What I Read in February...

February Wrap Up!

I'm sorry to say that February was a slow reading month for me, so slow that it put me back on my 2017 Goodreads Reading Challenge. I'm only four books behind, and I already have eight books read for the year, but I know that I'll catch back up. I'm hoping that March won't have any surprise reading slumps waiting for me.

Title: A Rogue by Any Other Name

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: The Rules of Scoundrels #1

Genre: Romance; Historical Romance; Historical Fiction; Regency; Adult; Fiction; Women's Fiction; Chick Lit

Goodreads Rating: 3.94/ 5 stars

My Rating: 4/ 5 stars

Pages: 386 (Mass Market Paperback)

Publisher: Avon

Published: February 28, 2012

Summary: What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets...

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them... even her heart.

"I had a perfect life in my reach once, and it was a crashing bore. Perfect is too clean, too easy. I don't want perfect any more than I want to be perfect. I want imperfect."

The romance genre and I haven't always seen eye to eye. We rarely do. YA (Young Adult) romance (aside from the ones Sarah Dessen and Jennifer L. Armentrout are responsible for) and NA (New Adult) romance are generally going to be a "no" from me, right off the bat. Unfortunately, most contemporary romance novels now are more likely to be eye roll inducing than they are to be eye opening about what love truly is and how we know far less about how to love and how to allow ourselves to be loved, than we care to admit.

However, I've found salvation in historical romance novels and I couldn't be happier. MacLean's A Rogue by Any Other Name is lively, witty, funny, charming, frustrating, and a page turner. If ever there was a romance book to cause you to fall in love with flawed characters, it would be a Rogue by Any Other Name.

 

Title: How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Manual

Author: Jessica Hagy

Genre: Nonfiction; Self-help; Psychology; Humor; Personal Development

Goodreads Rating: 3.75/ 5 stars

My Rating: 5/ 5 stars

Pages: 272 (paperback)

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Published: March 19, 2013

Summary: You want to leave a mark, not a blemish. Be a hero, not a spectator. You want to be interesting. (Who doesn't?) But sometimes it takes a nudge, a wake-up call, an intervention! and a little help. This is where Jessica Hagy comes in. A writer and illustrator of great economy, charm, and insight, she s created How to Be Interesting, a uniquely inspirational how-to that combines fresh and pithy lessons with deceptively simple diagrams and charts.

It s a book about exploring: Talk to strangers. About taking chances: Expose yourself to ridicule, to risk, to wild ideas. About being childlike, not childish: Remember how amazing the world was before you learned to be cynical. About being open: Never take in the welcome mat. About breaking routine: Take daily vacations . . . if only for a few minutes. About taking ownership: Whatever you re doing, enjoy it, embrace it, master it as well as you can. And about growing a pair: If you re not courageous, you re going to be hanging around the water cooler, talking about the guy that actually is.

"Investigate the obscure. Revive forgotten stories. Read old books. Dust off forgotten trends. Listen to rare music. You might find your favorite thing hiding in the woodwork."

Hagy words herself brilliantly, and has presented a wide array of readers with fresh, quick-witted, authentic advice on how to love life; how to embrace oneself, completely; and how to not take oneself too seriously to the point of not being able to stop and enjoy the scenery. But most importantly, Jessica Hagy urges the reader to tackle each day with a "carpe diem" mindset.

My review for How to Be Interesting: (An Instruction Manual)

What were some of your favorite February reads?

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

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- Anisa

How to Be Interesting (In 10 Simple Steps): An Instruction Manual - Jessica Hagy

Title: How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Manual

Author: Jessica Hagy

Genre: Nonfiction; Self-help; Psychology; Humor; Personal Development

Goodreads Rating: 3.75/ 5 stars

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Pages: 272 (Paperback)

Publisher: Workman Publishing

Published: March 19, 2013

Summary: You want to leave a mark, not a blemish. Be a hero, not a spectator. You want to be interesting. (Who doesn't?) But sometimes it takes a nudge, a wake-up call, an intervention! And a little help. This is where Jessica Hagy comes in. A writer and illustrator of great economy, charm, and insight, she s created How to Be Interesting, a uniquely inspirational how-to that combines fresh and pithy lessons with deceptively simple diagrams and charts.

