I was rather surprised both that it’s June already and that I read the Vetsch in May – it seems ages ago. Anyway, I’ve had a great month and whilst I’m still having trouble with writing inspiration I believe it’ll get better. And I’ve exciting news for you that I’ll be posting about later in June. Yes: it’s book related (and some of you may already know…)

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Eloisa James: Duchess By Night – Harriet dresses as a man to accompany Isidore to a notorious house party, the intent being to lure Isidore’s husband home. Hilarious as always (the romance is pretty stellar, too, but I think you all know I read these books for the humour).

Erica Vetsch: The Cactus Creek Challenge – Western America; two girls and two guys swap jobs for a month to win votes for various town needs. Christian romance; one relationship is better written than the other but the book as a whole is quite fun.

Intisar Khanani: Sunbolt – On the run from the puppeteers behind the government. A diverse quasi-Asian/Eastern fantasy that’s brilliantly written and thrilling on occasion, but lacks a full plot.

Kate Chopin: The Awakening – A wife and mother in 1800s America pushes against the social traditions that restrict her life. Absolutely excellent.

My favourite? The Awakening. It had to be; one of the best books of its era I’ve read. And that ending… No bad books this month. (Incidentally I’ve started The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society – have I got that right? – and loving it.)

Quotation Report

None this time.

Here we go, on to June…

What was your favourite read this month?

As I’ve said previously, April has seen some fabulous weather, well over three weeks of mostly cloudless days. The clouds have now returned along with colder temperatures, but I think other Brits will concur when I say that’s quite fine. Give us a fair patch of nice weather and we’ll accept the rain.

I didn’t read as much this month as I was nursing a slump (I’ve also had an ‘idea’ slump which I’m deeming worse than writer’s block), but I’m happy with what I achieved. I’ve also three books still on the go (excluding the classics I’m purposely forgetting are half-finished) that will likely be added to next month’s round-up.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Guy Ware: The Fat Of Fed Beasts – A few policemen decide to a rob a bank in an age where there’s little money in banks and three ‘lose-adjusters’ look to work out both what’s happened and what’s going on in their own world. A rather unique book that can be quite confusing but nevertheless rather satisfying.

Nancy Bilyeau: The Tapestry – Trying to live a normal life, Joanna Stafford is called to London to make a tapestry for Henry VIII and finds herself embroiled in the time between wife number four and wife number five. Not as ‘active’ as the others but a fair ending to an excellent trilogy.

Shannon Stacey: Falling For Max – Max, the man with the television and secret job, decides he wants a wife and Tori decides to play matchmaker, not being attracted to him herself. Only to be read if you particularly want to finish the series.

Shannon Stacey: Taken With You – Hailey’s bored of seeing all her friends pair off, leaving her the single single; then hairy Matt moves to Whitford. Not the worst, not the best.

My favourite this month would have to be The Tapestry. Bilyeau’s talent at blending fact and fiction was a feast for the reading senses. I wasn’t keen on either Stacey book, but I am happy I’ve read the entire series.

Quotation Report

None this time.

I started The House On The Strand yesterday and didn’t want to put it down so it’s likely it’ll be in my next round-up. What a book! I’m looking forward to good reading times ahead.

What did you read in April?

This month I made reading a major priority rather than a priority, which explains the number of reviews I’ve posted versus other posts. Ever more apparant is the fact that when reading you can’t be blogging and when blogging you can’t be reading; I’ve just about worked out how to balance them but seeing how much I hadn’t read so far, deliberately focused on reading. It worked – I read and completed 6 books this month and for once I can quote such a number without having to acknowledge that most were short. Only one of my books this month was short and it feels good. It’s not particularly likely I’ll achieve similar in future months so I’m basking in it.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Barbara Comyns: Our Spoons Came From Woolworths – Sophia recounts a period of her life wherein she lived with her selfish, manipulative husband. An oft sorry tale full of domestic issues that is nevertheless fantastic.

Emma Healey: Elizabeth Is Missing – Maud aims to find her friend even whilst constantly forgetting what’s going on moment by moment. An excellent commentary on old age memory loss.

Jessie Burton: The Miniaturist – Nella discovers her new family has many secrets and the figurines she commissions change to reflect present circumstances. Not sure where the plot and characterisation went.

