No joke, I was surprised when I looked at what I read this month, and it was a whole lot of nonfiction. I’ve found myself in a bit of a pickle because I’ve had too many books checked out from Libby at one time, like over 20. It’s too much. I don’t want to feel rushed, but I’ve totally felt rushed this month. I’m hoping that March will be a bit more chill and include more fiction. Although – spoiler alert – I’ve got a couple hefty nonfiction books checked out right now. We will see how it goes.

Quick Stats

I read 15 books.

6 fiction books

9 nonfiction books

Favorite read

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Cozy books are all the rage right now. Isola was a cozy book for me. One of my old BookTubers, Ciara, had this fantastic ability to describe tea. She would do these taste tests. She’ll say her tea is sweet, warming and welcoming with an added spice that filters up through the sweet. Something like that. (I really wish I liked tea) Anyway, I feel like the Isola was like one of Ciara’s teas. It had a Jane Eyre governess, bad luck at the hands of a Dickens villain, a sea voyage like my favorite of the Outlander series, Voyager, the testing of fortitude straight out of Robinson Crusoe, and a dash of Bridgerton palace politics. Yes, that’s a lot and I loved every bit of it.

My other five star reads

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Hendrix continues to grow as a writer – IMHO. Libby delivered, as I was able to get to this in the first couple weeks after its release. I was excited and thrilled it gave me everything I wanted.

Hitler’s First Hundred Days by Peter Fritsche

This was a hard read, but I learned so, so much.

Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum

Anne’s expertise is needed in these dark times, and she’s been everywhere. Thank goodness. Her latest book explains to us how the authoritarian powers have been working together – Russia helping Iran, Iran helping Venezuela, and China helping all of them.

Reading around the world

I was shocked to see I had only read – well finished – one translated book this month.

France

The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas

It was fun. I loved the cover, too.

Finally!!

Oh, my goodness, this one had been on my TBR for years and years. I’m going to write about it and the theme it covers hopefully this week. While I ended up only giving it three stars. I am so, so happy to have it off my list.

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

Surprise!!

This was a fun little find. Last month I read Olga Tokarczuk’s: The Empusium (loved it). In it she mentioned Nellie Bly. I was like, I know that name. Why do I know that name? I went to Wikipedia and discovered she was a turn of the last century American reporter. She wrote this exposé where she faked mental illness and got herself admitted to a women’s lunatic asylum. What?!! Her reporting was later published as a book, which Libby just happened to have. It was so good. Her story is amazing and so well told. It was a totally unplanned read, which added some nonfiction context to both The Empusium and The Mad Women’s Ball.

Ten Days in a Mad House by Nellie Bly

Updates

I started my third physical book in January, but sadly I haven’t finished it yet. It is a short book, and I truly have no excuse. Hopefully, I will get back to it this month.

In better news, I started Vanity Fair. OMG!! I love it. Thackery is killing it. I am so happy to be in his world of Vanity Fair. I’m only 188 pages in. I don’t expect it will take me too long to finish it, tho.

I am very happy with the gems I got this month even if they were heavy on the nonfiction. My goal for March is to finish the translated works I’ve started and Vanity Fair.

Stay strong and stay informed. ✌️