Whatcha Readin'?

Apologies readers, but somehow February was a month of memoir; I’ve been drowning in them (and it’s been wonderful; what a way to go). Unfortunately, that means I only had a couple works of fiction for you this month. If fiction is your jam, I will hopefully have many more recommendations for you next month as I just found three books I’ve been looking for at the Thompson Falls Public Library (libraries for the win!). Also, I get a lot of requests for more middle grade book recommendations and sadly, my kids are currently obsessed with Pokémon and those books are awful, so I only have one middle grade for you this month.

In February, I read 15 books, 10 of which were four stars or better. Here they are in no particular order:

Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls is a medium-paced historical fiction book that’s inspiring and feminist and fascinating! While this isn’t as absorbing as her memoir, The Glass Castle, it’s a very interesting coming-of-age in Appalachia book, full of all the drama you’d expect from her and the humor, too.

Spells for Victory and Courage by Dana Fitz Gale is a medium-paced collection of short stories by a Montana writer. From racetracks to carnivals, her writing is descriptive, and her characters are quirky. Loved it. This is definitely a book of short stories though, unconnected in any way except for their location in Montana.

Incidental Inventions by Elena Ferrante is a medium-paced collection of essays Ferrante wrote every week for a year in the Guardian. True to Ferrante’s style, each essay is dense with beauty and detail, meaning and thought. I had to take this one slowly to digest each one.

Burn Down the Ground by Kambri Crews is a medium-paced, dark memoir about a girl growing up in poverty with a father who ends up in prison by the time she’s an adult writing the book. Absolutely fascinating. Could not put it down.

Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan is a medium-paced memoir about a girl who catches a virus that triggers an auto-immune reaction in her brain causing her to act schizophrenic. The book details the struggle to determine that she does not, in fact, belong in an insane asylum but in surgery. A book I could not put down.

Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy is a slow-paced and emotional memoir about a girl who grows up with a disfigured face after a battle with cancer. A truly fascinating accounting not only of the medical industry at the time but of strength of character. Loved this so much I went out and immediately devoured the book below:

Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett is a medium-paced memoir about Ann’s life as Lucy’s friend since college. It’s a phenomenal accounting of what it is to be a friend and have a friend who loves you unconditionally. A fabulous, if not sad, bookend to reading the book above.

1000 Words by Jami Attenberg is a nonfiction craft book for writers that’s fast-paced and informative. Extremely motivating with lots of little tips and tricks, it was so good I immediately gave it to a writer friend to read the day after I finished it.

Get Signed by Lucinda Halpern is a reference book for writers looking to get published with an agent. It is all the nuts and bolts of the agenting process that’s left out of Before and After the Book Deal, including agent query letters.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is a classic middle grade fiction book that’s medium-paced, lighthearted and hopeful. I can’t believe I never read this book as a kid! I was inspired to read it after watching Anne with an E on Netflix. The book, as always, is so much better (and I totally loved the video series). I still don’t understand how it was published in 1908 as it feels timeless.

I’m currently reading:

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum

Ruby by Cynthia Bond

Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

What’s your favorite genre? Are there books you’ve always wanted to read that somehow never make it off your TBR and into your hand? Is your TBR pile manageable, or does it need its own zip code? Drop me a line or a pic and let me know Whatcha Readin’.

Sunday Dutro is an avid reader and eBook convert living in Thompson Falls with her beautiful family and an enormous “to be read” pile. Reach her at [email protected] or sundaydutro.com