I did, however, not read them on the second of the second month of the year, nor did I read them on the 20th of the year 2020. That would have been cool but I ain’t that cool. In fact, it’s actually, dare I say, not that cool in Minnesota either, which puts me in better spirits but not necessarily a reading mode. More like I’m digging around for the box with my Spring clothes and …. SANDALS! Sadly, my Kindle and books are still be ignored, mostly.
The Books I Loved, Liked and Loathed in February.
Keeping in a February mindset, I hearted the books I read, mostly. 😀
Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart
Book Description: The United States is on the brink of World War 1, and the Kopp sisters leave their small farm in New Jersey to join the National Service Schools, a military-style training camps for women who want to serve.
Book Review: Well, somehow I missed the 4th book in this serious. Oops. The good news – it didn’t take away my enjoyment of book #5. Girl Waits with Gun remains the best of the series (and one of the greatest book titles of all time) but this is another solid entry that fans of the series will enjoy. I appreciate Stewart taking us through Constance Kopp’s trailblazing journey, although the impatient part of me wouldn’t have an issue with a jump forward either. Perhaps, the historian in Stewart won’t allow her do it, so she smartly put the Kopp sisters a bit in the background and moved another real life character, Beulah Binford to the forefront, which worked in their favor because the Kopp sisters are in a bit of a holding-pattern at the moment.
To Read or Not To Read: Yes. Fans of the series won’t want to miss it and those who love historical novels would also enjoy the series but start with Girl Waits with Gun.
Rooms by Lauren Oliver
Book Description: After Richard Walker’s death, his estranged family arrives at his country home but they are not alone. Bound to the house, linger former residents with untold secrets and connections to the Walkers.
Book Review: I found this book through one of those “scariest books” lists and well … ironically in a book about the lies we tell ourselves or hide from ourselves … it was a lie. Now that doesn’t mean this wasn’t a good book; it was. I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit, but it is NOT scary. Are there ghosts? Yes, but they lean more tragic Caspers than those freaky twin girls hanging out at the Overlook Hotel. You get multiple view-points from both the living and the dead. I will say that the two, living women, Caroline and Minni, probably are the least developed. We understand the wounds they carry but their selfishness gets old and empathy starts to fade after a bit (because I don’t care enough about them versus them just being too self-absorbed). Overall this is more about fractured families, lies and forgivness than ghosts and spooky things. There were some interesting threads that were just dropped or ignored which annoyed me but not eough to really affect my overall enjoyment of the book.
To Read or Not To Read: Yes. I find myself drawn into their stories, particularly Sandra and Alice (the ghosts) and I liked the themes touched upon throughout the story.
To More Great Reads
Once again, I recommend all the books I read in February. Kopp Sisters on the March is another solid entry in their Kopp Sisters series. It’s a good fit for fans of historical fiction and feminists. Rooms kept me engaged and fans of dysfunctional families drama (with a ghost or three) will enjoy the slow unraveling of hidden secrets.
I have lots of books still unread on my Kindle and haven’t even touched any my NetGalley books but that’s the story of my life right now. And it’s really not a bad place to be! I also found out that the next book in one of my favorite series (The Dresden Files) is finally coming out this summer, which has me super, super excited. I am, however, a little less excited to suddenly discover a series that ended years ago is suddenly starting back-up. This always makes me nervous when an author revisits a finished series, especially one that stuck the landing. Why potentially screw it up? Oh right. Money.
As always, I’m joining Jana and Steph for their Show Us Your Books Link-Up. Be sure to check it out and see what great (or awful) books everyone read last month!
What was the best (or worst) book you read last month?
Tanya
Rooms sounds totally intriguing to me. A sort of The Other’s kind of feel. Where do I know that author’s name from? I feel like she’s wrote something else I really enjoyed. I’ll have to Goodreads it up. .. never thought I’d use Goodreads as an action word 🙂
She’s written some YA, although I’m also blanking on the names of the books but they were quite popular. This isn’t YA though. Goodreads as a verb is fun. 😀
I may have to revisit the Kopp Sisters books. I tried one of them and just couldn’t get into it.
I really loved Girl Waits with Gun and the second book was really good. The third book wasn’t quite as good to me though. I know sometimes a book that didn’t work for me earlier can work for me later … and sometimes not. 😀 It seems like the kind of book you’d enjoy (historical) but if you’re not feeling it, that’s okay too!
I’ve never tried the Kopp Sisters, but I tend to stay away from series. Rooms does NOT sound like my type of read! Ghosts….no thanks!
I’m the opposite – I love a good series. Well, normally. 😀 I used to dislike horror stories too but I find myself enjoying them now, although I would not categorize Rooms as really horror because I’m also very wimpy and I was never scared!
I’m in Amy Stewart’s Kopp Sisters book club (because of course I am) and I have both the fourth and fifth book on my bookshelf. Have I read them yet? No. I have not. I will, though. Sometime this year.
Side note: you should turn your quotes book into a coloring book. I would totally buy that.
You’ll have to let me know if the 4th book is worth reading. I mean, I’m sure it is but now that I’ve read the 5th one, it doesn’t feel super necessary to read it, unless it’s super awesome! Hmmmm … I’ll have to think about turning it into a coloring book. That could be comforting in difficult times, like now.
I can’t do the scary books.
That used to be me too but now I kind of like them. It’s like I enjoy testing how brave I am. Spoiler alert: not super brave. 😀
I am curious about Rooms! And ooh an author is bringing a series back? That is risky, if the ending was already finished!
-Lauren
YES!! I don’t know why authors revisit completed stories, especially a series which not only ended really well, she did a nice epilogue showing everyone in the future. Ugh. I think the other series she launched (sort of a spin-off of the Hollows) maybe didn’t do as good as expected or something? I don’t know. I’ll check it out but I’m nervous.
I kind of want to read Rooms now. I would be frustrated to go into it thinking it’s scary and it’s not, but with your review I’m better prepared.
Yeah, I admit that the lack of scariness was a little disappointing, but I got caught in the drama of both the ghosts and the living inhabitants so that helped. Still, it was a bit of bummer since I found out about the book from a scary book list. Boo!
Interesting choices. I’m always annoyed when I accidentally read a book from a series, but not the first book first. Rooms may be good for me, but your reference to The Shining makes me want to read that! 🙂 Thanks for sharing – enjoy your month.
Oh, me too! I typically like to start from the beginning, although one of my absolute favorite series, In Death by J.D. Robb, I started on book #20 or so. 😀 Shining is AWESOME!!! I love the book but I wasn’t a huge fan of the movie. The book, however, scared the living bejesus out of me. I had to stop reading it because I was so scared (and it was nighttime). It remains one of my favorite books and favorite King books. Doctor Sleep, the follow-up book, is also excellent, although not quite as scary.
yay symmetry! you go girl! i *still* haven’t read Girl Waits with Gun. so. clearly i need to get on that.