February Book Reviews
Even though February is the shortest month of the year, it still felt like it would never end! But it has, and we survived, and I'm still on track with my reading goal! This month, I read four books: one on Kindle and three audiobooks (because I was busy crafting). One nonfiction, two contemporary fiction, and one historical fiction.
Fresh Snow on Bedford Falls, G.L. Gooding
This historical mystery really intrigued me because it is the continuing story of It's a Wonderful Life. At the end of the beloved Christmas movie, it feels like everything is "happily ever after," but if you really think about it, it's not: Henry Potter is still a miserable old scoundrel of a villain who got away with grand theft, and there is still a bundle of money missing from a loan company, which is not good for business. But this book begins when a new angel comes to town with a new mission of redemption. We learn Potter's backstory - why he is in a wheelchair, why he doesn't have family, and why he is so mean - and it weaves in some significant early-1900s historical events. I really loved the idea of it, but it was a long and rambling story plot line! It took me all month to read (I literally finished it this morning), and as a writer I felt like there were lots of unnecessary words that could have been cut and even whole scenes that could have been shortened or summarized. There's a difference between building suspense and dragging things out too much. But I couldn't stop reading, because I really did want to see where it was going to end, and I'm glad I did.
Gone Before Goodbye, Harlan Coben & Reese Witherspoon
In contrast, I flew through this story in about a day and a half. It's a thriller about a doctor who is a reconstructive surgeon. It had all the right elements to keep me on my toes: globetrotting from Russia to India to New York, ethical dilemmas and moral gray areas, and mysterious and questionable deaths of loved ones. I actually really liked it all the way up until the last few pages, when it went a bit sideways and squeamish, and ended on a weird, icky note that felt unsettling. That was probably the author's intention and point, but that's not the kind of book that I feel satisfied with in the end.
This one isn't a new book, but it was recommended to me by a friend who knew that I am trying to read more nonfiction this year. Actually, I'm surprised that I've never heard of Bruce Olson before, as I am fascinated by Christian missionary stories. Bruce went to the jungles of South America in the early 1960s to share the gospel with remote tribes. There are some gruesome sections in the book, but they are based on his true experiences and really enrich the testimony of God's faithfulness and the miracles that he witnessed. It was also cool to learn more about him after reading the book, finding out that he is still alive and is now a citizen of Colombia and considered an official member of his tribe, and that he continues to advocate for their rights as an indigenous people group.
MY FEBRUARY TOP PICK:
How to Read a Book, Monica Wood
My book club chose this one, and I got through it fairly quickly. I wish I had gone into it with a little more warning that its initial setting is a women's penitentiary, and so the language is pretty coarse in some spots. But besides that, I really loved this story, and I loved the way it ended. I connected with the three main characters quickly and deeply and had all sorts of strong emotions about the course of each of their lives. Plus, I learned some really cool things about parrots! Yes, parrots. If you can get past the language, I recommend that you read this book. It's got some powerful themes of forgiveness and redemption. It reminds us that our mistakes don't have to define us or condemn us, and it shows the value of walking alongside others in their journeys through healing and hope.
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