March was really, really not my favorite month. The last month or so of winter always puts me in a huge funk, and this year it has felt like winter would never end. There was a week in the middle of the month that I really just hated almost everything.
Despite my generally bad attitude about the world throughout March, I managed to finish nine books — the most in a single month yet this year. And most of them were absolutely excellent. I can’t think of anything to complain about other than, like usual, I wish I could have read even more.
One of my mini-goals for the month was to post four times a week, a goal I accomplished mostly thanks to updates for my readalong of Possession. I’m not sure I can keep that up this month, but I’d like to try. Anyway, here’s my breakdown for the month of March.
Books Read in March
- Goodman, Matthew: Eighty Days (nonfiction)
- Moyes, Jojo: Me Before You (fiction)
- Miner, Barbara J.: Lessons from the Heartland (nonfiction)
- Mayer-Schonberger, Viktor and Cukier, Kenneth: Big Data (nonfiction)
- Kiernan, Denise: The Girls of Atomic City (narrative nonfiction)
- Sedaris, David: Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls (essays)
- Mires, Charlene: Capital of the World (nonfiction)
- Chu, Jeff: Does Jesus Really Love Me? (nonfiction)
- Byatt, A.S.: Possession (fiction)
Other Books Reviewed
- Miller, Madline: The Song of Achilles
Books I Want to Read in April
Oh my gosh, there are so many great books out this month. The list I have in my head is a million miles long. But, there are at least a few I’ve got on my radar for review commitments or reading projects:
- I’m on TLC Book Tours for two books by favorite authors: The New Republic by Lioner Shriver and Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff. I am so looking forward to both of those book.
- I want to get ahead on a few May releases so I can pick a recommendation for Bloggers Recommend. The books on my radar are The World’s Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne (a memoir by a weightlifting librarian with Tourette’s Syndrome), A Chance to Win by Jonathan Schuppe (narrative nonfiction about a Little League team in Newark’s South Ward), and/or Don’t Worry, It Gets Worse by Alida Nugent (essays on navigating adulthood).
- I’ve also bought a TON of books in that last few weeks. I love to get to any one of them: Margaret Fuller by Megan Marshall, The Orphanmaster’s Son by Adam Johnson and/or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
- And of course, Florinda (The 3R’s Blog) and I are hosting a readalong of Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon. I’m super excited about this!
So many books, so little time.
Writing Around the Internet
I wrote a freelance review of Barbara J. Miner’s Lessons from the Heartland, a look at the Milwaukee Public Schools system. It was an eye-opening book for me, made more interesting because the boyfriend is from a suburb of Milwaukee and had some experiences with the failed reform measures tried in that area.
I also had a couple of posts on Book Riot that I’m proud of: a highlight of one of my favorite websites (The Electric Typewriter) and some musings about books that are better ready slowly (inspired by the Possession readalong).
Here on the blog I celebrated blog post #1000 with some lists of my most popular posts and shared eight other books I want to read right now. It’s been a busy month!
2013 Goals Review
I’m feel really lazy, so I’m going to skip reviewing goals this month. Overall, I didn’t do very well on many of them… March was weird, weird month. I’ll get back in April.
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I really recommend you get started on The Orphan Master’s Son asap. I just finished it and absolutely loved it!
Besides that, I wish I could ever read nine books in one month… wow.
The reviews in the Tournament of Books sounded so great. I hope I can read it soon.
Wooohooo on reading nine books in a month! At least the poo weather drove you indoors more and to more reading? Good luck on keeping up the 4 times a week posts — it’s certainly difficult, but I love that I get to read more of your posts more often 😀
Looking on the bright side, I like it! I don’t think I can quote maintain four, but if I can do three I’m happy with that.
I am a Sedaris fan, so I am anxiously waiting for my turn from the library. Hope your April reading goes well, but I think you did great in March.
Thanks Diane! You will like the Sedaris, I’m sure.
March WAS dumb this year. It was wet and cold and nasty all through the month here. I have never been so ready for spring. I need some flowers and sunshine in my life.
March was the worst. The absolute worst. I need warm breezes and lots of sun, stat.
I’m very curious about the Sedaris. I agree with Bettina, The Orphan Master’s Son was great 🙂
It’s wonderful. I will be highly recommending it.
Is the weather improving where you are? It looks like it’s going to be better here and I know the UK and US were pretty similar. A good mix of books for March, though I know what you mean about wanting to read more regardless.
No, the weather is STILL terrible. It’s driving me nuts.
March was LLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG. It was not my favorite month either. Cant wait for sunshine!
Sooooo long. Did you get any of the crazy snow storm this week? We got like 6″ of snow… it is TERRIBLE.
I still need to read Girl of Atomic City and Me Before You – I’m so far behind on my TBR list and you’ve been so productive!
Oh no, I’m still way behind — I don’t think there’s really a way to catch up though 🙂