Bookish Chatter | Wrapping Up January & February Plans

Hello, February! We are a tiny bit closer to spring, but it looks like we will have to withstand some frigid weather before we can get there. I can’t complain because our winter has been relatively mild, so I will do my best to grin and bear it (and to be thankful that I don’t have a dog who needs to be walked!). Today I’m sharing the last three books that I finished in January and what I plan to read in February. It might be a short month, but it’s perfect for staying inside and squeezing in some reading time!

Books Finished This Week:

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is the second book in the Monk & Robot series. In this installment, Dex helps Mosscap venture into cities and villages in order to understand what humans need. The answers – as expected – are various and wide-ranging. Along the way, Robot helps Dex see that they are also deserving of the grace and understanding that they grant others while offering tea service as a tea monk. I am loving this series – the books are short and completely life-affirming. They have been the perfect complement to my word of the year, Less.

Bronwyn and I finished the third Addy book last night, Addy’s Surprise, and oh my goodness! It was wonderful. Addy and her mother are trying to save money to buy a lamp for their room so that her mother can see the sewing work she brings home at night. But they decide that their money is better spent by sharing it with the Freedmen’s Fund at their church – the fund that helped them get on their feet when they first arrived in Philadelphia after claiming their freedom. And the ending? I don’t think I need to worry about spoilers? I’m sorry if I ruin this for you — but her father shows up! He found them after making his way to Maryland once his own freedom was granted. I cried!

And Bryce and I finished the fifth Captain Underpants, The Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman. In this one, Mrs. Ribble (get it? Miserable?) has finally decided to retire and gets tricked into marrying Mr. Krupp by George and Harold. Luckily, she manages to call off the wedding right in time and figures out who was behind the set-up. She gets her revenge on George and Harold by flunking them. So they decide to bring out the 3D Hypno Ring to get her to change their grades back but accidentally turn her into the Wicked Wedgie Woman! That’s okay – Captain Underpants can save the day. Because of course: he’s faster than a speeding waistband, more powerful than boxer shorts, and able to leap tall buildings without getting a wedgie.

I’m currently reading A Place on Earth and am savoring every single word. It’s relatively short but I’m only just over halfway through. I’m finding that I’m completely sated after just a few pages — in all the best ways. Wendell Berry’s writing is beautiful and moving. He makes me want to close the book and live my own life as beautifully as possible. I feel like he just expands my soul? Is that too dramatic? I think so, but Wendell Berry is My Guy*. I don’t read many male writers, but he soars above them all. I might finish it by next week, but then again? Maybe I’ll still be savoring every sentence, every character, every image, everything. I’m so glad I’m reading it.

---

February Reading Plans:

Here’s a quick glance at my January and February TBR. I have fallen so far behind with my War & Peace reading, but haven’t given up on it yet. I’ve given myself plenty of wiggle room with this one and am hoping to fall into a rhythm soon. I planned to read All Over Creation (to become a Ruth Ozeki completist!) in January but haven’t finished it yet. I’m listening on audio and absolutely loving it. I can’t wait to talk about it! It has so many A Thousand Acres vibes, but is clearly its own Ozeki creation.

I’ve put in interlibrary loan requests for Sula, Norwegian Wood, and Once There Were Wolves — so those will be priorities when they come in because I cannot renew ILLs. My library typically gets ILLs delivered on Wednesdays, so I expect to pick them up this afternoon or in the morning. There’s so much to look forward to!

---

If you’re in the path of this polar vortex, please do your best to bundle up and stay cozy! What books do you have queued up? I’d love to chat with you in the comments or via email! I hope to be back on Friday. Until then – take good care.

*When I say “My Guy,” I always think of Sister Act – one of my very favorite movies!! And now I’ll be singing this song all day long.