March '22 Reading Wrap-Up

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog! 

Whew, I'm so glad it's finally April. I don't know about you guys, but my March seemed to go on forever. So much happened this month, it's crazy to think it all took place in the past 31 days. I had family come visit for a week (which meant me sleeping on the couch the whole time, that was not fun) and that was just one stressful moment after another; I had a dress fitting for my best friend's wedding, for which I am a bridesmaid (and now I have to figure out how to pay for it, the true test) and that was also stressful, as I rather hate trying on clothes; Mochi went into heat a mere two weeks before her scheduled spay appointment, so naturally we had to cancel that and then put in her diapers so she didn't cover the entire house in bloody spots; and I had an ear infection. 

So yeah, it was a rough month. 

It felt like I was in a reading slump all month long, but I still managed to read 14 books: eight novels, four novellas, one graphic novel, and one poetry collection. Though most of that happened in the beginning and the end of the month - it's true that when my family was in town, I barely read a thing.

I did however buy plenty of books, which you will see at the end. I thought about doing a separate post for my March book haul, but since I always put it at the end of the wrap-up, I decided against it. Anyway, please look at the stack of books I purchased this month and tell me which ones I should prioritize! I already read three of them this month.

Well, let's just get into it then, shall we?

---

Novels

1. The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
Genre: Fantasy
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 8.14 on CAWPILE
Page count: 438 pages
Day(s) read: 2.25 - 3.05
Goodreads thoughts: That was so freaking good! I was a little confused in the beginning but I quickly got the lay of the land, and even though it took me a while to read, I enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait to see how the world and the characters expand in the sequel!

2. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (REVIEW HERE)
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 7.71 on CAWPILE
Page count: 512 pages
Day(s) read: 3.13 - 3.15
Goodreads thoughts: So lush and lyrical, with legends and myths I had never heard before (though I'm happy that has now changed). While it did feel a little long, with so many things happening, I appreciated the amount of detail that was put into every single character, the settings, and the relationships formed. I find it amazing that such wonderful prose came from a debut novel. I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequel.

3. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel (REVIEW HERE)
Genre: Literary Fiction, Thriller
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars, 4.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 320 pages
Day(s) read: 3.07 - 3.21
Goodreads thoughts: Honestly I was slogging through this by the end. While I do like her writing I feel like this was just too outside of what I usually pick up. I had no interest in any of the characters, really, and I’m not a fan of political intrigue or financial thrillers or anything like that, so this was just a mix of things that don’t do anything for me. Also that was one of the weirdest endings I’ve read, so abrupt and underdeveloped.

4. Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Queer Fiction
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars, 9.14 on CAWPILE
Page count: 352 pages
Day(s) read: 3.24 - 3.25
Goodreads thoughts: STOP THIS MADE ME CRY. Ahhhhh this was so good, an immediate queer favorite. I love that not only do we get a great storyline about a girl learning who she is and what it all means to be Ophelia Rojas, but we also have amazing, messy friendships and a focus away from romance (thank you, Rocky!). Plus the fact that nearly all of her friends are queer in one way or another, it makes me so happy - especially Wesley, being a perfect ace bean. I feel a spiritual connection to Wes. And I want to mention that all of the characters are really well-rounded and fleshed out, I felt like I could read a book about every single one of them as the main characters and I wouldn't feel confused or lost at all.

Side note: this would adapt so well as a movie or tv series!! Again, with so many queer kids, and queer kids of color at that, I think a lot of baby teenagers would benefit seeing this story on a screen.

5. Troy by Stephen Fry
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mythology (Nonfiction?)
Star rating: N/A
Page count: 288 pages
Day(s) read: 3.01 - 3.25
Goodreads thoughts: Geez, that took me forever to read ;-;

I did, of course, enjoy Stephen Fry's interpretation of the Iliad and the Trojan War, though it was all stuff I knew already and therefore I did not get anything new or particularly profound out of it. I read it simply to get it off my TBR, as I know the story inside and out.

6. Loveless by Alice Oseman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Queer Fiction
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 8.00 on CAWPILE
Page count: 432 pages
Day(s) read: 3.26 - 3.28
Goodreads thoughts: This was practically perfect. I only have little critiques, and they're all things that bother me specifically and not necessarily bad for the book itself: like the amount of pop-culture references (which I prefer little to none, if possible, and Alice Oseman always uses an ample amount in her writing). I loved Georgia's exploration of her sexuality, and even though I don't relate entirely to her preferences, it's so wonderful reading about an ace MC. I just get her. Though I'm probably closer to Sunil when it comes to asexuality.

