Friday, March 4, 2022

February 2022 Books Read


Aw, the month of l-o-v-e and allllll the heart eyes was certainly another outstanding book adventure! As luck would have it February ended up being the month for a twisted tale of Jane Eyre in my new books reading annnnnnd the best love story ever for the Audiobook 2022 Challenge (next to the real Jane Eyre) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  But then it included some really solid Kristin Hannah about domestic violence and the 2nd installment of angsty minivan-driving ex-wives trying to help their ex-husband NOT get killed.  What is this madness and why didn't I plan it better?  That, my friends, is how my life runs.  Read on to see what swoony and sorta shifty shenanigans I got myself into during February.  Have you read any of these books?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

*2022 Audiobook Challenge* : The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: When I read the book a few years ago, I was in absolute awe of the writing style, the character depth and the DARLING tale about friends who survived the war through a happenstance book club on the island of Guernsey.  The original book review is on this blog and it holds one of the highest ranks in views because this kind of theme deeply resonates with people.  We survive life because of the friends we hold dear.  Listening to the audiobook was a complete dream.  All the actors used for the different characters were exactly as I imagined them in my head.  I really felt the depth of devotion and love this group of people had for each other when I heard it and how much they sacrificed by letting Juliet in their circle.  I'm still super impressed with how well the film adaptation kept with the book plot and all I can say about the book vs. the movie is this: the film was kind to Mark's character.  He is an absolute ass hat in the book and hearing it was even more evident. Juliet and Dawsey?  Still the answer.  I was sad when it ended because I felt like I put my friends back in the library.  Rated PG-13 for difficult themes centered around life, loss and war.  

Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams: This book was juicy and a period piece set in the early 1950s! I'll be honest I didn't realize just how shifty the plot was going to be when I read the description and then it was too late because I was hooked.  When I finished the book I made a note on my list that it was like "Mad Men" meets nantucket mystery. It's also presents solid evidence on why you should never have an affair. Ever. Definitely Rated R for romance themes and all that comes with them.  

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows: Last month I read the first book, "My Lady Jane" by this trio of authors and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.  Like it firmly holds the #1 favorite book of 2022.  I was hopeful and very excited to read "My Plain Jane" because it was a twisted version of "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte.  For those who don't know "Jane Eyre" is my # 1 favorite classic book.  I adore it.  So, while I was intrigued and still enjoyed this book, I didn't 5-star love it.  I felt like I was a really picky editor who was having an affair on Charlotte Bronte's original plot line and Mr. Rochester.  Like I said before just say no to affairs.  But seriously, this was still a great book, clever and clean.  Rated PG due to mildly violent themes.  It's technically YA fiction like the first book so it's mild.  

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah: Where do I even begin?  This book has been recommended to me multiple times since it came out a few years ago.  I've been resistant to reading it because the main theme is domestic violence and anything Kristin Hannah writes is VIVID and intense and my empath heart can't take it, especially in the winter.  But then I found it while thrifting and it was on sale for a dollar and my aunt's voice was looming in my brain from Thanksgiving telling me how much I would love this book so I caved.   Boy, am I glad I caved. This book is unbelievably accurate in every sense when it comes to the danger and heartache of domestic violence.  I know first hand (thanks to the day job) what domestic violence looks like and the author NAILED IT.  She also gave a very realistic depiction of what active combat trauma does to a person and their family. But! On the flip side of the gruesome realities of domestic violence and combat-induced PTSD was the grit and utter resilience shown by a village (literally) of people in the "great alone of Alaska" who helps a mother and daughter rise above the abuse and conquer the world.  It took me a few days and a few more Disney movies to process after I finished, but I'm still glad I read the book.  Rated R through and through for domestic violence vividly described.  

The Hurricane Sisters by Dorothea Benton Frank: This was a lovely book on the outside and professed to be a good "beachy read" so I thought, perfect after finishing Kristin Hannah.  Welllllllll, they were only half correct.  About halfway through the book and solid domestic abuse strolls in to the plot line and it wasn't so light anymore.  My biggest beef about this book is they advertised it as a book about 3 women who are connected by the hurricane-ridden island they live on in Eastern America.  That reference is made in the last 50 pages of the book....if that.  Again, tough editor hat on and I wanted to bust out my red pen and write "Really? You titled it this and then didn't explain it until the end! Red check marks here, here and here." It was still a good read and I finished it without sacrificing brain cells so that's a win.  Rated PG-13 for difficult adult themes.  

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'em Dead by Elle Cosimano: This came at a point in the month when I needed solid humor and a book with characters I already knew.  The much anticipated 2nd installment of minivan mom mishaps with Finlay Donovan did not disappoint.  I liked it better than the first book and that's saying a lot.  It was equal edge-of-your-seat mystery, curl-your-toes romance and rolling-on-the-floor humor.  I'm excited for the next book to come out although I don't know when the author plans to release.  This book just came out in 2022 so I'm guessing a couple years.  Rated PG-13 for minivan mom murder attempts and some steamy romance.  

The Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly: This was my vacation week book and a whopping 500 pages of very good Civil War historical fiction.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in 3 days.  That is far more of a sign that I was rested and had energy to read for hours at a time, but it is also because the book is just so good.  It's actually the 3rd installment of a series of books that started with "The Lilac Girls" which is set in WWII.  I sort of knew this was a prequel and I've never read "The Lilac Girls" so I took a risk on reading the last prequel first.  I don't know if I'll read the other 2 books, to be honest.  I liked this book all on its own and thought it gave a very well-rounded account of the Civil War and the toll it took on families.  After I finished it I sent a message to my friend who I went to college with in Southern Virginia and said "you should read this....it's not Gone With the Wind." A bit of an inside joke, but trust me when I say "The Sunflower Sisters" is much more accurate than Scarlett and Rhett.  Rated R for graphic descriptions of abuse toward slaves.

West End Girls by Jenny Colgan: This book was set in London and twin sisters take a risk and go and live at their grandmother's lavish apartment for free while she's in an assisted living center.  The book details their adventures and mishaps as two very different people trying to co-exist in a new place.  Generally Jenny Colgan does a good job at writing stories that are sweet and predictable.  This book wasn't my favorite.  I couldn't get in to the characters and felt like it was too Hallmark movie for my taste.  I don't think I lost brain cells like last month's ultra sappy Hallmark-esch book, but it was a close call.  Rated PG-13 for adult themes including sex and profanity.  

Every Wild Heart by Meg Donahue: When I found this book at the thrift store it jumped out at me because it talked about mother/daughter relationships and a bit of mystery.  It neglected to mention that it was probably more of a YA fiction and better suited for older teenagers or young adults (a LOT younger than me).  It had some great narrative about the therapy that comes with spending time with horses, but it also had a weird mystery about the mom being stocked by one of her loony radio show fans.  This was another book that made me cringe because the author literally came to the climatic event and "resolved" everything in the last 20 pages.  I felt jipped because the plot line development could have either been realigned to meet the 200 page limit of they could have made it a 350 page book and did it right.  I'm glad it was short otherwise I might not have finished it.  Rated PG for mild themes about wackadoo stalkers.  

All in all I was really pleased with the books I read and listened to in February. My brain feels so much better when it's actively reading and keeping track of a plot, creating voices and envisioning settings.  March includes some solid road trips which means good audiobook time and I can't wait to share with you my selection for the 2022 Audiobook Challenge.  

The moral of the story: Life is messy, but thank goodness for friends who make it bearable.  

Until next time, my lovelies,
-R