Enter a world of secrets and lies: The February book bingo wrap-up
Dear reader,
In my mind, February was a thin reading month, until I sat down to write this reading wrap-up. I was surprised to see that I actually read a couple of more books than I did last month! I think it felt like a slow reading month because I had a few slow paced, though very interesting books, in the mix. Do you find that the pacing of books sets the tone for how your reading month feels?
Books I read
The Skylark’s Secret by Fiona Valpy (A book set in Scotland)
Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed. Decades later, Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the tiny cottage where she grew up. But she soon learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.
I’ve long been drawn to books set in World War II, but I haven’t come across any on the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys. Valpy does an excellent job of bringing the close-knit community of Loch Ewe to life. There’s an interesting juxtaposition of the remoteness of the village, which at times seems almost untouched by the war, with all the hardships of the war effort and the impact that the terrifying ordeal of the Arctic runs had on the sailors, families and loved ones they left behind. Flora and Lexi’s alternating stories flow together beautifully, and it’s obvious that Valpy has done her research well. The sections on the setting up of the naval base and of the war effort are especially vivid, as is the devastating impact that loss and grief have on a small community. This was a beautiful, heartwarming, and emotional read. Highly recommended!
Edith And Kim by Charlotte Philby
In June 1934, Kim Philby met his Soviet handler, the spy Arnold Deutsch. The woman who introduced them changed the course of history. Her name was Edith Tudor-Hart.
Who doesn’t love a good spy novel? Espionage, undercover operations, the thrill of wondering if they will be caught…Except, Unlike most spy thrillers, Edith and Kim is a slow-paced but engrossing novel with a rather haunting sense of time and place that takes a close look at the daily life, struggles, and fears of a committed activist and a single working mother alongside her work for the communist cause. You can read my full review of this book on my website.
Simple Business: How to Build a Business for Ease, Freedom & Simple Living by Lucy Fuggle
What is the point of working for yourself if not to work less and live more? In a world where the usual business advice is to go bigger, faster, Lucy Fuggle asks why not stay small and nimble? Being a business owner can be your road to ownership of your time, location, creativity, and peace of mind. But you need to design your work that way – and protect it. More than a how-to run a simple business book, this one looks at the philosophy of running a simple business, gives you things to consider, and turns a lot of the usual business advice on its head. If you’ve ever been even mildly curious about starting your own business, but just can’t jive with the hustle and grind culture, you may enjoy this book.
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
17-year old Lenni is funny, irreverent, full of life, witty, wise, and terminally ill. Life is short, and she knows it. But what she is about to learn, is that it's not only what you make of life that matters, but who you share it with. Dodging doctor's orders, she joins an art class where she bumps into fellow patient Margot, a rebel-hearted 83 year old from the next ward. Their bond is instant as they realize that together they have lived an astonishing 100 years. To celebrate their shared century, they decide to paint their life stories: of growing old and staying young, of giving joy, of receiving kindness, of losing love, of finding the person who is everything. And as they paint their stories, Lenni lives vicariously through Margot’s stories, while Margot reflects on her long life, her lost loves, and what she would like to do if she survives her next surgery. And though you know that the story will not end well for Lenni, and you know that you will probably be heartbroken at the end, there is a lot of humor and wit and love running through the book. This was a beautiful read!
Caraval by Stephanie Garber (A book that features the circus)
I’ve had the Caraval trilogy on my TBR list since almost three years, waiting like a promise of magic about to unfold. And it did not disappoint! Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. And that sets off a chain of magical and mysterious events. Tella, who has always been the more adventurous one, whisks the ever-cautious Scarlett away to the show with the help of a mysterious sailor, Julian. Though they manage to escape their cruel father, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend, as soon as they arrive on the island. Because this time, Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first will win the game. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But as she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic, Scarlett doesn’t know who to trust as she races to find Tella. Stephanie Garber has woven a world of magic and wonder that you want to fall into and never step out of! If you enjoyed The Night Circus, I’m fairly certain you will love this too.
Legendary by Stephanie Garber (The second book in a trilogy)
Legendary picks up Scarlett and Tella’s story immediately after the end of the first book. The sisters have managed to escape their father, and Tella has saved her sister from a disastrous arranged marriage. They should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t free — yet. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name. The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Legendary is narrated from Tella’s perspective as she navigates the consequences of making deals with mysterious criminals. Where Scarlett was cautious and hesitant, Tella is bold and rebellious. I loved how honest she is with herself; she knows what she wants, what she values, and what she will do to get it. She isn’t afraid of taking chances and dealing with the consequences later. Set in the magical world of Caraval, with an exciting new set of magical, mythical characters added to the storyline, Legendary kicks the magic of Caraval a few notches higher. Absolutely brilliant!
