I’m happy with my February progress. I’ve been able to both read novels and listen to audiobooks. This usually allows me to read more than one book at once. I read seven books in January, and I didn’t slow down in February. I read 11 books. I didn’t make time for writing, but I jumped into some amazing worlds in my books. I have now read 18 out of 40 books. By the end of March, I will be over half way there.
I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids by Jen Kirkman
I listened to this one on my library app.
I have mixed feeling about this. I love my kid, but I one hundred percent think people have every right to not be a parent. I truly think kids are not there to fulfill your life. You can be happy if you never have kids. I know people who disagree with me. That’s okay as well. If somebody told me they weren’t having kids, I might be curious why, but I would never try to convince them to have children. I don’t know their story, and they are allowed to feel the way they do. They also don’t need to or have to tell me their story.
I was frustrated for her when she told stories about people trying to convince her to have a kid. Some of them surprised me because these strangers she spoke to couldn’t let it go.
However, a lot of the times in the novel she seemed to attack parents. She made fun of them for the things they do, and for the life they chose. I understand she was making jokes about it because she’s a comedian, but I didn’t find it all funny.
I think books like this do need to be written and read. People need to see that you can choose not to have kids and still be okay. It’s not a selfish choice, it’s not a wrong choice, it is just a choice. Sometimes it’s not a choice. That makes it even worse when they’re pressured.
Aria by Nazanine Hozar
I won this book through a library giveaway.
This book was set in Iran in the 1950s, and it continues into the 80s. It follows more than one narrator, but for the most part we watch and follow Aria as she grows up.
I don’t know how I feel about this book. The story wasn’t a bad one, but I didn’t feel like I got to know any of the characters. It was a lot of half stories, and I kept waiting to like them more, but I didn’t. I had no favourite character.
This book also focused on the politics and political unrest in Iran. After reading some comments on Goodreads, it seems like a lot of the information was inaccurate. I’d have to do more research to find out. It sounds like she had some dates wrong about when things happened. At the time, I thought I was learning more about this country, but now I’m not so sure.
I love books set in different countries and about different cultures. Because of this, I had high expectations. I was disappointed in this book. I expected more.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
First of all, I have to admit that before listening to the audiobook, I had already watched the movie. I’ve actually watched it more than once because before I read this book, I already loved Peter K and Lara Jean.
I started reading it already loving Peter K. I’m going to be honest though, I don’t know if I would have loved him as much if I had only read the books. Because of the movie, I was pretty sure Peter and Lara Jean would end up together. I didn’t feel as much love for this character though.
Lara Jean however, I loved more than in the movie, and that is saying a lot. She reminded me of me. The awkward teen. She’s not quite as awkward in the movie, but I saw my teen self in her, and there aren’t a lot of books where the characters remind me of myself.
PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han
This movie had just come out on Netflix, but I wanted to finish the series in novel form before I moved on to the next movie. I listened to this on audiobook as well.
The book adds new love interests, and jumps a bit more into their past. The movies don’t quite show how much these kids played together when they were younger.
This book was harder for me to read because I wanted to be Team Peter. I wanted him to be the boy for Lara Jean, but also, I found myself frequently saying, “NO PETER! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?” I was still cheering him on because of the movie Peter.
The book spent a lot more time on the hot tub video that was taken of Lara Jean and Peter. Basically, Lara Jean is cyber bullied because of it, and it’s good that they took the time to deal with it.
I liked the first book better, but I’m glad I read the second.
Toddlers Are A**holes: It’s Not Your Fault by Bunmi Laditan
I borrowed this from the library. I had previously read a fiction book about the struggles and humour of parenting by Bunmi Laditan. It was the funniest book I’ve read.
This book is funny as well, but I enjoy reading stories. These are just things we feel as parents. It’s funny, and a lot of it is very true, but I like laughing at real life situations as well. (Or fictional stories that follow the same children are a**holes story telling.)
