February 2021 Wrap

Another month is over therefore another wrap up. I read 8 books last month, which is not bad but I was not able to accomplish my goal of reading 10 books. Nonetheless I was still able to read 8 books. Overall, I read 2 classic books, 1 textbook for school, and 2 books from my list of books that I want to read in 2021. So here are the books that I read: 

1. A Touch of Ruin (Hades and Persephone) by Scarlett St. Clair

Persephone’s relationship with Hades has gone public and the resulting media storm disrupts her normal life and threatens to expose her as the Goddess of Spring.

Hades, God of the Dead, is burdened by a hellish past that everyone’s eager to expose in an effort to warn Persephone away.

Things only get worse when a horrible tragedy leaves Persephone’s heart in ruin and Hades refusing to help. Desperate, she takes matters into her own hands, striking bargains with severe consequences.

Faced with a side of Hades she never knew and crushing loss, Persephone wonders if she can truly become Hades’ queen.

This is not as good as the first book. This book focused more on

the relationship between Hades and Persephone and the conflicts that 

comes with it, such as trust and deceit. They were also getting annoying because 

they were fighting over the same thing over and over again. 

2. Little Women by Louise May Alcott

The beautiful 150th anniversary edition of Louisa May Alcott's classic tale of the four March sisters, featuring new illustrations and an introduction by New York Times bestselling author J. Courtney Sullivan

For generations, children around the world have come of age with Louisa May Alcott's March girls: hardworking eldest sister Meg, headstrong, impulsive Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. With their father away at war, and their loving mother Marmee working to support the family, the four sisters have to rely on one another for support as they endure the hardships of wartime and poverty. We witness the sisters growing up and figuring out what role each wants to play in the world, and, along the way, join them on countless unforgettable adventures.

Readers young and old will fall in love with this beloved classic, at once a lively portrait of nineteenth-century family life and a feminist novel about young women defying society's expectations.

This was a re-read and oddly enough I did not enjoy this book as much 

as I did when I first read this in high school, which was 10 years ago. 

I love Jo and how she views society but the other characters were annoying, 

especially Meg. There were also draggy and dull parts. 

3. Abnormal Psychology by Barlow and Durand

There is not much to say because I read this textbook for school. 

4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 

Sixty years after its publication, Ray Bradbury's internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 stands as a classic of world literature set in a bleak, dystopian future. Today its message has grown more relevant than ever before.

"Fahrenheit 451- The temperature at which book paper catches fire and burns."

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family." But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn't live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

The sixtieth-anniversary edition commemorates Ray Bradbury's masterpiece with a new introduction by Neil Gaiman; personal essays on the genesis of the novel by the author; a wealth of critical essays and reviews by Nelson Algren, Harold Bloom, Margaret Atwood, and others; rare manuscript pages and sketches from Ray Bradbury's personal archive; and much more. Here, at last, is the definitive edition of a classic of world literature.

This one was a different re-reading experience from Little Women. 

I also first read this book back in high school and I initially did not

like it. But when I re-read this last month, my initial thoughts were changed. 

I appreciated the theme of this book this time around. I think the idea of freedom of thought

censorship should be discussed and reflected more. 3

5. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson 

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer's Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery--magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library's most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth's desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she's been taught--about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

"If you are looking for magic you will find it inside this book. Sorcery of Thorns is a bewitching gem, full of slow burning romance, loyal friendships, and extraordinary world building. I absolutely loved every moment of this story." --Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series

From the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens comes an imaginative fantasy about an apprentice at a magical library who must battle a powerful sorcerer to save her kingdom.

I honestly thought this was part of a series. I was shocked 

when I searched online when the next book will be released and read that there

was no 2nd book and this was standalone. The ending is fine though no major cliffhanger 

but it ended in a way that there could be a 2nd book. I also felt that the plot seemed rushed while reading and now I get it why is it like that after learning this was a standalone book.

Honestly, this would have been better as a duology. I did enjoy the characters and 

their interaction with one another. 

6. A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses#4) by Sarah J. Maas

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

In general, this book is okay. There were aspects of this book that I like but also did not liked. I liked the accurate depiction of mental illness. The book showed how different people deal with trauma differently, and how the presentation of the symptoms of trauma can vary from person to person even if they experienced the same trauma. This can be seen in the case of Nesta and Elain (although this book showed the other traumatic events Nesta experienced)

It also showed how the people around can react differently towards people with a mental disorder. There were some characters that I got irritated with because of their rude behavior towards Nesta but I realize that this is the sad reality. Similarly, Nesta was also rude and pushed people that were trying to help her away. But I have learned that mental illness does not excuse your problematic behavior. It does not dissolve the consequences of your actions.

I also liked the journey of Nesta in overcoming her trauma and the importance of social support. My favorite part of the book would have to be Nesta with her friends. I enjoyed reading their conversation with one another and how they were able to empower one another, which is therapeutic. She was also able reflect on the negative actions she did in the past and change her behavior, especially towards Feyre.

Furthermore, the characters were more complex in this book. They showed their flaws and how some of them were were able to change. But my main issue with the book is the plot is very similar to Sarah J. Maas previous book. There is a pattern when it comes to her books that reading this book is not exciting for me anymore. I was not invested into the conflict with Briallyn and how they resolved it. It was becoming repetative for me, even the romance part.

Overall, character-wise this book is good with their development and their interaction with one another. I enjoyed reading this book becuase of them.

7. What I Lost by Alexandra Ballard

What sixteen-year-old Elizabeth has lost so far: forty pounds, four jean sizes, a boyfriend, and her peace of mind. As a result, she’s finally a size zero. She’s also the newest resident at Wallingfield, a treatment center for girls like her—girls with eating disorders. Elizabeth is determined to endure the program so she can go back home, where she plans to start restricting her food intake again. She’s pretty sure her mom, who has her own size 0 obsession, needs treatment as much as she does. Maybe even more. Then Elizabeth begins receiving mysterious packages. Are they from her ex-boyfriend, a secret admirer, or someone playing a cruel trick?

This book is about main character’s, Elizabeth,journey

with battling and recovering from Anorexia. This book has lot of triggers regarding eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and self-harm, which was hard for me to read. Reading about mental disorders/health is very humbling as well as stressful for me because I tend to overthink about my capabilities as a future clinician.

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Anyway, I loved reading about Elizabeth’s journey towards recovery and how they showed that recovery is not an uphill slope and that it is a continuous battle. There are moments of success and failures but what is important is to keep on fighting.

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I also liked reading the treatment programs in the inpatient facility. I like reading the approaches the staff took in helping the girls. But I have a couple of problems with this book. First is the lack of representation. White girls are not the only ones who suffers from ED. People from different races and gender can also suffer from ED.

Also, there other forms of ED not just Anorexia and Bulimia. Second, the romance part is unnecessary for me. It just conveys the message that you need a romantic partner just to get better.

8. I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.”

And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here.

A man and his girlfriend are on their way to a secluded farm. When the two take an unexpected detour, she is left stranded in a deserted high school, wondering if there is any escape at all. What follows is a twisted unraveling that will haunt you long after the last page is turned.

This book was hard to get into, which is something you

do not want in a short story. I found myself not getting excited for the twist.

I kinda figure out the main theme of the book from the title so the twist did not 

come as a shock for me.

So those where the 8 books that I read last month. For this month, my goal is to read at least 5 books, which includes the Poppy War trilogy that was highly recommended by my friend.

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What book have you read from this list?  Please tell me below. Be sure to follow my social media accounts to see bookish stuffs or chat about books, or be reading buddies.

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XOXO,

Bella