April 2020 Reading Wrap-Up
Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
So April was weird, reading wise. I started out wanting to read nothing but high fantasy, and then suffered from major burnout because of that (I talk more in depth about it in my reading update last week, if you haven't seen that post yet). So most of my reads this month ended up being contemporary, both fluffy and hard-hitting.
I also read six manga volumes, but still didn't finish Attack on Titan. I know, I know! But I absolutely promise, I will finish it this month. The manga app I used to read AoT crashed unexpectedly at the beginning of the month and it was this whole big thing, but long story short I subscribed to a new manga app (along with my shonen jump weekly) and I have access to AoT once again. Hooray!
Okay let's get into it.
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Novels
1. We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 368 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 1
Goodreads review: A really solid book all about feminist power and the love that teammates share.
This stuck out to me for two reasons. Number one, the sheer camaraderie and unconditional love these girls shared for each other. Growing up, I was a year round softball player for most of my life. I played for nearly sixteen years, starting at the young age of four. Some of the girls that I played with I had known for over a decade. And we had that tight knit bond that the Wildcats possessed as well. More than anything, this book made me miss the rush of playing my favorite sport in the world.
Reason two is decidedly less nostalgic. I won’t go into details, but my freshman year the varsity cheer coach was very similar to the coach in this book. He was manipulative and borderline abusive with his workouts and “encouragement” to be the best. He was fired after my first year there for some...unpleasant rumors (that I never confirmed). Unlike the badass ladies of West Essex high school, us cheerleaders didn’t have the balls nor the evidence to truly stand up against him, so this was a cathartic sense of retribution to me. It’s funny how books can drudge up memories from nine years ago (mild existential crisis ensuing) that were thought to be gone forever.
I feel like emotionally this is a five star but there are some stylistic choices Vivian made that aren’t my favorite, just a personal preference. I’ve read some of her other works and know that’s just her style, and that it unfortunately clashes with my reading taste. I can recognize that this is a me thing so while it is affecting my star rating it’s not affecting my overall enjoyment while reading, which was high. I read this in one sitting, across maybe four hours, and I did really enjoy myself. Although the primary emotion I felt while reading was anger, but it was all directed to the coach’s character. Ugh, I have never wanted to sucker punch a character so much before. While simultaneously hugging each of the girls and telling them that they were all spectacular and deserved more than that jackass.
2. The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis
Star rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 506 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 1 to Apr. 7
Goodreads review: Just a generic, run of the mill YA fantasy romance. I liked all the bird imagery though. There was too much that was over explained and then too much that wasn’t explained at all.
3. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (REREAD)
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 404 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 11 to Apr. 12
Goodreads review: When I picked this book up I wasn’t expecting much. I knew it was inspired by 1001 nights and that was always a story I was intrigued by, but I also knew that this book heavily featured romance and a love triangle, two things I don’t typically like reading about. But this book completely enraptured me from beginning to end. I found myself craving scenes where Shazi and Khalid were together and interacting, and I actually got angry when I saw that I had finished it, because I don’t have the second book on hand. It was a little slow and a little plain in some parts, which is why it took me so long to read, but I flew through the last third of the book. I am very excited to pick up the second book and find out what happens to Shazrhad and Khalid, because I love them and they deserve to be happy and in love and ruling over Khorasam in peace. That’s all I ask for. (THIS IS MY ORIGINAL REVIEW)
4. American Panda by Gloria Chao (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 336 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 18
Goodreads review: A solid, decent read. Obviously I’m not the target audience for this particular story but I could appreciate the sense of guilt Mei felt, trying to keep her parents proud of her and trying to put family tradition over personal goals. It sucks and I get it, in a way. I liked the near non-drama of the romance, and that this was primarily a family story. Also the germaphobe solidarity was strong.
5. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (REREAD)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 421 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 23 to Apr. 24
Goodreads review: REREAD 4.20: this book never fails to make me laugh out loud, cry, and feel so indescribably happy all at once
6. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 289 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 18 to Apr. 24
Goodreads review: I’m shook
I don’t know how Yoko Ogawa managed to come up with a story like this but it’s absolutely phenomenal, and I’m certainly not complaining. The emotion that this book elicited felt like it was just consuming everything, not unlike the bonfires used to burn away memories. And the ending?? Ugh, just kill me now it was so sad!
