February & March Reading Update

February and March were hard months for me and I did not spend very much time reading (or listening). My gym audiobook time was replaced with music or podcasts. That coupled with trudging through some less tripping books made for a low book count. But here we are:

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What I Finished

The Splendid and the Vile — Erik Larson

An interesting listen, full of compelling stories about Winston Churchill and Britain during the London Blitz. But I’ll be honest — it was drier than I expected. Everything was meticulously true, which I appreciated, but it wasn’t a page-turner. It required more effort than I anticipated, even with all those fascinating historical details woven in. Winston Churchill was an eccentric dude.

Seeking Persephone — Sarah M. Eden

Lighter fare — a Regency-era Beauty and the Beast retelling about a woman who marries a reclusive Duke to save her family. It was a little frivolous. What stuck with me most was this idea that two people in a relationship can be telling themselves completely different stories about what’s happening between them, and that honest, open communication can shift everything.

What I’m Currently Reading

Theo of Golden

My current book club pick. It’s calming and I like it more and more the further I get into it, but it’s not gripping. It does make me want to be kinder and better at seeing people + building community.

The God Who Weeps

An old favorite I’m rereading. It’s a beautiful take on LDS theology, and is something I like to come back to every few years. I also love their other books “The Christ Who Heals,” “Crucible of Doubt,” and their newest, “All Things New.” Fiona narrates the audio and her voice is beautiful.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lions

This one has been everywhere lately, and I picked it up looking for something light. Everyone warned me the first one starts slow. They were right. I still haven’t finished it, but I’m committed.

Wuthering Heights

Added to my list partly because there’s a character with my maiden name in it, and with the movie coming out it seemed like the perfect time. It’s much darker than I anticipated though, and I’m setting it down for now. We’ll get there eventually.

The Book of Awakening — Mark Nepo

Still working my way through this one. It’s less something I read and more something I take in bit by bit. I like starting my morning workout with a few minutes of this on the treadmill so I have something to think about throughout the day.

What’s Up Next

Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir

At the top of my list on my dad’s recommendation. It’ll be my first sci-fi since Ender’s Game almost a decade ago, and I’m curious whether it’ll pull me in the same way. Have you read it?

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum — Emma Southon

A rec from my little sister, this one uses real murder cases from ancient Rome — from Julius Caesar to everyday citizens — as a lens to explore what Roman culture actually valued and feared. It’s written with wit and sharp humor (and a little language), making it feel less like a history book and more like a very entertaining, slightly gruesome podcast episode on human nature.

The Audible Sale Haul

I may have gone a little overboard last week – I picked up a handful of parenting books I’ve been meaning to read, The Happiness Files by Arthur Brooks (for like $3), and a few others that caught my eye. The queue is quite full but I’m still in need of some good fiction if you have something to recommend!

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What are you reading right now? Drop your recommendations below — I’m always looking for what’s next.