It’s been a long month. I had to say goodbye to my cat of 16 years and help my mother as she prepares for surgery in June. Time has lost meaning, but on the upside, it’s been my most productive reading month so far this year.
What I read in April:
The Bookbinder by Pip Williams ~ ★★★
I adored The Dictionary of Lost Words and was so prepared to relive the author’s prose again the second time around. Sadly, this book hit different and I think I let my expectations get the better of me. Still quite quotable and an interesting story, but not nearly as memorable for me.
The Institution by Helen Fields ~ ★★
The setup and location for this thriller were spectacular. It missed so many marks for me in terms of characterization and writing.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street by Avery Cunningham ~ ★★
This was another book that had a fantastic premise that ended up falling flat for me. I’d say this one was more enjoyable than The Institution was for me, but it still had some major issues, the biggest problem being it was far too long for what the plot was offering.
Pachinko by Min Jin lee ~ ★★★
This book started off so strongly for me. I absolutely loved it. By the end, I was so lost and everything moved so quickly that I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I’ve read a number of multigenerational stories by now so I know that it can be done without sacrificing the storylines of certain characters. Super disappointing, but at least I have fond memories of part one.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth ~ ★★★★
I loved the dynamics in this thriller! I found it twisty without it being over the top, however, I wish there had been more clarity surrounding the antagonist toward the end of the book.
The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum by Margalit Fox ~ ★★★½
This was an interesting read. I wasn’t familiar with Frederika Mandelbaum at all going into it. Normally this is something I’d listen to on audio, but with all of the photos I’m glad to have been offered the ebook.
The Pillar of Light by Anna Travis ~ ★★★¾
This was a cute start to a juvenile fantasy series. I wasn’t completely hooked, but it was the ‘lighthearted read before bedtime’ kind of book I was looking for when I picked it up.
The Waltham Murders by Susan Clare Zalkind ~ ★
Such a disappointing book. Looking back on it now it feels like a fever dream. It had no clear direction and was a strange mashup of a memoir and true crime book.
Conspiracy Fact: MKULTRA and Mind Control in the United States by Kate Marcello ~ ★★★
A brief summary of MKULTRA and similar projects in the United States. I’ve had this series on audible for years now and finally had a listen.
Conspiracy Fact: Human Experimentation in the United States by Kate Marcello ~ ★★★
Evidently, I was supposed to read this book first. It didn’t matter in the long run as both books could have easily have been rolled into one. Same as the book about MKULTRA, this is nothing more than a short summary that prompts further research. Both of these books were difficult to rate given their structure.
Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand ~ ★★★★★
I first read this book last year and I couldn’t wait to read it again. I feel as though I enjoyed it even more the second time, especially in the beginning. One of my closest friends also read it not long after I picked it up again and loved it as well!
House of Kwa by Mimi Kwa ~ ★★★
An interesting memoir discussing the author’s family lineage, however, it seemed to cross some lines into oversharing now and then.
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge ~ ★★½
I’ve had this book on my TBR for a while. I had a friend pick a book from my list and she chose this one. While it lasted the duration of the time I needed it to while waiting through appointments, I wasn’t overly enthused with the writing.
The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson ~ ★★★★
I found this book at a thrift store some time last year and kind of forgot about it until a bingo challenge gave the prompt to read a book with your favorite color on the cover. I think this is one of the only books I own with a purple cover so I was limited with my choice. Not only did it help me complete the prompt, but it was the perfect lighthearted read!
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