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March can be a long, long month and this year was no exception. Compared to the East Coast which was slammed with storm after storm last month, we in the West had it pretty easy. In my neck of the woods, we’ve had gray rainy days, but also glorious days full of sunshine that leave everyone longing for summer. Between staying inside and reading on those rainy days and hitting the sidewalks with earbuds in place on those sunny days, I’ve managed to have my best reading month of the year with eleven books completed, including four audiobooks. Since this March wrap up includes books I finished last week, I’m skipping my usual Monday Update in its favor.
{My March, Books & Blog}
The Cream of the Crop
Books I enjoyed the most…
- The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman – A wonderful (really, really wonderful) story of lifelong friendship. (my review)
- Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles – When a paraplegic suddenly walks everyone wants a piece of his miracle. (my review)
- Every Last One by Anna Quindlen – An amazing story of a mother’s love for her family. (double review coming later this week)
A Cut Above
Great stories…
- Sunburn by Laura Lippman – A cat and mouse game between a woman fleeing her family and the man hired to find her. (my review)
- The Italian Party by Christina Lynch – A fun journey to 1956 Siena with a newlywed couple and the secrets each is hiding. (my review)
- I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O’Farrell – The author’s account of seventeen brushes with death and what they taught her. (my review)
- I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara – The telling of one woman’s near obsessive desire to find and unmask the “Golden State Killer.” (my review)
- Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen – A NYC couple, their life together, and the parking spot that’s both a blessing and a curse. (double review coming later this week)
Subpar
Books I could have skipped…
- The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat – A girl, her distant father and the parking lot attendant she grows too close to. (my review)
- The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth – Desperate Housewives moves form Wisteria Lane to Pleasant Court in Melbourne. (my review)
- Go Ask Fannie by Elisabeth Hyde – Three bickering siblings and their aging father revisit the past that took their mother and brother many years ago. (review coming later this month)
DNF
- The Brightest Sun by Adrienne Benson
Top Blog Posts
- I wasn’t surprised to see the most visited post for March was Novel Visits Spring Preview 2018. Doesn’t everyone love to get a glimpse of upcoming books?
- As for March reviews, most viewed was a series of three, Mini-Reviews: The Suspense-Lite Edition.
- For the third month in a row my most visited solo review was The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. I have no idea why this review has become so popular, but you can check it out here.
{From the Book Blogging World}
Favorite Reviews
Links take you to these wonderful reviews…
- The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth wasn’t one of my favorite books this month, but Renee at It’s Book Talk loved it and I know many others will, too.
- On the flip side of things, I enjoyed Laura & Emma by Kate Greathead, but it didn’t work as well for Catherine at The Gilmore Guide to Books. After reading her thoughts I found myself questioning some of my own, and appreciating the variety of opinions that a single book can produce. Love the conversations!
- Then there’s the book I can’t stop talking about. If my review didn’t convince you to read The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman, then Tara’s from Running and Reading will!
- From Sarah at Sarah’s Bookshelves, there was a treasure trove of reviews in her March 2018 Books to Read (and Skip) You’ll see another take on Laura & Emma there, plus Bachelor Nation!
- Amber over at Literary Quicksand reviewed a book that is now high on my nonfiction reading list: In Praise of Difficult Women by Karen Karbo. Its subtitle, Life Lessons from 29 Heroines Who Dared to Break the Rules, says it all, and a forward by Cheryl Strayed makes it even more interesting.
- I was rapt when reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain so was happy to see Ann Marie at Lit Wit Wine Dine cover it for a Throwback Thursday. If you didn’t already know, Paula McLain has another book featuring Hemingway, Love and Ruin, coming out May 1st.
Fun & Useful Blog Posts
- 11 Women to Watch in 2018 was a really interesting spotlight that Book Page shone on 11 female writers with very diverse books coming out this year. I know I added several to my TBR list.
- I always enjoy the way Cait at Paper Fury takes a whimsical approach to most everything, and loved her post, 10 Things Book Bloggers Get Excited About.
- In the same light vein, Abby at Read This Not That did a fun post pairing popular books with the ideal drink in Perfect Pairings: 6 Books & Their Ideal Drink Matchup!
- I rarely reread books, so was intrigued with Allison at Mind Joggle’s post on taking on rereads with a fresh approach. You’ll want to check out Why You Should Reread Your Favorite Books and How to Make it Worth Your While.
- Dani from Perspectives of a Writer took on one of my favorite things, audiobooks, in a discussion post. While I differ from Dani in that I’m a huge fan of audiobooks, I appreciated the conversation in Why I Say NO to Audiobooks//A Discussion.
- If you like memoirs or are trying to develop your nonfiction reading, you’ll need to take a look at the guest post Ottavia of Novels and Nonfiction did over on The Hungry Bookworm. Her title says it all: 12 Great Memoirs for Nonfiction Newcomers.
- If you’re a fan of thrillers, you’ll want to check out Spring Thrillers to Put on Your Radar from Amy at Read A Latte.
