April Book Report
April Book Report
What I read, am currently reading, and what I'm SO EXCITED to read next
I’ve been waiting until the last possible moment to hit ‘send’ on this because I was convinced I’d be able to finish at least one of the books I’m currently reading and add it to the April report. Alas, in typical Ennagram 7 fashion, I couldn’t focus on just one of them so am two-thirds of the way through all of my current reads and you’ll just have to wait until May. I can’t wait to tell you about these next month:
Before we get to what I did actually finish reading recently, I want to share how I’ve been finding new books to read. I learned a few things recently that are adding excitement to my reading world (and increasing the size of my TBR list).
Get more books!
Have you ever wanted to be one of the elite readers to get an ARC (advance reader copy) of a book before it’s released?! ME TOO! And now we can! Last month, I created an account on NetGalley, where I can request digital ARCs of books based on my interests. The platform releases ebooks and audiobooks in exchange for an honest review. I’m learning that some publishers are pickier than others about who they approve to release an ARC to, but I was approved for my first two requests (The PLAN and Minstry of Time). It helps to list a place where you already review books but nothing fancier than Goodreads is required. Let me know if you get into this and find any new titles I should explore!
The second way I’ve gotten more books this month is through Spotify. Did you know that you can listen to audiobooks on Spotify?! I am late to the game on this, for sure, but with your premium Spotify subscription, you get 15 hours of audiobook listening each month! The library of included titles is vast and I used up my hours days ago. I love audiobooks for when I’m driving, doing dishes, folding laundry, etc. It’s an easy way to read more when you need to be doing something with your hands and also makes me look forward to my least-favorite chores.
Finally, one of my favorite readers and writers,
shared this great post that includes a zillion wonderful book recs PLUS wonderfully practical tips on how to support authors and their books — which, as readers, we all want to do!The top fraction of my TBR mountain
Because I can’t help sharing, here’s a brief (lol) list of what I’m excited to read next:
Trust — so many people have recommended this one
Anita de Monte Laughs Last — I loved her last book
Titanic Survivors Book Club — “a book lovers novel for sure”
Recipe for Second Chances — a Romance set in the Italian countryside written by an IRL chef? Yes, please
Just for the Summer - I love Abby Jimenez (as you have heard before and will again below) so I don’t need much convincing to add this one to my list
A Bit Much — We’ve all seen
so I’m excited to read these poems in book format. This one comes out in September so pre-order now!James — I have loved Percival Everett in the past and am very intrigued by the premise of this re-imagined classic. It would be very fun to read alongside the classic Huckleberry Finn (book club, anyone?)
The Unfiltered Enneagram — If you remember my enthusiasm earlier this year after reading The Road Back to You, my excitement over this new release, won’t be surprising. I’m very excited to dig into “Type Seven—The Paradoxical Paralysis of Making Too Many Awesome Plans” 🙋🏼♀️
The Maid — I’m late to the party here but this one has been on my list forever so a gentle nudge is just what I needed
Martyr! — Rave reviews from a few of my most trusted reading pals (one has already declared it a top 3 book for his year!)
April reads
And now, for the goods on a few books I’ve read lately.
Family History by Dani Shapiro
I’ve said it before and will say it again, I will read anything that Dani Shapiro writes. This was wonderful — a story about a family tragedy but also all the little tiny events and decisions that happen each moment of every day, compounding the impact of a single tragic event. It was intense and at the same time, completely relatable. The magnetic prose brings forth such empathy that I am still thinking about the protagonist and her inner turmoil weeks after finishing. The story was heavy but easy to fall into. I was absorbed and finished in 24 hours.
Yellowface by RF Kuang
I read this via audiobook and highly, highly recommend that format over the print. I tried to start the physical book months ago and couldn’t get past the first few pages but I devoured the audio. The protagonist’s very specific voice and attitude really comes out in the narration and I would not have done it justice in my head. I hated her and I was also rooting for her — it was a wild ride.
The underlying theme of social media isolation created a serious and somber throughline to the narrative. I’m in my own complex and troubled relationship with social media, and it’s startling and convicting to consider the blurred line between what is real life and what is not. Doesn’t something become real life if we make it so? And our time and attention focus on social media makes it, quantifiably, part of our real lives?
This story prompted so much unexpected deep thinking for me while also being highly entertaining. I loved it!
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
When I took my solo trip this month, I was very proud of my light packing — only a Kindle for reading. No physical books! A milestone! Then I was in the airport, wandering around with too much time before boarding, and I was simply lusting after the shelves in the airport bookshop. I held my ground until a slight delay to boarding broke me and I bought Birnam Wood.
It had a slow-ish start, partially because I wasn’t entirely certain what I had gotten into. I had to actually look up the definition of satire a few times because I kept second-guessing my decision to read this— ironic humor is not my favorite. But the exaggerated characters and social-political commentary drew me in and all of a sudden, I was hooked. Then the final third of the book amped up to an utterly insane crescendo ending in the final few pages. I was blindsided while being not at all surprised and then it was over. I finished it in bed one night, had trouble going to sleep immediately after, and woke up feeling as if I spent the night with it in my dreams. And it’s still reeling in my brain a few days later.
I appreciated what was between the lines in this narrative— all the almost-conversations, misunderstood comments, second-guessing, and how those impacted relationships over time and the events that transpired. The mosaic storytelling was powerful and helped me relate to the varied characters, especially when they were infuriating.
Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff
I’m really having a moment where I’m trying to reclaim life from work and the stories here were validating and encouraging. There wasn’t a ton of tangible information that I didn’t already know, hadn’t already heard, but I appreciated hearing it in this format, all the same. The format of stories makes this topic feel light when in reality, work is a big deal for so many of us.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (read this in March)
I had a few weeks where my brain was fried and when I fell into bed one night, exhausted, but aware that I hadn’t read much recently, I craved something easy for my brain to digest. I opened this knowing that I would get sucked in and push my tired bedtime (but did it anyway!).
When I tell you that I stayed up for 4 HOURS devouring this book, I am not exaggerating. In fact, that’s probably an underestimate because I’m embarassed by my lack of self-control. I had an alarm set for 530a the next morning and every 30 minutes or so would look at the clock and think, "just one more chapter…” and all of a sudden…. I had completed 82% of the book and had only 2 hours to sleep until my alarm would go off.
One thing I love about this story (and many of the rom-com fluff books I’ve read over the past year-ish) is that the characters are grown-ups. They have relatable nuance and have lived some life - with some tough stories! It makes it easier for me to engage in the plot and connect with the characters in a way that wouldn’t be as enjoyable if they were living a 20-something idealized young adulthood.
And that’s all for now! Until next month, happy reading! 📚✨
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