TSS: February’s Pick(s) of the Month
Happy Sunday, all!
Just a short post today, as I think my blogging energies are better directed towards the six million reviews I’ve been procrastinating writing. It’s been a reading-heavy weekend, as yesterday was the second Saturday in a row that I’ve spent ignoring all of my pesky grown-up responsibilities and just tearing through a Patrick Ness novel. (I’m done with the series, now, and reviews will be forthcoming, but the short version: damn, they were good.) Last night and today I’ve been immersed in Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour, which, like Kitchen Confidential, is very funny, and also very hard on my diet and my grocery budget.
I’d also like to take a moment to do my Pick of the Month for February, before I forget and suddenly it’s July, like last year. (On a related topic, how the hell did it get to be March? Who approved that without asking me first?)
February was a great reading month for me. Not uniformly brilliant – there was more than one book I struggled with – but with a lot of good-to-great books to round it out. It was such a good month that I really can’t pick just one book as the best of the month… so I am going to pick four, instead. I loved all of these, and picking one as the winner at the exclusion of the others just seems monstrously unfair.
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Let’s hope that March is just as good… Thus far, it’s been shaping up nicely.
What about you, readers? What’s the best book (or books) you read in February? Which do you have high hopes for in March?
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I read and loved The Knife of Never Letting Go a while ago and bought the other two books, but haven’t found time for them yet. They are at the top of my list when I get clear of review commitments – my goal is to be (mostly) free by summer. :)
Carrie – A good goal! They’ll be good summer reads… if you’re anything like me they’ll just fly by!
That “less days in February” thing really made March come fast this year. Granted, there are less days every year, but I seem to be hearing a universal complaint that March snuck up on everyone this year. I agree–but I also fit more books into February than January, so I’m still happy. :)
Best book of February for me had to be The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig, which I had on reserve at the library since before Christmas… Finally came in mid-February, and was absolutely delightful (and not really that Christmas-focused anyway).
Looking forward to in March…oh dear, so many books; I have a list at the moment. But especially Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce, which I just began today. A favorite author who doesn’t publish frequently enough, especially for this series, so very exciting. Also The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig. Now that I’ve stumbled onto the sixth book in the series, I can’t wait to go back and start at the beginning…
Cheryl – I liked The Secret History of the Pink Carnation well enough, but I haven’t gone back and read any of the rest of the series. One of these days….
And I didn’t know Tamora Pierce had a new book out! I’m not at all caught up – I still have the Beka Cooper books to read, and all of the Circle series, but that’s good to know that there’ll be even more by the time I get to them.
I’m glad you had such a great reading month. I don’t keep track of what I read each month, so I’m not sure what my top pick would be.
bermudaonion – How about the best one you reviewed in February?
My favorite February read was Shadowrise by Tad Williams. I plan to start Shadowheart (the next and last in the series) soon. Next up, Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. And I’ll be doing A Song of Ice and Fire re-read.
I’ll have to check out Patrick Ness. I have the prequel short story on my Nook but haven’t gotten to it.
Laura – I still need to read the prequel story too… this weekend, I think!
I’ve got a Tad Williams book on my shelf that came very highly recommended, but I think it’s size has been intimidating me… I need to set aside a time to just read some chunksters.
Oh, two odd books were my favorites in February, Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns and Our Horses in Egypt by Rosalind Belben. I am really looking forward to Annabel and Among Others this month.
Gavin – Oh, I’m dying to get my hands on a copy of Among Others… I’ve heard so many fantastic things about it!
Yep, that Chaos Walking series is fantastic! I agree that you couldn’t just pick one if you’re reading them all in succession. I really enjoyed Madame Tussaud too and am also facing a large stack of books that I’ve read but haven’t reviewed yet. Procrastination isn’t getting me anywhere and yet…
Alyce – I got caught up on my reviews and managed to stay caught up for about three weeks in January… and now I’m hovering at a constant 3-4 reviews behind.
I seriously need to find time to read the new Michelle Moran!!!
Kailana – I found it really easy to get absorbed in, so once you do pick it up, hopefully it’ll go fast for you too!