February books + films

I like that it’s February 29. That March will arrive in a few hours. That the sun is setting later and later each day. That the trees I greet on my daily morning walks are showing small buds of flowers. That patches of bright green cloverleaf are peeping through dormant lawns. That renewal is on the way.

I’ve had no qualms with this winter. It held me in a cozy way. Books and films have been good companions. I finished three physical books and watched several films but only two are worth mentionig.

Reads

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo (2017). A book my bookclub gals selected. It’s a fast read. The story is engaging and effortlessly told so you are likely to flip the pages at a steady clip until you get to the bottom of the story. The book explores infertility and cultural pressures for women to become mothers and the desperation that can ensue.

Book’s Promiscuously Read: Reading as a Way of Life by Heather Cass (2021). The author is in academia and you can tell in how this book is written. It examines how reading shapes our identities and influences our perspectives. It’s a contemplative read and I am a sucker for these kinds of books.

A Crash Course on Literature by Cory Bell (1999). I found this book at my local used bookstore. It’s the kind of book you thumb through and decide to buy it only because it’s a rainy day and you are in a curious mood. I liked it enough. It gives a quick overview of literature over time. Although it could benefit from a rewrite adding additional literature written by people of color authors.

Films

I enjoyed watching the film One Day on Netflix. If you liked the film Normal People, this is up your alley. It’s about love, friendship, journey over time with a close friend. I enjoyed the fact the story was told over several years so that we see the nuances of personal growth and failures.

I also watched Faraway on Netflix. I will watch any and all films about middle aged women reclaiming their lives/autonomy/freedom after decades of motherhood and marriage.