Time to look back on another joyful reading month!! Plus, another thing to look back on . . .
Whose kid got royally married, just over a week ago?
I know. So lame.
April Reads in Review
May is going to totally suck after April; I'm certain of it. How can you possibly beat two Sarah Addison Allen books in one month?
While The Goose Girl probably would have to be my top book if I picked just one, I think it's really a 4-way tie between The Goose Girl, The Winter Ghosts, The Peach Keeper and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. Even that feels unfair. Astoundingly (given the past few wonderful months), I loved almost everything I read, again!!! One exception: True Courage by Steve Farrar. I liked it but didn't love it.
A Wonder Book [for Girls and Boys] by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Winter Ghosts were the two books that probably surprised me the most. I loved the graceful writing in both and, although The Winter Ghosts was slow-paced, in the end I found the story has continued to haunt me. Pun intended.
On Maggie's Watch was a bit surprising, too, fun and light but with an unexpected depth. Pictures of You -- while I didn't love the ending, I couldn't put the book down and that made it a winner. I could relate to the emotions and found it so gripping that Caroline Leavitt had some serious sleep-deprivation to account for, after I finished.
I read four children's books, this month. Loved them all: Grandma's Attic, More Stories from Grandma's Attic, Quiet Bunny's Many Colors and Kat, Incorrigible.
That leaves one book of poetry and a travel memoir. Both were enjoyable in different ways. I particularly appreciated the notes on each author and poem included in The Best American Poetry, 2009, because they helped me understand a little about poetry that had never clicked. Radio Shangri-La was fascinating chiefly for the armchair travel and learning experience. Incidentally, the author of Radio Shangri-La is trying to raise funds to build libraries in Bhutan.
Summary: Squeeee! Great month! Happy reader!!
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I'm glad you had a good reading month. Mine was a little blah, but I'm hoping for better this month.
ReplyDeleteJenny,
ReplyDeleteMost of this year has been great, except for the current month. So far, May is a dud. I hope it's a good one for you.
I've been craving some Sarah Addison Allen lately even though I've never read her :p I have two of her books here...really have to get to one of them soon!
ReplyDeleteI loved your excitement and enthusiasm. It made me smile. When summer (school is over in 13 days) arrives I intend to do the very same thing!!
ReplyDeleteKeep it up and may May turn itself around and be a great reading month.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI think you'll like that little touch of magic in her books. You should read one soon because now I'm dying to know what you think!
Gaye,
ReplyDeleteIt really was a month worth shouting about. LOL
May is still sucking, but that's OK. I'm busy and having fun. Sometimes reading just has to take a backseat.
I loved Goose Girl, but I didn't care for Winter Ghosts. I'm not having such a good reading month so far in May. Maybe it's just my frame of mind, but I'm being really critical about most of the books I've been reading lately.
ReplyDeleteI love that Charles sign! That's too cool.
ReplyDeleteSo far May is a bad reading month. I can't concentrate.
Jenclair,
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling a lot of people won't like The Winter Ghosts. It has a few fatal flaws, not the least of which is that unlikable hero.
I'm just not focused, right now. I hope the May reading picks up for both of us.
Carrie,
I like it, too. There was a men's clothing store named Charles' and it's gone but I thought it was pretty neat to find that th's still a sign on the back of the building.
That makes three of us having a sucky reading month.