February Reading Wrap-Up + March TBR

 

Hey, everyone! I hope that you are off to a good start this year. It's crazy to me that soon we will be entering spring in March and I will be nearing graduating college soon. It's scary, but exciting. February was a good, but busy month considering all the things I had to do. I visited a campground for Mardi Gras and did service work (raking, cleaning cabins, painting a building for pastors) and that took up some time. If you aren't from Louisiana, then you probably have never heard of Mardi Gras. It's a time where people get drunk in the streets and catch beads (or whatever else people throw- I like catching cups). It's a dangerous part of the year, but there is also King Cake which is the ultimate good time. Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday and essentially because I live in a highly-populated Catholic area (no, I am not but I was raised Catholic- it's a cultural thing here), Ash Wednesday happens the next day. Ash Wednesday is all about repentance and marks the start of Lent (forty days until Easter). Mardi Gras allows people to live in excess and commit all the sins they want because yay repentance. I like the cultural aspects of Mardi Gras, but it's a spiritually dead way to live and discredits the goodness of Jesus's death and victory over our lives. So, I was fine with leaving the city and going into the woods to serve a community that needed it for a couple of days. Other than that, I finally got my life together and started working on those projects I need to have done so I can graduate. Yay! So, here's the books that I read in February. ^_^

The Books I Read in February:

 

Making Peace with Change: Navigating Life's Messy Transitions with Honesty and Grace by Gina Brenna Butz- 3 stars I liked this Christian living novel, but it wasn't ground breaking. It didn't hit my soul until I got to the chapter on grief and that wrecked me. That's the only reason this book got 3-stars instead of a 2 from me. Check out my review here.

Unspoken: Bathsheba by Francine Rivers- 5 stars This was the fourth novella in A Lineage of Grace and I LOVED IT. Everyone needs to have their heart shifted about how they view Bathsheba. She is marked as a woman of disgrace because of her adulterous affair with King David, but that was a woman who hungered and chased God. I need to remember that the Bible shows us that not through her specific voice, but through how we see her lineage and sons. Love it!

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Works of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King- 3.75 stars I really did enjoy this comprehensive biography on Fred Rogers. He was a fantastic human being and his show changed lives. I had issues with the length and the early section of his life. I felt it was too drawn out and it was honestly boring to listen to, but I'm glad that I listened to the book.

Unafraid: Mary by Francine Rivers- 5 stars This was my favorite of the collection. This book made me sob and laugh and rejoice. What a beautiful interpretation of Mary and Joseph's story as Jesus's parents. Rivers is great at creating historical context of the time to. She just honed in on so many beautiful things. Like the fact that the angel came to Mary under a mustard seed tree. What a great connection to Jesus's teachings on how our faith can be as small as a mustard seed and move a mountain.

A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers: I give the collection 5 stars total! This is one of my all-time favorite series and it introduced me to Biblical fiction, which is a genre I love and am 100% on board for reading. 

 101 Awesome Women Who Transformed Science by Claire Philip- 4.25 stars This was a fantastic collection of women who have made impacts on the STEM fields. It's a great edition to young girls' bookshelves who love learning or want to pursue a career in STEM. Check out my review here.

 We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White- 3.5 stars I listened to the audiobook of this and it was an interesting historical fiction novel that follows two women who become friends in college and are impacted by the Civil Rights Movement. One becomes a lawyer and one becomes a hardcore member of a terrorist group. There was some violence towards skinning a cat (you know, typical cult antics), but it was hard to listen to so be cautious if that will ruin your day. Review in Progress

Tomorrow's Woman by Greta Bellamacina- 5 stars This is my all-time favorite poetry collection. I have never read a collection that I completely and totally adored, but I found it in this one. Wow. I am so impressed and in love. It's amazing! Check out my review here.

Humility by Andrew Murray- 4 stars This is a Christian classic that is super short and my word for this year is "humble", so I want to read some books on the topic. This was a great introduction because it's probably the most gut-punching one. It's written in a beautiful way, but I will admit it was not always the easiest to read. I still enjoyed my experience and recommend it.

I Hope You Stay by Courtney Peppernell- 1 star What a bummer. I have never deeply hated a poetry collection, but this one was not for me. I was not a fan. Check out my review here.

The Detection Club Volume 1 by Jean Haramabat- 2 stars This wasn't a great time. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but I wanted more. It follows all of the famous classic mystery writers in a club trying to solve a crime. It is all build up. Check out my review here.

The Detection Club Volume 2 by Jean Harambat- 1.75 stars This wasn't a great conclusion to mystery that was set up, but I'm sure that there were some who enjoyed it. Check out my review here. 

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell- 4 stars (for now) This was a mystery thriller following three people who are connected to a house where a baby was found and three bodies were found in the kitchen. It was a decent thriller, but not a favorite. I am curious about checking out more by Jewell to see if she is someone I want to follow. Review in Progress.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe- 3.25 stars I am still teaching this novel, but I decided to finish it to get some background knowledge instead of being as in the dark as my students. I liked the ending, but this book isn't what I consider to be a beautiful masterpiece. It's important to Nigerian fiction and I celebrate what it has done and shown, but the novel kind of goes around in character circles for a thousand years and then decides it's time to hit pique and end in more violence and tragedy.

Isaiah's Legacy by Mesu Andrews- 5 stars I absolutely loved this book! It was such a huge surprise. It follows the story of Manasseh (found in Kings and Chronicles). It follows the perspectives of Shulle (the woman he eventually marries who worship false gods), Manasseh's mother who is also the prophet Isaiah's daughter, and Manasseh. It's a brilliant and intense story of redemption through the power of God. Review in Progress.
Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor- 4 stars This is the sequel to Binti and follows her and Okwu (her Meduse friend) as they travel back to her home on Earth. I loved the epic execution (that sounds horrible), but it was my favorite part of the first novel. This novel was just touching. I connected so much more to Binti and I really loved it. I felt the ending dragged on and I didn't care for the flashback chapter, but I can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy!
Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture by Gene Edward Veith, Jr.- 2 stars DNF @42% This is my first DNF of the year and I'm sad, y'all. When I first read the introduction for this, I was hype and was sure this was going to be something I would enjoy. I was on a nonfiction and history kick from January through half of February, but I hated the verbosity of his language and the over-influx of information that did not pertain to his thesis argument. I also did not agree with a lot of his observations and comments. There was a lack of grace and love. Jesus wasn't at the center. Check out my review here.
Attack on Titan Volume 1 by Hajime Isayama- 5 stars I love this anime and I wanted to check out the manga. I love the story and how bleak everything is in this society, but from my reading experience I realized that while I love the manga experience, I prefer watching the anime. If you don't know what AoT is about, it follows Erin and his friends (plus his adopted sister) as they live behind the walls that keep the titans out (giants who hunt and eat humans for sport). It's one of the most horrifying and messed up plots I've ever encountered.
Fire & Wind: Unleashing the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit by Stan Jantz- 4.5 stars This was a fantastic novel that tackles the topic of the Holy Spirit. It's one of the best and most well-researched novels, I've read on the topic. I highly recommend it if you are looking to learn more about who the Holy Spirit is, what spiritual gifts are, and how to implement the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Review in Progress.
Long Bright River by Liz Moore- 3.5 stars This was a slow detective novel that focuses predominately on the effects of drugs in a community and how it affects people. I would compare the main character to Rollins from Lawn & Order SVU and they also similar character arcs with their sisters, so if you like her character then you will probably love this novel. Review in Progress.