It s a book about exploring: Talk to strangers. About taking chances: Expose yourself to ridicule, to risk, to wild ideas. About being childlike, not childish: Remember how amazing the world was before you learned to be cynical. About being open: Never take in the welcome mat. About breaking routine: Take daily vacations . . . if only for a few minutes. About taking ownership: Whatever you re doing, enjoy it, embrace it, master it as well as you can. And about growing a pair: If you re not courageous, you re going to be hanging around the water cooler, talking about the guy that actually is.

“Bring others into your world.”

How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Novel, is one of those books that plopped into my life and waited patiently for me to finally be receptive enough to comprehend and fully take to heart Jessica Hagy’s message. I would say that I’m slightly embarrassed that it took me about three years to finally get around to reading this book, but I truly am a firm believer in situations and people gravitating towards us only when we are in the proper mindset to receive those situations and people, or when we need another learning lesson. Hagy’s novel is both a moving situation and a necessary learning lesson. Hagy’s words serve as a catalyst for change; embarking on the intimate journey of positive self – growth. I truly don’t regret that I waited to read this book because I can honestly say that if I had decided to read this book about three years ago, when I was fresh out of high school and my grandmother had just handed me this book, I wouldn’t have taken any of it to heart. Better to be late to the party and aware of what’s going on than to be at the party and not know why you’re there.

“You’ll need help. You’ll need advice. You’ll need allies. So you have to tell someone how you feel and what you’re up to. Let people in on what you’re doing. They will champion and support you more than you ever imagined, and mock you less than you fear.”

I would say that a key aspect of becoming a mature young adult is being able to acknowledge that while yes, it’s important to be ambitious and to allow yourself to continue to explore the depths of who you are, you don’t always have to do it alone. In fact, you shouldn’t do it all alone. Which is why we must continue to put a heavy emphasis on developing and caring for our friendships, our familial relationships, and our romantic relationships. We need to know that we have people in our corner; people who are loyal and who will continuously push us to become the best possible version of who we are.

“Seek someone who makes you smile. Someone who lives the way you want to. Someone you admire. Someone real and imperfect.”

How to know you’ve found a romantic relationship with potential: You can freely admit that your partner is just as imperfect as any human being (including yourself), but you are still able to see them as loveable and as someone you want to grow with and experience life with.

“Do not fake it. Costumes. Poses. False smiles and forced conformity. It all gets in the way of what’s truly interesting. You are innately unique. There’s no need to hide behind an ill – fitting mask.”

Be authentic. Don’t lie to yourself and don’t lie to anyone else, about who you are and what you want out of life. Never ever settle for less. The minute you begin to fake it, is the moment when you will begin to lose sight of who you are.

“Get sidetracked. Follow your weird impulses and do all sorts of things. Getting sidetracked can lead you to exactly where you belong.”

“Leave the safety of home.”

“If you have a personal dream or a wish or a desire, know that you’re the only one who gives enough damns to see it realized.”

“Safe is often dangerous. An easy life is like quicksand. Before you know it, you’re trapped and can’t move, can’t breathe, can’t get to where you really wanted to go. Don’t coast unless you’re rolling downhill on a bicycle.”

“Forgive. Most people, even the nasty ones, are doing the best they can. They may not deserve your love and admiration, but your scorn burns the both of you.”

If you only get one take away from Hagy (which I assure you is impossible) I hope that it is the revelation of how crucial and life changing “carpe diem” truly is. At the end of it all, all that will matter is how you chose to spend what time you did have and what kind of impact or lack thereof you left on both life and others.

Reading How to Be Interesting: An Instruction Novel, felt as though I was getting a much-needed dose of reality and encouragement from a good friend, who had refused to allow life to cause her to become jaded or less of herself. This novel was an easy read, brimming with ah-ha moments and passages that made me pause because of how honest and heartfelt they were. Whether you decide to hash out this book in one sitting or to savor it in tidbits, you won’t regret it.

Hagy’s novel is one that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. The advice within these pages is indispensable and potentially a true catalyst for powerful and positive change in your life. A must-have read, particularly, for young adults and college students; the individuals who need to not lose sight of themselves throughout their journey into adulthood and through the higher education system.

“Maybe your past isn’t perfect. Maybe it was brutal. Maybe you were brutal. Maybe you’ve got more scars than you thought one skin could hold. You can’t linger on those thoughts. You will drown in them.”

Stay afloat in the good company of Jessica Hagy.

Until next time! Thank you for stopping by! And if you have yet to do so, follow me here on my blog via email subscription to be able to stay informed on when new posts are uploaded.

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- Anisa