First lines: February 2026 edition

Below are the first lines of the books I finished reading in February.  Once again, it was hard to concentrate on reading – 679 pages total.  

 

 

Book 1

My Dungeon Shook

Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation

Dear James,

I have begun this letter five times and torn it up five times.

 

 

Book 2

Count Camembert’s estate, Gougère

“Come back here, young lady!”  

“No!”

  

Book 3

The Clothes of Others

Mma Ramotswe, owner of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (as featured in a two-page article in the Botswana Daily News, under the headline “A Lady Who Definitely Knows How to Find Things Out”), had strong views on the things she owned.

 

 

Book 4

“The English understand wool.”

My mother sat on a small sofa in our suite at Claridge’s, from which the television had been removed at her request.  She held in her lap a bolt of very beautiful handloomed tweed which she had brought back from the Outer Hebrides.

 

Book 5

In October there were yellow trees.  Then the clocks went back the hour and the long November winds came in and blew, and stripped the trees bare.

Sweeter times.  Early November 2016.

Finished ¼ of, on purpose

Wherever You Are, Stop What You’re Doing

Stop and look at the tangled rootlets of the poison ivy vine climbing the locust tree.

 

Did not finish #1 

Chapter One: Cecily

Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, February 1945

Japanese-occupied Malaya

Teenage boys had begun to disappear.

Did not finish #2

After distributing the eight ice-creams – they were the largest vanilla, chocolate, and raspberry super-bumpers, each in yellow, brown, and almost purple strips, Pop Larkin climbed into the cab of the gentian blue, home-painted thirty-hundredweight truck, laughing happily.

 

The titles and authors revealed:

 

 

Book 1

The Fire Next Time

By James Baldwin

128 pages • 1963

nonfiction classics essays memoir race challenging informative reflective medium-paced

I recommend this book which consists of two essays.  The title is from an African American spiritual. Baldwin’s epigraph: 

“God gave Noah the rainbow sign, 

No more water, the fire next time!”

The “fire next time” likely refers to the final day of judgment. (2 Peter 3: 5-7)  The phrase appears in the final sentence of the second essay.  The thoughts Baldwin expresses are still relevant in 2026.   In 1963, Baldwin said that if-  if-  if- people of good conscience work at it, America might be able to become a place of freedom for all.  The Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed in 1964.  And then the Voting Rights Act was gutted by the Roberts Court (SCOTUS).    Right now it doesn’t look all that likely that our country is headed toward freedom for all.  I feel as if we are actually living through the “fire” phase predicted by the spiritual. 

 

Book 2

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  (graphic book) by Deya Muniz.

256 pages • paperback • first pub 2023

fiction graphic novel lgbtqia+ romance young adult funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

It took me 15 days to finish Baldwin’s short book of essays.  I needed this graphic book to restore my reading pace.

Imagine a kingdom where females cannot inherit, so the heir must hide her identity and appear in public as a man.  Don’t need to think too far, do we?  Now imagine that all the characters are named after cheese.  This is a whimsical queer romance told in bright colors with lots of defiant characters yelling or sobbing, I mean, understandably, given their situations.  I read it in a few hours.  It has a happy ending.  

This is a YA graphic book I found when I looked on Libby for a book titled “Sandwich”, recommended by Bibliomama.  

Il ne faut pas mourir sans avoir
mangé tous les fromages.

Book 3

The House of Unexpected Sisters (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #18)

Alexander McCall Smith

226 pages • first pub 2017

fiction mystery lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

Just when I said (last month) that McCall Smith never includes LBTQIA characters, this book introduces one, quite positively portrayed.  And the way the character is written, perhaps this character is included in future books in this series.

 

 

Book 4

The English Understand Wool

By Helen DeWitt

69 pages • 2022

Fiction literary

Contrary to my expectations, this novella does NOT take place in England, nor in Scotland, nor in Ireland.  It’s a clever story, in which none of the characters are particularly likable.  Includes an interesting twist. 

Perhaps Einstein understands wool.
I do not think those skeins are wool.

Nebby detail: In the “first line” above I used quotation marks to make it clear a character was speaking.  In the book, the author uses the French method of a leading em dash (I don't know the proper term for this type of punctuation) to indicate a spoken line.  And that method is entirely appropriate.   

In a French book, a character might say:

– Il ne faut pas mourir sans avoir vu Carcassonne.

