I’m graduating this semester and am lucky enough to only have two classes left to finish my degree. Neither are English classes to assign me any books, so I actually have the time to read for pleasure for the first time in about five years. Here’s everything I read in February:
- The Anxiety Sisters Survival Guide
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This one might be a bit of a stretch since I only finished it in February, but I’m counting it. I really enjoyed this book. It was informative, interesting and helpful. Something that bugs me about self-help style books is when I feel pressured to use certain tips presented, but I never felt like that with this book. Honestly, there was so much information and so many tactics that I don’t think anybody could use them all. If that wasn’t enough, the authors repeatedly said that not everything would work for everyone and take what will work for you. If you have anxiety or know somebody who does, I couldn’t recommend this book more.
- Nothing About Us Without Us
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I’m in the research stage for a project with a lot of disability representation. I’ve started buying and reading some books and this was the first on my list, and it was a great start. One thing I really liked was that it focused on disability movements and oppression from all over the world in many different cultures, rather than just the western perspective. The author also interviewed disabled people and activists from all over the world, which added a lot of credibility and insight.
- When Women Invented Television
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I picked this book up last summer but didn’t have enough time to get very far into it. Now that there’s enough space in my schedule for reading again, I knew I had to pick this one back up and it didn’t disappoint. If you have any interest in the entertainment industry or film history at all, this book was incredibly interesting. It followed the stories of four women at the forefront of television: Betty White, Irna Phillips, Gertrude Berg, and Hazel Scott. These women’s accomplishments and their spirits are so incredible.
- There’s Someone Inside Your House
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YA meets Thriller. I know that pairing will make you do a double-take, but Stephanie Perkins somehow makes it work. If you loved her Anna and the French Kiss series as much as I did, you’d be glad to know she keeps her writing style with this book. But don’t worry, the thriller parts of this script are appropriately creepy. I honestly couldn’t put this down. It took all my willpower to stop reading and go to bed (I just found out it was adapted into a movie, fingers crossed it’s just as good).
- Your Neurodiverse Friend
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This one was less of a book and more of a small magazine guide. My cousin found it in a second-hand bookshop and bought it for me. It included short essays and art from autistic people about their experiences. It was really great to hear different perspectives and there was even an entry from Temple Grandin, who I really like.
I have to include one honorable mention. I finished the last 20 pages of Disability Politics and Theory on March 1st, but the rest I read in February. It was really helpful to get a deeper look into the different models of disability and the history behind them.
I had a great reading month and I can’t wait to see what I can do in March. What did you read this month?