What I read — February 2021
Even though February is the shortest month, I still managed to tackle quite a few pages, which is great because I love having books on the ready for recommendations.
Last year, I inadvertently completed the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. I’m challenging myself to do the same again this year, mainly because my shelves are out of control! Normally I’ll have a physical book and audiobook going at the same time, so for review clarity, I will put either duration or pages as the stats based on how I completed the book.
Here’s everything I enjoyed in February:
City of Thieves
David Benioff
Stats: Historical Fiction, 8 hours and 28 minutes
Quick summary
Lev Beniov is arrested one night by Nazis occupying the city of Leningrad. In jail, he meets a deserter named Kolya. Rather than facing their deaths in the morning, the unlikely pair is given a strange task by the Soviet colonel to keep their lives — bring back a dozen eggs within the week for his daughter’s wedding cake.
What I thought:
I’m not a huge historical fiction fan, especially for the WW2 era, but I was blown away by City of Thieves. This one was recommended by my brother because I enjoyed Benioff’s debut novel and the Game of Thrones TV series... other than that last season, of course. I read the audiobook version of this (my first fiction audiobook) and I loved the production behind it, using music at key times to amp up the drama.
Who should read it:
Fans of well-written historical fiction
The Institute
Stephen King
Stats: Horror, 561 pages
Quick summary
Luke Ellis is a brilliant boy, set to go to college during his middle school years. In the middle of the night, his parents are silently murdered and he wakes up in a carbon copy of his bedroom at The Institute. Filled with children with telekinetic and telepathic abilities, Luke soon discovers he needs to get out of The Institute before it’s done with him and his new friends.
What I thought:
My mother gifted this one to me at Christmas, knowing full well that I’m not a blockbuster author type of person, because she thought I might enjoy it anyway. What can I say? Mom knows best. Despite its longer than average length, I flew through this book nearly as fast as I usually do for one half its size — it was that good. I was pleasantly surprised by King’s accessible prose and was constantly delaying my bedtime by just 20 more minutes so I could keep following Luke’s horrible, twisted journey through The Institute.
Who should read it:
People (like me) who need to give blockbuster authors a try. Fans of sci-fi and thriller fiction.
The Vanishing Half
Brit Bennett
Stats: Fiction, 350 pages
Quick summary
This story is so complex and intricate, exploring racial identity through twin sisters — Stella, the twin that “passed over,” living and raising her daughter, Kennedy, as a white woman, and Desiree, the twin that moved back to her small, black hometown with her blueblack daughter, Jude.
What I thought:
This one was on my holds list forever, and I’m so glad I was finally able to read it! I loved how Bennett split the timelines for this book, telling the story from all four women’s perspective. Each had her own secrets and struggles with identity because of the twins’ choice to leave their hometown and start anew. Following the BLM protests this summer, I know many like myself are working to be less ignorant of systemic racism. I loved that I was able to explore this topic through my favorite genre — fiction.
Who should read it:
People looking to expand their thoughts on the role race plays in life.
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Stats: Nonfiction, 3 hours and 35 minutes
Quick summary
Written as a letter to his adolescent son, Coates offers his viewpoint on what race means in America through the protection and exploitation of the body.
What I thought:
Wow. This is another book where I fail to have the words to convey how important it is. Every time I go to write something, I find myself grabbing quote after quote from the book. I’m only at the beginning of my journey in learning about the issues of systemic racism, but this short book allowed me to see issues I have not thought of before.
Who should read it:
Everyone. This is important literature. Also, I highly recommend the audio version as the author is a wonderful narrator.
The Queen’s Gambit
Walter Tevis
Stats: Fiction, 243 pages
Quick summary
Beth Harmon is taught how to play chess by the janitor at the orphanage where she lives, discovering she is a child prodigy at the game. She is adopted and encouraged to become the world champion, all while navigating an addiction to pills.
What I thought:
Like many, we loved watching this Netflix miniseries, so when it showed up in the Little Free Library, I didn’t hesitate to scoop it up. Sadly, I think the show was better. I feel like the series developed the main character’s backstory more deeply, and in doing so made me care for her more than I did for the almost robotic at times book portrayal. The game of chess is at the forefront of this story, but where the series could show chess being played, the book needed to walk through every move to amp up the drama. I could see how this may appeal to a chess-lover, but as someone not well-versed in the game, I found the amount of detail tedious.
Who should read it:
Chess sharks, otherwise you’re probably better off with the Netflix series.