February 2025 Book Reads

February 2025 Book Reads

 

1.       Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

a.       Format: Paperback & Audiobook

b.       Series: Nope

c.       Thoughts:  I got a bunch of books from the library revolving around religion and mastery of self.. this has been one of them that I hadn’t finished reading before needing to return it.  It’s a small book but a slow read, slow in that pursuit of being mindful as I evaluated/self-evaluated/listened/re-listened/read/re-read to allow things to marinate; it’s not a shallow read and was apt timing.

2.       Into the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah

a.       Format: Hardcover

b.       Series: Noperz

c.       Thoughts:  Short cute read, I especially liked the two snails handling of things.

3.       Powerful by Lauren Roberts

a.       Format:  Audiobook

b.       Series:  Yes, Powerless series, novella is 1.5

c.       Thoughts:  As one reviewer put it, you have to be a masochist to go into reading this book if you’ve read book 1 but you can also be a wishful, hopeful, personality as well thinking that some twist will be offered up.  If you are the former or the latter and if you might have felt a wee bit of emotion toward the scene at the end of the book 1, be warned, be prepared, have the Kleenex on deck and be gutted.  I very nearly rated this on GR thinking how choked up I got because the author doubled down because I don’t think I felt as nearly as much I originally did when reading Powerless.  Though this series, especially the first book, has been compared and held in the same breath as the ‘Red Queen’, this story, following Adena and Mak, actually reminded me of another series (a series that was also mentioned in the same breath when speaking of Book 1, ‘The Hunger Games’); when I first read Mockingjay and when this particular character is killed I thought ‘all of this had been for one thing…’.  And though Paedyn had not nominated herself as tribute or anything of the sort there was something in the nature of those scene, in the middle of the arena, and to read it from Adena’s POV that made me thinking of Mockingjay.  That said, this will likely not make sense unless you’ve read these books but to be sure, while it took me some time to get to this book, considering it's a novella, it was the ticking clock of the impending return to the library that made me sit my fanny down and consume it.  To which I entered a crying fit, fixed my face, only to have cry again, fix my face, and even after finishing, think about that scene again to feel the emotion swell once more.  Very effective.  The last book in the series is set to be released later this year. 

4.       The Answer Is…: Reflections On My Life by Alex Trebek

a.       Format:  Audiobook

b.       Series: n/a

c.       Thoughts:  I found myself jotting down little notes while reading this, mostly in the beginning and maybe a couple things later on that caught my attention or resonated.  Though this is not a full autobiography of delving deep into things, more like skimming the surfaces and hitting some spots, it felt nice to read.  A majority of the book is read by Ken Jennings and there was something about the audio in places that made me think it might’ve been recorded by Alex from home or some other place besides a studio.  It didn’t take away from the experience, in fact, it just cemented that sadness.  I feel we all have our Jeopardy stories and when you have that type of person, that iconic voice being invited into your home regularly, there is sure to be a note of connection.  Reading this then following up with Black Privilege felt synchronistic.  Even reading about Alex’s father just deciding at random to change course.  I did enjoy this read and it’s one I want to add to my shelf as an old friend to come back to.  Also, tears were had with this read.  This book came out short of Alex’s bday and later on that year he passed. 

5.       Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It by Charlamagne Tha God

a.       Format:  Audiobook

b.       Series: n/a

c.       Thoughts:  This book is broken down by eight principles while being an autobiography of Charlamagne’s path from the streets to the authentic radio personality he is today.  His ‘tell as I see it’ approach when being on-air is reflected throughout his trials and there was a term he used when talking about the roundabout ways life can lead you in a different direction but how it all is ultimately apart of your path (misdirection).  This too feels like another book friend worth having on the shelf.  There’s humor and truth but other thoughts that strike you while reading.  The ‘no weapon formed against me shall prosper’ mental, which is funny because part of the reason Alex Trebek ultimately decided on doing a memoir was to tell it in his own words, from sharing his diagnosis to the actual memoir.  In short, this book points out that infamous rap battle of Eminem in 8-mile, if you know you know, but it’s of the I’m about to rob you of the artillery you think you’ve amassed and do one better…  Worth rereading for sure. 

“The Body Keeps the Score” was one of the books I had intended as a February read.  I’m still reading through this and grappling with some of thoughts I’ve had while reading in parallel to observations I’ve made. 

Books on deck for March include-

1.       The Rivaled Crown by Holly Renee

2.       Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

My official March reads are Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins and Skin by Ibi Zoboi. 

I’ve also been thinking about books I’d like to revisit/reread, My Sister, The Serial Killer being one… Not sure when though.