In my 2025 October Wrap Up post, we ended up having a really interesting conversation in the comments about book hauls vs including book purchases in reading wrap ups in connection with concerns about consumerism and not wanting to to encourage people to buy lots of books just to have something to post each month. This was sparked by my decision to include purchases in my monthly wrap up rather than doing a separate post, and that’s pretty much how I did it all of last year (with the exception of a special post for the books I bought when in Taiwan).
However, my monthly wrap ups are getting a bit unwieldy and bitty and I worry that the different parts of it are getting buried in the pile and never really seeing the light of day. So I decided to try something a little different this year, inspired by Gem’s Book Talk.
I’m going to participate in the Stacking the Shelves meme hosted by Marlene @Reading Reality, but I won’t do it weekly (or even necessarily monthly like Gem does) – I’ll simply do it when I accumulate enough books to feel worthwhile doing (so probably around 6+). This allows me to highlight the books that I’m excited about and adding to my shelves without feeling pressure to create enough new purchases on a regular basis to make these posts.
January is often my biggest book acquiring month of the year (or one thereof), and I also took a friend to explore where I used to go to uni in London early in the month – which is an area with great bookshops – so I did a fair bit of book shopping in the first week or so. That’s why this post is for the month of January – it just worked out that way.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the six books I acquired in January!
I have included links to purchase the books without supporting Amazon! If you’re based in the UK, please use the Bookshop.org UK affiliate links and support independent bookshops (where not available on Bookshop.org, I have included an alternative independent bookshop you can buy from directly). If you’re international, Blackwell’s ship all over the world and the cost of delivery is included in the listed price, so no nasty surprises. And of course, you can always request a book from your local library instead!
Poyums by Len Pennie
A collection of Scots and English poetry about women’s rights, mental health, processing abusive relationships, all while promoting the use of Scots in literature and daily life (a Scottish language related to English).
I follow Len Pennie on Instagram and always enjoy her posts introducing new Scots words, so I look forward to giving this a read – I’m actually part way through it right now.
Expiation by Elizabeth von Arnim
A hilarious and reflective satire about middle-class prudery and closed-minded cruelty set against the backdrop of a woman who has been written out of her husband’s will on account of her discreet but long-term affair.
Usually I dislike reading books about adultery – however, this is not set in the modern day and I have absolutely loved both previous books I’ve read by the author. Everyone has nothing but good things to say about this book, so I’m going to give it a go!
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
A classic novel about Sir Percy Blakeney, an Englishman rescuing imprisoned aristocrats during the French Terror. Orczy’s Scarlet Pimpernel sets the standard for the tail of the masked avenger.
This book inspired Rook by Sharon Cameron, which I loved as a teenager, so when I saw this edition in a bookshop during a visit to London I had to grab it.
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell
Orwell’s first full-length work (1933), a memoir about his experience living in two major cities as a struggling writer with little money. A revealing insight into the impoverished working and living conditions of Paris and London in the early 20th century.
I’m a big fan of Orwell’s nonfiction, so I’m very much looking forward to reading this one. I bought it from a secondhand shop down in London, so the linked edition has a different cover.
The Art of Chinese Philosophy: Eight Classical Texts and How to Read Them by Paul R. Goldin
I first came across this book when researching for my post on why you should read Chinese philosophy during 2025 Nonfiction November, and thought it looked promising as a guide through the key philosophical texts that wasn’t overly academic and a billion pages long. I then stumbled across it when down in London and had to get myself a copy to see for myself!
The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Lost souls wake up on a magic train offering them a sense of purpose, but a dark magic threatens to destroy the train.
Having read Water Moon last year, this was on my anticipated releases list for quarter 1 and was my first preorder of the year. Unfortunately I’m part way through far too many books at the moment so I need to finish them before starting this, but expect a review some point in February!
Shop this list on Bookshop.org UK and support independent bookshops.
If you are based in the UK and want to support independent bookshops, please consider buying the books on this list via my storefront on Bookshop.org UK. If you do, I get 10% commission and so do British independent bookshops (without affecting the price you pay).
If you can’t buy the books right now but want to read them, please check your local library (or request them)! Together we can keep these important community resources alive.
My next Stacking the Shelves will probably be soonish sharing the books that I acquired in Korea last year, and then after that we might be waiting until March or April since my book buying has slowed down with the start of the new term! Please keep your eyes peeled, and enjoy my other posts in the meantime.
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