In a book in English, the character would say:

“One must not die before having seen Carcassonne.”

I have, in fact, seen Carcassonne, so I’m all set.

Book 5

Small Things Like These 

by Claire Keegan.

112 pages • 2021

fiction historical literary

It was a joy to re-read this book.  I highly recommend it, again.  I am leading the book discussion in March. The writing is excellent and the events of the book are relevant today.

Finished ¼ of 

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year

Margaret Renkl

270 pages • first pub 2023  

nonfiction essays nature

I enjoyed reading the “Winter” portion of this book.  I want to wait until spring to read the next section.  I can’t bear to read about spring during this particular winter.

Did not finish #1 

The Storm We Made

By Vanessa Chan

339 pages •first pub 2024

fiction historical dark

This was for book club # 1, but I simply could not read it.  Too much trauma inflicted on children. We’ve heard enough of that in our own news these days.  I can’t stomach it in a novel.  It has war spies in it – I probably would have liked that part.

Did not finish #2

The Darling Buds of May (the Pop Larkin Chronicles Book 1)

By H.E. Bates

160 pages • first pub 1958

Started out funny, but became silly and rather annoying.  I think this was recommended by a booktuber as a light, amusing read.  

A darling bud of May, from 2014.
This was the last time we grew a tulip in our yard.
Tulips are simply dessert for deer.

As we look forward to the actual darling buds of May in a few months, what is in your reading stack?

LH Feb 2026 - How It Is Ending

I am now dressed and ready to go…. nowhere.  I am relishing this day of not going door knocking, of not going to a political rally, of not calling my elected.

Feb 17th Election Season Beginneth

Last Half February consisted of a sudden dive into feverish political activity.  

Danger, Will Robinson!  Boring description of political process!

Every four years we run for our seats on the county political committee.  This is that year!  We need to get a minimum of 10 signatures and voter info (more is better) of registered voters on our petition, which is a piece of actual paper.   So twentieth century, eh?!  

This is a labor-intensive, plodding activity.  It cannot be done online. The candidate cannot fill it out for the voter.  It must be done correctly, or the signature will be invalid.  It requires either begging voters to come to your place, or going door to door asking voters to sign.  It can only be done Feb 17th - March 10th (in Pennsylvania).  

Let’s start with the fact that most people do not even answer their door any more.  Then add that most voters are unfamiliar with this part of the process, and are suspicious.  I tried one year inviting people to my place, which resulted in one signature.  The voters I already know – IF I catch them at home – are willing to sign my petition and – bonus !! – the petitions for the other people running for office.  Voters I don’t know are barely willing to take the time to sign my petition. 

Me preparing to go (gasp) outside
for door knocking. 
Pro tip - it is impossible to do this
without clipboards.

On Tuesday I girded my loins for door knocking. I knocked on 13 doors and a whopping 7 opened - that’s a very good rate.   After two hours, I had 8 signatures, a sense of gratitude that the neighbors remember me, and an earful of the main issue bothering them: those two cars parked at the crest of the hill. 

If you know someone who is in the lower echelons of your political party, you could pleasantly shock them by seeking them out and volunteering to sign their petition, without forcing them to come to your door.  If it is the year for party elections in your state, that is.

Feb 18th Ash Wednesday

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.  

You are butt dust and to dust you shall return. (Our favorite Lenten joke, ha ha!)

Following my personal rule of singing whenever possible, I joined the hastily assembled choir to sing J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Priceless Treasure” but I couldn’t sing the high notes.  I faked it, which somehow seems appropriate for 2026.

I was comforted to receive the imposition of ashes from my own pastor.  My father would be rolling in his Presbyterian grave, but I hope that instead he is enjoying heaven by eating murgh methi, basmati rice, and freshly cooked chapattis, and playing bridge with my mother sans arguing.

The pastor who gave the sermon said to listen.  I’m trying.

Feb 19th  Dental news

My dentist of 25 years retired last September.  It didn’t seem right because she is younger than me.  In reaction, I did nothing about it.  In July, I had already made my appointment for this February with the (now retired) dentist.  I kept my appointment on the 19th with the new dentist, who seems older than my previous dentist and is a man.  On my very first visit he informed me that I need major dental work.  Boo hiss.  I do not know if I want a man touching my teeth.  I called another dentist and the first appointment was late April, for mucho $$$, and that was just for the initial exam.  I am afraid to wait that long for this procedure.