I liked her fiction book better, but I do love books that make parenting funny. If you don’t see the humour in your parenting life, you’ll never survive.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
This was the third and last book about Lara Jean. I borrowed it from the library because my library app didn’t have it. I loved it. I’m glad I kept reading them.
Basically, we see Lara Jean grow up. She doesn’t completely grow up, but she’s changing and becoming her own person.
I don’t want to go into any spoilers, but this is the point where I was cheering on Peter and Lara Jean. I never had a high school love, and I don’t always think they’ll work, but I was hoping for them. I didn’t cheer for them because of the movie character, but for the couple in the books. Don’t get me wrong, once again, I found Peter to be a bit of a dick at times, but this time in a flawed teenage boy mode. He wasn’t a jerk to Lara Jean, and both of them fought, but they also talked and listened to each other (at times.)
One more thing, and this was probably the first thing that made me love this book. Lara Jean says at the start of the book that Peter knew her dream man wasn’t him. It was Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables. And YES. He should be everybody’s dream man. Lara Jean and Peter are no Anne and Gilbert. But they made me smile. And cry at times.
This book also deals more with the fact that Lara Jean misses her mom. Her mom died before the series began, but growing up without a mom around for your big moments would be so hard. I didn’t used to understand this because I had my mom. I know now how important it is.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
I listened to this. Usually I listened while I was driving.
I thought it was good, and she made me laugh a lot. It was interesting listening to her life, and finding out how things have changed for her as a women in the entertainment industry.
There was something that bothered me, and that was when she made fun of other women. I can remember two in particular. I just think that somebody that knows how important it is to be respected, should have respect for all women working hard in their life.
Love Like This by Sophie Love
I listened to this one, and picked it randomly. I found the main character to be a bit of a dick. In my humble opinion. It starts with her being told by her employer that she needs to cover a Love Festival in Ireland. She decides it’s best to skip out on her boyfriend’s sister’s wedding. She is a bridesmaid. In no way is that appropriate. It was the next day. That was my first impression of her.
The company she writes for loves the sarcastic and basically like making fun of things. Once again though, she was travelling in Ireland, and not taking the time to love it. Ireland is my number one for places I want to go. I was insulted on behalf of Ireland.
It got predictable after that. I still enjoyed parts of it, but it wasn’t my favourite. I guess this is a series. I won’t be reading the rest.
She did come around more at the end, but I didn’t love her.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I jumped into Anne’s world. I’ve read some of them before. Actually, my mom read them to me when I was a kid as well. I love Anne.
This book is about Anne ending up at Green Gables. It’s about all the characters she meets. It is about a little girl that loves life, and loves dreaming, and loves talking.
I laughed out loud so many times at the wonderful things she said. Anne was a delight, and I loved her. She was also really stubborn.
Matthew fell in love with her immediately, and she fell in love with him. The story I enjoyed the most was Anne and Marilla. Watching Marilla fall in love with her Anne of Green Gables brought tears to my eyes.
I read this book with a big and happy smile on my face. I’ll read it over and over again.
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
I can’t stop reading these wonderful books. I love this world created by L.M. Montgomery. I listened to this one as well. I could not stop listening to it.
I grew up watching the movies. It turns out the sequel was changed a lot. A lot.
This book was just as magical as the first. I loved the addition of Davy and Dora into their lives. Marilla continued to make me laugh just as Anne did.
I waited for the entire novel for Gilbert and Anne to be Gilbert and Anne. There is a line in the book that I love. Gilbert said to Anne: “We were born to be good friends.” As with the first, I had a huge smile on my face.
Anne has grown up, and she doesn’t have quite as many of the amazing thoughts as she used to, but she still spends her time dreaming and imagining all the wonderful things.
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
My last book of February was another Anne book. I guess this is the month of reading series. I have a lot more to go.
This book introduced more characters, and showed Anne thriving away from home.
I’m not going to say a lot about the story, but I loved it. I continue to love them, and I can’t wait to read more. Stay tuned for many more posts about one of my favourite literature worlds.
And SPOILER ALERT:
This is the book where she admits she loves Gilbert. It is what I was waiting for.
Happy Reading!
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