Recommendation corner:
Have some of the bingo prompts got you scratching your head, wondering what to read or maybe even what it means? I got you covered! Every month, I will pick 2 bingo prompts and share a couple of recommendations with you. And just so you’re not here all day reading this, I’ll link you up to Goodreads so you can check out the book and add it to your Want-to-read shelf. Here we go!
A celebrity memoir
Ok, I’ll admit — I’m not a fan of celebrity memoirs. I think the last celebrity memoir I read was Diana: Her True Story, back when I was still a teenager in love with the Princess D. But, in addition to being fun, I think any reading challenge should stretch you at least a little bit out of your comfort zone. And this prompt is going to be one of those, for me! So — for some reccos: Spare by Price Harry is the latest buzzy celebrity autobiography/memoir. Will by Will Smith looks pretty interesting, too. Becoming by Michelle Obama {Oh, I did read this a few years ago, and it was pretty good!}, but the one I will most probably read this year is Waypoints by Sam Heughan.
From the non-fiction New York Times bestseller list
You can find the New York Times bestsellers on the NYT website, of course. But, you can also check out this Wikipedia entry, where you can find all of the New York Times bestsellers from 1969 onwards {including the books that made it to the 1931 and 1932 lists!} Pretty cool, isn’t it?
On my to-read list:
What can I say? I’m an enabler! In this section, I’ll share a couple of books from my TBR list. These will generally include a mix of upcoming releases and books that have been around for years but never made it into my orbit.
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
“Kaikeyi, the only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, is raised on tales about the might and benevolence of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the worthy. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to the marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear. Desperate for independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With it, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen. But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak—and what legacy she intends to leave behind.”
There are many re-tellings of the Ramayana, which don’t pique my interest any more for the simple reason that most of the re-tellings feel rather stale. But give me the POV of one of the female characters from this epic mythology, and I’m definitely intrigued. And when it’s the story of the vilified queen from the Ramayan, the one who exiled Ram and set the entire epic into motion, how can I pass it over?
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
“Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn't, he has learned that being an artist isn't about your specific output, it's about your relationship to the world. Creativity has a place in everyone's life, and everyone can make that place larger. The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distills the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime's work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments--and lifetimes--of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.”
Can we just take a moment and admire the spare, minimal beauty of this cover? That’s honestly one of the first things that drew me to this book. I initially passed it over because I don’t have a musical bone in my body, and I assumed it would be geared towards musicians. But then I started hearing artists and writers raving about the book, and it got me intrigued.
Expected publication date: 2 March 2023 (India). It’s already released in the US and the UK.
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
“Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, to lead a team of biologists tasked with reintroducing fourteen gray wolves into the remote Highlands. She hopes to heal not only the dying landscape, but Aggie, too, unmade by the terrible secrets that drove the sisters out of Alaska. Inti is not the woman she once was, either, changed by the harm she’s witnessed—inflicted by humans on both the wild and each other. Yet as the wolves surprise everyone by thriving, Inti begins to let her guard down, even opening herself up to the possibility of love. But when a farmer is found dead, Inti knows where the town will lay blame. Unable to accept her wolves could be responsible, Inti makes a reckless decision to protect them. But if the wolves didn’t make the kill, then who did? And what will Inti do when the man she is falling for seems to be the prime suspect?”
Wolves and the wilds and the Scottish Highlands — that was more than enough for me! A 4.14 rating on Goodreads was the icing on the cake ;-)
For the love of poetry
Have you ever wondered if this was the life you were supposed to live? If, in some alternate universe, there is another you, living a more glamorous or a less dramatic or a more easeful {is that even a word?} life? But what if this question is futile? What if this was always the life you were meant to live?
Lucky Kirsten Dierking All this time, the life you were supposed to live has been rising around you like the walls of a house designed with warm harmonious lines. As if you had actually planned it that way. As if you had stacked up bricks at random, and built by mistake a lucky star.
Monthly round-up
Things that caught my attention this month
⫸ What is power? - An excellent article on understanding the meaning of power {including personal power}
⫸ It’s time to stop living the American scam - anti-hustle culture articles always get a big thumbs up from me!
⫸ Best lowlight indoor plants for any home - Because we all need some greenery in our homes!
Thank you for being here and for spending some time in my bookish world. Use the comments section below to tell me what you’ve been reading and enjoying this month!
Happy reading,
Shinjini