HOWEVER.  The dental work is a CROWN.  I want to be able to go to No Kings Day on March 28th and say I HAVE A CROWN.  Bow before me, all ye maggaty ones.

The procedure will happen in early March with the old white man dentist whom I do not trust.  But for some reason I had no problem trusting the young white male dental hygienist who cleaned my teeth.  I can’t figure myself out.  

Feb 20th Door knocking for signatures 

In my precinct, but not my neighborhood.  Knocked on 20 doors, 5 opened.  Oof.  Five signatures, after one hour of walking, on my petition only.  I was told by several people that their spouse was napping.  First rule of politics:  Never wake a napping voter!  Not even for a precious signature. 

Seen while canvassing.
Love me a Little Free Library!

Feb 21 rally.  Above freezing!

I still need this sign.

So sick of all the entitled privileged creeps.

Feb 23 a mother’s worries

Massive snowstorm in Massachusetts, where several of our loved ones live.  And two of my (adult) children not feeling well.  Here in SWPA we also had snow.

My brother, at the end of his street

Ice and snow on a window in
Boston, Mass.

That evening was the vote in Town Council for the resolution banning any agreement with federal frozen water agencies.  I went to the meeting, prepared to speak again, but left after 40 minutes of listening to bigotry openly expressed by residents of my own town.  Late that evening, the resolution passed, 5 to 2.  

Feb 24  

I knocked on 4 doors, zero opened.  It was cold and windy.   My thoughts were infected by the town council meeting. A lot of the neighbors are probably bigots.  We are in full-blown fascism.  I realized I had forgotten my phone - this is a safety issue when one is door knocking alone.  I aborted my attempt.  I went home. 

Feb 25 More door knocking. 

Three more signatures, which is enough for my petition, but it felt like pulling teeth to get them.  It was clear these voters had no interest in signing other candidates’ petitions.  I feel demoralized that voters in my own party are not more enthusiastic to engage in the process.  I give up.

Seen while canvassing:
squirrel statue outside a door
that did not open.

Dachsund and frog statues
outside another voter's door.

Feb 26th Our local Democratic Committee fundraiser

At last, a joyous event!  Good food, good company.  It was my dream to sing one of the resistance choir songs, and we did, although not in the gorgeous harmony the Minneapolis choirs have done.  I won a raffle basket, which included a truckload of hot chocolate packets, chocolate truffles, library swag, a beautiful blanket, and a resistance hat (the Norwegian-style red hat with tassel) for the Common Household Husband.  The same knitter had already honored me by giving me one. 

The CHM and CHH,
in our matching Norwegian red resistance hats!

Feb 27th Rally - Fridays Without Fetterman

We are not amused.
This is the first time in a long time
that I have been willing to put on
a costume at a rally.

Lady Liberty is so f#&*king disappointed in our senior Senator.  He caves to the Miller-Vought regime most of the time.  There were just 20 of us at the rally, and not much traffic driving by at noon downtown, but it was uplifting to be among friends.

January to mid-Feb are supposed to be resting-up times
for the foot soldiers in the political world. 
But not when there is a town resolution to pay attention to.

This month I did 80 hours of political activity:  32 communications to electeds/university officials, 30+ communications to fellow residents on the town resolution, 8 public events, 7 meetings, 10 data activities, 4 door knockings (51 doors knocked).

We cannot fully rest, but we must take breaks.  Now that I have showered, it’s time tonight for … a Purim Party!  Bring on the hamentaschen!  Let’s drink until we can’t tell the difference between the names of Mordechai and Haman!*  Onward to next month!

Please tell me how your February went. I hope there was some relaxation in it! And some chocolate.

*Let’s not.  This is a stupid tradition.  Please don’t do it.  I certainly can’t drink alcohol like that...any more.

If you are not sick of reading, here’s the recap of FH Feb.

February 2026: How It Started

I am sitting here in my pajamas at 11 AM on the last day of this month, having nothing in my head.  But I do have photos on my device!  

Herewith, the first half of our February.

Feb 5th: Following several ultrasounds and a consultation, the doctor told me I need to have some unwanted uterine stuff removed, for diagnosis.  That will happen in May.   (No photo.  Sorry, but you are not sorry!)  The doctor said usually this material is non-cancerous, but they can develop into cancer so it’s important to get it looked at soon. 

