bermudaonion (Kathy)
Beth F
Sandy
Michelle
Katie
March 2009 Reading Wrap-Up
I realized I need to start adding the years on my monthly wrap-up posts, because I’ve now been blogging for more than a year! This month signals a return to some of my former reading glory of last summer, albeit not without the help of some trusty audiobooks. I read a total of 20(!) books – twice as many books as in February – including 6 audiobooks for a total of 4,043 pages and over 3 and 1/3 days of audio. A few of my reviews are being held for the book’s publication date or simply as a backup for when the baby comes. As usual, book titles link to reviews and all books are listed within their genre in the order in which I read them. After my list of what I read this month, you’ll find a list of the other reviews I posted:
What I Read:
Fiction
America America by Ethan Canin (audio)
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (audio)
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (audio)
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (audio)
American Rust by Philipp Meyer
Water Ghosts by Shawna Yang Ryan – review coming April 17th
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story – review pending
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (audio)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – review pending
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson – review pending
Historical Fiction
The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell
A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith (audio) – review pending
The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl – review pending
Historical Romance
The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer – review coming May 25th
Memoir
Invisible Sisters by Jessica Handler – review coming April 13th
First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria by Eve Brown-Waite – review coming April 15th, guest post coming this summer
Nonfiction
Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke
Real Food for Mother and Baby by Nina Planck – review coming April 3rd
Pick of the Month
This was a REALLY HARD CHOICE! I spent the first 2/3 of the month sure that “America America” was going to take the honor, even thought I mostly read it in February (although “Hunger Games” was certainly a contender). Then I had to go and read “First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria,” followed a week later by “A Reliable Wife” just to make the decision really difficult. Although any of these four books would be worthy of a top spot, I think in the end I’m going to have to go with…
Although Eve always told everyone she was going to go into the Peace Corps, but her decision was sealed when she fell in love with her recruiter and embarked on an adventure that took her from New York, to Ecuador, to a very dangerous corner of Uganda. It wasn’t just the adventure that pulled me in, though, Eve is smart, sassy, and hilarious in her recounting. She’ll also be writing a guest post for me this summer when I’m busy with my new little one.
What I Reviewed:
Fiction:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Historical Fiction:
Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy
The Tsarina’s Daughter by Carolly Erickson
The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins
Nonfiction:
The Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe by Nancy Goldstone
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- August 2009 Reading Wrap-Up I finished 18 books in August, which I think is...
- May 2009 Reading Wrap-Up My reading was down slightly from last month, 20 books...
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You had a great reading month!
I have The Hunger Games on my shelf now.
Vasilly’s last blog post..March Reading Wrap-Up
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The Tory Widow is one I added recently to my TBR list. If only someone would list it on PBS.
I decided to use your organization as inspiration. http://cherryblossommj.blogspot.com/2009/04/march-2009-jan-feb-reading-wrap-up.html
MJ’s last blog post..March 2009 (Jan & Feb) Reading Wrap Up
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I read Case Histories before I started blogging but I remember not liking it very much. The Graveyard Book was awesome though (have you heard that they’re trying to take his medal away for this?!). You had a great month!
Ladytink_534’s last blog post..She’s No Sweetheart
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devourerofbooks Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 3:50 pm
What? Why are they trying to take his medal???
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I so want to read FIRST COMES LOVE, especially after your ringing endorsement!
Julie P.’s last blog post..Review: Buffalo Lockjaw
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devourerofbooks Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 4:28 pm
You think THAT is a ringing endorsement, just wait until my review posts on the 15th! I’m not sure how successful I was at keeping the fawning to a minimum. You’d like it a lot, I think.
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You have been so busy! I have The Thirteenth Tale in my iPod (waiting for me to finish the third book in the series of Outlander), as well as Hunger Games.
Sandy’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
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I can’t wait to hear what you thought of The Hunger Games. And I was just offered to review First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria. Now I’m thrilled especially if it was your favorite. (BTW – The Gaiman thing was an April Fool’s joke)
Natasha @ Maw Books’s last blog post..Blogging & Reading Review for March
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devourerofbooks Reply:
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 am
I think you’ll love Love/Malaria. I had almost the same reaction to Hunger Games as you did. I think I may hold that review until I’m busy with baby. I usually want to post rave reviews ASAP, but I don’t want to have all ‘eh’ reviews saved up, and I don’t feel bad waiting for Hunger Games since it is already getting so much buzz. Thanks for the heads up on the Neil Gaiman thing. By the time I got the comment I had completely forgotten what day it was!
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You read a lot of great books this month! And you are writing a lot of reviews that I’m looking forward to. I still really want to read The Hunger Games! I hope my library has it when I get back.
Meghan’s last blog post..BTT: Library Week
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GRAVEYARD BOOK TO BE STRIPPED OF NEWBERY?: http://collectingchildrensbooks.blogspot.com/2009/04/graveyard-book-to-be-stripped-of.html
Ladytink_534’s last blog post..Library Loot 11
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I wonder if I should start doing these wrap-up posts! I love how comprehensive yours are.
S. Krishna’s last blog post..The Ghost Writer – John Harwood
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Awesome writeup and super reading list. My wrap-up posts are so lame compared to yours. You’re my new “wrap-up guru”!
Beth F’s last blog post..Weekly Discoveries (April 4)
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That’s what I call a great month! If I could read 20 books a month, my TBR pile would be much shorter. Hope April treats you well.
Anna’s last blog post..Giveaway: AN OFFER YOU CAN’T REFUSE by Jill Mansell
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[...] It’s not even officially out yet and Deb Eve’s FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MALARIA has been chosen as Pick of the Month over at Devourer of Books. [...]