February Reading Recap!

This month passed me in a blur. I looked back at my Story Graph account and saw books I thought I read months ago, not weeks ago. But here we are, beginning March. I read eleven books throughout February, four of which were nonfiction. I am a relatively new nonfiction reader; I started reading nonfiction in earnest last year when I began my library job, and I have found it incredibly rewarding. I typically read in pairs; I choose one nonfiction book and one fiction book to bounce between. I want to educate myself and advocate through example (see our nonfiction book recommendations for self-education here). But it's also necessary to acknowledge the need for a touch of escapism. So, I always give myself options based on my mood. This allows for broadened horizons through both fiction and nonfiction.

Übel Blatt Vol. 9-11 by Etorouji Shiono

I finally finished this manga series that I started in high school. I used my local library's interlibrary loan process to access the eleven volumes. Some copies came from California to Utah to Florida. I did some research online, and it turns out that Übel Blatt is not an easy book to get ahold of. There's some confusion in the online discourse about exactly how many volumes there are since there was a hiatus in the middle of publishing, and then when they continued, there were some only published in Japan. I am so glad I can finally close out this manga series. I wasn't about to give up after searching for them for so long.

The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

This was another interesting read I found tucked away at the library. I wanted to read books related to black history month, and this seemed like a good option for a fiction pick. I intended to read Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Branyah; it will be included in March's reads. The Last White Man was an odd experience. It was not steeped in social commentary or deeply reflective, but it was a fascinating idea and simple to read. The story follows Anders, a young white man who wakes up one morning, black. The people in town are slowly turning black, and we get a front-row seat to how that changes their relations with themselves and others. It's a social commentary that doesn't spoon-feed its message.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

This. Book. Is. Amazing. I have not read anything about mass incarceration before, and this book lays it all out perfectly. It's easy to understand while not shying away from crucial information or historical evidence. Alexander systematically and thoroughly educates the reader on the history of incarceration in America. And make no mistake, it's not a coincidence that the first police officers were slavecatchers. It's not new information that America has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world; now, I have a new understanding of why that is and who those populations are.

White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy by Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman

I walked into this book expecting some confirmation bias on my part. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the white, rural South and how they have affected our democracy. But the fact is, there's always more to learn. More perspectives to engage with. There was a level of compassion and empathy that I was not expecting. I brought my fears and frustrations with me when I opened this book. Schaller and Waldman laid out the necessary studies and information but also acknowledged the depth of disenfranchisement for different southern communities. It most certainly does not condone white rural rage; it merely informs us why it's there and the effect it has on our country.

Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis

I am in the middle of this book at the moment, but I started it in February for black history month and wanted to include it in this list. I love this book. There is a freedom in being educated by voices who were there, who have laid the groundwork for the movement. Within this book is an amalgamation of different speeches, interviews and essays that Davis produced. Davis's voice is strong and solid, her stances unflinching, and her body of work astounding. Angela Y. Davis is a voice that you sit down and listen to, no matter what. Learning from this activist and educator has been an enriching experience. I highly, highly recommend this book.

Show Your Work by Austin Kleon

My mother recommended this book to me when I published this blog. It's a fast-paced, simple book, lined with advice about how to get your work out there. The emphasis is on how to be "findable" and how to get your work noticed. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a creative voice (which is everyone). It highlights the communal nature of art and creativity. It's an inspiring little book, an easy read, and it may help push you toward a new creative path.

February came and went with alarming speed. I was able to squeeze in as many books as I could, but I still did not read all that I wanted to for the month. I am already excited about my March reads, so stay tuned for those. I'm in a very poetic mood at the moment, so you'll see some poetry books pop up here and there throughout March.

As always, thank you for reading!