After a dreadful reading month in January, I was happy to pick up the pace in February. I wrapped up the month completing five books, which is where I would like to be every month. Once I got over my illness that really cramped my reading style, I finally got back into reading daily during my commute. Something that really helped me was reading short books. If you are ever struggling with your reading, I highly recommend picking up some shorter books. You will feel very accomplished when you complete that book quickly! I’m also really excited that I was able to read three books off my TBR shelf, and I reread two books for the #MyYearofRereading Project as well.
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I began the month by finishing Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. This is a nonfiction book that discusses why our society does not value introverts enough, but why we should listen more to those who may be labeled “quiet.” As an introvert myself, I really enjoyed a lot of the information in this book. Not only did I find it relatable, but it helped me to find more value in who I am as a person even though I do not conform to the Extrovert Ideal. I did find this book to be a bit dry, but I was very sick when trying to get through it. I will be keeping this book in my collection to reference in the future.
Next up, I read The Girls by Emma Cline. This novel is loosely based on the Manson murders, which I did not know much about prior to reading this story. I picked this up at a book sale a few years ago, and I am so glad I finally got to it. The book follows a teenage girl named Evie during the summer she spends with a group of girls living at a ranch on the outskirts of town. The ranch is run by a man named Russell, who will do anything to become a famous musician. I found The Girls to be a fast-paced read with a creepy and fascinating tone. I highly recommend this book, and hope to reread it at some point.
I then decided to reread both Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. These are some of my favorite books of all time, and they did not disappoint. Stargirl is a five-star book for me, and is a book I think everyone should read. Our narrator is a teenage boy named Leo, who finds himself slowly falling for the new girl at school. Stargirl was homeschooled all her life until she shows up at the public high school. It is clear to her new classmates that she is different than everyone else. She has a pet rat named Cinnamon, she sings Happy Birthday songs at lunch on her ukulele, and she cheers for both teams at sporting events. This story is about being true to yourself, even if that means you are not well-liked by others. I love this book and its sequel, and will treasure these stories throughout my life. I also happily discovered that a Stargirl movie releases March 13th on Disney+!
* This section contains Harry Potter spoilers*
Last but not least, I read Harry Potter Should Have Died by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen. I am so proud of myself for finally reading this book! Thanks to Amazon, I know that I purchased it shortly after its release on July 17, 2009. That’s right – I’ve had this book on my TBR list for almost 11 years! This book looks at the Harry Potter series and poses a variety of questions, such as which character death is the saddest, and whether we should pity Severus Snape. Each question is answered in the affirmative or negative with the arguments laid out, and then ends with a verdict made by the authors. I think this book is a fun read for big Harry fans, but it leaves a lot on the table. For instance, how can Hedwig and Fred not be mentioned in the saddest character deaths section?! That being said, I think this book is a great conversation starter, and it got me thinking a lot about one of my favorite series.
That wraps up everything I read in February! I’m glad I am back into the swing of reading. While I am still behind on my Goodreads challenge, I hope to catch up in the next month or so. Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more reading updates throughout the month!