The Marginalia: February

a month of reading highs and lows

p.s. this post might get cut off in email, if it does just click the ‘read in app’ link to see the full version!

It’s only a couple of days shorter, but February always throws me with its brevity. Despite trying not to impose any hard and fast rules on how much I should or shouldn’t read, I usually settle into a steady pace of four books a month. But, in classic start-of-the-year fashion, February has been one of those waning months. I’ve just about finished my third book, but—accepting that reading is a joy, not a challenge—I try to work with the natural ebb and flow of consuming books.

Anyway, welcome back to the February edition of The Marginalia—a cosy place to discuss literary finds, unscramble my margin notes, and take a quick look at what’s on my tbr list.

— notes on reading this month

February has been a blur. There’s something about the slight shift towards spring that makes the days stack up, isn’t there? I suppose it’s like waking from a long winter slumber and suddenly realising—look, life, all around! I’ve been appreciating the longer evenings, the occasional warm(ish) days. Though, with their return, I find myself splitting time between novels and gardening books. Reading is reading, eh?

This month, I’ve finally made proper use of my library card, wildly exciting stuff. I’ve mostly borrowed non-fiction, gardening books in particular (very useful, since I’ve now taken on an allotment as well as tending to my own garden).

But I’ve also picked up a few novels. The excitement of walking through a library for the first time in years may have led to some... questionable choices. In my enthusiasm, I swayed from my well-researched list and found myself picking books by their covers. Not always in my favour. We live and learn.

Winter by Ali Smith — A wintry instalment of the seasonal quartet, following family dynamics set against the coldest season.

Thoughts: Funnily enough, I felt about this one much as I did Autumn (the first in the quartet). Slow to start, hard to grasp the emotional weight of the characters, the novel relying almost solely on its beautiful seasonal descriptions to carry you along. And then—suddenly—it clicks. The relationships unfold, the picture sharpens, and you don’t want it to end.

If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair by Anya Hindmarch — A hybrid between memoir and life guide.

Thoughts: This was one of those books I hadn’t planned to read, but a fancy cover called out to me in the library, and I swooped it up. I have a terrible habit of persisting with books even when I know they’re not for me. This was that book. I knew little about the author beyond her bag designs and incredible pop-ups, and I was, quite obviously, not the target audience. A lot of it revolved around parenting and a particular kind of upper-class life—neither of which I relate to. Some anecdotes landed poorly, but one in particular stuck: the author describes a Christmas ritual in which her children were given an allotted sum to spend, with any leftover funds pooled for charity. A lovely idea—until they chose their charity based on how amusing its name sounded. That year, they donated to a fungi charity. The whole thing felt strangely tone-deaf, especially given the book was published around the time of a pandemic, when so many were struggling financially.

Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin — A novel of two parts, following two couples, fifty years apart, in the same Parisian apartment.

I love when you find a book you want to devour in a single sitting. The writing was gorgeous, rich in atmosphere, with a real eye for setting, Paris, in all its beauty. The relationships were layered, the storylines interwoven just enough. You could argue the present-day narrative was the stronger of the two, but I think that was the point—the past existed only to deepen the sense of place, to draw subtle parallels. If you’re a fan of Coco Mellors, this is an absolute must-read. It has that same buttery kind of voice.

Odyssey by Stephen Fry
A modern retelling of a well-known Greek myth

I’m wildly obsessed with Greek mythology, and for me, Stephen Fry’s writing makes it all the more palatable—his modern narrative style mixed with meticulous research is always a winning combination.

Wellness by Nathan Hill
A nuanced portrait of marriage.

I bought this on a whim a few months ago and keep putting it off due to its length. I’ve read the first couple of chapters, though, and actually—it feels like the kind of novel worth sinking into.

We Do Not Part by Han Kang
Historical fiction, told through the perspectives of three women.

I’ve been meaning to read more of Han Kang’s work, but this new release has been on my radar for a while. While it tackles heavy historical themes, I’ve heard nothing but praise for her writing—unsurprising, given the Nobel Prize status.

- chaotic notes from a busy brain from the margins of my latest reads.

• It’s funny how quickly social media references date.

• Oof, an au pair? This is too fancy for me.

• All this talk of baguettes is dangerous.

• The kitchen feels so central to bridging past and present. It’s always the kitchens, isn’t it?

• The boldness of a short chapter—definitely a stylistic choice I gravitate towards.

• Michelle’s recommendations never fail me—add these to your list.

• I have such a love/hate relationship with classics, but this article from Caitlyn has maybe persuaded me to give a few another go.

• I’ve been paying more attention to poetry this year, and I just saw that Faber now offers a poetry subscription. This would make such a good present.

I’d love to know what you’re currently reading, or any books that have stuck with you recently. Particularly keen to get some spring-feeling reads underway!

Also, hopefully, you enjoyed this post, if you did I would be eternally grateful if you would share/restack so I can reach more people like you ♥️

Have a lovely day, Allie ☁︎

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