March 2020 Reading Wrap Up
Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
Whew, March is finally over! It really feels like it went on forever. I gotta say, a worldwide pandemic sweeping through and making everyone go into quarantine is decidedly not how I expected 2020 to go. It's like the year is constantly trying to one-up itself as it goes on.
(I had to. Moving on.)
March was another great reading month, as I nearly finished another manga series. I only have a few more volumes left of Attack on Titan and then I'll be completely caught up. Novel wise I also did pretty well, reading ten novels and five graphic novels (not including manga). I guess I was in an artsy mood. Though right now, all I want to read are classics! Me!! I have a bunch saved on my kindle so maybe April will be the month I actually read a classic for pleasure instead of for school.
Alright, let's get into the books.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novels
1. The Pandora Room by Christopher Golden
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 308 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 4 to Mar. 5
Goodreads review: Holy Freaking Crapballs, this was incredible
This is exactly the kind of horror that love. Deep, psychological, with a touch of mythological paranoia. I loved the twists that were taken with the mythology, and that’s saying a lot coming from me, someone who tends to go on frustrated rants atop my soap box when myths are told incorrectly or embellished for continuity’s sake. But the addition Golden made felt natural enough that it didn’t evoke that frustration in me, so applause for that. And ohohoho did I love the way the myth played into the horror of it. I’ve always been fond of curses and plagues (I was always a strange child) and therefore have always been fascinated with the story of Pandora, so a book centered around the very thing that Pandora was cursed to open naturally piqued my curiosity—oh, hah, curiosity. I made a joke, love it when I do that.
But really, if you like Greek mythology and psychological terror, this is the book for you.
2. Galatea by Madeline Miller (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 37 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 12
Goodreads review: Madeline Miller really does have a way with words, and I’m glad she was able to give Galatea her life back.
3. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (Inheritance Trilogy #1)
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 417 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 8 to Mar. 12
Goodreads review: While parts of this were truly incredible, I also found bits rather lackluster and thus it’s a four star read instead of five. Sieh was by far my favorite character, I hope I get a lot more of him in the next two books. I liked the ending well enough, though I was a little confused about the whole split soul thing. Is that even what it was? Jemisin is truly a masterful writer though, I can’t deny that at all, nor would I want to.
4. Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynne E. Maetani (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 384 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 13
Goodreads review: This was truly steeped in Japanese culture, which hey automatic interest from me, in case you didn’t know hi I love Japan. I thought that it moved a little too quick in some places and didn’t give readers the chance to really connect with the characters and create attachments to them, but really the expertise of the Japanese culture made this book for me. I hope this author duo works on more stories like this one.
5. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden (Small Spaces #1) (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 224 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 14
Goodreads review: Okay yeah this was incredible. I was thoroughly spooked, there were moments I was reading between the cracks of my fingers. I think this would make an excellent movie, a la Hocus Pocus and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Also the symbolism Arden used has chills rolling down my spine. Ten out of ten would recommend.
6. I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 320 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 17
Goodreads review: A very simple rom-com contemporary, fluffy and sweet all the way down to its core (much like mochi itself hmmm). I did absolutely really enjoy this, but as contemporary romance just isn’t a genre I tend to really like, I wasn’t able to experience the same sort of love for it as I do other stories. Obviously my favorite aspect of the book was the integration of Japanese culture and lifestyle, which was the whole reason I picked this book up in the first place. You hand me a story and say “this is a story with a genre you are uninterested in and full of tropes you can’t stand, BUT it’s set in Japan” and I will read it guaranteed.
7. Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 176 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 20
No review available
8. Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull (Fablehaven #2)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 456 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 24 to Mar. 26
Goodreads review: A nostalgic favorite.
9. Dead Voices by Katherine Arden (Small Spaces #2) (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 256 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 28
Goodreads review: Another very good spoop, but I felt the ending was a little rushed compared to the rest of the story. And I’m a little bummed that we didn’t get Gretel’s real full backstory or closure. I liked Gretel and she deserved more.
10. Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 448 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 20 to Mar. 28
Goodreads review: Ugh. Ow. What the heck.
So like 75% of this book I was having a grand old time. It was hilarious and racy and everything you would expect from reading about New York’s highest most elite rich kids. But holy hell did this take a turn. Honestly I should have seen it coming what with the source material that inspired it, but still. At least this ended slightly happier than Anna Karenina (which now I feel like I definitely have to read).
There were a few stylistic choices made that aren’t my favorite, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this book. I know this is probably a one time thing for the author, but I wouldn’t mind seeing her tackle YA adaptations of other classics, the ones that don’t get nearly enough love.
