Monthly Mercies: February
DNF book list, library data, and celebrating the small things
Hello, friend.
You made it to February. We made it to February.
January was so long that I almost forgot how I impulsively painted a bathroom in our house after being snowed in for days and days a few weeks ago. What a time.
Our family rode quite the rollercoaster in the month of January, but we ended with a fun win. Over the last two years, our oldest has been progressing toward some goals and working in earnest for the last 10 months. This past week, we celebrated the meeting of those goals!
It could have very easily been a small thing. We could have said “good job, Eloise!” and moved on. We have before and it was fine. But this time, we stopped. We celebrated. We talked about it a lot as a family and praised Eloise at the dinner table. On Tuesday, we surprised her with her favorite ice cream and let everyone stay up past their bedtime for hot fudge sundaes. We pulled out the sprinkles and sprayed whipped cream right into the kids’ mouths, which is pretty wild stuff for an average Tuesday evening with three kids.
What I keep thinking about is how Eloise bounced down the stairs on Wednesday morning with a huge smile on her face, still riding the excitement and joy of Tuesday night. I keep thinking about how her eyes sparkled when we celebrated with her and how when we asked her if she was proud of herself she gave a hearty nod and a confident “Yes!”.
I keep thinking about how we would have missed all of that if we hadn’t chosen to celebrate it, to make a big deal of her hard work.
I’m so glad we didn’t miss it.
Here’s to more ice cream sundaes and big celebrations for small victories in February. Wishing you the same.
In his mercy,
Amy
January Reads
Thanks for This Riot: Stories by Janelle Bassett
Alison Espach, author of The Wedding People, recommended this short story collection at the Southern Festival of Books and when I got it, I was thrilled to learn it’s written by a local St. Louis author! This collection has everything I love in short stories: humor, some really strange plots and characters, and sharp, witty writing. Incredibly strong start to my reading year.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Mi Ye Lee
You know a love a fun little cozy fantasy novel and this was exactly that. The Dallergut Dream Department store is a store where people come in their sleep and shop for dreams. Each floor of the store sells different types of dreams, with dream makers who expertly craft the dream experience. The novel mostly follows new hire Penny as she learns the ins and outs of the store, the dream makers, and customers. Loved it.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany by Malcom Guite
My friend Becky bought me this poetry advent book this year and it was such a lovely and different way to read through Advent. Malcom Guite selected a poem for each day from the beginning of Advent through Epiphany on January 6 and then wrote a little reflection/analysis on each. Poetry + Advent= win-win!! I think this will be a yearly read for me for sure.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
Greenglass House (Greenglass House #1) by Kate Milford
This middle grade novel was the perfect thing to read while snow was coming down for a couple of days in early January. Milo and his parents run a smugglers’ inn and are looking forward to a quiet Christmas at the Greenglass House. This plan is quickly interrupted when unexpected guests begin to arrive at the inn, all a bit mysterious in their own way. As Milo seeks to understand everyone’s purpose in being there, mystery unfolds in the Greenglass House as a winter storm rages outside. This was a sweet story about family alongside a little mystery and it was just right for me.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
I’m nearing the end of my Ann Patchett catalog read-through! I first read The Dutch House soon after its release and absolutely loved it. On this read, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Tom Hanks, which brought even more out of the story for me and enhanced Danny’s character. I love complicated family stories and this novel is so beautifully crafted that I took my time listening to it, really savoring the writing. So very good.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers
This novel is about Helen, an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital in the mid-1960s. The hospital takes on a mute man in his mid-thirties that had been a secluded in his house with his aunt for decades and when Helen discovers his artistic talent, she is determined to understand more of his story. I found this story compelling and was particularly fascinated by the author’s note that shared the author only read research on psychiatry up to when the book was set in order to prepare. I’ve never read a story quite like this and have continued to think about it since finishing.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
Eighty-two year old Fred Fife doesn’t have much going for him at this point in his life. He’s widowed, about to be evicted, and pretty much alone in the world. So when through another elderly man’s death and a case of mistaken identity Fred ends up in the local nursing home in Bernard’s place, Fred is torn on what to do. He tries to right the situation while simultaneously finding community and friendship in a life that’s been lonely for a long time. This book had a wild premise, but was sweet.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Well. Sorry about this. Listen, I know people love Jane Austen. But this is the third book of hers I’ve read and I haven’t enjoyed any of them?? I’ll only speak to Persuasion here because that’s the one I just read, but I found the characters snobbish and uninteresting, and the story quite dull. Eloise asked me about the book while I was reading it and I told her “it’s basically a bunch of rich people going to other rich people’s houses talking about how they need to marry people that are rich enough.” Also there was a lot of hate on freckles and, well, I took that personally. Sorry. Hope we can still be friends.
My Goodreads rating: 2/5 stars
Drop Dead Sisters (The Finch Sisters #1) by Amelia Diane Coombs
When Remi Finch reunites with her two sisters at their parents’ 40th anniversary camping trip, she’s mostly nervous about spending this much time with them. But things take a turn when they find themselves covering their tracks in what becomes a complicated murder mystery and of course their relationship is evaluated along the way. This book was silly and fun.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr
I listened to this audiobook during a hard week in January and it was just the perfect lovely thing to have in my ears. Four Seasons in Rome is Anthony Doerr’s memoir of the year his family spent in Italy on a writing fellowship. He muses on parenting, cultural education, writing, and the impact of the death of the Pope on the city during their time there. I’ve found myself captivated by everything I’ve read of Anthony Doerr’s writing and this quick listen was no different.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars
I don’t normally do this, but January included so many books that I read close to half of before quitting that it felt right to include a DNF category this month:
The Author’s Guide to Murder (didn’t like any of the characters, writing wasn’t working for me)
Bright I Burn (stunning writing, but the protagonist was becoming a worse and worse person as the book when on??
Blue Sisters (everyone was a mess in this book, felt too depressing)
Small Rains (beautiful writing, but too depressing for me in January. Might revisit at some point)
January Bakes
January Words
I did very little writing in January, but I did write one poem for the latest issue of Part-Time Poets! Check it out here:
January Favorites
@poeticpuppets might be the most tailor-made for me Instagram account in existence.
We watched and enjoyed the new Nate Bargatze special on Netflix in January. There’s one short joke about the microwave in there that Joel and quoted all month long.
I always look forward to NPR’s annual article about the most borrowed library books from the year.
Related, here’s a mesmerizing “bar graph race” that shows the top books change over the whole year.
Lotta book content this month, but this reel about how much it costs libraries to provide digital copies of books was shared in my book club’s group chat and prompted a great conversation!
I’ve been *trying* to spend less mindless time scrolling, so I bought this murder mystery logic puzzle book with a birthday gift card and it’s been perfect for when I need a quick little brain break! I was obsessed with logic puzzles as a kid and even went through a phase of printing them off in the computer lab in college lololol so I’ve had a blast getting back to it.
Lego wedding centerpieces built by the guests during cocktail hour? BRILLIANT.
I’ve thought of this reel every time I’ve receive an email from the New York Times in the week.
🎶This month's newsletter was written while listening to:
Woodland- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Lefty- Penny and Sparrow
I'll see you back here on the first Friday in March! Until then, you can find me on Instagram.
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I hope your February is full of new mercies. Take care of yourselves, friends.
The amount of time I just spent watching and rewatching that library bar graph 😅🤩 fascinating!
Good to know about Blue Sisters! I was intrigued by the premise but couldn't decide about buying it (my library doesn't have it). Love all the cakes!!