Each month during 2020, I would like to write a post with quick summaries and reviews of the books that I read. I generally find posts like this inspiring, and I always get a few new reads to add to my (ever-growing!) TBR list. (That’s the “To Be Read” list.)
Reading has always been vitally important to me. It has made me who I am, helped me explore ideas, brought me to other worlds, and inspired me to live more intentionally. Whether in novels, memoirs, nonfiction texts, or children’s books, the books I read shape me. So, here are the books that have shaped me this month:
What I Read This Month: February Edition
Fiction for Adults
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
A lovely story of an older retired major who falls in love with Mrs. Ali, widow of the local shopkeeper. Beautifully slow-burning, with race, religion, jealousies, family misunderstandings, and more. I loved the setting of a quaint English village as well as the simple details of a man trying to maintain his dignity in a world that is quickly becoming less so. This may become one of my favorite books of 2020.
Nonfiction for Adults
The Kids Are In Bed by Rachel Bertsche
I enjoyed this book with its reminders about the importance of taking care of ourselves as parents through self-care, prioritizing marriage, and spending time with friends. I am not always very good about setting aside time to spend with friends, so the book inspired me to plan for more time with other adults. Also, it helped me think through what counts as “leisure time” for me. What rejuvenates me?
Moving With Kids by Lori Collins Burghan
I saw this book on the library shelves and picked it up on a whim since we will be moving this summer. While it had some good advice, much of it was dated.
The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
This was my favorite non-fiction read of the month. I have become more and more convince of the importance of getting myself and my kids out into nature. The book contained a lot of very specific scientific data and studies to back this up as well as interesting descriptions of the author’s own experiences. Definitely not a “light read” because of its in-depth scientific content, but I found it fascinating.
Fiction for Young Adults/ Children
Auggie & Me by R.J. Palacio
A follow-up book to the hit Wonder, the book does not continue the story but expands its universe. I particularly liked the Julian Chapter, which gave more background information and a hopeful look at the bully Julian. Also included are a story about Christopher, Auggie’s oldest friend, and Charlotte, a classmate who was assigned to show him the school.
Shadow by Michael Morpurgo
I read this book aloud to my class each year, and it always is a catalyst for discussion. Matt’s best friend Aman and his mother have sought asylum in England after a harrowing escape from Afghanistan. One day, they are taken without warning to a detention center on their way to deportation. Matt and his grandfather try to figure out a way to save the family.
And, that’s it! What did you read this month?
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