February Reads
Favorite Non-Fiction: Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging by Tara Roberts | Favorite Fiction: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
February started with a treasure hunt through a few indie bookstores and ended with a book finding me.
Indie Bookstore Adventures
There are at least 73 independent bookstores (listed on the New pages website) in the state of Georgia and I love making a point to visit them, especially the ones I haven’t been to. I was looking for a copy of Braiding Sweetgrass because I’m reading it with Katherine May’s True Stories Book Club (highly recommend the book and the club) when my journey took me to the most wonderful used book shop in Woodstock, GA.
The Sweet Read is a cozy creamy yellow house where the rooms are filled with rows of books stacked on bookshelves and organized by genre. As soon as you walk through their red door you’ll see that they also offer delicious baked goods (full body yes for the chocolate chip cookies), a couple of indoor work spaces (it’s close to Kennesaw State University) and a comfortable outdoor sitting area.
I went off mission as soon as I came across their anthropology section. For me seeing an anthro section in a bookstore is like meeting someone wearing Nova Scotia tartan or something–I think they know me. I was perusing the shelves, running one finger across each book spine to make sure I didn’t miss one when The Location of Culture fell into my lap–making me laugh out loud.
I used The Location of Culture in my thesis. In it Homi Bhabha discusses how the liminal or the in-between space where cultural exchanges and meaning-making happen can create a third space. This is a space where possibilities exist and where new ways of thinking and being are created outside the boundaries of normalized culture.
In my thesis I use “the third space” to describe how the chronically ill and their caregivers navigate what it means to be thriving in a world designed for able-bodied people. There was a bit of magic in having this book fall into my lap. To read it during my research I had to schedule appointments with the school’s archives. I could sit in a chair at a wooden table and read the book and take notes, but I could not borrow it or bring it home. Naturally I couldn’t put a book back on the shelf that picked me. So now I own it and will read it in my own sweet time.
Continuing my search for a copy of Braiding Sweetgrass, I visited FoxTale Book Shoppe just a few minutes down the road. Their logo is a blue eyed fox holding a stack of books and wearing a fedora (I’m obsessed). The vibe is warm and welcoming and I wasn’t surprised to learn they host monthly gatherings and book club events. It feels like a place where books are loved and discussed. Plus I love it when stores post recommendation notes by their books.
Thoughts on February’s Reads
While I was at FoxTale I picked up a copy of Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging by Tara Roberts. I’m almost speechless with how much I love this book. Roberts beautifully stitches together a journey exploring who she is while also telling the history of lost slave ships told through the stories of shipwrecks that happened during the middle passage. The book highlights the work of Diving With a Purpose, a group of primarily Black scuba divers, that were also featured in Roberts’ podcast Into the Depths. It was my favorite non-fiction read this month, and may be my favorite memoir, ever. Please do yourself a favor and go check out Roberts’ interview with Elizabeth Gilbert (@elizabeth_gilbert_writer) and the Onward Book Club on instagram and let her tell you the story.
Finding conversations (in person and online) about the books I’m reading has become my new passion. This month I attended two discussions about the novel James (from my January reads), including one with the author Percival Everett, both were illuminating and remind me how beautifully layered the art of writing is.
A conversation with Roxane Gay and Saeed Jones with Harvard Medical School | Media, Medicine, and Health (@mediaandmed on instagram) led to reading my first book by Gay. I’m looking forward to reading more. It also reminded me how connections can be made through books. I’ve been reading Design Matters by Debbie Millman on and off for a year and I had just re-read the introduction by her wife, Roxane Gay, the day before the talk showed up in my insta feed. I love how engaging in these conversations is helping me mix new books into my stacks—and shopping for new books always brings me joy.
As you can see February brought another month of a mashup of genres. Health equity is a huge interest of mine and I pulled Unwell Women and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks from the stacks to read this month. Both eye opening, heartbreaking and important reads. It is so concerning to me that diversity, equity, and inclusion have become such polarizing topics when it’s clear these are the exact conversations that need to be had.
It’s been hard not to think about all the ways we end up in wars. Two books on the World Wars made my reading list in February. Last Christmas in Paris felt almost personal, like reading through a box of old family letters found in an attic and is a sharp reminder of the horrific price of war. The Rose Code–which I absolutely devoured–is historical fiction based on the true story of the Bletchley women who worked at the top secret facility supporting the war efforts by breaking German codes during the second world war. It has a behind the scenes feel, and also shares long threads of the judgements we make of others when we don’t have or understand the whole picture. For example sneering at men not in uniform with the assumption they didn’t sign up to fight in the war, when in this story, they were working on top secret defense but couldn’t defend themselves in public. And women, who found some level of equality working alongside men within the campus, but dealt with the realities of social constraints and gender inequalities outside the campus. I thought this was a fascinating read and look forward to checking out more of Kate Quinn’s books.
To satisfy my need for all things mushrooms, I read through Mystical Mushrooms. It was full of wonderful drawings of mushrooms that I had never heard of and shared little tidbits of information with many warnings about only eating what you know is safe. I thought it was more threatening than it needed to be. You Are a Badass at Making Money was a deep pull from the stacks. I picked it because I want to be more mindful of money this year (not about buying books though), but this book was not for me. I’m all for being responsible and I think the exercises are good reflection prompts, but I was put off by some of passages that felt more like toxic positivity.
Rounding out the list, Diavola and The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall satisfied by love of ghost stories. I’m always on the hunt for a good one so feel free to send your recommendations. And finally The Book of Doors had all the things for me, including time travel and a little magic. It was definitely a favorite read.
It seems like February was all about adventure and March is already off to a great start. I’m so excited about the books on my list this month. Did you know there is a word in Japanese that describes buying books and letting them pile up unread, it’s tsundoku. I feel like I’m finally making my way though the stacks, I wonder if there is a word for that :)
Tell me, what are you reading? Anything from deep in your stacks you’re planning to tackle?
With care,
Tami
Side Note: I didn’t find Braiding Sweetgrass on my journey that day because I was looking in the wrong section. But my mistake led to other books and another store. So in the end I consider it a win win :).