February Bookish Wrap Up
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Hello Readers,
I hope your February went as well as possible. I know there’s a lot going on in the world right now and I feel like a wrap up of the books I’ve read during the past month seems really insignificant compared to the everything. But as always, I want my little space on the Internet to be a safe, cosy place that you can come to for a little bit of a breather and hopefully find a new book to escape into when the world gets too much for you. I just really hope you’re all taking care and keeping safe.
Also, just a small note, I’m currently dealing with some personal stuff which is affecting my mental health. So I’m struggling to get my head into writing as regularly as I want to and have been. So my blog posts, like my social media posts may be a bit sporadic for a while. That being said, the best way to keep up to date with when new posts will be live or what I’m up to, I suggest giving my Instagram as follow ~ Louise’s Little Life
As for this month regards to reading, I started four books, DNF’d one of them and finished the other three. So without further ado, let me tell you about them…
Under The Whispering Door by T. J. Klune
This was my Book Club’s Optional Buddy Read for the month and while others in the club really enjoyed this book, it wasn’t for me.
This book follows Wallace, who after dying is taking to a tea shop called Charon’s Crossing. There he meets Hugo, who tries his best to help Wallace come to terms with his death. The more time he spends at the tea shop, the more Wallace feels he missed out when he was alive. So when he’s given a second chance of sorts, he decides to try and live a lifetime in just seven days.
I think I got about 150 or so pages into it and while I was kind of enjoying it ~ T. J Klune’s writing style was really lovely and easy to read, {what I did read, I read quite quickly.} it just wasn’t gripping me the way I had hoped it would. Then a character showed up and that was involved in things I definitely didn’t want to read about and so I not only DNF’d this book, but I also un-hauled it as well.
So my February reads were not starting off well.
This is the second book in Malorie Blackman’s Nought and Crosses series. I won’t share the synopsis of this book as it will spoil the first book. But this second book does follow a few characters from the first book ~ with two main perspectives, like the first. This book is set pretty much straight after the events at the end of the first book and again we follow the characters as they navigate the rising tensions between the Noughts and Crosses.
I’ll be completely honest and say that I didn’t like this one as much as the first, but the narrative around race and rights where still just as interesting and again, Malorie Blackman did an excellent job of highlighting many of the issues we face today regarding the topic.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the story progresses as I will be picking up the third book, Check Mate, this month.
The Winter Garden by Alexandra Bell
This book definitely wasn’t what I was expecting it to be but I still really enjoyed it. The story follows Beatrice, who after losing her mother as a child, is visited by the magical Winter Garden. She visits the garden each night for a week and then the garden disappears. The story then jumps to Beatrice as an adult and her pursuit of trying to get back to the garden and an invitation to a pleasure garden competition just might help her achieve that goal.
The book starts off with a lovely cosy, whimsical feeling, albeit sad. But as it progresses, although there’s still a magical, whimsical feeling to it, the story does get quite dark at times, especially when the perspective of Beatrice’s friend, Rosa is introduced. There’s content warnings for infant death and mental health struggles within this book, so please tread carefully if those topics affect you. Also, as this story is set during Victorian England, the way these two women are treated during their struggles is very reflective of the time and it made me so incredibly angry ~ though I’ll be completely honest I encountered a male Doctor with similar views a few years ago, so maybe somethings haven’t changed as much as I’d like.
I did have moments when I found Beatrice and Rosa a little dislikable due to their own attitudes and actions. Although the reasons are fully shown, it didn’t make what they chose to do was right. But I liked seeing them both slowly grow throughout the book and realise their mistakes, especially regarding their friendship. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Beatrice and James ~ watching their friendship develop was lovely.
Alexandra Bell’s writing style is just wonderful and she paints a beautiful picture of the pleasure gardens that are featured throughout the story. She handles the dark moments wonderfully and realistically, especially her portrayal of grief and how it effects a person.
So if you’re looking for a Fantasy that’s a little bit different, then maybe give this book a go.
The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton
I picked up this book as I’d seen a friend of mine recommending it and I’m so glad I decided to pick up it this month.
The Secret of Haven Point is a Middle-grade Fantasy story full of disability representation as almost every character has some form of disability or chronic illness. The story mainly follows Alpha as she and her friends try to keep their home safe from outsiders.
While this is Middle-grade, as an adult, the plot kept me interested and guessing as to what was going to happen next. Within the story, there were topics of disability and acceptance spoken of and how the world views people who are different. Personally being a part of the Chronic Illness and Disability Community, I always enjoy seeing this type of representation within the books I read. Sadly it is still feels like a rare thing and I feel it’s especially important for this type of story to included in a Middle-grade book for younger readers.
Another thing I really liked about this book and something I always enjoy when I do read Middle-grade or children’s books, was the illustrations. They really helped to bring the characters to life and the map at the beginning of the book helped to track where certain scenes were taking place. I really wish more YA and Adult books included illustrations!
So those were the books I managed to read during February. While it didn’t start so great, I feel it ended well.
What books did you read during the past month? I’d love to know.
Stay Safe. Read a Book.
L x
