Best Books of February
As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she read that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better about doing this.
So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.
These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from February.
I had a great reading month.
Followers (Megan Angelo): I’ve written about this book a lot, and I have one more post that I’m waiting to write because it will have spoilers (I’ll warn you, I promise), and I want to give people time to read the book if they’re going to read the book. Contrasting an imagined future with a fictional now gave a deep look into how we use (or abuse) social media and reality television. Celebrity culture, in general. I liked her writing style; I found the whole thing engaging and enjoyable to read.
The Hand of the Wall (Maureen Johnson): It’s the third and final book in the Truly Devious series. It’s such a fantastic set of YA books. Loved, loved, loved them, but I’m a sucker for most books set at boarding schools. I didn’t guess the ending, even though I guessed tiny sub-mysteries along the way. I miss spending time with Stevie, but impressed that the whole series wrapped up nicely.
The Hunting Party (Lucy Foley): A solid four-star read. There were clunky moments in the book, and I didn’t love most of the characters… but somehow the whole thing worked? I know that doesn’t sound like the most generous review, but the story was engrossing. Or, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. I almost avoided this book because… not into hunting. But hunting plays a tiny role in the overall book.
The Sentence is Death (Anthony Horowitz): My all-time favourite book of the month. It’s the second in this series––the first was The Word is Murder. This book is just… fun. And funny. And moving. And I loved it so much that I felt sad when the book ended and then panicked when I couldn’t figure out if there was a third book in the works. I love everything Horowitz writes, so I’m not surprised that I liked this as much as I did. But he’s brilliant. Just brilliant.
What did you read last month?
4 comments
How fabulous to have a great reading month! I’m a bit jealous, because February was a slow month for me. I completed and ordered three different photobooks, the last one at the very end of February to ensure I got a discount before it expired. So reading took a bit of a back seat!
Still, I read Michelle Obama’s Becoming. Yes, rather belatedly, but I waited for it to be available at the library! I really enjoyed it, hearing her words, learning about her upbringing, and some of the back scenes stuff she talked about.
Also Flight, by Sherman Alexie. A good teens/young adults book, especially for boys. I talked about it a bit on A Separate Life.
I read four books in February, all reviewed on my blog:
* “Good Lovin'” by Gene Cornish (guitarist with the 1960s band The Rascals).
* “A Life in Parts” by Bryan Cranston (discussed at my library book club’s February meeting).
* “Catch and Kill” by Ronan Farrow. (Really a good read — and timely, finished just before Harvey Weinstein was found guilty and sentenced.)
* “Living the Life Unexpected” by Jody Day — an absolute must read for anyone considering or living childless/free after infertility & loss (or for whatever other reason).
So far, one book finished in March. Even thought we supposedly have more time to read now, it seems like I’ve been spending more time online instead of with a book. But I’m sure I’ll be back to books soon…! (One can only read so much news before having to turn it all off…!)
I just ordered The Word is Murder! Thank you!! Last month I read:
Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr
Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeil
Killing in C sharp by Alexia Gordon
Home by Harlan Coben
Why Mermaids Sing by CS Harris
I liked them all, Track and Secretary are first in series, the rest are in the middle of series I’ve enjoyed!
I read seven books in February, which is more than average for me! I think it was because, in addition to my usual reading times, I read during gym workouts and also listened to a couple of audiobooks on my commute to and from work.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (excellent; would definitely recommend)
Beartown by Fredrik Backman (also very good but a bit dark for my current mood)
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager (pretty good; this one was my neighborhood book club’s selection for February. The ending had a twist that I didn’t see coming)
Still Life by Louise Penny (my first book by this author and I enjoyed it)
The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker (good, utilitarian read, not much new information here for anyone who’s read much about minimalism)
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh (this book was unique but ultimately I didn’t love it)
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey