Books I Read in February 2022

Hello good people! As predicted, the amount of books I read this month wasn't as great as the amount I read in January, and that's totally fine. I got through six, and am disappointed I didn't finish the one I'm currently in the middle of, but I'm still pretty happy with that number. Most of the books I read this month, I really enjoyed. Here's to more good books in March! And, if you're curious what's in my line-up, check out my TikTok account (@apmreads) or my Instagram account under the same handle.

Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Historical Fiction, Modern Literature

Review: This is a tough one. The book itself is beautifully written, moving, and deep in the themes it explores about so many things. All centered around generations of female characters and the decisions they make for themselves and their families. On the other hand, I kept thinking that the short length took away from it. Some voices had more chapters than others, and I felt like some of those voices could have benefitted -- made more of an impact -- with more for them to say.

With that being said, this is an important book, especially for today. It deals heavily with the issue of immigration, migration, identity, and womanhood. I loved that this book was all from the perspective of Hispanic women and the things they go through. I think this is a book that could lead to important, enlightening discussions with family about assumptions over immigration. It's relevant, and it's dark, and it's heavy, but it only scratches the surface for some of the things people go through. People who are like these characters, or anyone who has ever been displaced.

A strong piece of work for a debut novelist, and a book I plan to keep for my collection.

The Iliad by Homer, Translated by W.H.D. Rouse

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Shelves: All Time Favorites, Classic Literature, Historical Fiction

Review: There is a reason a story originally told orally, and then written down around 750-700 BC is still around today. It's got blood, gore, sex, and drama. It has likeable characters, loathsome characters, and the Greek gods who make up a category all their own with their mischief, quarreling, meddling, and what has to be comic relief.

I've never read The Odyssey, but I've seen that more people tend to like that better out of Homer's duology as it's all adventure. There are some slow parts in The Iliad - the fighting and brains splattering and guts spilling, and the constant introduction of new characters that Homer off-handedly mentions as if you've met them before but in reality you haven't, can get monotonous after a while. Not to mention, because it's a story of war, women are rarely discussed - as characters, as main roles - outside of being a prisoner of war, a slave, a sobbing wife or mother, or an absolutely terribly god.

This story upholds the glory of war and being a brave fighter above most other things. Achilles and Hector both know that fighting in this war will lead to a reputation, a legacy, that will carry on throughout history and they continue to fight knowing that dying, for them, is more long-lasting than living. The other characters (I felt particularly drawn to more of the Greek characters than the Trojan ones) were all likeable to a degree, with Homer describing them in ways that made you awe at their strength and fighting prowess.

Overall, I so enjoyed re-reading this as a 32-year-old. The last time I read it was in the summer of 2004 when I was 14 going on 15, and most of the beauty of this text went right over my head. This is definitely an all-time favorite, and I'm looking forward to diving into The Odyssey at some point this year.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Dystopian, Science Fiction

Review: ** spoiler alert ** This is my first book by Octavia Butler, but I won't hold it against her. I didn't really enjoy this book, I think mostly for two reasons: I wasn't able to suspend my own belief enough to find the establishment of Earthseed believable or even close to feeling genuine; and, second, I didn't find Lauren to be someone I really liked after the first half of the book. She was a bad ass, but when she got to talking about Earthseed and this religion that she came up with - saying that her understanding of the truth led to her establishment of her religion - it just felt weird and unbelievable. But also, everyone who establishes their own religion thinks they've found the truth. Like, that part felt cliche and it reminded me of the whole messiah mentality that I disliked in Dune. And then the whole idea of founding a community - I didn't like it. Paired with what I guess was supposed to be the "deep" poetry Lauren wrote, it all just made me roll my eyes.

In addition, I thought the book felt monotonous after the first half (a world is built and then destroyed, and I didn't care about what happened after that), and I got bored and uninterested in the last half. I wasn't a fan of most of the people she met up with, I thought it was creepy and weird that her love interest was the same age as her father and someone she compared to her father when she first met him. Considering the disappearance and suspected murder of her dad, it felt a little too psychological/working out daddy issues than anything else.

I did like Octavia Butler's writing style, I thought the overall dystopian feel was realistic and reminded me a little of The Walking Dead, and I think this book with its very strong, Black, female main character is important to have in the dystopian/sci-fi genres. Those are the reasons I rated it three stars, in addition to liking Lauren in the beginning (even if the Earthseed stuff got annoying to me in the last half). I've been recommended Kindred several times, and may check that out in the future. Not a book for me, but I'm sure others who are more familiar with this genre and the tropes in this book will find it enjoyable!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shelves: Classic Literature

Review: This is the third Jane Austen novel I've read, and I'm least impressed with it (the other two being Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility). I think the core differences with Persuasion for me were:

• I wasn't a big fan of most of the characters (but Anne is one of my favorite JA heroines).

• I wanted so much more character development from Wentworth. More dialogue between him and Anne, because Jane Austen is incredibly sharp and witty in her writing, but especially her dialogue.

• It was vague in places where I wanted more detail and detailed in places I didn't care about.

• Overall, it felt slower than the other two (probably accentuated by the fact that I didn't care for most of the characters).

I loved Anne being an older heroine and what that meant for her in society at the time. JA, of course, does a remarkable job with examining her place and tying that in with the title theme of the book. Anne is sharp, observant, anxious, forthright, smart, and admirable. I liked Captain Wentworth, but I wished I could have loved him. For me, that would have required more from him. More talking, more looks into his thoughts. He wasn't developed enough for me!

So, overall, this novel was alright. I liked it, but it wasn't memorable (outside of Anne).

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Shelves: Favorites, Modern Literature, Short Stories

Review: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a collection of fictional short stories centered around the complex desires, femininity, power, and influence that Black women have over their own lives. While sex plays a main theme in this book, I felt that it was tastefully, thoughtfully written in a way that opens the door to bigger themes and discussions.

I loved that an underlying connection in each of these stories was "church." It connects most readers to the stories, regardless of their backgrounds. I also loved that the women in these stories were varied in their sexual orientations. The issues each chapter delves into are issues most women can relate to, but what makes this special is that it's specifically talking about Black women.

I really enjoyed reading this, and will definitely be keeping it for my personal library.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants #1 by Ann Brashares

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Shelves: Beach Reads, Young Adult

Review: The author's writing style left a lot to be desired for me, and that was my biggest issue with this book. I understand the audience was intended to be teens and young adults, but the language felt less developed than it could have been. In addition, I felt like everything that happened was glossed over. It all went by in a rush and only certain parts felt like they were written about in enough detail.

Everything else, I really liked. I could resonate with certain aspects of every one of the girls, I remember having those weird feelings as a teenager - hormones, daddy issues, being shy and timid, etc. - and I had three best friends that sort of resembled this group of girls and helped me through really tough times.

This was the book I needed right now. Light-hearted and fun-leaning but also covering some big topics in approachable ways. I thought the characters were lovable, and even though I don't see myself continuing the series, it was a nice little book to escape with in the dead of winter. Oh, to be 16 in Greece in the summer fretting over a cute boy. Lol