February Reads
Every book I devoured this month.
I’m back with another recap of what I read during the month of February. Get excited!
I did another even mix of fiction and nonfiction and enjoyed everything I consumed, yet again. I pick the best books, I’m telling you!! 🤣 (Of course, that statement is highly subjective!)
Read what you want. Enjoy doing it. That’s all I want for anyone! Let’s get to it, shall we?
FICTION
YELLOWFACE, by R. F. KUANG
Wow, wow, wow. This novel captivated me from start to finish, 12/10 recommend. My favorite for the year (so far, anyway). Five stars. I’m high-key interested in real drama within the literary world and even though this is a work of fiction, it scratched that itch. I found myself rooting for the protagonist, despite the horrible decision(s) she made. The exhaustion of her lie(s) came shining through this beautifully crafted prose. I need a sequel!
DARK THINGS I ADORE, by Katie Lattari
Another five-star banger for me this month! This work of beautiful, descriptive prose (coupled with my personal yearning to connect the dots) kept a hold of me through the very end. I had sneaking suspicions on what the links were but even still, I was hanging on every word until the reveal. It’s a story told in two different timeframes and was expertly layered. I look forward to reading more work by this author!
ARGYLLE, by Elly Conway
The internet speculates that “Elly Conway” is actually Taylor Swift, but… LOL! There’s no way for a myriad of reasons, most of which I won’t get into. IMHO… I think it’s clear the author is British or European (MHO is based on the writing style alone), regardless of the biography stating they were born/raised in New York. Anyway, this story definitely kept me engaged — I could see it playing out in my mind and let’s be honest, that’s one of the reasons why we read books like this. So, I recommend it. Go ahead. Escape into your imagination with this fun spy novel!
For those who want to read it because they saw the trailer for the movie based on the book… I say, definitely give it a go. The movie (which I haven’t seen yet) seems to tell the core story from a different perspective. As in, my assumption is that it won’t be fair to say “the book was better” in this case, because they take different directions. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing the film, especially now that I’ve read the story.
NONFICTION
I’LL BE GONE IN THE DARK, by Michelle McNamara
This one had been on my list for a wild amount of time and I was an avid reader of McNamara’s blog, “True Crime Diaries.” Her writing was enthralling, captivating, and ever-engaging. Her interest into finding the person who terrorized California neighborhoods pulled a lot of people in and in my opinion, ultimately helped law enforcement find him. It’s a shame McNamara couldn’t be here to see the infamous EAR/Golden State Killer get caught in the end, but I am so glad her late husband, Patton Oswalt, championed the effort to complete her work. Come for the true crime, stay for McNamara’s beautifully written prose and unwavering quest to solve a cold case.
FINDING ME, by Viola Davis
I’ve been a fan of Viola Davis for a long time, and that was solidified when I watched her in the ABC television show, How To Get Away with Murder. When I saw she published a memoir, I added it to my “want to read” list on Libby and finally got around to listening. Yes, I did audiobook for this one because she’s the narrator! To hear her life story through her own voice was powerful, from her childhood and adolescent years to performing on Broadway and finally breaking through television and film. This memoir was so well written and captivating. Viola will always be one of the greats and her accolades are well-deserved.
NOT MY FATHER’S SON, by Alan Cumming
Decided to round out the month with this short audiobook for two reasons: I love Alan Cumming and I love watching him every week on The Traitors (US). I am so glad I borrowed this one on Libby. This memoir, timed with his journey on another television show, Who Do You Think You Are (which explores a celebrity’s ancestry), has Alan exploring the emotional and physical abuse he endured by his father when he was young. I highly recommend — I could listen to him talk for hours. (Well, I did… for just over six!)
All the links for the books reviewed go to Bookshop.org, a wonderful site where you can purchase your books and support your local independent bookstore(s). 📚