It’s the second month with my new TBR shelf, and it has been marvellous being able to see what I’ve got, as well as being easier to move around when I take books off it (not that that happened much this month!). For example, I was able to grab “Anna and Her Daughters” off the bottom shelf when Ali read it and I just had to follow suit.

I read 15 books in February, which I was quite pleased about given that I started slowly, including all the NetGalley ebooks I intended to read and one more I acquired during the month (“The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois” is proving hard to get into but I will persist). Three of my reads I have yet to publish reviews for, and one was published in Shiny New Books (more below). My Maya Angelou fitted into our monthly Virago challenge and I read my Larry McMurtry 2022 book for the month even if I was a bit late with my review. I have not done that well with ReadIndies, having read five (two to review) and I’ve read book 10 out of 53 in the second quarter of my TBR Project (I have got book six and eleven in the respective challenges off the shelf to read).
Shiny New Books
I read “No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy” by Mark Hodkinson for Shiny New Books and my review is out today! I really enjoyed reading about his journey from a working-class household with one book to his discovery of the world of books and progress to being an editor and publisher. I also showcased “Brown Girls” and “Black Cake” there in a double review highlighting these two great debut novels.
Incomings
In print books, I have been very lucky and also very restrained. I bought a second-hand copy of Christina Hardyment’s “Arthur Ransome and Capt. Flint’s Trunk” after seeing this book about the locations of the Swallows and Amazons series on someone’s blog (help – whose?). Then lovely Verity sent me Katherine May’s “The Electricity of Every Living Thing” about a woman’s self-healing through walking (and what a beautiful cover) and while she thought she’d sent it late, it arrived on just the most perfect day to get a surprise book in the post, and the publisher Michael Walmer has very kindly added me to his list and sent me Peter Jamieson’s “Letters on Shetland” which I can’t wait to get stuck into very soon, as I love reading about Shetland and its history.
I had a bit of a NetGalley influx this last month, although even though there was one more than this (Kate Weston’s “Must Do Better”, reviewing tomorrow), there were 13 books in and 15 read in the month, so that’s a victory of sorts, right?

Matthew Green’s “Shadowlands” (out in March) is an enticing book about lost villages and the like in Britain (I know at least two people who will also be tempted by this one!). Anne Booth’s “Small Miracles” (August) is a heart-warming, positive novel offered to me by the publisher. Télé-Michel Kpomassie’s “Michel the Giant: An African in Greenland” (February) is a travel book I’ve been looking for for ages (you know how I am obsessed with Greenland and love books about different cultures encountering one another) and I discovered had been republished by Penguin. Julie Shackman’s “A Scottish Highland Surprise” (April) is another light novel offered to me by the publisher: wedding shop, mysterious tea sets and small community life: yes please. Charlotte Mendelson is an author I’ve enjoyed before and “The Exhibitionist” (March) is another perceptive family story. Margaret Atwood’s “Burning Questions” (today!) is her new book of essays. “The Ship Asunder” by Tom Nancollas (March) (yes, I have yet to read his lighthouse one) looks at British maritime history in bits of eleven ships and boats combined in one imaginary one. Erika L. Sanchez’ “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” (March) is a coming of age novel about a Mexican American young woman. And last in the picture but first in my TBR (probably), finally I’ve got my hands on a copy of Anne Tyler’s “French Braid” (March) although I’m still hoping for my ARC from the publisher, too. At last I’ll finish my Anne Tyler project (for now).
Coming up next
I am only reading one main book right now, and that’s Richard King’s “Brittle With Relics: A History of Wales 1962-1987”. It’s such an amazing work of oral history that I’m really savouring it and reading it slowly, and even though I provided administrative support on the book, it’s so beautifully put together it’s like everything is new to my eyes. I’m reviewing it for Shiny New Books but will write about it here, too. As well as Maya Angelou’s “And Still I Rise” book of poetry, which I’ve started to dip into but neglected to photograph, I have Larry McMurtry’s “Duane’s Depressed” and then Damian Hall’s “In it For the Long Run”, published by Vertebrate so another ReadIndie book, about ultra running. I haven’t read a running book for ages, it feels.
