki hand cream: this is a woody fresh hand cream that is balmy and nourishing- the scent is great for winter weather.

okay, that concludes this random, but strangely necessary section of this newsletter. shall we move on to books?

january tbr

star by yukio mishima
a haunting novella about a movie star grappling with the hollow allure of fame, mishima examines the tension between public persona and private self. it's a sharp, introspective look at vanity and the existential loneliness beneath the surface of celebrity.

*spring snow by yukio mishima
a poetic tale of forbidden love in 1912 japan, this novel follows kiyoaki and satoko, whose tender romance is thwarted by rigid societal expectations. mishima's prose captures the fleeting beauty of youth and the quiet devastation of loss.

the lover by marguerite duras
an intoxicating, sensual story set in french colonial vietnam, this semi-autobiographical novel explores the complex, illicit affair between a young french girl and a wealthy chinese man. duras writes with aching clarity about desire, power, and memory.

stoner by john williams
a quiet masterpiece about the life of william stoner, a university professor, this novel is an unflinching portrayal of an ordinary man’s struggles with love, ambition, and failure. its understated beauty lies in its profound humanity and emotional depth.

*the idiot by fyodor dostoevsky
a tragic story of innocence in a corrupt world, dostoevsky’s novel follows prince myshkin, whose purity and honesty lead to both admiration and destruction. it’s a deeply philosophical and emotional journey into the complexities of human nature.

white nights by fyodor dostoevsky
a tender, melancholic short story about fleeting connection, this tale follows a lonely narrator who spends four nights walking through st. petersburg with a mysterious woman. dostoevsky captures the bittersweet beauty of unrequited love and longing.

the master and margarita by mikhail bulgakov
a dazzling, surreal satire that weaves together the story of the devil visiting soviet moscow with a tragic love affair. bulgakov’s novel is a brilliant blend of humor, philosophy, and mysticism, exposing the absurdities of power and the resilience of love.

middlemarch by george eliot
a richly detailed novel about life in a provincial town, middlemarch intertwines the lives of its characters to explore ambition, love, and societal expectations. eliot’s masterpiece is a compassionate and deeply insightful study of human nature.

*no longer human by osamu dazai
a deeply personal novel about alienation and self-destruction, this book follows the life of oba yozo, a man unable to reconcile his public facade with his inner despair. dazai’s work is haunting and brutally honest.

schoolgirl by osamu dazai
a short but poignant stream-of-consciousness novel, schoolgirl captures a day in the life of a teenage girl in post-war japan. dazai paints a vivid picture of adolescence, filled with fleeting moments of joy, doubt, and introspection.

territory of light by yuko tsushima
a luminous, episodic novel about a single mother and her young daughter navigating life in tokyo. tsushima’s prose is tender and poetic, capturing the quiet resilience and struggles of womanhood and independence.

*too much of life by clarice lispector
a collection of fragmented, reflective pieces that read like diary entries, this book offers a glimpse into lispector’s inner world. her musings on existence, love, and creativity are both deeply personal and universally resonant.

agnes grey by anne brontë
a quietly powerful novel about a young governess navigating the harsh realities of class, morality, and independence in victorian england. drawing from brontë’s own experiences, agnes’s story offers sharp social critique and an intimate portrayal of resilience and virtue in the face of adversity.

anna karenina by leo tolstoy
a sweeping novel of love and betrayal, tolstoy chronicles the tragic affair between anna and vronsky while juxtaposing it with the quiet, pastoral life of levin. it’s a profound exploration of passion, morality, and the human condition.

the odyssey by homer
a timeless epic of adventure and homecoming, this poem follows odysseus on his perilous journey back to ithaca after the trojan war. through encounters with gods, monsters, and temptations, homer explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the enduring human spirit, making it a deeply resonant and introspective work.

convenience store woman by sayaka murata
a darkly comedic story about keiko, a woman who finds solace in the monotony of working at a convenience store. murata questions societal norms and individuality through the lens of her eccentric yet relatable protagonist.

after dark by haruki murakami
set over the course of one night in tokyo, this surreal novel weaves together the lives of strangers. murakami captures the loneliness and mystery of urban life, blending dreamlike sequences with poignant moments of human connection.

kafka on the shore by haruki murakami
a hypnotic tale of two interconnected narratives, this novel follows kafka, a runaway teenager, and nakata, an elderly man with mysterious abilities. murakami blends myth, metaphysics, and memory in a richly layered exploration of fate and self-discovery.

norwegian wood by haruki murakami

a coming-of-age story set in 1960s japan, this novel follows toru watanabe as he navigates love, loss, and the emotional complexities of young adulthood. murakami weaves a nostalgic and melancholic tale about the fragility of human connections, filled with lush descriptions and evocative characters.

the housekeeper and the professor by yoko ogawa
a gentle, heartwarming story about the bond between a math professor with a short-term memory condition, his housekeeper, and her son. ogawa beautifully weaves themes of connection, memory, and the elegance of mathematics.

the white book by han kang
a meditative, lyrical reflection on life, loss, and identity, this novel unfolds through fragmented vignettes centered around the color white. han kang’s prose is hauntingly beautiful, offering a quiet, profound examination of grief.

*the vegetarian by han kang
a stark, unsettling tale about a woman’s decision to stop eating meat and the unraveling of her life that follows. han kang explores the fragility of the human psyche, desire, and the societal forces that shape identity.

meditations by marcus aurelius
a timeless collection of philosophical reflections, this book offers profound insights into self-discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of virtue. written as a guide for personal growth, it remains a cornerstone of stoic philosophy.

snow country by yasunari kawabata
a delicate, melancholic story of an affair between a wealthy man and a geisha in a remote japanese village. kawabata’s prose is as stark and beautiful as the snowy landscapes he describes, capturing the fleeting nature of human connection.

the lake by banana yoshimoto
a quietly haunting novel about love and trauma, this story follows chihiro, a young artist, and nakajima, a mysterious man with a tragic past. yoshimoto’s writing is tender and introspective, exploring healing and the ways we carry our scars.

(* these are the books i ended up choosing to read this month. i’ll plan to read the others shortly after)

okay that’s all for today. happy reading.

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i love you.

bye.

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