Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. In 2019 I’m not participating in a formal reading challenge, but rather The Unread Shelf Project 2019, a challenge to read books that I already own. So I’ll be listing where each book came from this year instead of listing a particular challenge category. This is my February 2019 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for February 2019. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!
Books Finished:
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Already owned physical book and Audible.
Mike has been telling me to read this book for years, and I finally got around to it. I’m honestly not sure why I waited so long. It was fantastic. The story is just so incredible and insane. And from an attorney perspective, reading about all the work that Bugliosi put into the case in order to prove up his case was really interesting. The book is long, but well written, and definitely a must read.
The Jakarta Pandemic
Already owned Kindle e-book.
I’ve had this book for ages, and just got around to reading it this month. A flu strikes the United States, and most are completely unprepared for it, except the main character who is a prepper and perhaps would be viewed in normal times and circumstances as a little bit crazy. The book was a page-turner; and I will look for more by the same author.
The Library Book
Borrowed from library.
This was on the new books shelf at my local library, and just jumped out at me as a book that I needed to read. It is about the library fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, the man accused of setting it, the history of the LA public library system, generally about the history and current state of public libraries, and about the LA public library now. Orlean covered so many related but separate topics, and tied them together seamlessly, while simultaneously keeping the stories really engaging. This book really is fantastic. And I’ve thought a lot about it since reading it, especially because I’m involved in my local Friends of the Library organization.
The Cross Gardener
Borrowed from library, for Book a Blind Date.
“I was born on the side of a two-lane Virginia highway at 1:21 a.m. on February 1, 1983.” This was the opening sentence to this spiritual tear-jerker. The book examines grief and loss, and forging a way forward after the death of a loved one. It is reminiscent of Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven and of The Shack by William P. Young, without being a copy. And the ending is surprising and wonderful.
How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain
Purchased Kindle e-book this year, during a sale on science books.
As a lifelong dog lover, I had to find out whether dogs truly love us, and how we know. The author is a neuroscientist who had the crazy and wonderful idea to train dogs to go into MRI machines so that we can study their brains like we’ve begun to study human brains using fMRI. It was really interesting to read about the process of designing these experiments and what they’ve discovered. And the photos contained in the book are fun too.
Paris in Love
Borrowed from library, for Book a Blind Date.
“In December 2007, my mother died of cancer; two weeks later I was diagnosed with the same disease.” This was the opening line to a delightful memoir in short-form essays and brief thoughts and observations on life and a year spent in Paris. It is easy to read, especially if you’re short on time because of the format. It’s not quite what I expected, but was good anyway.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis
Borrowed from Library using Libby app.
I had this book on hold on Libby as an e-book and have been looking forward to reading it. I’m a fan of historical fiction, and of C.S. Lewis, so this seemed like a no-brainer. It was quite slow-moving, and I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. But it was still good. I’d never heard of Joy Davidman before reading it, and had to do some research after finishing it to learn more about her. What a fascinating woman, and certainly a match for Lewis. Their story was frustrating to me at times, but then heartbreaking in the end.
Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto
Purchased Kindle e-book this year, during a sale on science books.
This book is so, so well written and so interesting! I’m an astronomy nerd, but even for non-nerds, I think this would be fascinating. It’s the story of how astronomers and planetary scientists worked for years to pitch the idea of a mission to Pluto, and their process actually launching the mission. Even though I know from the news accounts how it turned out, I was still on the edge of my seat waiting to read what happened next and whether it worked out. I recommend this book, no question.
Books In Progress:
Twelve Women of the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst (Already owned Kindle e-book.) My bible study is working through this book and the associated videos.
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (Borrowed from library using Libby app.)
The Thirteenth Tale
From a Paris Balcony
Books Abandoned:
None.