Happy Leap Day! I hope you all enjoyed the weekend. I got to meet up with a friend who I had lost touch with over the years and we now both live in the same city. We are looking forward to catching up again soon and maybe go on some trail walks. I also did a bit of book buying but I’ll get to that in another post.

Anyway, February felt like a very slow month for my reading. If it hadn’t been for some short novels and graphic novels (some which are still in progress), I would have thought the only book I was reading was The Secret Place by Tana French. Needless to say I did finish it but was quite underwhelmed by it.

Luckily my other reads were great. I enjoyed The Last Taxi Ride by A.X. Ahmad and I loved Like Family by Paolo Giordano and Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley. I hope to give you a bit more info on these reads in upcoming posts.

Overall I’m happy that I had a mix with mystery, non-fiction, fiction, and a book in translation. I’m currently in the middle of several reads and I seem to be keeping on trend with quite a bit of variety. I like that.

On a totally random note, I just found out that our neighborhood is going to be setting up Little Free Libraries. I dropped off some books this evening and can’t wait to see what the libraries look like. I really hope this will be a success.

So how was your reading month? Did you discover any new favorite authors?

I saw this meme over at Stefanie’s blog and I love books and coffee so I couldn’t resist doing this meme too. If you like this one, then consider yourself tagged too.

Black: A series that’s tough to get into but has hardcore fans
The Marseilles Trilogy by Jean-Claude Izzo. I’m not sure how popular this is but going by the response to this series from my book group I could see how this would have a strong following. The series has everything from racial tensions, mob murders, and corruption. The reason I would say this is a bit tough to get into is because it is noir at is finest so a lot of grim situations but worth a read.

Peppermint Mocha: A book that gets more popular during the winter or a festive time of year
I don’t a specific title in mind but I know for me when Autumn and Halloween roll around I can’t help but want to read ghost stories. I could also go for haunted house settings, séances that are central to the story or even some vampires.

Hot chocolate: Favorite children’s book
I have so many favorites from childhood so how about if I tell you some of my favorites? Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, The Secret Garden, Little House on the Prairie, Harriet the Spy, and of course so many more.

Double shot of espresso: A book that kept you on the edge of your seat from start to finish
There are two books I read late last year that really kept me turning the pages. The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson and Dead Simple by Peter James. Great thrillers and definitely authors I have on my radar.

Starbucks: A book you see everywhere
A couple of years ago it would have been Gone Girl but for a while now it’s been The Girl on the Train. Let’s see which new girl book gets the spotlight soon. Oh and if you haven’t had a chance check out this NPR article on “The Girl” trend.

That hipster coffee shop: A Book by an indie author
This was tough but I decided to look through my books from indie publishers and one that stands out is The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist published by Other Press. I read this book years ago and I still remember a lot of it. It was terrifying, thought-provoking, an overall great read.

Oops! I accidentally got decaf: A book you were expecting more from
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. Is it ok to say I didn’t like this one very much? It had all the right ingredients but somehow I just didn’t connect to the main characters.

The perfect blend: A book or series that was both bitter and sweet but ultimately satisfying
I’ll go with a wonderful romantic story that made me laugh and made me get teary too. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the movie that’s coming out later this year. Who am I kidding, I probably will see it.

Green Tea: A book or series that is quietly beautiful
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. It’s sweet and an overall comfort read which to me is beautiful.

Chai tea: A book or series that makes you dream of far off places
You guys know I’m a fan of Scandinavian crime thrillers. Not only are the series good but the settings are also such an important part of the reading pleasure. Some of my favorite authors are Jussi Adler-Olsen, Arnaldur Indridason, and Henning Mankell

Earl Grey: A favorite classic
I’m going to go with Persuasion by Jane Austen although my mom and I have watched and re-watched Sense & Sensibility this winter and I think I actually need to read the book so I may have a new favorite soon.

Let me know if you do the meme. I would love to see your answers. I’m going to meet up with some friends for coffee this weekend (how appropriate!) so I can’t wait to catch up about life and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. I hope you all have a great weekend!