Movies

11 Books You NEED to Read This February

BBG News

Spend the briefest month of the year engrossed in a book that’s truly worth your while. Top reads for February feature Ali Hazelwood’s latest romance novel, the second memoir from transgender activist Jennifer Finney Boylan, and Virginia Feito’s sophomore novel, dripping with blood, about a governess with sociopathic tendencies.

Spend February reading great books! Some of the best new ones are Ali Hazelwood’s romance, Jennifer Finney Boylan’s memoir, and Virginia Feito’s bloody novel about a governess who is a bit nuts.

Prepare yourself to be captivated by Sarah Chihaya’s first memoir, exploring her passion for books, or Cristina Rivera Garza’s unconventional thriller featuring a murderer fixated on poetry. Allegra Goodman’s latest novel, Isola, is drawn from the true tale of Marguerite de La Rocque, a French aristocrat left in 16th century Canada. Lastly, Rich Benjamin’s debut memoir is an emotionally rich tribute to his mother, herself the daughter of Haitian politician Daniel Fignolé.

Here, the 11 new books you should read in February.

Cleavage, Jennifer Finney Boylan (Feb. 4)

In 2003, Jennifer Finney Boylan published the seminal memoir She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders, detailing her early years of gender transition. Nearly two decades on, she delves once more into the question of what it signifies to be a trans individual in contemporary America. In her latest collection of essays, Cleavage, she scrutinizes the widening gender chasm we find ourselves at now in the United States. She shares her observations on the distinctions between masculinity and femininity as she has encountered them since her transition in 2000, while also exploring the experiences of those who identify beyond the binary. Her aim is to foster understanding and closeness among all of us.

Bibliophobia, Sarah Chihaya (Feb. 4)

2019 saw essayist Sarah Chihaya experience a nervous breakdown, coinciding with a case of bibliophobia, an excessive and irrational fear of books and writing. In her memoir, Chihaya delves into her lifelong battle with mental illness and her compulsion towards books, particularly those she labels as “Life Altering,” books that significantly shaped her identity, albeit sometimes negatively. She recounts how these books, ranging from Anne of Green Gables to The Last Samurai, propelled her toward insanity—and how they ultimately guided her towards recovery.

Victorian Psycho, Virginia Feito (Feb. 4)

Virginia Feito’s chilling sequel to her 2021 release, “Mrs. March“, revolves around a sociopathic English governess with a penchant for vengeance. Upon her arrival at Ensor House, Winifred Notty intends only to educate the children in reading and writing. However, as the holiday season approaches, she gives in to her murderous tendencies in this humorous suspense story, destined to be an A24 film featuring Margaret Qualley from “The Substance”.

Isola, Allegra Goodman (Feb. 4)

Three years following the success of her hit novel “Sam”, Allegra Goodman presents a gripping narrative titled “Isola“. This new work is based on the actual events surrounding Marguerite de La Rocque, a 16th-century French aristocrat who found herself stranded on an uninhabited island after her jealous guardian falsely accused her of having an affair with his servant. He then deserted her and her lover on a remote Canadian island teeming with polar bears and scarce resources. To endure, Marguerite must learn self-reliance, a skill she had never needed before.

Alligator Tears, Edgar Gomez (Feb. 11)

Titled “Alligator Tears,” this work serves as the sequel to Edgar Gomez’s 2022 memoir, “High-Risk Homosexual.” This compelling narrative delves into Gomez’s upbringing as a low-income, queer, Latinx individual in Florida. Spanning over ten thoughtful essays, the author recounts his years of enduring unappreciated jobs, such as a brief period selling flip-flops, and the tough decisions his family had to make due to their financial constraints, like deciding whether or not to summon an ambulance they couldn’t afford. In addition, throughout the book, he candidly discusses how he managed to escape poverty by combining arduous, often underpaid work with a handful of strategically timed deceits.

Deep End, Ali Hazelwood (Feb. 4)

Delve into ‘The Deep End’, Ali Hazelwood’s latest steamy romance novel, set against the backdrop of collegiate swimming. The protagonist, Scarlett Vandermeer, is an accomplished Stanford diver who is on the mend from an injury that threatened her career and is too engrossed in her medical studies to consider dating. However, her life takes a turn when she crosses paths with Lukas Blomqvist, a popular swimmer and formerly a crush of her best friend. Despite their stark differences—he’s the social butterfly while she prefers the solitude of the library—they find common ground in their shared interest in BDSM. As they engage in a mutually agreed upon and consensual sexual relationship, Scarlett begins to ponder whether she seeks something more profound than fleeting pleasure.

Pure Innocent Fun, Ira Madison III (Feb. 4)

In his first essay collection titled “Pure Innocent Fun“, Ira Madison III thoughtfully examines the pop culture that significantly shaped him, delving into its profound impact on him during his upbringing as a gay Black man in Milwaukee. Over 16 essays, this critic, TV writer, and host of the popular podcast “Keep It” discusses the influence of Oprah’s weight-loss journey, Jennifer Hudson’s victory on American Idol, and his lasting affection for Coldplay. As he revisits these cultural milestones from his youth, he also uncovers how each contributed to the development of his critical perspective as an adult.

Talk to Me, Rich Benjamin (Feb. 11)

In his first autobiography titled “Talk to Me,” cultural analyst Rich Benjamin delves into the hidden history of his family’s past, aiming to gain insight into his mother. The coup that ended the presidency of his grandfather, the Haitian folk hero Daniel Fignolé, in 1957, not only terminated his rule but also fractured the lives of the entire family. However, no one, including Benjamin’s mom, a champion for children who was often distant towards her son, ever spoke openly about the circumstances surrounding that fateful event. By conducting extensive investigation, Benjamin seeks to comprehend the lasting effects of this tragic political incident on their lives.

You Didn’t Hear This From Me, Kelsey McKinney (Feb. 11)

As a fervent fan, let me express that Kelsey McKinney, the previous host of the popular podcast Normal Gossip, delves deep into our collective fascination with hearsay in her latest publication, titled You Didn’t Hear This From Me. This compelling work skillfully blends cultural critique, contemporary history, and personal anecdotes to dissect the fine line that separates harmless gossip from outright falsehoods. By doing so, she elucidates the significant part that gossip plays in fostering human relationships, until it crosses a line it shouldn’t.

The World After Gaza, Pankaj Mishra (Feb. 11)

In “The World After Gaza,” acclaimed journalist Pankaj Mishra seeks to reexamine, reshape, and redefine the Israel-Palestine conflict by scrutinizing how the Holocaust has been employed as a rationale for Israel’s actions by the U.S. and other Western countries. He delves into this topic further by examining how a biased interpretation of global history is desensitizing us to the plights not just in Gaza, but also in various regions worldwide.

Death Takes Me, Cristina Rivera Garza (Feb. 25)

Cristina Rivera Garza’s 2007 lyrical novel, recently translated into English by Robin Myers and Sarah Booker, is a unique take on a serial killer narrative. In Death Takes Me, a literature professor stumbles upon the gruesome scene of a mutilated corpse, shockingly discovering a strange link to the crime site herself. As police uncover verses from the late Argentine poet Alejandra Pizarnik, whom she has extensively studied, more bodies accumulate. The professor is then called upon to aid in capturing the murderer with an affinity for poetry. However, when she starts receiving veiled threats from the enigmatic killer, she becomes increasingly concerned that she may become the next target.

Read More

2025-01-31 19:07

Previous post New true-crime series explores murder from an unlikely perspective
Next post The Importance of The Hardy Boyz in the Tag Team Division