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March Wrap-Up and a Look to April

March Wrap-Up and a Look to April post image

March was really, really not my favorite month. The last month or so of winter always puts me in a huge funk, and this year it has felt like winter would never end. There was a week in the middle of the month that I really just hated almost everything.

Despite my generally bad attitude about the world throughout March, I managed to finish nine books — the most in a single month yet this year. And most of them were absolutely excellent. I can’t think of anything to complain about other than, like usual, I wish I could have read even more.

One of my mini-goals for the month was to post four times a week, a goal I accomplished mostly thanks to updates for my readalong of Possession. I’m not sure I can keep that up this month, but I’d like to try. Anyway, here’s my breakdown for the month of March. 

Books Read in March

  1. Goodman, Matthew: Eighty Days (nonfiction)
  2. Moyes, Jojo: Me Before You (fiction)
  3. Miner, Barbara J.: Lessons from the Heartland (nonfiction)
  4. Mayer-Schonberger, Viktor and Cukier, Kenneth: Big Data (nonfiction)
  5. Kiernan, Denise: The Girls of Atomic City (narrative nonfiction)
  6. Sedaris, David: Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls (essays)
  7. Mires, Charlene: Capital of the World (nonfiction)
  8. Chu, Jeff: Does Jesus Really Love Me? (nonfiction)
  9. Byatt, A.S.: Possession (fiction)

Other Books Reviewed

Books I Want to Read in April

Oh my gosh, there are so many great books out this month. The list I have in my head is a million miles long. But, there are at least a few I’ve got on my radar for review commitments or reading projects:

  • I’m on TLC Book Tours for two books by favorite authors: The New Republic by Lioner Shriver and Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff. I am so looking forward to both of those book.
  • I want to get ahead on a few May releases so I can pick a recommendation for Bloggers Recommend. The books on my radar are The World’s Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne (a memoir by a weightlifting librarian with Tourette’s Syndrome), A Chance to Win by Jonathan Schuppe (narrative nonfiction about a Little League team in Newark’s South Ward), and/or Don’t Worry, It Gets Worse by Alida Nugent (essays on navigating adulthood).
  • I’ve also bought a TON of books in that last few weeks. I love to get to any one of them: Margaret Fuller by Megan Marshall, The Orphanmaster’s Son by Adam Johnson and/or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 
  • And of course, Florinda (The 3R’s Blog) and I are hosting a readalong of Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon. I’m super excited about this!

So many books, so little time.

Writing Around the Internet

I wrote a freelance review of Barbara J. Miner’s Lessons from the Heartlanda look at the Milwaukee Public Schools system. It was an eye-opening book for me, made more interesting because the boyfriend is from a suburb of Milwaukee and had some experiences with the failed reform measures tried in that area.

I also had a couple of posts on Book Riot that I’m proud of: a highlight of one of my favorite websites (The Electric Typewriter) and some musings about books that are better ready slowly (inspired by the Possession readalong).

Here on the blog I celebrated blog post #1000 with some lists of my most popular posts and shared eight other books I want to read right now. It’s been a busy month!

2013 Goals Review

I’m feel really lazy, so I’m going to skip reviewing goals this month. Overall, I didn’t do very well on many of them… March was weird, weird month. I’ll get back in April.

PHOTO CREDIT: ROB WARDE VIA FLICKR

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Bettina @ Books, Bikes, and Food April 5, 2013, 9:58 am

    I really recommend you get started on The Orphan Master’s Son asap. I just finished it and absolutely loved it!
    Besides that, I wish I could ever read nine books in one month… wow.

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:44 pm

      The reviews in the Tournament of Books sounded so great. I hope I can read it soon.

  • Nikki Steele April 5, 2013, 11:02 am

    Wooohooo on reading nine books in a month! At least the poo weather drove you indoors more and to more reading? Good luck on keeping up the 4 times a week posts — it’s certainly difficult, but I love that I get to read more of your posts more often 😀

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:44 pm

      Looking on the bright side, I like it! I don’t think I can quote maintain four, but if I can do three I’m happy with that.

  • Diane@BibliophilebytheSea April 5, 2013, 5:50 pm

    I am a Sedaris fan, so I am anxiously waiting for my turn from the library. Hope your April reading goes well, but I think you did great in March.

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:44 pm

      Thanks Diane! You will like the Sedaris, I’m sure.

  • Jenny April 5, 2013, 7:11 pm

    March WAS dumb this year. It was wet and cold and nasty all through the month here. I have never been so ready for spring. I need some flowers and sunshine in my life.

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:45 pm

      March was the worst. The absolute worst. I need warm breezes and lots of sun, stat.

  • Jennifer April 5, 2013, 7:52 pm

    I’m very curious about the Sedaris. I agree with Bettina, The Orphan Master’s Son was great 🙂

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:45 pm

      It’s wonderful. I will be highly recommending it.

  • Charlie April 6, 2013, 4:38 am

    Is the weather improving where you are? It looks like it’s going to be better here and I know the UK and US were pretty similar. A good mix of books for March, though I know what you mean about wanting to read more regardless.

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:46 pm

      No, the weather is STILL terrible. It’s driving me nuts.

  • Sheila (Book Journey) April 7, 2013, 6:59 am

    March was LLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG. It was not my favorite month either. Cant wait for sunshine!

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:46 pm

      Sooooo long. Did you get any of the crazy snow storm this week? We got like 6″ of snow… it is TERRIBLE.

  • Allison @ The Book Wheel April 7, 2013, 7:21 pm

    I still need to read Girl of Atomic City and Me Before You – I’m so far behind on my TBR list and you’ve been so productive!

    • Kim April 11, 2013, 6:46 pm

      Oh no, I’m still way behind — I don’t think there’s really a way to catch up though 🙂