- Speaking of spring book lists, March was the month for them. Two of my favorites were My Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2018 from Sarah at Sarah’s Bookshelves and and 8 Books From My Spring Reading List from Renee at It’s Book Talk.
- And finally, I know some people have already had Spring Break, but if you’re like me, it doesn’t happen until next week, so you still have time to pick up some great reading. Wonderful suggestions are always welcome and that’s just what you’ll get with Best Books to Read on Spring Break 2018 from Tara at Running and Reading.
That’s a wrap! How was your March?
Disclaimer: There are Amazon Associate links contained in this post.
I was looking forward to The Family Next Door, although I have had really mixed results from Sally Hepworth in the past. I’ve seen a couple not-so-great reviews for this one, though, so I might not be running to get it any time soon!
I’ve seen mixed reviews on it, so you may like it. Let me know if you decide to give The Family Next Door a try.
I hadn’t even heard of GUNNERS before I saw it highlighted in Entertainment Weekly (I think). It immediately went on my list and I’m super happy to see it here. Along with MIRACLE, which is also high on the list and praised by folks I trust. I just finished I AM, I AM, I AM, and that was some crazy stuff. There is no way I could think of that many occasions when I came close to death and if I could it I’m not sure what that would do to my brain. She did travel quite a bit, but man, it seems she is a hair’s-breadth away from disaster no matter what she does. Very interesting read.
I think you’ll really like The Gunners. It might be my favorite book so far this year.
I completely agree with you about O’Farrell’s disaster filled life. It made for interesting reading, but I tried and could only find four brushes with death and even those were pushing it. (As were a few of hers.)
Ooh, high praise. Damn it, now I have to put it on the must-list, when I just this weekend started a “Clear the TBR Shelves” project. 🙂
I completely agree. Some, in another context, I would not at all have interpreted as a “brush with death.” Taken as a whole, it did make for compelling reading. It’s a difficult task to think about. How close to that car accident (or X experience) did you have to be to count it? I’m impressed you came up with four, you’re 1/3 of the way to a book.
You had a great month. I’m going to have to click through to the person who rejects audiobooks. I couldn’t live without them.
I’m with you there. I’ve grown to love audiobooks and can’t stand to be without one.
Love this post! I’m going to check out the Gunners now thanks to your review and the one from Running N Reading as well. Thank you so much for sharing my Memoirs book list from my guest post on Megan’s blog 🙂 I started off with a basic idea but it turned out to be a much more comprehensive and helpful post than I think I could have envisioned initially. I’m off to check out some more of your links!
Thanks, Ottavia. Your list of memoirs is a perfect introduction for people reluctant to try nonfiction.
I enjoyed “Sunburn” a LOT. Have holds on “Gunners” and “I’ll be Gone in the Dark.” (And only 13 more!).
Off to pick up “Italian Party” and a few others at the library today! So exciting.
Currently reading “The Bookseller.” At 66% I’m not sure how I’m feeling about it.
Hmmm… I loved The Bookseller, but her next book, The Glass Forest, wasn’t nearly as successful for me.
Hi Susie, thank you so much for linking to my post. I am glad that you enjoyed it, and I am so honored to be included in this post, which is full of fun bookish information and references many of my favorite bloggers, too!
Happy to include you here, Abby. It was a really fun post!
I absolutely loved your post!! It’s the best March recap ever! So creative.
Thanks so much for including me in your monthly wrap up Susie! I’m sorry The Family Next Door didn’t work out as well for you as it did me but you had an awesome reading and audiobook month! I’ve already added The Gunners and Anatomy of a Miracle to my tbr based on your high praise. Have a great week!!
Of course, Renee. While it’s true I didn’t love The Family Next Door, I’ve had many other recommendations from you that I did. I think you’ll really like The Gunners and just remember with Anatomy that it’s a little slow the first 20%. You have a wonderful week, too.
You had a productive blogging month. Come see what I’m reading
Thank you so much for the mentions, Susie; I really appreciate it! I had a tough time moving on from The Gunners; what an amazing read. I’m still very excited to read Anatomy of a Miracle but, since I’ve been eagerly anticipating The Female Persuasion and my copy has arrived, I’m going to read it first! I hope you’re having a great week!
I have seen alot of great things about The Woman in the Window, and also I definitely want to read Sunburn!! I love Cait at Paper Fury, she can be so funny!! I had a fantastic March and am seriously getting some reading done now!!
http://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/2018/04/march-wrap-up-post.html
I’m so ready to lay out a blanket in my yard and watch the kids play with a book in hand! I’m ready whenever spring is ready to show up.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark sounds so interesting, but I know that I would be unable to sleep at 2 in the morning, jumping at the sound of the ice maker or the heat turning back on.
Thank you so much for vetting The Parking Lot Attendant! I’m crossing it off my list.
On the flip side, I’ve heard nothing about The Gunners but am adding it to my library holds- so I guess it’s a wash, one book off, one book on!
Yes must gear up for Love and Ruin! I’m already on the List for that one. McLain won’t disappoint with Martha Gellhorn as a subject. Such a fascinating person & relationship! I think I have her biography on my shelves so far unread.