I kept the ball rolling in February and finished reading another nine books! I am so excited to be ahead of my goal of reading four books per month, but I'm even more excited to get to read so much. I have a lot of catching up to do. :) Here's what I read in February!
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Fiction/Kindle) - 3/5 stars
I kept hearing good things about this one. I really enjoyed reading a funny book about a completely different culture, but the story itself wasn't something I could get really invested in. It's about a American-born Chinese girl who goes home with her Chinese boyfriend and finds out his family is extremely wealthy, and his family and friends aren't entirely on board with their relationship. I think the movie could be really cute, but I won't be reading the rest of the series. - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (Nonfiction/Hardcover) - 4/5 stars
This is my second time reading this book, this time with the sole intention of cleaning out my house according to its principles. If you haven't read this one yet, it's time to do it. I giggle through the serious parts (you're supposed to ask yourself if each item brings you joy, then thank it for its service before donating it) but there is SO MUCH practical information for simplifying and decluttering. - Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (Literary Fiction/Hardcover from BOTM) - 5/5 stars
This book felt like reading something I would have been assigned in school, but in the best way possible. It's about a black mother who takes a road trip with her 13-year-old son and toddler daughter to get the children's father out of prison. The story and language are beautiful. This is a more challenging read than my typical pick, but I adored it. - The Road Back To You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile (Nonfiction/Hardcover) - 4/5 stars
A fantastic introduction to the Enneagram personality type system! I enjoyed reading each chapter to figure out my number (one) and Casey's (eight). I actually think I feel more connection to my Enneagram number than to my Myers-Briggs type (ISFJ). I'm looking forward to reading more about this topic! - The Breakdown by B.A. Paris (Fiction/Kindle) - 2/5 stars
This one was just okay. I liked another book by this author (Behind Closed Doors) so I grabbed this one when it went on sale, but I didn't love where it went. - A Woman's Place by Katelyn Beaty (Christian Nonfiction/Audiobook) - 4/5 stars
This book is by the former managing editor of Christianity Today and I have had the audiobook forever but for some reason never listened. I finally listened to it this month and thought it was fantastic. It focuses on women's work, both in- and outside the home, and the importance of women living out their callings. As a full-time working mom, I felt really encouraged by the Biblical examination of work and vocation. - An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (Fiction/Hardcover from BOTM) - 5/5 stars
Book of the Month continues to impress. I LOVED this book. This one is about a black man who is wrongly imprisoned and his relationship with his wife while he is incarcerated. It was really heavy but never hard to read. I didn't want to put it down until I knew how it ended. Such a beautiful, real story. Also I love this story of how the author found out she was picked for Oprah's book club! - Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown (Nonfiction/Kindle) - 4/5 stars
I've never read anything by Brene Brown that I didn't love. This one tackles the issue of being in the "wilderness" - a term I've been using for a while to describe how I feel on a number of issues - and how to navigate a polarized world where it's hard to find a place to belong. - Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen (YA/Paperback) - 3/5 stars
This one was cute. The main character is a girl whose brother is in prison for paralyzing someone while drunk driving. She changes schools and meets a group of new friends (and a boy, of course) who help her work through all the new challenges caused by her brother's decision.