Graphic Novels
1. Monstress vol. 1 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
Star rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Page count: 192 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
Goodreads review: Meh. Not really my story I don't think. Art was cool though.
2. Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen (Sarah Scribbles)
No star rating
Page count: 128 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
No review available
3. Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen (Sarah Scribbles)
No star rating
Page count: 112 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
No review available
4. Everyone's An Aliebn When Ur An Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun
No star rating
Page count: 304 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
No review available
5. Barefoot Gen vol. 1 by Keiji Nakazawa
No star rating
Page count: 294 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 31
Goodreads review: I feel uncomfortable star rating this as its a autobiographical memoir of a tragic event in history. Like on one hand I really want to forget it happened and forget reading this graphic novel, but on the other hand this is something that needs to be taught so we can learn from our mistakes ya know? The art was gripping and amazing in that awful realistic way. Nakazawa was a truly incredible artist and storyteller, I wish I could have spoken with him before he passed.
Manga
1. The Promised Neverland vol. 18 by Kaiu Shirai
No star rating
Page count: 200 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 4
No review available
2. The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 192 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 10
Goodreads review: This really was just adorable. I feel like I really needed the nice kick in the pants that this gave me. I suddenly feel ready to go through my entire house and tidy up everything! Ha I can’t do that of course since I live with my parents still, but my room could definitely use a kondomari makeover! I hope to get my own copy of the novel so I can implement it in future times whenever I get a little overwhelmed with stuff. Marie Kondo really just knows her tidying!
3. Attack on Titan vol. 1-27 by Hajime Isayama
No star rating
Total page count: 5,054 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 1, Mar. 6, Mar. 14
No review available
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total page count: 9,502 pages
Favorite book of March: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Least favorite book of March: Monstress vol. 1 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
Unfinished books this month: Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton
DNF'd books this month: Medea by Kerry Greenwood
Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, that's all for this month! I'm a little bummed I didn't finish Attack on Titan but that's totally on me, I just forgot to keep reading. I'll finish it in April for sure! I'm not sure what manga I'll tackle afterward, though. I have so many options! Should I do a reread or pick up one I haven't seen before? Also, if you read classics, give me your recs! I'm pretty much open for anything except Austen and Steinbeck, and I'm not sure I want to tackle Dickens yet, but other than that go for it!
Until next time!
Whew, March is finally over! It really feels like it went on forever. I gotta say, a worldwide pandemic sweeping through and making everyone go into quarantine is decidedly not how I expected 2020 to go. It's like the year is constantly trying to one-up itself as it goes on.
(I had to. Moving on.)
March was another great reading month, as I nearly finished another manga series. I only have a few more volumes left of Attack on Titan and then I'll be completely caught up. Novel wise I also did pretty well, reading ten novels and five graphic novels (not including manga). I guess I was in an artsy mood. Though right now, all I want to read are classics! Me!! I have a bunch saved on my kindle so maybe April will be the month I actually read a classic for pleasure instead of for school.
Alright, let's get into the books.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novels
1. The Pandora Room by Christopher Golden
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 308 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 4 to Mar. 5
Goodreads review: Holy Freaking Crapballs, this was incredible
This is exactly the kind of horror that love. Deep, psychological, with a touch of mythological paranoia. I loved the twists that were taken with the mythology, and that’s saying a lot coming from me, someone who tends to go on frustrated rants atop my soap box when myths are told incorrectly or embellished for continuity’s sake. But the addition Golden made felt natural enough that it didn’t evoke that frustration in me, so applause for that. And ohohoho did I love the way the myth played into the horror of it. I’ve always been fond of curses and plagues (I was always a strange child) and therefore have always been fascinated with the story of Pandora, so a book centered around the very thing that Pandora was cursed to open naturally piqued my curiosity—oh, hah, curiosity. I made a joke, love it when I do that.
But really, if you like Greek mythology and psychological terror, this is the book for you.
2. Galatea by Madeline Miller (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 37 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 12
Goodreads review: Madeline Miller really does have a way with words, and I’m glad she was able to give Galatea her life back.
3. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (Inheritance Trilogy #1)
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 417 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 8 to Mar. 12
Goodreads review: While parts of this were truly incredible, I also found bits rather lackluster and thus it’s a four star read instead of five. Sieh was by far my favorite character, I hope I get a lot more of him in the next two books. I liked the ending well enough, though I was a little confused about the whole split soul thing. Is that even what it was? Jemisin is truly a masterful writer though, I can’t deny that at all, nor would I want to.
4. Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynne E. Maetani (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 384 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 13
Goodreads review: This was truly steeped in Japanese culture, which hey automatic interest from me, in case you didn’t know hi I love Japan. I thought that it moved a little too quick in some places and didn’t give readers the chance to really connect with the characters and create attachments to them, but really the expertise of the Japanese culture made this book for me. I hope this author duo works on more stories like this one.
5. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden (Small Spaces #1) (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 224 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 14
Goodreads review: Okay yeah this was incredible. I was thoroughly spooked, there were moments I was reading between the cracks of my fingers. I think this would make an excellent movie, a la Hocus Pocus and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Also the symbolism Arden used has chills rolling down my spine. Ten out of ten would recommend.
6. I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 320 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 17
Goodreads review: A very simple rom-com contemporary, fluffy and sweet all the way down to its core (much like mochi itself hmmm). I did absolutely really enjoy this, but as contemporary romance just isn’t a genre I tend to really like, I wasn’t able to experience the same sort of love for it as I do other stories. Obviously my favorite aspect of the book was the integration of Japanese culture and lifestyle, which was the whole reason I picked this book up in the first place. You hand me a story and say “this is a story with a genre you are uninterested in and full of tropes you can’t stand, BUT it’s set in Japan” and I will read it guaranteed.
7. Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 176 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 20
No review available
8. Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull (Fablehaven #2)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 456 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 24 to Mar. 26
Goodreads review: A nostalgic favorite.
9. Dead Voices by Katherine Arden (Small Spaces #2) (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 256 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 28
Goodreads review: Another very good spoop, but I felt the ending was a little rushed compared to the rest of the story. And I’m a little bummed that we didn’t get Gretel’s real full backstory or closure. I liked Gretel and she deserved more.
10. Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 448 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 20 to Mar. 28
Goodreads review: Ugh. Ow. What the heck.
So like 75% of this book I was having a grand old time. It was hilarious and racy and everything you would expect from reading about New York’s highest most elite rich kids. But holy hell did this take a turn. Honestly I should have seen it coming what with the source material that inspired it, but still. At least this ended slightly happier than Anna Karenina (which now I feel like I definitely have to read).
There were a few stylistic choices made that aren’t my favorite, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this book. I know this is probably a one time thing for the author, but I wouldn’t mind seeing her tackle YA adaptations of other classics, the ones that don’t get nearly enough love.
Graphic Novels
1. Monstress vol. 1 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
Star rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Page count: 192 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
Goodreads review: Meh. Not really my story I don't think. Art was cool though.
2. Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen (Sarah Scribbles)
No star rating
Page count: 128 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
No review available
3. Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen (Sarah Scribbles)
No star rating
Page count: 112 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
No review available
4. Everyone's An Aliebn When Ur An Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun
No star rating
Page count: 304 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 29
No review available
5. Barefoot Gen vol. 1 by Keiji Nakazawa
No star rating
Page count: 294 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 31
Goodreads review: I feel uncomfortable star rating this as its a autobiographical memoir of a tragic event in history. Like on one hand I really want to forget it happened and forget reading this graphic novel, but on the other hand this is something that needs to be taught so we can learn from our mistakes ya know? The art was gripping and amazing in that awful realistic way. Nakazawa was a truly incredible artist and storyteller, I wish I could have spoken with him before he passed.
Manga
1. The Promised Neverland vol. 18 by Kaiu Shirai
No star rating
Page count: 200 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 4
No review available
2. The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 192 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 10
Goodreads review: This really was just adorable. I feel like I really needed the nice kick in the pants that this gave me. I suddenly feel ready to go through my entire house and tidy up everything! Ha I can’t do that of course since I live with my parents still, but my room could definitely use a kondomari makeover! I hope to get my own copy of the novel so I can implement it in future times whenever I get a little overwhelmed with stuff. Marie Kondo really just knows her tidying!
3. Attack on Titan vol. 1-27 by Hajime Isayama
No star rating
Total page count: 5,054 pages
Day(s) read: Mar. 1, Mar. 6, Mar. 14
No review available
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total page count: 9,502 pages
Favorite book of March: Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Least favorite book of March: Monstress vol. 1 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
Unfinished books this month: Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton
DNF'd books this month: Medea by Kerry Greenwood
Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, that's all for this month! I'm a little bummed I didn't finish Attack on Titan but that's totally on me, I just forgot to keep reading. I'll finish it in April for sure! I'm not sure what manga I'll tackle afterward, though. I have so many options! Should I do a reread or pick up one I haven't seen before? Also, if you read classics, give me your recs! I'm pretty much open for anything except Austen and Steinbeck, and I'm not sure I want to tackle Dickens yet, but other than that go for it!
Until next time!
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