All the amazing Books I read in February 2023

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It's February of 2023 already. Time is flying and so just like that, it’s time for me to join back to work after my maternity leave. I am excited about March, are you?
The first two months have been very productive in terms of my reading and I hope to continue this streak in the continuing months of the year.

But nevertheless, I have a very interesting set of reading recommendations for you every month onwards. I hope you did check out this month’s post about Memorable Black characters in books, especially written since February was Black History Month. I gave you an interesting mix of short and medium books to check for those who do not want to commit to very long reads. And it is an interesting mix of genres as well ranging from historical to contemporary to memoirs. Black voices deserve to be heard especially when the writing and story-telling are phenomenal.

Many of these books are also available on Kindle Unlimited. Try Kindle Unlimited Free for 30 days!

Recent Reads February 2023

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Osman

Charlie, is an openly gay guy in Year 10 at Truham School for Boys. He is with Ben who turns out to be a dick. But then Charlie meets Nick, a rugby player, who is straight.

Nevertheless, they become the best of friends who are always together. But then Charlie starts falling for Nick although he knows he doesn’t stand a chance. Or does he? You never know with love. 

A very sweet novel, with detailed and charming graphic and an adorable, unputdownable story.

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Osman

Charlie has fallen for Nick although he knows Nick is straight. But Nick is equally smitten with Charlie but he cannot figure out his sexuality. The ever patient and understanding Charlie stands out very tall in this lovable and charming story.

Smokin Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

How can anyone decide this novel was their favourite mystery novel for the year 2011 is beyond me? Maybe the other contenders were hopelessly trashy, who knows!

So in Trenton one morning parts of a person’s body are found. And then the number of bodies just keep piling up. One of these bodies is addressed to Stephanie Plum, our protagonist. While trying to find who is behind this killing spree, her romantic life gets complicated when her parents decide to do match-making for her. 

For me, I think this book was more a rom-com then a murder mystery. Because frankly, only a handful paragraphs (not even pages) were dedicated to actually finding the killer. In addition to that I think the readers will guess the murderer, way, way before the reveal. At least I did. No surprises here. And this book was the Goodreads choice award winner for best mystery in 2011.

I’m giving this 3.5 only because it did entertain me with its romance and humour.

Night-Time Stories edited by Yen-Yen Lu

The day-time has a fast paced, activity oriented and timed atmosphere, while the night-time is a relaxed, calm sometimes dark and mysterious part of the day.  It is this theme that is explored in this short book.

There are ten stories written by various authors that investigate the night-time in very unique ways. My favourites of the lot were Whose Lounge? Where the author uses a camera to record the night in her living room and feels a calm watching the video. Additionally, Daylight Saving Time was also captivating where it explored the clock going back an hour and compares it to time travel.

The other stories failed to leave an impression on me. 

The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Ramayana is a popular epic in India and worldwide. Everyone knows the story of how Ram and Sita were married. How the evil Kaikeye then on the eve of his coronation banished Ram to 14 years of exile. How then when wandering the forests of Panchavati, Ravana abducted Sita and took her to Lanka. And then how with the help of an army of monkeys and bears Ram crossed the ocean and defeated the mighty Ravan and brought back Sita, albeit after a test to prove her innocence after living with a stranger for a year.

But have you read this story through the eyes of most important character – Sita? What were her thoughts, feelings, dilemmas and causes behind her actions? Understanding a story through the perspective of a character opens us up to new perspectives and new possibilities, in my opinion. And while reading this book I felt just that. It was a refreshing revision of the epic tale.

Read this for the Buzzword Readathon by Kayla – a book title with magic or related words (enchantment)

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant – a guide to wealth and happiness by Eric Jorgenson

Health, Wealth, and happiness are the three most important skills to possess is what Naval Ravikant believes. And he is an entrepreneur, investor, and philosopher who has captivated the world through his principles of how to build these skills.

This book collects and organizes the pieces of wisdom he has shared through Twitter, blog posts, and podcasts, and shows you how to achieve the same for yourself. In the author’s words, this almanack is a guide to be read and consulted for specific topics related to wealth and happiness and it does just that.

I intend to revisit this guide at specific times when I feel demotivated or unhappy or looking for new ways to earn wealth.

Global - One fragile world. An epic fight for survival by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin

" Global" tells the narratives of two children. Sami, a boy, who lives in Myanmar along the Indian Ocean, in a small fishermen hamlet. And Yuki, a girl, in northern Canada, inside the Arctic circle.

They live at two different ends of the world, their lives are so distinctive and yet so alike as they are touched by climate change and all the challenges that come with it. Sami tries to hunt for more fish with growing storms and receding fish around. While Yuki finds melting snow and decides to help the endangered polar bears.

The book explains and discusses a truly important theme in a simple, realistic and profound way and with beautiful sketches and illustrations.

The Ballad of Bant Singh – A Qissa of Courage by Nirupama Dutt

Bant Singh is a Dalit labourer living in a small village Jhabbar, in Punjab. A night in January changed Bant Singh physically but it could not dampen his spirit. Boys from the upper caste Jats beat Bant so brutally that he lost his two legs and one arm but kept his consciousness in spite of the enormity of the violence meted out to his body.

Bant was only fighting for his daughter Baljit, who had been raped in a neighbour’s bungalow by similar upper caste goons.  Baljit respecting Bant’s teachings decided to follow up with the criminals in the court of law and got justice served.

The book also discusses the Sikh past where Dalits were similarly trampled by the upper castes but heroes rose in every generation and brought justice to these hapless people living in perpetual fear. 

I salute the indomitable spirit of Bant that sang revolutionary songs written by a Dalit poet even while recuperating in a hospital. Till today he continues to sing these songs and inspire his fellow comrades.

Read this for Booklist Queen’s 2023 reading challenge – Book by a local author.

Dangerous Women by Hope Adams

Rajah, is an extraordinary ship transporting a few hundred convict women from England to Tasmania. They hope to begin a new life there only on the way a murder takes place on the ship. Now they all live in fear amongst a murderer. Surrounded by nothing but the sea and their destinies, these women have but one purpose. Survive until landfall.

The ship's captain, a matron in charge of the women, and a doctor and priest on board are the ones in authority and decide to interview each of the involved women to get to the murderer and her motive.

Overall an engaging read describing the sea voyage and 100 odd days on the sea with no living thing in sight. Reading about the convict women and their past lives gave the novel a human touch and made it all the more intriguing.

Read this for Uncorked reading challenge 2023 – Book on a ship/boat.

The Visit by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie (Black Stars #1)

Imagine a matriarchal world.

Cant?

Well then, read this book and you’ll know what I am saying. Amara is a successful and ambitious woman in a position of power. While Obinna her husband is a stay-at-home homemaker and father. This world is as unbelievable as it is scintillating.  

Eze, Obinna’s old friend is visiting and through their meeting, we get to know a world where men are under constant surveillance and prey to powerful women. Quite an unexpected read, this book is a part of the Black Stars series which is a multi-dimensional collection of speculative fiction from black authors.