New Books for February 2024
2-6-24
Hi readers,
I finished a couple of books over the weekend, and Wowza, one of them was bonkers and crazy good. The other was an older book I read for a book club this week, and I’m not sure what I think about it. I enjoyed reading it; it kept me turning the pages, but I didn’t really like the ending. I don’t know how it could have ended any differently, so I’ll just accept it for what it was.
Another new month is here, and again, there are so many books hitting the shelves that I can’t wait to talk about them. I’ve read a few of them, and I want to read a few more. I think most readers will find something great to read this month. Let's dive into these books so you can start reading or put them on hold at your library.
The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman (2-6-24) - Ackerman writes historical fiction, and until her newest book, all were set in the WWII era in Hawaii. Her latest book is a dual timeline HF book set in Hawaii, fifteen years before WWII. Inspired by real events, this novel features two strong young women, decades apart, one an air racer and the other a broke woman who inherited some property on the Big Island and discovers some mysterious objects that lead to clues of a tragic piece of aviation history. I’ve read a couple of Ackerman’s books and can’t wait to read this one.
Where Butterflies Wander by Suzanne Redfearn 2-6-24 - Redfearn has become a “must-read” author for me. I read this book as a NetGalley ARC, and I loved it. Maria Egide and her family move to a small town in New Hampshire after an accident causes the death of one of her children. When they arrive, they find “the river witch” living on the father’s property, and she refuses to leave. This sets up a clash between the two women, and the whole town gets involved. This story is told from several points of view, and it took a bit to keep the characters straight, but once I settled in, the story and writing kept me turning the pages.
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford (2-6-24) - This book's premise intrigues me. From the publisher, “Spufford delivers a noirish detective novel set in the 1920s that reimagines how American history would be different if, instead of being decimated, indigenous populations had thrived.” I’ve read many good reviews about this book and how the author reimagines history, and it sounds like something I want to read. I enjoy reading books set in this time period, so I hope this will be a good book for me.
The Women by Kristin Hannah (2-6-24) - I am a long-time fan of Hannah and was so excited to receive a NetGalley ARC; I dropped everything to read this book a few months ago and loved it. Set during the Vietnam War, Frankie, a nursing student, ships off to Vietnam joining the Army Nursing Corps. This is a story of life and death, love and friendship, betrayal and heartbreak, and what happens when vets return home facing a changed landscape in America, the protestors, and processing their own experiences during the war.
Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions by Ed Zwick (2-13-24) - Zwick, director of The Last Samurai, Legends of the Fall, and more, creator of Thirtysomething, and producer of many other shows, dishes about working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. While this is labeled as a memoir, it’s less about him and more about the creative part of his forty years in the business. He talks about the writers, directors, actors, and others he’s worked with, what he enjoyed and didn’t enjoy, and the behind-the-scenes of it all. I love knowing how the sausage is made, so I really enjoyed this one.
My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez (2-13-24) - In this moving memoir, Gutierrez tells the story of being born in the US to immigrants and her parents being forced back to Mexico when their visas expired—she was fifteen years old. To not let go of the opportunities the US provides, she chose to stay and care for her brother (also a US citizen), continue her education, and use her determination not to become a statistic but to thrive in her life. No matter what you think about immigration, stories like this give readers pause and maybe a somewhat different viewpoint on those affected by immigration.
The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill (2-20-24) - This debut novel contains everything I like to read in a book. It is a family drama set in a dual timeline with a granddaughter and her grandmother as protagonists, and it is compulsively readable. It’s full of secrets, heartbreaking at times, and an incredible story of a woman coming of age in Japan during WWII and then getting to know her granddaughter in the 1990s. I was more drawn to the 1940s timeline—as usual for me in dual timeline books. This author has a great future ahead of her, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz (2-20-24) - I adore
as a creator—she writes the wildly popularnewsletter on Substack, and is the author of two other books. I’ve read God Land and enjoyed it, and I’m about halfway through her newest book (ARC), and I’ve got mixed feelings about it. Not because it’s not a good book (it is), and not because she’s not a good writer (she is), but because I’m not her target audience for this book. It’s about divorce from a woman’s perspective, and Lenz “weaves sociological research and literature with popular culture along with personal stories of coming together and breaking up, creating a kaleidoscopic and poignant portrait of American marriage today.” Even if the book doesn’t interest you, do check out her newsletter, as she has created a vibrant community around it, and it’s a newsletter that I can’t wait to read when I see it in my inbox.The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin (2-27-24) - Readers are saying that it’s similar to Yellow Wife (a difficult subject, but I loved it), so that’s what makes me want to pick it up and read it. From author Imani Perry, “This book is an emotionally and intellectually captivating journey through slavery and into our future. It is a wholly unique story that challenges what we think we know of the past, truth, American history, and how we will carry what was into what will be. With fully fleshed out characters and enchanting detail, … Ady is an unforgettable protagonist, a character who meets the crossroads of history with remarkable courage and enduring love.” I put it on hold through Libby and am third in line to read it.
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange (2-27-24) - Orange’s newest novel is described as a follow-up to There There, which I didn’t read, and I haven’t read this one yet either. However, early reviews say this is “beautifully written, difficult to read, and the connections between the stories in this book are stronger than in his first book.” Reviewers also say that if you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this one, too. I think the stories he writes are important in helping to understand America’s past.
That’s a lot of new books releasing this month—I could have shared at least ten more, but I thought it best to spare you. There are many new books in genres that I don’t read, but I wouldn’t do them justice trying to sound excited about them, so I’ll leave that to others who write about those genres much better than I do. Did you see any that you would like to read? Are there any others you are excited about reading this month that I didn’t mention? Are you still on track with your reading intentions for 2024? You can tell me about it in the comments below.
Bookish Fun Fact
In 1926, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History declared the second week of February as “Negro History Week” to recognize the contributions of African Americans to US history. National Geographic Kids writes, “The week-long event officially became Black History Month in 1976 when US president Gerald Ford extended the recognition to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” This GoodGoodGood article shares dozens of links and resources to learn more about Black History Month and help a reader celebrate it.
Two Substack newsletters worth reading for more books written by black authors and about black history are
byandby. If you are interested in the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre, another great newsletter to read is byand his book Built From the Fire is an excellent book to learn more about the massacre.
I’m finalizing plans to go to the Savannah Book Festival next week, and I’m getting excited now. I downloaded an app called RoadTrippers, and I’m having fun planning my route, places to stop for sightseeing, and some things to do once I get to Savannah. I’m planning two sightseeing days in Savannah before I come home. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate, and I’ll have fun and take lots of pictures. I’ll share about the festival and my trip in a newsletter once I return. I hope you have a wonderful week. Happy reading!
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As always a great selection of reads to keep us going. Thanks, Gayla
Ohhh, I’ll check this list out in just a bit. And thanks for the mention.