Overall Thoughts:

WOAH. 21 books! How did I do that? When did that happen? This is the most I've ever read in any month ever. I have no clue how I did that, but it was fun and I read a lot of really good books. I did read a 1-star book and DNF another, but I loved finding so many different books. Here are my 5-star reads:

1. A Lineage of Grace
2. Unafraid
3. Unspoken
4. Isaiah's Legacy
5. Attack on Titan Volume 1
6. Tomorrow's Woman

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 Challenge Tracker:

*2020 52 Owned Books TBR:

5/5 A Lineage of Grace books
Binti: Home

2/52

*Audiobook TBR: 

3 in progress
None

*5-star Predictions Tracking Progress:

Stop Calling Me Beautiful: 5 stars

1/20
*Series I Want to Read:
Binti: Home
Beneath the Sugar Sky
 2/10
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 Currently Reading / Hoping to Finish in March:

        
Already Finished: a fire like you
 Netgalley ARCs: The Wives, The Mountains Sing, For All Who Wander, DEV1AT3, Kingdom Come, God Sees Her, A Darker Shade of Magic, Selected Poems of Edith Wharton
Sent By Publisher: For All Who Wander, For All Who Wander Journey Guide, The Art of Friendship, The Journey to the Cross, The Promises of God Storybook Bible, The Insanity of Sacrifice, The Harp of Kings
E-book from Library: The Good Nurse
Audiobooks: The Wives, Imaginary Friend, Fire Road, Children of Vice and Vengeance
Books I Bought/Gifted: Hidden Bodies, The Beauty of the Cross, Twenty-Two, Needful Things, Nothing to Prove, The Celebration of Discipline, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace, The Harp of Kings
On Hold: DEV1AT3, The Good Nurse, Kingdom Come, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, The Purple Book, East of Eden, Moments of Grace 

ARCs to Catch Up On:

Handle with Care: Priority
Upright Women Wanted: Priority
The Hidden Girl and Other Stories: Priority
Strange Girls: Priority
Things in Jars: Priority
Fight Your Fears: Priority
No Bad Deed: To Read Soon
Bridge 108: Give a Shot
Ghosts of the Missing: Give a Shot
Pray Fully: Give a Shot
Practicing: Give a Shot

ARCs That Come Out in March:

 

*The Return: horror (one of my most anticipated reads of 2020!)

*Star of Persia: Biblical fiction about Queen Esther!!

*You Are Not Alone: mystery thriller that I am STOKED about

*The June Boys: YA mystery thriller

*Wicked As You Wish: YA fantasy

*My Heart Ever His: 40 prayers for women

Like Flames in the Night: Historical Christian fiction

Foundations: Christian living about raising a family

*Everything is Beautiful and I'm Not Afraid: serialized comic strip

*Nineteen: poetry collection 

Bloom: YA scifi (apocalypse)

Safe House: mystery thriller

Now Waiting: Christian living about waiting (we have the same name!)

Cries form the Lost Island: Fantasy set in ancient Roman Egypt

Secrets of the Happy Soul: Christian living about delight 

Hollow: YA Horror

Among Others: Fantasy by a writer I enjoy

A Bond Undone: fantasy

Enough About Me: Christian living for women about not focusing on yourself

 The Red Lotus: mystery thriller

The Fortress: fantasy/ scifi with a firm called the Fortress (kind of sounds like SK's Quitter's Inc.)

The Raven and the Dove: YA fantasy

Stay: Christian living about being content

Girl at the Edge: mystery thriller

A Conspiracy of Bones: literary fiction with some mystery aspects

Open Fire: YA historical fiction

The Vinyl Underground: YA historical fiction

 

 Audiobooks:

I'm trying to keep my audiobooks hold small. I was getting overwhelmed. I will come back to the ones I have previously had on my radar later on.

Books I Own:

Binti: The Night Masquerade- final book in the Binti trilogy
   Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot- Christian living about sexuality
Bonhoeffer Abridged- Nonfiction about famous Christian prophet, spy, and martyr
Parable of the Talents- sci-fi sequel to Parable of the Sower
 
Have you read any of these books? What was your favorite or 5-star reads in the month of  February? Let me know down below in the comments!