7. The Furies by Katie Lowe
Star rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 357 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 26 to Apr. 27
Goodreads review: TW: SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, MURDER, GORE, ANIMAL ABUSE, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, GASLIGHTING, EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Honestly the first thought that comes to mind when I think of this book is “the secret history but with flavor” but like, is it really? I had a lot of high hopes for this book and was just ultimately let down. The motives made no sense and the allure that this secret society apparently had just...didn’t do it for me? Like, none of the scenes with the extra classes made me want to be there.
Oh well. I’m bummed that this fell so flat for me but nothing you can do about it, am I right?
8. The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 368 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 25 to Apr. 28
Goodreads review: Another raw and emotional story from one of my favorite queer authors, dealing with grief, loss, and love. Brown really knows all the right buttons to press in order to pull all of that emotion out of you. I love her writing and always will. The only reason this isn’t a five star is because I didn’t like some of the things Jess did, even if it was realistic (mostly I didn’t actually like how she treated Vivi and felt like it wasn’t truly addressed enough).
Manga
1. The Emperor and I vol. 1-4 by Mato
Overall star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Total page count: 641 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 9
Goodreads review: This is honestly just a really short and sweet slice of life about a school girl and her pet penguin. Like how adorable is that? Also I’m so proud that I managed to recognize Mato’s art style from Pokémon!
2. Attack on Titan vol. 28-29 by Hajime Isayama
No star rating
Total page count: 384 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 27
No review available
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Total page count: 4,074 pages
Favorite book of April: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Least favorite book of April: The Furies by Katie Lowe
DNF'd books of April: The Deep by Alma Katsu
Unfinished books of April: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Fatemarked by David Estes
Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
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Alrighty, there you have it! I think this has been my worst reading month of the year so far? Which isn't saying much since I read eight novels and six manga volumes...but still.
I don't think I've ever left four books hanging at once in my "currently reading" shelf on Goodreads...first time for everything, I guess.
Well, here's hoping May is better!
Until next time!
So April was weird, reading wise. I started out wanting to read nothing but high fantasy, and then suffered from major burnout because of that (I talk more in depth about it in my reading update last week, if you haven't seen that post yet). So most of my reads this month ended up being contemporary, both fluffy and hard-hitting.
I also read six manga volumes, but still didn't finish Attack on Titan. I know, I know! But I absolutely promise, I will finish it this month. The manga app I used to read AoT crashed unexpectedly at the beginning of the month and it was this whole big thing, but long story short I subscribed to a new manga app (along with my shonen jump weekly) and I have access to AoT once again. Hooray!
Okay let's get into it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Novels
1. We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 368 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 1
Goodreads review: A really solid book all about feminist power and the love that teammates share.
This stuck out to me for two reasons. Number one, the sheer camaraderie and unconditional love these girls shared for each other. Growing up, I was a year round softball player for most of my life. I played for nearly sixteen years, starting at the young age of four. Some of the girls that I played with I had known for over a decade. And we had that tight knit bond that the Wildcats possessed as well. More than anything, this book made me miss the rush of playing my favorite sport in the world.
Reason two is decidedly less nostalgic. I won’t go into details, but my freshman year the varsity cheer coach was very similar to the coach in this book. He was manipulative and borderline abusive with his workouts and “encouragement” to be the best. He was fired after my first year there for some...unpleasant rumors (that I never confirmed). Unlike the badass ladies of West Essex high school, us cheerleaders didn’t have the balls nor the evidence to truly stand up against him, so this was a cathartic sense of retribution to me. It’s funny how books can drudge up memories from nine years ago (mild existential crisis ensuing) that were thought to be gone forever.
I feel like emotionally this is a five star but there are some stylistic choices Vivian made that aren’t my favorite, just a personal preference. I’ve read some of her other works and know that’s just her style, and that it unfortunately clashes with my reading taste. I can recognize that this is a me thing so while it is affecting my star rating it’s not affecting my overall enjoyment while reading, which was high. I read this in one sitting, across maybe four hours, and I did really enjoy myself. Although the primary emotion I felt while reading was anger, but it was all directed to the coach’s character. Ugh, I have never wanted to sucker punch a character so much before. While simultaneously hugging each of the girls and telling them that they were all spectacular and deserved more than that jackass.
