January Wrap-up and February TBR

January Wrap-Up

1) Death Note by Tsugumi Osba


So, this wasn't on my TBR for the month, but it quickly jumped to the top of it. I randomly stumbled across it at Barnes and Noble one day, and having heard much about it, I decided to read a few pages. I got sucked in. I ended up receiving it as a gift a few days later (shoutout to Suzi and Rachel!) and read through the entire thing in about two days. It was so good. Seriously, if you're thinking about getting into manags, pick this one up! It has morally ambiguous characters, a notebook that brings death, and really cool creatures in it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Cups of Tea



2) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon


I really enjoyed this novel. It took me a while to read, seeing as how its 800-somethings pages, but it didn't feel like it dragged at all. You can see my full review here.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Cups of Tea



3) Nervous Conditions by Tsitisi Dangarembga


This also was not on my TBR. I read this for school, for my International Fiction class. For those of you who don't know, I took an African literature class last quarter, and so this felt like just continuing on with that. I loved this novel, and I really wish we would have read it last quarter. It focuses on a family that has varying degrees of education and wealth, and this variance creates extremely interesting tensions throughout the characters' lives. There is also a sequel to this novel, which I am very interested in reading at some point.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Cups of Tea



4) Yes Please by Amy Poehler

So, this wasn't on the TBR either, I know. I picked it up this month and immediately started reading it. I finished it about the same time that I finished watching the last season of Parks and Rec (which Netflix FINALLY added). It was such a fun read. There were important insights and funny anecdotes, all of which I loved.  I would defintiely recommend this to anyone who loves Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live, or Parks and Rec.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Cups of Tea



5) Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

This is the third and last book in Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Series, which if you haven't started, you should. It focuses on a group of children with weird abilities and their quest for safety. It is a fun adventure read and a cute romance as well. I highly recommend this series for fantasy and adventure lovers. This last book was a great end to the series, and though I'm sad it's over, I'm glad it ended well.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Cups of Tea




6) Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon

I wil forever be referring to this biography as my gateway drug into the non-fiction world. This biography on Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley was absolutely amazing! For anyone with any interest in either of these two women, philosophy, writing, or feminism, I highly recommend this. Seriously, even if none of that interests you, you should read this. These two women deserve the whole world to read about them.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Cups of Tea



7) An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro

This was also read for school. I was sort of indifferent towards this book until the end and when I received more context through research and class. Though my opinion of this book has changed, I don't know if I would read it again or recommend it. Not unless you know a lot about post-WWII Japan or are willingly to do a bit of extra history reading on the side while reading this.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Cups of Tea



8) The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

There was a bunch of hype surrounding this book when it came out, and so I was a little wary about getting into this one. It turned out to be utterly deserving of all the hype. If you want a new, engaging, mind-blowing fantasy read, pick this one up! Apparently this is the first of what is going to be a seven book series, and I am so excited to continue on with the next book!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Cups of Tea



February TBR

1) Austenland by Shannon Hale

This was on my TBR for last month, but I got a little side-tracked with some other books. So, I'm planning on picking this up next! They made a movie about it a few years ago. For anyone who doesn't know, it is about a woman who, when tired of her bland life, goes on vacation to Austenland, a role-playing type resort that offers you the chance to live life in a Jane Austen novel. It's supposed to be a romance, so I think she falls in love once there. Whatever happens, I think I'm going to like it. #austenfanaticforlifeyo

2) Jackaby by William Ritter

This has been described as "Doctor Who meets Sherlock." Sign me up! A girl arrives to a new town and begins work with a supernatural investigator. I am super excited for it! Espicially since I got the hardcover for just $7 last month. Plus, I love this cover. Even if I end up hating this book, I'm looking forward to having this one my bookshelf. Hopefully this is going to be a great read, though. Keep an eye out for a review!

3) Uprooted by Naomi Novik

 There is been a relatively good amount of hype surrounding this book, and so I was super excited when I found it at GoodWill for just $4 last month! Its a fantasy book about a girl who gets chosen by the ruler of her land to be taken away and live with him. No one is quite sure what happens to the girls who are taken, but the protagonist, Agnieszka, is about to find out. We'll see how this lives up to the hype.


4) Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I love Adichie. Love, love, love her. Her short stories are some of my favorite, and her novels are supposed to be just as good. This one is about a young Nigerian couple who comes to America. The novel deals with race, love, and identity, according to back of the book. I'm really looking forward to finally getting to read this.


5) Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer

I haven't read too many of Georgette Heyer's book, but I have enjoyed all of the books I have read from her. She write historical fiction romances, and they are such fun to read. I'm excited for yet another fun romance from her! If you're interested in historical fiction romances or Austen-esque authors, I would check out some of her books.

6) I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai


I am so excited to read this. For those of you who don't know who this girl is, she is an active and outspoken voice for girls' education all over the world. A few years back she and her friends were stopped on a bus, and she was shot in the head for refusing to stop her schooling. She lived, and here, she tells her story and why she believes girls' education is so important for the world. I am so excited to read this and to finally learn more about this amazing girl!