PSA:  Do not neglect your visits to the gynecologist, ladies!

Conversation, on the trip home from one of the pelvic ultrasounds:

Me:  Thanks for taking me to get my lady-parts scanned. 

Common Household Husband: I’m going to tell the folks at the casino what I did today. “I had to take my wife to the hospital to get her lady-parts scanned.”

Me:  You tell them this:  “I took my wife to get her lady-parts scanned.  It’s amazing – for women, it’s all a bunch of bags in there!  They don’t have any sticky-outy parts.”

That description is based on what I saw on my ultrasound image.

Feb 7th: Assiduous readers of this blog have already seen this photo, but I must repeat it to emphasize How Much Damn Snow We Got.

Feb 7: Carveout for the mailbox.

I spent most of the month attempting to abolish ice, in one format or another.

This was how I spent my Superbowl Sunday.

Feb 7th, conversation at breakfast

Me:  The month of January this year lasted 4,587 days.

Common Household Husband: Sounds like the number of years.  5,487.  

Me: ??  I was talking about the number of days in January.

CHH: I’m talking about the Hebrew calendar.  Isn’t this the year 5487 or something? 

[We check.  It’s 5786, if you count from Genesis 1.]

CHH:  What do you think people were doing in this neck of the woods, 5,786 years ago?

Me: They were happily shored up in their protective lean-tos.

CHH:  Do you think they had a societal structure?  Were they preparing to hold elections?

Me: Yes, and they probably had some way of picking their leaders.

CHH:   Maybe it was a death battle.

Me: You mean, like in that movie?  Wakanda?  The reason we have elections is to avoid a death battle.  

CHH:  We’re past that now.

Me (moving on to the important task at hand):  What is there for breakfast this morning?  

There are two servings of peaches left.  Once we are out of peaches, we use raisins, which signals approaching fascism.

CHH: There are sardines in the closet.

Me:  We are not at the sardines part of fascism yet.

Feb 9th:  I made a little speech in public at the Town Council meeting, to say I want no official collaboration of our police with federal frozen water.  In January and February I worked very hard behind the scenes to help other residents also speak publicly at this meeting.

The meeting went on for about 3 1/2 hours; I left before the end.  There were 29 residents speaking in favor of the resolution (to not sign a 287g agreement with federal agencies) and 13 speaking against.  I am pleased to say that on Feb 23rd the resolution was approved, along party lines.  This was only possible because of the election victories we had in November 2025.

Feb 10th:  We woke up to a temperature in the house of 60 degrees.  That was one day after the outside temp went above freezing and then again down below freezing overnight.  

Diagnosis by Mr. Furnace Man: Ice in that intake pipe.

The fix: He knocked the ice out of the pipe.

Cost: more than $100 but now we know.

That day, the outside temperature went above freezing for the first time in four weeks.  God bless all y'all in Canada and points north.  I am not made for this prolonged cold.

That evening, the closet door fell off.  The CHH fixed it.

The secrets that pipe holds!

Feb 11th was the glorious day I got my car gloriously washed.

I have about 10 more photos from inside the car wash.
That is how thrilled I was to do this.  Also,
the car wash has a certain level of
fascinating horror to me.

Feb 13th: The best Valentine's Day gift ever.  A collection to warm my heart, hands, soul, and sidewalks.  The Common Household Husband said that was the last jug of sidewalk salt in the store.

P.S. That plant is not dead. Yet.

The ever-astute readers of this blog will already know that we went to Cleveland, Ohio, mid-month.  A daring move, knowing what the weather can dish out to that lake-side city.  We lucked out -- it was sunny.

Shout out to one of my favorite authors!  There is a church named after her in Cleveland.  She has a new book, recently published!  I would tell you about it but I haven't had a chance to read it yet.  

The Church of St. Mel! !
Posted here in honor of one of my
favorite authors, Melissa Westemeier

We took a little side trip to Oberlin, Ohio, to the Allen Memorial Art Museum, on the grounds of the college.  Highly recommend.  And look, the snow has mostly melted!

I hope to say more about this in
a future blog post because art is necessary
in these times.  We shall see if that post materializes.

Well, folks, that's my recap of the first half of this hapless month.  It's noon-thirty and time to get out of the pajamas and start the day.

My recap of the last half of Feb 2026 is here.