February was kind of a crazy month for me. We have been remodeling our kitchen for the last month (who knows when that project will end!) which has thrown my whole routine out of whack. This was a month where I would finish a book in two days, then not read at all for the rest of the week. Some months are just like that. I did still manage to finish six books this month though.
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
This book was my Book of the Month selection for January. (I’m kind of behind on my Book of the Month picks, so I have a number of those in my to-read pile.) It is part historical fiction, part mystery, with an alternating timeline and a couple of strong female protagonists. The book mainly centers around the story of Lillian Carter, an artists’ model in New York City in the early 1900’s who is trying to build a new life as a personal assistant in an opulent city mansion. I loved the exploration of the relationships between model, art, artist, and collector, and there is a lot of juicy drama. However, I think the alternating timeline felt a little forced and unnecessary, and the big reveal at the end was a bit of a letdown. It was an entertaining read, but ultimately just okay.
My rating: 3/5
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
I first read this book as a kid, but it was chosen for my book club, and I was excited for the chance to reread it. I remember loving this book, but could hardly remember anything about it. Who would have known it would be so timely! Especially as far as our current media climate is concerned. The book tells the story of four extraordinarily gifted children, who go undercover at a secretive school, which seems to be the source of some kind of widespread general depression called “the emergency.” This is a super fun read! While written for children, it is entertaining for anyone, and sparked some great conversation at my book club.
My rating: 4/5
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
I read Euphoria by this author some time back, and when I saw a copy of this novel at Goodwill, I went ahead and picked it up, not really knowing what it was about. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book for everyone, I loved it! It tells the story of a young writer, trying to finish her first novel while navigating a series of failed romances and working as a waitress to pay off her student loans. There is more introspection than plot in this book, but as an aspiring writer with an English degree that hasn’t had much use up to this point, this book was so relatable!
My rating: 4/5
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
Another Book of the Month pick, A History of Wild Places opens with a private investigator (who has some pretty “magical” skills) going in search of a famous writer who has gone missing. The bulk of the story, however, is told from the point of view of several characters living in a mysterious compound in the woods called Pastoral, which is facing its own dark and mysterious problems. This book really drew me in, and I couldn’t put it down. The moody atmosphere is great, and I just had to know what was really going on in Pastoral. That being said, the “twist” at the end was fairly obvious from almost the first page, and the explanation for all the mysterious stuff was kind of a letdown. Considering this book opens with a character who has magical powers, this book didn’t lean into the supernatural as much as I would have like it to.
My rating: 3/5
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
I’m trying to remember why I bought this book, but I think it was because I heard about it on a podcast. The book is a lighthearted read about an estranged family trying to reconnect with each other on a Mediterranean cruise. As an avid traveler myself, I love stories about travel, and I enjoyed all the little digs at cruising. However, this book did not have nearly enough plot to keep me interested. The story is driven by secrets (each member of the family has one), but the secrets are not really that exciting, and you, as the reader, learn what they are immediately, so there isn’t any mystery to keep you reading, and make you want to find out what will happen next. I also never felt super connected to any of the characters.
My rating: 2/5
Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
This book is 100% never the kind of book I would choose for myself. I read it because one of my favorite podcasts chose it for its book club, and I thought “Why not?” I’m not into self-help books, and I’ve read very few of them, so perhaps I am not the best judge, but I found this book to be pretty boring, and most of the advice within to be minimally helpful. I did enjoy learning a bit of monk philosophy (although the book seems to put all monks of all faiths into the same category, which I couldn’t quite get on board with), and it was interesting to think about the overlap between Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and my own Christian beliefs. It also made me consider getting back into mediation on a more regular basis. But I didn’t think any of the advice in this book was revelatory or life-changing by any stretch of the word.
My rating: 2/5
Leave a Reply