February 2020 Reads

It's March!! I can't believe it's already almost spring, and I'm here for it. I've seen a sprinkling of bluebonnets, and I am getting giddy!

This month I read 10 books. I'm exactly on track for hitting 100 books this year [not counting kid books which I'm still debating ha], so that's exciting. I had a really interesting mix this month - FOUR non-fiction books {2 of which were about antiracism, yay}, some sci-fi, chick-lit, WW2 historical fiction...very eclectic.

Neanderthal Seeks Human, Neanderthal Marries Human and Friends Without Benefits by Penny Reid - I found a new cute series about a group of girlfriends who have a knitting group and each book follows a different girl and it's their story of falling in love. I read 3 books about 2 of the girls. I liked Neanderthal Seeks Human the best and thought it was so cute. Emily, you will like the main character a lot because she's nerdy/quirky. I'm glad I read the other 2 but found them cheesier. I plan to keep up with the series. I'd give them a PG-13 rating.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottleib - This was such a great memoir. Lori is a therapist and profiles 3 of her clients but wrote this book specifically about when she needed a therapist due to a really bad break-up. I loved getting to watch her relationship with her own therapist evolve as well as take the 3 clients stories full-circle. It was such a GOOD read, I thoroughly enjoyed it but also found it interesting to read while currently in therapy. It was interesting to think of my relationship with my therapist while reading about Lori's relationship with hers and what she shared about being a therapist.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer - Holy snarkies. Jon tells his account of climbing Mt. Everest in 1997 when hikers were caught in a terrible storm and 8 people died and numerous were stranded and injured. It was totally CRAZY. I've never once thought about what really goes into an expedition like that, so it was really interesting to hear about all the logistics that go into climbing and how treacherous it is when everything aligns perfectly. Really great read.

How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi - I continue to learn so much from every book I read about race and racism. This book was a good perspective and I loved the author's honesty on his own growth in terms of thinking about race. Each chapter followed a different view of racism and started out with definitions and factual 'stuff' but then Ibram would share his personal experiences. It made it technical/educational but also relatable. He has another book coming out soon called Stamped that is a YA-retelling of another book of his and I think I want to get it to read with Trent.

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary - Cute, British love story? Why yes please! 2 people share a flat because they work at different times and never see each other. They start leaving each other notes and get to know each other through their notes. They are both going through a big challenge and help each other and of course fall in love! It was great to have something light and fun after heavy material.

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad - As I mentioned last week, I want to read this again and go through the daily questions with a group. This had a similar feel to How to Be an Antiracist in the sense that there were lots of definitions and technical information but then instead of Ibram's personal stories, this book has questions for you to answer about how you have participated in different types of racism. VERY thought-provoking and convicting and eye-opening!

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer - Can you see the quote at the bottom of the book? 'Fans of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls will adore...' HA. #nailedit This is a very typical WW2 book that I've read 50 times, but I still really enjoyed it - this goes back and forth from the present to the past following a family in Nazi-occupied Poland. There is, of course, a mystery in the present that we're trying to solve and the story in the past eventually collides with the mystery in the present to resolve the story. Great characters, great story, I cried at the end. If you like any of the WW2 books like this, you'll like this one too.

One Second After by William R. Forstchen - Holy anxiety. This is the first book in a trilogy about after the US has lost all power due to a nuclear attack. It felt so real and scary and sad, and I was riveted. It's definitely a male author {not that there's anything wrong with that} with a male lead {same}, so it's a different feel, but I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely read the next 2. I stayed up until 1 AM finishing this with my heart POUNDING. SO GOOD!

I started sharing the books I'm reading with the kids last month. Trent and I are 2 chapters away from finishing Just Mercy, and I'm really loving reading this with him. We don't read every night together which is why it has taken us longer to finish.

Drew and I are continuing our march through the original Babysitters Club books and are on book 3, The Truth About Stacey. Drew LOVES these books, and it's so funny, because if Trent is in the room when I'm reading to Drew, he is totally listening too ha!