325 Reading Challenge February Update

February TBR for the 325 Reading Challenge

Well, it was bound to happen.

February saw not one but two books I didn’t finish! Intentionally this time.

February also saw me discover a new favorite and I accomplished a personal challenge to read a particularly large book I’d been putting off. The intimidation was real.

My 325 Reading Challange pile of books for February was:

1. Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde (non-fiction)

2. Lone Women by Victor LaValle (fiction)

3. Angela Y. Davis An Autobiography (non-fiction)

4. Bunny by Mona Awad (fiction)

5. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo (fiction)

Five books in twenty-eight days was a challenge.

February update

Although I brought Sister Outsider across from January, I actually quickly devoured Lone Women first.

In two sittings. I need more Victor LaValle books in my brain please and thank you.

I finished Sister Outsider shortly afterward and started on both Bunny and An Autobiography. I’m usually pretty good at reading multiple books at the same time, especially if one is fiction and the other non-fiction or they have vastly different styles and subjects. Reading Bunny was like reading a dream-like world described by an unreliable narrator. And it didn’t work for me, even when the bunnies got weird.

I fell into Yangsze Choo’s writing quickly and enjoyed spending time with The Ghost Bride. Unfortunately, I had to DNF (did not finish) because of a trope I just can’t stand. My loss, I’m sure.

February book reviews

I’ve left the reason for my two DNF’s as a review. You can read them all on The StoryGraph.

1. Review: Lone Women

2. Review: Sister Outsider

3. Review: An Autobiography

4. Review: Bunny

5. Review: The Ghost Bride

I’ve chosen not to share these reviews with the authors. I’m giving myself March to choose two different fiction books to add to my 325 reading challenge. I picked my next books in the last few days of February.

March Book TBR (To Be Read)

March 2025 TBR for the 325 reading challenge

My 325 Reading Challange pile of books for March includes:

1. In Defence of Witches: Why women are still on trial by Mona Chollet (non-fiction)

2. The Anarchy by William Dalrymple (non-fiction)

3. Femina by Janina Ramirez (non-fiction)

4. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (fiction)

5. The Furies by Elizabeth Flock (non-fiction)

If you spot the theme, well done. I’m reading more about women’s history for Women’s History Month (March), which is a special interest of mine ever since that History exam question…

I collect history books that focus on those who have been voiceless or silenced in our history. And will continue to do so until they are included in History education beyond being wives, Queens or otherwise. March is just an excuse for me to read even more women’s history and share my recommendations.

If you have any related book recommendations, please share them in the comments.

How to take part in the 325 Reading Challenge

There’s still time to join the 325 Reading Challenge. The full details can be found in the launch blog post.

If you want to recommend books you’ve enjoyed, you can post on social media with the hashtags #325ReadingChallenge and #ReadingRecommendations

Let me know if you join in the comments or find me on social media.

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Mary Wyrd: Creative Virtual Assistant

The go-to for your to-do list and women’s history book recommendations