Recommended Books for February

The last few weeks I took a break from the WW1 and WW2 themes I was enjoying so much and branched out into new territory. As a reader challenging myself is important. It’s easy to stay in a particular genre; however, isn’t much of the reason we read is to learn and acquaint ourselves with new people, ideas, experiences, etc? I think so. So, my recommended books for February dive into the lives of individuals facing great personal challenges. It is so easy to assume everyone responds the same way to life’s tragedies, but this is absolutely not true. Each of these individual hardships ask a lot of questions and demand empathy for the hardships faced. Each of these books I thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from readings and I hope you enjoy them as well!

Recommended Books for February

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. This fictional book touches on several American subjects: the 1930s Appalachia, isolated rural populations, extreme poverty, “Book Women” (travelling librarians), and finally, the almost mythical blue people of Kentucky. The author gives her readers an intriguing and heartbreaking picture of the hard lives of an isolated pocket of people with blue skin due to a genetic defect. The story revolves around one “blue” in particular named Bluet who is a “book woman”. She travels around to the poor with books as part of a government project to increase literacy. Her life is anything but easy as her widowed father tries to marry her off. Additionally, Bluet daily faces discrimination not to mention danger from those who would kill her. Bluet has a lot of perseverance, a love for her work, and a big heart. This is well worth reading.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. This book is a haunting story of internal conflict in marriage when tragedy hits. Racial injustice destroys the lives of a newly married couple when Roy is falsely accused of rape. His wife, Celestial, knows and proves his innocence but Roy is sent to prison despite her testimony. However, rather than addressing the severe injustice the author takes us on a deep dive into the marriage and its new complexities. I found myself drawn into the emotional depth of this book. The storyline is something most of us will never experience; however, the author expertly peels back the layers of this marriage in a way that draws us closely in. You may find yourself asking “what would I do?”

Everything You Are by Kerry Anne King.

The lightest read of the three, this quirky story is part tragedy, part mystery, and part mystical. It is the story of redemption for Braden, a lost musician, who is no longer able to use his hands to play the cello because of a freak accident and dives into despair. Years later the daughter he abandoned suddenly comes back into his life when she faces the sudden loss of her mom and brother. Braden and Allie struggle to find their way back from tragedy with the help of a self-appointed guardian angel, Phee, who is also a former alcoholic. Woven into this story is Braden’s love of the cello and the magical hold it has over him. Braden finds he must make some hard decisions and face a past he’s tried to forget and make peace with the person he is.

I hope you are having a great week and enjoy this month’s recommended reads!