February Reads (2015)

Remember last month when I was all, "oh man, this year is starting out so huge...I read so many books, I'm a machine!" And then February happened.

I wish I could blame it on February being a short month, but alas - it was more because I became SO OBSESSIVE over Disney (that hasn't changed now that it's March). I only read TWO books! Pssshh.

But they were GOOD ones! Quality over quantity last month.


1. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
It's a truly interesting thing to hear about a prevalent disease and to read about its progression as it effects both a patient and their family. I have limited personal experience with Alzheimer's, I didn't identify with the main character, nor was I overly interested in any one of her family members - and yet....I loved this book. It was beautiful and personal and relate-able simply because as humans, we all fear the eventual degeneration of our minds and bodies. To have a front row seat and a first person view of it while still being of sound mind is an extremely powerful thing - fiction or not. I like to let my mind wander through possibilities and what ifs, and this book was a wonderful tour guide through one possibility that I wouldn't have explored on my own. I totally recommend taking this particular trip! (4/5 Stars)

2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
After being totally immersed and impressed by Still Alice, I didn't expect the next book to knock my socks off - but it did. In this particular book, I DID identify with the main character - Bernadette. The story was being told by her daughter, though with personal emails from her mother included, so the reader was able to know her from multiple perspectives. I'm a fellow creative introvert, and though some of Bernadette's life ideals made my cringe (like living in a creepy home that was slowly being reclaimed by nature, and handing over all sorts of personal identification to an unknown person across the globe), I generally understood her fears and interpretations of life as it happens to her. The format of this book made it fun and addicting to read. I loved that it wasn't totally traditional in that way - creative and manageable. I loved the complexities of Bernadette, the tenacity of Bee (her daughter), and the hilarity in watching Audrey in her early stages. (Also, cheers to being swayed to feel negatively about a character, only to find them as a hero in the end - love when writers can craft that authentically!) Some of the story pieces felt a bit fantastical to me - through the whole Antarctica search I kept thinking, "this would never happen in real life," - the base of the story and the emotions behind them rang deep and true, and I loved this book so much for those things. (5/5 Stars)

Started in Feburary:

3. The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Okay, I actually wanted to start a fluffier book after those big-hitters, but this one was on my shelf via the library, so I picked it up next. I like the idea so far, but I'm still waiting to get pulled in. And I hope it happens soon - it's due back, and it's now costing me $.25 a day to read - ha!

On my list for March:

1. Finish The Light Between Oceans
2. Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
3. Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller
4. Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit
5. A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

Because of all that is going on in life right now, I think that feels a little ambitious, but we shall see.

Keep up with these and all of my other 2015 book goals on this post, HERE, and track them in real-time by being my friend on GoodReads!

Happy reading!


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