My NetGalley TBR for March is pretty horrendous:

So from those incomings above, I have “Shadowlands”, the Atwood and Anne Tyler, “An African in Greenland”, “I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”, “The Ship Asunder” and “The Exhibitionist”. In addition, I have Kasim Ali’s “Good Intentions” (novel about a mixed heritage secret relationship), Symeon Brown’s exploration of influencer culture, “Get Rich or Lie Trying”, Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s “Yinka, Where is Your Huzband” (life as a Nigerian British woman who’s as yet unmarried), and Warsan Shire’s “Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head” (poetry by an award-winning Somali British woman).
That’s 15 books to read this month, which I can manage, but hopefully I’ll get a few more off the print TBR!
How was your February reading? What are you reading this month? Have you read or picked up any of my selection?
Mar 01, 2022 @ 12:45:27
A lot of people are predicting that The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois will end up on the Women’s Prize longlist, but I hope it doesn’t, because I don’t want to read it! I’ll be interested to know your thoughts if you do manage to get into it.
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Mar 01, 2022 @ 12:48:05
That helps me to get into it, if I know I’m reading it “for” all you Women’s Prize list followers!! I think a lot of these will be quite quick reads so I will try to get it bubbling along in the (non-mealtime!) background.
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Mar 01, 2022 @ 17:06:11
I eyed the Atwood essays on NetGalley but then just let it be because of all I have on my TBR. So I’ll be looking out for your thoughts on that. I’ve also been enjoying following your and Ali’s thoughts on Angelou. My copy of Caged Bird is still glaring at me from exactly the same spot on my shelf!
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 08:37:44
I’ve realised the essays make for quite a long book – gulp! I’m deep into the Anne Tyler at the moment, though! I do recommend the Maya Angelou and they’re very quick reads, so you’d get it read and enjoyed in no time!
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Mar 01, 2022 @ 19:13:28
Goodness, you had a great reading February but the incomings are big too!! I envy you the Atwood but I’m not good with ebooks and I don’t want to pressure myself, so I’ll wait until I get a physical copy!
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 08:38:55
The incomings are slightly smaller than the read ones, though, so that’s a positive, right? And there’s more room at the end of the TBR than there was … I am looking forward to the essays and I’ll look forward to your thoughts on them, too; I understand your qualms about e-reader reading; it suits me, but it doesn’t suit everyone!
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 00:19:57
I’ve never read I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter but since I love coming-of-age books, I think I’ll need to add to my TBR!!!
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 08:40:01
I think you might enjoy it, then! For a very British coming -of-age story you might enjoy the two Diary of a Confused Feminist books I’ve read, and Brown Girls, too.
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 01:21:38
My heavens — I’m in awe (and exhaustion) at the number of books you’ve gotten to!
I’m afraid that I, like Laura, am not terribly interested in The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois, so I’ll be delighted if you take it on and I get to read what you think of it. I AM interested in Charlotte Mendelson’s The Exhibitionist, the Atwood essays (although I’ve a bad habit of not getting to essays) and Anne Tyler’s French Braid. I’m also thinking I may try to read Karen Joy Fowler’s Booth, which is out next week in the U.S. (not sure about U.K.); I don’t read much historical fiction these days but this one looks good and Fowler is a very good writer.
I very much enjoyed your review of Hodkinson’s No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy BTW . ..
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 08:41:40
I’m into the Anne Tyler already, of course, and really enjoying it, quite a classic Tyler though no massive eccentrics yet. I do like an essay and the Atwood ones tempted me hard. I don’t fancy Booth at all, fortunately! I will try harder with Love Songs now I know so many people are counting on me reading it for them, ha ha! And thank you for letting me know you enjoyed the Hodkinson review!
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 10:43:28
I’ll be very interested to hear your views on the new translation of An African in Greenland. It must be one of the first reviews on my blog, which I’ve just updated after reading the review by John Self in The Guardian and the more extensive interview with Kpomassie. Perhaps it was badly translated before, but I certainly didn’t consider it a classic when I read it, though it was fascinating.
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 15:12:40
I’ve got your re-post saved up to read, I am so pleased to have got hold of it but didn’t realise it was a new translation as jumped straight into the Anne Tyler!
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 15:18:36
I’m not surprised. After all, we’re all waiting to find out what you think of it, as you are now an expert on her. Talking of which, I finally read A Severed Head, my first Iris Murdoch, inspired by you.
