February in Review

My Reading

# of books read: twelve
Best(s):(In which I tell you all my favorite reads and make up categories so they each win something)
Best grammar and style book that is actually hilarious: Dreyer's English
Best fantasy novel I read a little too late for OBOB judging: Spellslinger
Most enjoyable of the many, many tiny home and decluttering books I've read this month: Tiny Homes on the Move
Best middle grade sci fi novel that pushed me to actually think about science-y stuff: Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

   

Book of the Month, aka extremely satisfying conclusion to a shockingly good series: The Hand on the Wall

Bookish Events and Happenings

I started the month with a new semester, new students, and World Read Aloud Day. So there we were on our third day of class, skyping with authors all over the country. We talked to:

Shannon Hitchcock

Dianne K. Salerni

Emma Otheguy

Dan Haring

Kip Wilson

Shannon Doleski

and all were fabulous! The whole thing is made possible in large part by the work Kate Messner does in connecting authors and teachers. Considering the rate she publishes at, this is proof that if you really need something done, ask a busy person.

February was a big month for book committee announcements. CYBILS releases its list of winners on February 14th, and the committee I was on, YA Spec Fic, chose Fireborne as the winner. As always, any book that makes it to round 2 in any category is worth picking up. And the committee I joined this year to pick next year's Oregon Battle of the Books titles for high school students completed its work the next day. We have a terrific list, if I do say so myself. My only real disappointment is that Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood was kept off the list because it's hard to get copies of. The middle grade group took a big step forward--they were looking at both Amal Unbound and Amina's Voice and decided that including both would be a good way to counter "The Danger of a Single Story," as explained in Chimamanda Ngozi's Ted Talk.

One other thing that happened this month --and I am SO PROUD of this-- is that I attacked my Goodreads TBR. Instead of some 1,800 titles spread over five different TBR shelves, I now have ONE shelf that has a mere 671 titles on it. It was a major undertaking, but also extremely fun. 

On the Blog

I posted a mere five times. I'm finding I enjoy the blog more when I don't force it. I am often at the library for several hours on Sundays, so I've been doing Sunday updates. I also wrote a quick, fun tag that I found on Readerbuzz, and wrote something that was not quite a discussion post nor a top ten post about books about simplifying life.

IRL

• We're fighting the good fight about devices with our teenager. It's hard parenting this, since we don't have any lived experience with it. Like, I have memories and thoughts about curfews and cussing and driving, but guiding a healthy digital life is brand new. So we end up changing the rules, which is crappy, but it's because we didn't realize what the rules should have been until we see it not work. 
• Oregon's first Coronavirus patient is at the hospital 2 miles from my house. My hands are already chapped from such frequent washing, and we did stock up on some groceries, but I'm trying not to overreact. They've suggested parents keep kids home if they "have the sniffles," and I'm like--dudes, it's late winter, EVERYONE has the effing sniffles. 
• I love spring flowers. I am not a gardener, mostly because I loathe weeding, but we still have daffodils, croci, a forsythia, and rosemary blooming. 

If March is supposed to come in/go out like a lion/lamb, I have no idea what's in store. Today is super cold with snow in higher elevations, but also sunny. I hope it's a great month for all of you. 

My monthly summaries are always linked to the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up on Feed Your Fiction Addiction, along with many other terrific blogs' monthly reflections.  Nicole usually puts together a fun scavenger hunt giveaway too, so go check it out!