February’s Final Literary Observances: Clearing Space and Rediscovering Stories

February always feels like a month of layers to me.

It’s the month of love and reflection. Of birthdays and anniversaries. Of quiet winter days that invite us to slow down just a little and pay attention to what matters.

As readers and writers, that usually means one thing:

Our relationship with stories.

This week’s observances invite us to look at that relationship in two simple but meaningful ways—by caring for the books we already own and by revisiting the fairy tales that shaped so many of us.

No pressure. No perfection required.

Just a gentle invitation to reconnect.

For many people, the words “clean” and “bookcase” in the same sentence feel…uncomfortable.

After all, book lovers are collectors by nature. We hold on to stories. To memories. To “I’ll read that someday” intentions.

And yes—speaking as someone who genuinely loves cleaning, I can promise you this: loving to clean does not mean your house is always clean.

Mine certainly isn’t.

There are only so many hours in a day. Only so much energy to go around. And when life gets busy (as it has been lately), things pile up—including books.

Clean Out Your Bookcase Day isn’t about creating a museum-worthy display.

It’s about giving your stories a little breathing room.

Sometimes, that’s all we need.

Before you picture yourself hauling out every book and scrubbing shelves top to bottom, take a breath.

This is not an all-or-nothing situation.

You might choose to:

If that’s all you do?

Congratulations. You cleaned.

And if you do feel inspired to go a little further, here’s a fun interior-design trick: merchandising.

It’s a simple way to make shelves look intentional instead of crowded.

Try this:

Suddenly, your shelves feel lighter. Calmer. More inviting.

And when you’re done?

Reward yourself.

A nice lunch. A glass of wine. A cozy evening with a book.

You’ve earned it.

When I was growing up, fairy tales mostly meant Disney.

I loved them.

I didn’t know much—if anything—about the darker, older stories behind them. Grimm? Macabre origins? Not on my radar.

Later, when I was reading Fear Street and Edgar Allan Poe, I probably would’ve appreciated those darker roots more—but I honestly don’t remember sitting down to read traditional fairy tales as an adult.

The closest I’ve come is through shows like Grimm and The Librarians—especially “The Librarians and the Fables of Doom,” which explored how powerful and dangerous old stories can be.

And that’s the thing about fairy tales.

They aren’t just cute bedtime stories.

They’re about fear and courage. Loss and hope. Choices and consequences.

They’ve survived for centuries because they speak to something timeless in us.

You don’t need to pull out a dusty anthology of Grimm tales (unless you want to).

You might:

Fairy tales remind us that stories don’t have to be realistic to be true.

Sometimes, they tell us the deepest truths of all.

On the surface, these two observances seem very different.

One is about cleaning. The other is about imagination.

But underneath, they’re connected.

Both ask us to be intentional.

With our space. With our time. With the stories we choose to keep close.

We clear away what no longer serves us. We return to what still speaks to us. We make room—for new chapters and old favorites alike.

And in doing so, we honor the quiet role stories play in our lives.

They comfort us. Challenge us. Remind us who we are.

And sometimes, they quietly shape who we become.

This week isn’t about doing more.

It’s about noticing more.

Noticing the shelf you love most. The story that never leaves you. The book that feels like home.

That’s enough.

February always carries extra meaning for me.

It begins with my birthday.

It holds my grandparents’ anniversary on the 18th.

And it ends with my grandpa’s birthday on the 26th—on Tell a Fairy Tale Day.

He loved books, history, and big ideas. He dreamed of writing a book of his own someday.

In many ways, my historical novels are my way of helping him publish that book after all.

So as this month wraps up, these observances feel especially close to my heart.

Stories connect generations. They carry memory forward.

And I’m grateful for every one that has shaped me.