@ Your Library
Two months of 2025 are just about over. That means spring can’t be too far away. Time to add some slower books, as exciting books are no longer needed to keep the blood from freezing.
I enjoy pairing fiction and non-fiction titles and the new title The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri pairs very nicely with Hitler’s Forgotten Children by Ingrid Von Oelhafen and Tim Tate. Both books explore Hitler’s Lebensborn program through different lenses.
I don ‘t know if this is a slow read, but it is a fascinating story. By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult pairs two women centuries apart who are both forced to hide their identities behind other names. The identity of the writer Shakespeare has spawned much speculation in the almost five hundred years since he lived, but I’d never heard a theory about a woman writer. The idea is intriguing and the documentation is impressive. I also enjoy stories that transition between two time periods. And there are plenty of non-fiction titles to explore about the life and possible identities of William Shakespeare.
I enjoy regional history and learning new stories about wherever I am living. They Would Not Be Moved by Bruce White is a chronicle of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe who are known as ‘the nonremoveable band.’ I had never heard that name for them and the research on the challenges this band faced to the Treaty of 1855 and their determination to make the country respect the treaty is amazing. A couple of fiction titles that are quick reads but provide different looks at reservation life include The Brave by James Bird and The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
I finally read Babel by R. F. Kuang and the writing is beautiful, the premise for the world is amazing, but the story itself, a reflection of the worst of British Imperialism was horrific. I had to read it alongside a couple of other lighter titles to sparse out the awful depictions of treatment of the non-British. If you are looking for a beautifully written book that you can take slowly this is a great option.
While winter may be ebbing the book How to Winter: Harness your mindset to thrive on cold, dark or difficult days by Kari Leibowitz could be a very valuable read anytime of year, but especially as winter winds down and the memories are fresh of how it felt to be in the cold, dark, difficult time of year but non in its midst, which might make it too hard to read.
Another possible read for late winter is ReWire: break the cycle, alter your thoughts and create lasting change by Nicole Vignola. If you are looking to change your mind, habits and life this could be a possible title to read through slowly. The author explains the neuroscience behind why we are programmed toward certain behaviors as why we are also capable of transforming those patterns that seem to hold us back.