Oh January, you big soddy month, you. It turned out to be a month for great reading, a partial adherence to resolutions, and other funtimes.

In some startling way, I actually managed to finish eight books this month–quite a few of those chunky–AND actually turn around reviews pretty quickly.

• Future Perfect by Steven Johnson
• Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
• A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
• Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
• To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene

Let’s take a moment and appreciate that last title. You should all be very excited about the pairings in order for that one.

I also did a guest post for One Librarian’s Book Reviews this month which featured the indomitable Margaret Atwood alongside a collection of folk tales featuring heroines. Double ship and sinker. There was also a giveaway for BookRiot’s fantastic book, Start Here, complete with dog photos (couldn’t resist).

In real life, I overtaxed way too many brain cells at a local conference, WordCamp Phoenix, but also met some fantastic people (with whom I subsequently destroyed more brain cells during the afterparty).

Thanks to Jessica at Quirky Bookworm, I finally made concrete plans to attend the Tucson Festival of Books. She said some name like “Mary Doria”… what? and it was permanently added to the Google calendar. I also got immediate clammy hands, because what happens if I actually bump into Mrs. Russell?? Emergency plans are already being formulated.

What did you do and read in January?