2. The Raven and the Dove by Kaitlyn Davis
Star rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 506 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 1 to Apr. 7
Goodreads review: Just a generic, run of the mill YA fantasy romance. I liked all the bird imagery though. There was too much that was over explained and then too much that wasn’t explained at all.
3. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (REREAD)
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 404 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 11 to Apr. 12
Goodreads review: When I picked this book up I wasn’t expecting much. I knew it was inspired by 1001 nights and that was always a story I was intrigued by, but I also knew that this book heavily featured romance and a love triangle, two things I don’t typically like reading about. But this book completely enraptured me from beginning to end. I found myself craving scenes where Shazi and Khalid were together and interacting, and I actually got angry when I saw that I had finished it, because I don’t have the second book on hand. It was a little slow and a little plain in some parts, which is why it took me so long to read, but I flew through the last third of the book. I am very excited to pick up the second book and find out what happens to Shazrhad and Khalid, because I love them and they deserve to be happy and in love and ruling over Khorasam in peace. That’s all I ask for. (THIS IS MY ORIGINAL REVIEW)
4. American Panda by Gloria Chao (ONE DAY READ)
Star rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 336 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 18
Goodreads review: A solid, decent read. Obviously I’m not the target audience for this particular story but I could appreciate the sense of guilt Mei felt, trying to keep her parents proud of her and trying to put family tradition over personal goals. It sucks and I get it, in a way. I liked the near non-drama of the romance, and that this was primarily a family story. Also the germaphobe solidarity was strong.
5. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (REREAD)
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 421 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 23 to Apr. 24
Goodreads review: REREAD 4.20: this book never fails to make me laugh out loud, cry, and feel so indescribably happy all at once
6. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 289 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 18 to Apr. 24
Goodreads review: I’m shook
I don’t know how Yoko Ogawa managed to come up with a story like this but it’s absolutely phenomenal, and I’m certainly not complaining. The emotion that this book elicited felt like it was just consuming everything, not unlike the bonfires used to burn away memories. And the ending?? Ugh, just kill me now it was so sad!
7. The Furies by Katie Lowe
Star rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 357 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 26 to Apr. 27
Goodreads review: TW: SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, MURDER, GORE, ANIMAL ABUSE, DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, GASLIGHTING, EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Honestly the first thought that comes to mind when I think of this book is “the secret history but with flavor” but like, is it really? I had a lot of high hopes for this book and was just ultimately let down. The motives made no sense and the allure that this secret society apparently had just...didn’t do it for me? Like, none of the scenes with the extra classes made me want to be there.
Oh well. I’m bummed that this fell so flat for me but nothing you can do about it, am I right?
8. The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 368 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 25 to Apr. 28
Goodreads review: Another raw and emotional story from one of my favorite queer authors, dealing with grief, loss, and love. Brown really knows all the right buttons to press in order to pull all of that emotion out of you. I love her writing and always will. The only reason this isn’t a five star is because I didn’t like some of the things Jess did, even if it was realistic (mostly I didn’t actually like how she treated Vivi and felt like it wasn’t truly addressed enough).
Manga
1. The Emperor and I vol. 1-4 by Mato
Overall star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Total page count: 641 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 9
Goodreads review: This is honestly just a really short and sweet slice of life about a school girl and her pet penguin. Like how adorable is that? Also I’m so proud that I managed to recognize Mato’s art style from Pokémon!
2. Attack on Titan vol. 28-29 by Hajime Isayama
No star rating
Total page count: 384 pages
Day(s) read: Apr. 27
No review available
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total page count: 4,074 pages
Favorite book of April: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Least favorite book of April: The Furies by Katie Lowe
DNF'd books of April: The Deep by Alma Katsu
Unfinished books of April: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Fatemarked by David Estes
Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alrighty, there you have it! I think this has been my worst reading month of the year so far? Which isn't saying much since I read eight novels and six manga volumes...but still.
I don't think I've ever left four books hanging at once in my "currently reading" shelf on Goodreads...first time for everything, I guess.
Well, here's hoping May is better!
Until next time!
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