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 15:22:21
I’m enjoying it so far though it isn’t an apple that’s fallen far from the Tyler tree, as you can probably imagine! And brilliant, did you enjoy it and is your review up yet?
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 15:28:10
I definitely enjoyed it, but I haven’t reviewed anything on my blog since November. As the sun is finally shining, perhaps my brain will wake up a bit and I’ll get back to writing reviews rather than just reading, taking notes and skipping on to the next shiny – or more likely dusty – thing. I’ll let you know if and when I post a review. I definitely have comments.
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 15:32:50
Oh, that’s a shame! You could always add thoughts to the discussion on my most recent review: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2018/03/08/book-review-iris-murdoch-a-severed-head/
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 11:12:31
An eclectic mix as usual, I loved your review for No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy, it sounds great as is on my priority list now.
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Mar 02, 2022 @ 15:13:14
Thank you for popping over and reading my review, I think it would be right up your street, too. And yes, fairly eclectic!
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Mar 03, 2022 @ 11:49:34
Well done with 15 books. What a pleasure to be able to see your TBRs. Interesting to read such a variety of books.
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Mar 04, 2022 @ 06:13:27
Thank you, and I’m glad you like seeing it all!
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Mar 04, 2022 @ 14:11:44
Love your TBR! I see a lot of value in being able to see the full TBR. I’m trying to get there. I would love to get off the can’t see it, don’t know about it problem with the ebook library but oh well. I read mostly ebooks nowadays though.
You had a wonderful February – Glad you were pleased with your accomplishments! Hope you have a good March as well.
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Mar 04, 2022 @ 19:27:39
Thank you – it is useful in terms of being able to pull books off it for challenges. Let’s not talk about the invisible e-TBR!
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Mar 04, 2022 @ 21:38:48
Not sure if it would you interest you in the same way, but I’ve found the interviews with Jeffers’ about writing were just fascinating. They made me want to read everything she’s ever written!
Good luck with your influx of ereading. I am still deciding whether to read the new Atwood collection or whether to “save” it for MARM in November.
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Mar 05, 2022 @ 15:43:10
I to and fro with author stuff – I like to read something for myself then go back and find out about the author’s intentions at best. I do really want to read it, it’s just got so much grimness and I have so much else to read! I’m going to pick up another light one after Get Rich or Lie Trying (also grim) then do the Atwoods. Can’t wait to get into them though also quite long!
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Mar 05, 2022 @ 19:21:42
Well done on reading so much in February. I didn’t do as well with Read Indies either. So glad you enjoyed Anna and Her Daughters.
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Mar 06, 2022 @ 18:33:34
Anna and Her Daughters was just so so lovely, wasn’t it! And I love readindies and am sad I failed a bit but did manage another one, reviewed today, and might get another in …
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Mar 05, 2022 @ 20:42:13
15 books in February, wow! Not like quantity matters necessarily, though I’m glad it sounds like that number aligns with your goal. I’ve read 18 books total this year and am hoping to continue reading more while managing the many areas of my life. Appreciate the authors of color featured in this post and omg, I really enjoyed I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter so I’m curious to read what you make of it. (:
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Mar 06, 2022 @ 18:43:57
I was pleased to read more than came in, and that’s an amazing total for you with all you’re doing at the moment! I’m glad you enjoyed Mexican Daughter and that makes me look forward to it even more (I’m trying to read the ones coming out earlier in the month at the moment).
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Mar 09, 2022 @ 11:52:33
There’s no way I could read 15 books in a month. My life seems way to full of other stuff but I so wish I could, because so many here interest me.
I have a TBR bookcase, some TBR shelves, and several TBR piles around the place too. I need to reorganise them.
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Mar 10, 2022 @ 21:04:38
I suppose I don’t have much other stuff – I have my work and my running, apart from that I work from home, have no dependents and not much family, so there’s a lot of reading time! I like having everything in one place, though I fear it will be forever these three shelves and a few piles now I’ve let it spread out!
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Mar 12, 2022 @ 11:46:16
I guess I have a LOT of other stuff, even thought I’m not working. Sometimes I just want to stop the world and get off! I dream of having space to read …
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State of the TBR – April 2022 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Apr 01, 2022 @ 16:47:01