One of my goals for 2020 is to read 45 books this year. That equals 3.75 books per month. Some months might have two books, others five, others four or one or whatever. But either way I’m confident in my goal and excited to share what I read. Here’s what I read in February:

Note: With the exception of one of last month’s reads which trickled into February, I tried to keep this month focused on books that honored and celebrated Black History Month. It was challenging and sobering at times but important. When we only consume media that focuses on stories like ours, we miss out on the incredible diversity of the world we live in.

1. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a memoir written as a letter to his son documenting his journey growing up as a Black man in America. It is compelling, sobering, and heartbreaking. It is so well written that you easily get swept up in the lyricism of his words while also confronting the horrible truth they convey.

   “America understands itself as God’s handiwork, but the black body is the clearest evidence that America is the work of men.”

   Rating: 5/5
   Audio Length: 3 hours and 35 minutes
   Genre: Autobiography

2. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates is Coates attempt at fiction. It tells the story of Hiram, a man born into slavery and his journey to freedom. It has some magical realism in it which for me didn’t work as well as it did last month in The Murmur of Bees. Coates is also less strong as a fiction writer and the story was really pushed along by chapters of essays disguised as dialogue. Still, it is important to remember and reflect on the horrors of slavery and the strength of African-Americans that lived that terror daily at the hands of those in power.
   “They knew our names and they knew our parents. But they did not know us, because not knowing was essential to their power. To sell a child right from under his mother, you must know that mother only in the thinnest way possible. To strip a man down, condemn him to be beaten, flayed alive, then anointed with salt water, you cannot feel him the way you feel your own. You cannot see yourself in him, lest your hand be stayed, and your hand must never be stayed, because the moment it is, the Tasked will see that you see them, and thus see yourself. In that moment of profound understanding, you are all done, because you cannot rule as is needed.”

   Rating: 3/5
   Audio Length: 14 hours and 14 minutes
   Genre: Historical Fiction

3. A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte was my leftover from last month. It is the story of Tolkien, Lewis and their experiences in World War One and how that affected them personally and their future epics. As a fan of both authors and their respective works, i was an interesting and informative read. I felt like I knew them both better after reading the book and learned a lot more about WWI. Loconte is a great writer and explains the cultural climate well while also connecting their responses to their experiences. It’s a short read and a must for any Tolkien or Lewis fan!
   “Part of the achievement of Tolkien and Lewis was to reintroduce into the popular imagination a Christian vision of hope in a world tortured by doubt and disillusionment.”

   Rating: 4.5/5
   Pages: 256
   Genre: Historical Non-Fiction

4. We Need to Talk about Race: Understanding the Black Experience in White Majority Churches by Ben Lindsay was a book that I’ve been meaning to read since last year when I heard Lindsay speak at a youth conference. Lindsay leads a sister church in the UK that is predominantly white and outlines his experiences leading that church, growing up in that environment, and offers helpful questions for church leaders and members both white and black to engage with in order to bring true reconciliation and restoration. He breaks down common white responses and highlights the way Christianity has been whitewashed and abused for power but also brings so much hope and helpful actionable steps. Although speaking from a UK perspective, Lindsay has much to offer to the church in America as well and we would be wise to listen and apply his teaching.

   Rating: 5/5
   Pages: 176
   Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

5. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is one of the most heartbreaking books I have ever read. It chronicles Stevenson’s journey defending falsely accused, primarily African-American inmates on death row. It follows one story in particular but you hear vignettes of others throughout. Realizing the extent of racism within the justice system is heartbreaking and horrible. It was sobering but so important. There were a lot of poignat quotes but these two have stuck with me. “The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.” and “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” I honestly cannot recommend this book enough.

   Rating: 5/5
   Audio Length: 11 hours and 11 minutes
   Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir