In this period of high stress and anxiety, I’ve found solace in reading. I’ve been calling it “stress reading”.
Last month I went through a real low in my reading due to stress so I feel a bit like a bloomin’ yoyo. Anyway, please know if you’re struggling to read right now that you’re not alone – many people are and I do know that icky *missing something* feeling all too well. Your reading mojo will come back. Just give it time.
In March, I read 18 books. Some short, some long. Some earth-shattering, some “meh” and some comforting. Here’s what I’ve been reading:
In the spirit of excess content to consume every direction we look, I’m not going to overload you with heaps of information and reviews of each of these books.
Instead, I’m going to give you my star rating and three words/phrases that I’d use to describe this book.
Many of these books do have content warnings so please drop me a comment if you’d like to know what the content warnings are.
There There by Tommy Orange
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Native American experience, epic, a future classic.
The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An extraordinary memoir of family heartbreak, stunning, so many tears.
The Butchers by Ruth Gilligan
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Irish literature and folklore, a sweeping family saga, quietly powerful.
Full review: bit.ly/rgbutchers
Inside Broadmoor by Jonathan Levi and Emma French
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mental health and crime, the place of historic institutions, super interesting.
The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scottish historical fiction, slow burn, a touching love story.
Full review: https://bit.ly/2UKZXKP
Promising Young Women by Caroline O’Donoghue
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A powerful read for the era of the #MeToo movement, uncomfortable to read in places, necessary.
The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The impact of ghosting, a beautiful contemporary romance, will really make you think.
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A powerful story about police brutality and racism in America, a great set of characters, what YA should be IMO.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
Beautiful illustrations, poems about the female experience, some poems spoke to me more than others.
Summary Justice by John Fairfax
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
Well-paced, great plot, easy to read.
Did You See Melody? by Sophie Hannah
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
Page turner of a thriller, comfort read (I used to read Sophie Hannah loads), not my favourite of hers.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
A letter from father to son, racism in America, the phrase “destroy my body” floored me.
Atomcat by Osamu Tezuka
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
Sweet, funny, great illustrations.
Kakushigoto VI by Koji Kumeta
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
What it means to be a manga artists in Japan, learned A LOT, loved the father-daughter relationship.
The Kafenion by Victoria Hislop
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
A sweet short story, reminds me why I loved Victoria Hislop, felt that I was in the cafe.
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
3 stars ⭐⭐⭐
A sweeping family drama, unlikeable characters, great writing.
In March, I also read two other books that I rated two stars (not my cup of tea) and DNF’d 10 other books that weren’t working for me.
Thanks for reading this far, friends! I hope you enjoyed my March monthly wrap up. How was your reading month? Were you in camp “stress reading” or “what is a book”?
READING WITH KT 