FEBRUARY READING LIST REVIEW
Here is my recap of what I read in February & my thoughts on each book. I am by no means a book critic, just a book lover, so my reviews are simply my thoughts on each book. I highly recommend using the Goodreads app to check out a variety of reviews & synopsis on books & to add books you are interested in to your reading list. You can also keep up with my reviews in real-time there as well. The books I read are linked however I also encourage you to shop at your local bookstore, used bookstore or library for titles of interest when you can. One book per month comes to me via Book of the Month, which is another fun option as well.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson: This book ranks in the top 5 books I have ever read if not the single best book I have ever read. I’m equally crippled with heartache & anger yet embraced with hope & awareness after reading it. It’s a book that has been on my list for a long time & that I have put off for a long time. I’m a very sensitive person & resisted reading it— I knew it would wreck me. The story reads like fiction, & I often found myself stunned that I was reading non-fiction. The book toggles between a single case & a multitude of other cases— chapter-by-chapter, all linked by the same themes of injustice, racism, & oppression.
In 2012 I was first introduced to Bryan Stevenson & his work when I had the privilege of visiting the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery & hearing from Bryan himself as part of a leadership experience as a staff member of Teach For America. It was then that Bryan’s work radically changed my perspective on life. I was fortunate to hear from him in person again the following year & have since been influenced by not only his work & the light he casts on the condemned but also his endless grace & compassion.
Bryan’s words about brokenness always strike me to the core— we are all broken. And in Bryan’s work, we see how we are all connected through our brokenness & responsible for the current state of humanity. As a mother, I value the responsibility I have to understand the world beyond my privileged scope so that I can instill awareness & advocacy in my children to give voice to the voiceless & recognize the limitations of how we define “justice”.
This book is a must-read. It’s sobering & inspiring. Urgent & suspenseful. Gripping & eye-opening. Bryan is remarkable.
The Moments Between by Natalie Banks: In this story, the main character loses her husband in a train accident (you learn this in the first chapter, not a spoiler) but after several months of grieving she ends up back in time, 3 months prior to losing her husband. The story resonated with me in many ways & it reminded me to appreciate the present moment & day-to-day things I take for granted. Forewarning, the book is poorly edited— but if you can get past that it offers a unique & enjoyable story.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid: I found this book to be entertaining with an honest & thought-provoking narrative about race & privilege in modern times. While I often felt embarrassed for the main characters, I could also relate to their experiences. I look forward to reading more from this author as this book was her debut novel.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James: This book was my Book of the Month selection for January (click here to learn about Book of the Month— I love it!). Ah, the further away I am from having finished this book the more I miss slipping away into it. It’s a murder mystery with a swirl of ghostly hauntings as the story toggles between two different times— 1982 & 2017. The book has some Stephen King meets Thelma & Louise vibes that I loved. If you like a good murder mystery you will enjoy this book!
How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD: Technically I’m not totally done with this one but I’m 90% finished. I listened to the book on audio (highly recommend) & it completely blew my mind. This book is such a powerful resource, I am so glad that I read it & only wish I’d had this information sooner. Dr. Greger does an exceptional job laying out all of the facts while also empowering you with information. For me, it’s not just about avoiding death by the most common American deaths & diseases it’s about living my healthiest life while I’m living (aka hopefully avoiding poor health & quality of life) & ensuring that my children are set up on a path for success. This book is broken up into two parts: the first part dives into the 15 leading causes of death for Americans & the connection those things have to the SAD (Standard American Diet). I learned that even our mental health connects to nutrition & that I have 100% control over the food I eat & how it affects me. So much of what we think we know has been marketed to us to benefit profit, not people & I appreciate that this book gets REAL with those things. The second half of the book goes into the various food recommendations from Dr. Gregor’s Daily Dozen nutrition recommendation & what the most impactful foods for your health are.
I cannot recommend this book enough— do yourself a favor & give it a listen either for free via your library’s audiobook service or through Audible (your first month is free so you can simply use the account to listen to the book & then terminate it if you don’t want to continue using it). I have received countless messages from others who have listened to the books & similarly felt mind-blown & empowered. I ordered the corresponding How Not To Die Cookbook after reading it because I am so invested in how I fuel my body & my family’s bodies with nutrition. I’m so grateful this book exists!!