Laura Barnett: The Versions Of Us – Three versions of what could have happened to Jim and Eva following the day Eva rides to/misses her tutorial. Very, very good.

Mikhail Elizarov: The Librarian – A man is drawn into the strange goings on of various groups of people who fight each other for copies of a modest author’s output. Violent and confusing but not bad at all.

Paula Lichtarowicz: The First Book Of Calamity Leek – A girl/animal/fairy tells us about the problems between her sisters, mother, and auntie when the question of the world outside their garden comes into play. Odd, and not at all what you might think, but quite a journey, I’ll say that much.

At a push I think I’d say Elizabeth Is Missing was my favourite this month but I really enjoyed all of them except the Burton. The First Book Of Calamity Leek was a long time coming and I must thank Judith for her recommendation.

Quotation Report

None this time.

My written list of what I plan to read soon is helping immensely. I’m definitely sticking to the concept; I’m liking being able to keep track of how many of my own books I’m reading and I’m actually getting through the books. In not unrelated news, I have been featured in a Triple Choice Tuesday on Kim’s (Reading Matters) blog. Now I better get back to writing non-review posts…

What did you read in March?

I had the flu this month and so didn’t read as much – but what I did read was excellent and more than made up for it. I’ve found at least one if not two of the books I’m sure will be making my top 5 of the year. It seems at the moment I’m quite partial to books that comment on issues, ideas, comment on anything in depth, really.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Adelle Waldman: The Love Affairs Of Nathaniel P – Detailing some of the many short relationships of a writer ensconced in the journalism and publishing industry, with a look at why things go wrong for him. Apologies for the bad summary; this is a really, really, great book. (Thank you, Laurie!)

Aki Ollikainen: White Hunger – A family start their journey to St Petersburg to find food whilst the political classes look on. A good story that’s introduced me to the Finnish famine.

Elizabeth Fremantle: Sisters Of Treason – A fictionised story of Katherine and Mary Grey, sisters of the ill-fated Lady Jane. Good, but it does suffer from the limitations of the girls’ lives (it would’ve made better non-fiction).

J K Rowling: The Casual Vacancy – The death of a parish councillor not only creates a rush to take his place, it also creates even more tension between those for and against the already-existing integration of a council estate. Loved it – as I said, a great book about awful people.

I don’t think I can choose a favourite this month. Perhaps, perhaps The Love Affairs Of Nathaniel P? I’d have to admit to a bias, though, because it’s got so many literary references. No, I can’t choose, and there will likely be months aplenty where I can that one won’t matter. I finished the Fremantle with just minutes to go before midnight on the 1st March; I was pretty happy as I had wanted to add another book to my list, make myself motivated just that bit more to continue into the next month.

Quotation Report

Striking somewhat of a chord is Nate from The Love Affairs Of Nathaniel P who comments on the way the numbers that may constitute a popular book would earn a television show the axe.

Hello Spring. Hello daffodils. Hello too much chocolate. But most of all, hello light. And hopefully lots of reading, too.

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?

January was a trying month however I managed to finish one of my ongoing chunksters – no guesses which – and made progress towards getting back into blogging the way I used to. It’s been busy but I’m happy having read two books from start to finish and the last 300 or so pages of another.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Charles Dickens: Nicholas Nickleby – Nicholas tries out various jobs and residences whilst trying not to get in the way of his uncle Ralph, saving schoolboys and performing on stage in the process. An almost never ending soap opera that’s end isn’t particularly worth it.

H G Wells: The Time Machine – A Victorian scientist creates a machine and travels to a future where humans have split into two races and are no longer intelligent due to lack of need. Excellent.

Helen Lederer: Losing It – A columnist takes on the challenge of losing weight in order to pay off debts. Absolutely fabulously bonkers, pun intended.

The Time Machine. End of. My favourite. Probably obvious considering I’ve written about it twice already and I’ve another post ready for sometime in the future, pun not intended. (This is what writing when extremely tired does to me.) I’m glad I’ve finished Nicholas Nickleby.

Quotation Report

None this time.

And that’s January finished. I must use the word ‘bonkers’ again. February, please be slower than January.

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?