April Wrap Up

April yow, where did you go? That is a brilliant poem, tell me otherwise hahaha! I’m a tad giddy, just woke up from the best nap I’ve had in awhile. Sleep has been hard to come by the last couple of weeks and I’m not quite sure why so I’ll take the little naps to make up for it when I can. Anyhoooo, my sleep patterns are not why you’re here, you want to see what I got up to bookwise this past April and if the book stacks have increased. Let me not keep you in suspense any longer 🙂

What I Read

April was another good reading month, I read 7 books in total but they were a bit of a mixed bag tbh.

• The Jane Austen Book Club – Karen Joy Fowler. This book was absolute rubbish. Like, trash. I think myself and other fellow Jane Austen fans just need to cut our losses. These “Jane Austen inspired” books are not going to fill whatever void we are trying to fill. Or maybe there are good ones and I just haven’t found one yet. No, this isn’t me asking for recommendations, I’m good.
• When We Left Cuba – Chanel Cleeton. I read this to get the previous book out of my mind and also, it was an ARC I won and wanted to read before the publication date. If you like historical fiction and want to get a story that isn’t about World War 2, I do recommend this one.
• The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo. THIS BOOK!!! This book was amazing, I absolutely loved it. I recommend reading along with the audio book to get the full effect.
• On The Come Up – Angie Thomas. Lovers of YA and old school hip-hop will get into this one. I had my 90’s rap playlist blazing for days after I read this. It’s a quick & easy read but if I’m being completely honest, don’t go in thinking it’s as good as THUG.
• The Immortalists – Chloe Benjamin. I finally got around to reading this one and I can honestly say, I’ve never read a book quite like this one. It started off really solid, kinda got meh in the middle but it was really good. I want to read it again just to see if I’ll pick up one new things I might have missed or not realized before. Also, I kinda live for the cover.
• The Source of Self Regard – Toni Morrison. Are you tired of hearing abut this one? I finally finished this book and I have to say this was a good buy. Not every piece was for me but that’s okay. There were some really good ones and ones that should be required reading especially for young women.
• *Not Pictured* Lost Roses – Martha Hall Kelly. Sigh, I haven’t gotten around to properly reviewing this one yet so I’ll just say I was disappointed. I was really looking forward to this one but I’m still at that stage where I can’t review it without sounding like a bitter bitch and I don’t think it deserves that kind of review.

*Remember, my reviews are on my Goodreads page if you want to read those.

What I got

If you all are hoping to see my regular massive stacks and hear about my shopping addiction (yet again) too bad!

BAM!

Yup, that’s it, that’s all I bought. Didn’t think it was possible did you? Well neither did I hahaha!

• Bear Town – Fredrik Backman – Got this secondhand on sale from Storyland Books. I’ve said it before, this author has done no wrong for me yet and this is my second physical copy of one of his books.
• We Were Liars – E. Lockhart – This was my book genie pick for April and one that has been on my Amazon wishlist for three years (I checked). I’m really loving this book genie service which how can you not? She is literally finding and surprising me with books I want every month. Win.
• *Not Pictured* Lost Roses – Martha Hall Kelly. Sigh, this was a pre-order for my kindle. *hangs head*

I also got Virginia Baily’s, The Fourth Shore as a present from my brother along with this gorgeous mini journal made from leather and recycled onion paper (whatever that means). I’ve never heard of this book but it sounds promising. As for the journal, I have no clue what to use it for yet but I’m having fun toting it around.

What I Borrowed

I need a new segment called “Beg u ah borrows” on this platform. It has a nice ring to it nah? I visited a friend of mine last month and promptly left her house with four book loans. I don’t do anything half assed.

The All Souls Trilogy – Deborah Harkness

Blackass – A. Igoni Barrett

These books come highly recommended by my friend Stephanie so I’m looking forward to diving into them. Alas, I have TBR’s for May and June kinda lined up so back to impulse reading in July I guess. The thing is, while I have been preferring impulse reading I find that having a set TBR encourages me to read books I already own which is a good thing. #beatthebacklist #readwhatyouown.

I didn’t get up to any bookish adventures in April. My brother is visiting the family from farrin and work has had me a way. I’m kind of amazed I got this much reading done at all. I think there might be a trip this month but nothing is set in stone as yet.

April did see me writing my most popular blog post to date, my previous one on Own Voices Reviews. I was really happy with the feedback I received. It made me feel like yeah, maybe I am making the right choice in changing up my content this year. I have other pieces and ideas in the works so here’s hoping people keep reading and liking what I have to say.

‘Til next time 🙂