In the unlikely event you don’t already have enough reading to do for your classes, or rather, in the more likely event that you need something to do while procrastinating that previously mentioned class reading, we here at the Clog have your back. Considering we are in the thick of it — it being the biting winter of Northern California — we suggest you grab your fluffiest pair of socks, fill your mug to the brim with your beverage of choice and teleport yourself to another world (via the magic of literature). We at the Clog have crafted the perfect February book bucket list for you, full of the women authors we adore, so pick your jam and cuddle up while the rain is coming down!
“Love, Rosie” by Cecelia Ahern
Let the record show that we loved this book way before the film made it to the big leagues (aka Netflix). Either way, this novel is written as a series of letters written back and forth between all of the main characters. Through this unique framework, a life story of love and loss unravels that will leave you holding your breath until the very last page. A few fun facts about the author: Cecelia Ahern has published 17 books, two of which have been adapted into films, and her father, Bertie Ahern, is a former prime minister of Ireland.
“Becoming” by Michelle Obama
This is a message of urgency and utmost importance for all of you who have been living under a rock (or maybe even a few rocks) for the last few months: Michelle Obama has written a book. This autobiographical memoir is a written trip down memory lane with former first lady Michelle Obama herself, all the way back to her days in the school play yard. Full of charm and wit, “Becoming” will leave you feeling ready to conquer life with a smile and put some Michelle Obama optimism in your step. Get reading for precisely 448 pages of fun facts about your new favorite author!
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
There’s nothing more classic than a cup of tea and a Jane Austen novel, and that is simply a #fact. It’s the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine of life go down. So, trust us when we say “Pride and Prejudice” is a must when your mood matches the grey February skies. If Lizzie Bennet’s wit can’t put a smile on your face, then you may need more than a spoonful of sugar (We suggest adding a pan of brownies to the equation.) Fun fact: At the time, her identity was not Jane Austen — rather, this early feminist used the simple pen name of “A Lady” to publish her world-famous novels.
“From the Corner of the Oval” by Beck Dorey-Stein
If Shonda Rhimes is right up your alley and “Scandal” is your Netflix binge-watch of choice, then this may just be your new favorite book. This New York Times Bestseller is a memoir that follows the life of a young woman as she navigates her life while working for POTUS. Strap in tight because Beck grabs your attention on the very first page and whips you along for the rollercoaster that has been the past eight years of her life. Beck Dorey-Stein was a “stenographer” at the White House (Fun fact: That means she worked, in lay terms, as a keeper of history, if you will.) She traveled with the president almost 24/7 to record and write down everything he said.
February is the month of love, or so we have heard, and if there’s one thing (or four things, that is) we at the Clog love, it’s these talented authors highlighted above and their moving and inspiring works. So, now it’s up to you to get cracking on this carefully crafted bucket list, or should we say … BOOK-et list!
