Ah,
February. The month of winter’s last gasp, of small joys, and, yes, of
love—whether it’s the romantic, the familial, or the self-love that
comes from curling up with a good book.
To help you make the most of
these cozy, cold evenings, here are five books that should take you on
unforgettable journeys. From classic tales of unrequited love to
dazzling modern narratives, these picks will keep your heart warm as the
chill lingers outside.
February Theme: Valentine's Day (obvs)
1. Fingersmith by Sarah WatersLove can blossom where you least expect it. At least that seems to be the case in Sarah Waters’s twist-and-turn Victorian masterpiece, Fingersmith.
The novel tells the story of Sue Trinder, an orphan, abandoned as an
infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a conniving and resourceful ‘baby
farmer,' whose bread and butter comes from raising children to become
petty thieves—fingersmiths—in London' notorious East End.
Sue’s world changes
forever when 'Gentleman,' a sophisticated con-man arrives
with a tantalizing proposition. He offers her the chance to take part
in a clever ploy to steal the inheritance of Maud Lilly, an isolated and
vulnerable heiress, by posing as her maid and encouraging her to marry
Gentleman.
But nothing is quite how it seems. Sue and Maud soon
kindle an unlikely friendship that becomes a passionate love affair.
Waters is peerless in how she crafts exhilarating and unforgettable journeys through the
Victorian underworld, filled with villains, deception, debauchery and,
ultimately, love.
2. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Not all love stories have happy endings. Some, in fact, barely even have beginnings, such as in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel The Remains of the Day.
There is something about February’s subtle melancholy that makes The Remains of the Day
a perfect fit. Ishiguro’s subtle, almost painful prose will transport
you deep into the life of Stevens, an English butler. Stevens has devoted his
entire existence to service, and the story follows him as he reflects on the
misguided loyalty of his past and attempts to reconnect with Ms Kenton,
the housekeeper who worked alongside him— the woman he desperately
loved, but for whom he never dared crossed a professional line.
While
Stevens hopes for a resolution at their reunion, Ms Kenton alludes to
what might have been but concludes ‘there’s no turning back the clock
now. One can’t be forever dwelling on what might have been’.
As
Stevens reflects on his past in a long, meandering road trip across the
English countryside, the narrative reveals the complexities of duty,
missed opportunities, and suppressed emotions. Ishiguro’s
prose is— like Stevens’
emotions— buried deep beneath the surface, ready to surface in
poignant moments that will linger long after you’ve turned the final
page.
And
so one of literature’s most heartbreaking love stories ends with a
devastating whimper.
February Theme: Black History Month (because here at London Still, Al is still celebrating diversity because I am not threatened by thoughts, histories and ideas that might de-center my own lived experience or, Gd forbid, possibly make me the slightest bit uncomfortable...rant over. For now.)
2. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison February is the perfect month to dive into Toni Morrison’s Beloved, a novel whose beauty lies in its raw, unapologetic exploration of the dark, terrible legacy of the enslaved people of the United States. Set in post-Civil War Ohio, Beloved follows Sethe, an escaped enslaved woman who is haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter.
Morrison’s writing is both lyrical and haunting—each sentence is a carefully wrought piece of art. The narrative swings between hauntingly beautiful prose and brutal truths, making for a reading experience that is as exhausting as it is revelatory. This is a book that demands your full attention, and rewards you with layers of meaning in return. If you haven’t read Beloved yet, February is the month to do it.
February Theme: Lunar New Year (and yes, I know that sometimes Lunar New Year is in January.)
Lunar New Year is a time for reflection, celebration, and renewal (and DUMPLINGS) making it an ideal occasion to explore books with Asian characters or themes. For me personally, being married to a Chinese-American makes me plump for Chinese-forward picks, but the Asian literary canon is infinite in its richness and rewards–it would be impossible to choose.
However, choose I must, and below are two exceptional reads that offer profound insight into Chinese culture, history, and the human experience and each offer a rich and varied portrait of life, love, and the pursuit of meaning. They also happen to be stalwarts of world literature.
4. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Amy Tan’s
The Joy Luck Club is a masterful exploration of the generational divides between Chinese-American mothers and their daughters. Told through the interconnected stories of eight women, the novel spans decades, alternating between the perspectives of the mothers, who arrived in America as immigrants, and their daughters, who grapple with the weight of their cultural heritage.
Tan’s writing is deeply empathetic, her prose rich with the nuances of family dynamics, identity, and the immigrant experience. Each chapter captures the delicate interplay of hope, sacrifice, and love, weaving an intricate tapestry of Chinese-American life that’s as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.
The Joy Luck Club is an enduring work that beautifully portrays the complexities of the immigrant experience and the delicate ties that bind generations together.
5. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Lisa See’s
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is an exquisite exploration of family, tradition, and identity, set in the lush, remote mountains of China. The novel follows Li-yan, a young girl from an ethnic minority group in the far southwest of China, whose life is deeply shaped by the ancient traditions surrounding tea cultivation. As Li-yan grows up, her life is marked by love, loss, and the complex relationship between personal ambition and cultural heritage.
See’s writing is lyrical and immersive, drawing on the beauty of the Chinese landscape while delving into the complex social structures that define Li-yan’s world. The novel is also a poignant exploration of motherhood, with themes of separation and reconciliation as Li-yan’s path crosses with that of her daughter, whom she must give up.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking read that will transport you to a world that is both timeless and strikingly contemporary.
February’s
slow, still air offers the perfect backdrop for diving into these
books, each of which brings something unique. Curl up in a corner,
drink your hot cocoa, and lose yourself in these extraordinary tales.
You’ll emerge from the month not just with the memory of a good book,
but with a deeper understanding of the human heart—both its beauty and
its flaws.
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