March 2016 Reading Round-Up
Posted 1st April 2016
Category: Round-Ups Genres: N/A
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This month I stepped up my blogging – I’m now working with an editorial calendar after years of thinking one wouldn’t help me; I’m feeling more confident in my theme work, which is something I often used to think would never happen; I’m seeing five ‘pigeon holes’ for posting, because they aren’t quite categories, that are helping me focus on quality – discussion, review, theme, history, general/other reading. Basically, for all the extra description I’ve just used, I’m doing what everyone else already does, it’s just taken me six years to get there. Better late than never. Anyway, I’ve had an enjoyable reading month, diverse in a few of the ways I’m aiming for this year, and here is what I read:
All books are works of fiction.
The Books
Ben Fergusson: The Spring Of Kasper Meier – In Germany, in the years following World War II, a man is approached by a woman he’s never seen who is looking for a pilot and appears to be working for someone dangerous. If the atmosphere of the last 50 pages had been incorporated from the start this would’ve been a good book; there’s not much to it and no thrill.
Elizabeth Chadwick: Shields Of Pride – A mercenary is offered the wife of the man whose death he sort of caused and must work to keep her and her son safe as rebels are after their money. It’s okay but far from her later books.
Elizabeth Gaskell: Cranford – A narrator recounts the relative highs and lows she experiences when visiting Cranford, a Victorian town in which most residents are women and no one is particularly well off. It’s a good enough read as long as you’re okay with the idea of nothing much happening.
Sarah Ladipo Manyika: Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun – When 74-year-old literature professor Morayo falls in her apartment she has to learn to adjust to the changes age has brought with it, including possible memory loss, but whilst she may live alone she finds friends aplenty to help her. I can’t do the book justice in one sentence but suffice to say it’s very good, on a par with Elizabeth Is Missing in approach and the main character talks books a lot.
I would say my favourite was the Manyika. Certainly it’s the one I gave the highest rating to, but I did enjoy the social history and immersion in the Chadwick. The Gaskell was quite fun and I’ve written three posts on it since finishing (I’ll separate them, don’t worry) but it’s true that 178 pages took me two weeks and prior to that I’d attempted to read it late February. At this point I’m not sure Gaskell is for me as far as reading enjoyment is concerned though I am fond of the way she goes about her commentary. I’m glad to have finished the Fergusson; I’d been reading it since November so it’s both a relief because I wasn’t enjoying it and a minor to-do list completed as it was the last of the four books I had to read from the Young Writer Of The Year award.
Quotation Report
Do not tell Deborah of Cranford that women are equal to men because she will not listen – she believes women are superior. And if you join Joseclin and Linnet’s household, from Shields Of Pride, you will find yourself playing medieval football with a pig’s bladder and it will be messy.
Usual statement incoming – I can’t believe it’s April already. Easter was incredibly early this year so I’m kind of still looking forward to it… at least the reading version of looking forward to it will come to fruition.
How was your Easter and/or how was your March?
April 1, 2016, 10:04 am
I had a lovely Easter and a really good March, thank you. I am pleased to hear you have enjoyed getting into a schedule with your blog and kept your reading up. I wish you more good reading, health and happiness in April.
April 5, 2016, 9:44 am
Freda: It is, and it was :) You, too!
Jessica: I was glad to hear it (and I’ll have to remember the boat race for next year). Thank you, and I wish you the same.
Kailana: I like that she’s one of those authors who, once you sit down with the book, you’re hooked very early on.
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April 1, 2016, 1:36 am
It’s always weird when Easter comes so early. I hope yours was good.
Happy April!