I rarely start out a month with a list of special books I want to read in the upcoming weeks, but I had to make a list for February. So, it's obligation reading month, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does add a little pressure to what I need to finish this month.
Three books are review copies that I accepted from a publisher, and they have asked that I review them sometime this month or the beginning of next (prefer to get them out of the way this month). All are from Sourcebooks who have been publishing Georgette Heyer's novels as well as lots of great historical fiction. I have Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer already started, which is another of her early novels. The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick has become my new 'gym' book. It's promising to be as absorbing as The Greatest Knight was when I read it last month (also a 'gym' read). And I had never heard of Margaret Irwin before, but I decided to try Young Bess, which is the first of a trilogy about Elizabeth I. Apparently Irwin was a respected historical novelist who died in 1969--known for her meticulous research. I've yet to start that one, but I am looking forward to it.
My postal reading book at the moment is this book (sorry for the secretiveness--I don't want to spoil the surprise in case anyone from my postal group happens on this post). If you click through and see who the author is you'll see what serendipity it is! I found this review of it, so I think I'm in for a treat. I need to read it before the end of the month as March 1 is our next mailing date.
And my library's Winter Reading Program ends February 28. I need to read two more books to complete the program. I just started Nicolson Baker's The Anthologist, which looks good and isn't terribly long. I've not yet decided what other book to read for my last book, but whatever it is I will have to finish it quickly! I've been waiting for several books that have a "cataloging complete" note in their record (yes, I check daily...I can't help myself), but the one I want hasn't showed up yet as being ready for me to pick up. I keep thinking 'please process this book today, so I can have it', but they never heed my mental request. I have every expectation that I am going to end up with a stack of ten books all at once!
Six books for the month of February. That's usually about how many I can read in a month, but I am hoping to squeeze in a couple more. I should be finishing Jacqueline Winspear's The Mapping of Love and Death tonight. I've tried to drag it out and make it last as long as I could, but I can't stop reading now! I might also zip through the rest of Clare Chambers's In a Good Light this weekend. She's my favorite comfort read and this second time through has been as good as the first. More about both these books next week, however. My next reread is going to be Joanne Harris's Chocolat, which is (for me anyway) the perfect February read!
I expect I'll be dipping into some of the other books on my sidebar as well. Technically those are my official reads, so I have quite a few interlopers to get through this month. Still, they are all books I wanted to read, so it's all good!
Are you reading anything special this month?