Anyway, this was amazing, and I loved it, and I can't wait to recommend this to absolutely everyone.

7. The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
Genre: Fantasy
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, 8.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 560 pages
Day(s) read: 3.27 - 3.31
Goodreads thoughts: So good! It took everything amazing from the first book, and then bumped it up to eleven! So many more amazing characters and revelations, I can't wait for the third book!

8. Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu
Genre: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism
Star rating: 2 out of 5 stars, 3.29 on CAWPILE
Page count: 192 pages
Day(s) read: 3.30 - 3.31
Goodreads thoughts: The writing was beautiful but other than that there was little to no substance. However I'm clearly in the minority here since this won the National Book Award, but I truly do think part of it was the translation. You just can't get everything from translated fiction, I'm sure in the original Japanese it is much more profound.

Novellas

1. A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Romance
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, 6.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 248 pages
Day(s) read: 3.16
Goodreads thoughts: I thought people were exaggerating when they talked about how poetic this was, but they really weren't. I highlighted so many passages because of how beautiful the writing was. This isn't really a book you want to read for the plot, it's vibes only. Also, just in case you weren't aware, this is 100% detailing a toxic and abusive relationship, like that is literally the entire point of this book, so if that is something that would be potentially harmful or triggering to you, I would steer clear.

2. Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
Star rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars, 4.00 on CAWPILE
Page count: 128 pages
Day(s) read: 3.18 - 3.19
Goodreads thoughts: Ummmmmm…..yeah, this wasn’t great. The characters were all one-dimensional with no real development or even personalities except what we are told. The juxtaposition between the prose and the dialogue was super shocking, bc the descriptions were very heavy handed but then it felt like I was reading a middle-school chat room whenever someone spoke. I feel like this could’ve been a lot better if the author chose a single writing style to implement throughout the story instead of bouncing back and forth.

3. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Classics, Gothic Horror
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, 6.14 on CAWPILE
Page count: 146 pages
Day(s) read: 3.22
Goodreads thoughts: That was so interesting! I definitely feel like I need to write an essay or have a discussion or SOMETHING because I need to talk about this book. Shirley Jackson's mind just fascinates me; I wish I could have a meal with her, and just pick her brain. This was a very fast read, I mean it only took me a few hours to get through, and beautifully haunting and eerie. You feel like you're reading a perfectly normal book about a perfectly normal family, and then Mary Katherine says something, or thinks something, and suddenly you're completely thrown off and have to reorient yourself. It's a sense of poetic whiplash and it was done exquisitely.

4. All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Genre: Science Fiction
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, 5.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 155 pages
Day(s) read: 3.25 - 3.26
Goodreads thoughts: I found Murderbot's narration hilarious but I was mostly confused about all of the other stuff happening around it. The sci-fi jargon made little sense to me, though I don't think I'm giving up on this series yet.

Graphic Novels

1. Heartstopper vol. 4 by Alice Oseman (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Queer Fiction, Romance
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars, 9.00 on CAWPILE
Page count: 384 pages
Day(s) read: 3.17
Goodreads thoughts: Tw: discussion of mental health, eating disorders, mention of self-harm, homophobia

“Love doesn’t cure mental illness.”

This made me cryyyyyyyyy. Seeing Charlie go through what he did, it felt so raw and real and brought me back to my own history with eating disorders, but not in a triggering way. It was more like I was reading and it felt as though Alice was saying to me “I see you, I understand you, and you are valid in your thoughts and feelings.”

I am so hyped for the show 😭😭

Poetry

1. Unlock Your Storybook Heart by Amanda Lovelace (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Feminism, Queer Nonfiction
Star rating: N/A
Page count: 160 pages
Day(s) read: 3.25
Goodreads thoughts: Wonderful, as always. I don't really have a lot to say since this I've read everything by Amanda Lovelace already and what else can I say about her poetry that I haven't already mentioned?

---

Total page count: 4,315 pages

Favorite book of March: Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

Worst book of March: Nothing but Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

No unfinished books this month

No DNF's this month

March Book Haul: Loveless by Alice Oseman
                                Gallant by V.E. Schwab
                                The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
                                We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
                                Dracula by Bram Stoker
                                Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
                                The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
                                The White Book by Han Kang
                                Unlock Your Storybook Heart by Amanda Lovelace
                                Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton
                                The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
                                Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi
                                Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu
                                Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
                                Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
                                The Colt of the Clouds by Kallie George

---

Okay, that's all for this wrap-up! What was your favorite book of March? Let me know in the comments or tweet at me @AllyEmReads.

Until next time!