Over 30 Books Read! | April '22 Reading Wrap-Up

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

Wow, did this month feel like it lasted forever. March flew by so fast, and April moved at a snail's pace. Though a part of that is definitely how I've been feeling lately. This isn't the worst depressive episode I've ever had (trust me, not even close) but it's significant enough that I'm noticing it. It's soft depression. Depression Lite. 

(Please note I say this in jest, as someone who's been dealing with severe depression for over a decade I am comfortable making jokes about it at my own expense.)

Anyway, you wouldn't be able to tell that from my reading. I read 31 books this month. Thirty-one! I read the following: 9 novels, 1 graphic novel, 1 novella, 1 short-story collection, 3 poetry collections, 1 nonfiction, and 15 manga volumes. It was definitely a manga reading month. I discovered Hunter x Hunter for the first time, and that contributed to a lot of the manga. 

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

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Novels

1. Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy, Gothic Horror, YA
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 out of 5 stars/7.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 334 pages
Date(s) read: 4.01 - 4.02
Goodreads thoughts: An incredible dark fairy-tale, so far from what I usually associate with V.E. Schwab but also something that I can't imagine anyone else writing. I wonder if her next stories will be in this same vein, and if so I am looking forward to that. Olivia was an intriguing MC and I found myself getting attached to her very early on. Also, I loved the spoop. A very good spoop.

2. She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlan
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Queer Romance, YA
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 out of 5 stars/6.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 298 pages
Date(s) read: 4.02 - 4.03
Goodreads thoughts: Aww, that was so good! I love the small-town feel, with the huge rivalry between high schools (mainly bc it definitely reminded me of my own high school and our cross-town rival) and I especially loved Irene as a character. She's so confident, sure of herself, and she truly loves cheerleading with all her heart, something I can also relate to. While our similarities pretty much stop there (I am wonder bread and she's desi, she's extremely popular and I was definitely more a background character in high school) I can relate to her intense passion and defense for cheerleading. Plus she didn't take any shit, which automatically makes her cool. She's probably one of my favorite characters I've read.

3. Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (Review here)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 out of 5 stars/7.29 on CAWPILE
Page count: 416 pages
Date(s) read: 4.03 - 4.10
Goodreads thoughts: TW: rape, murder, war, addiction, sexual abuse, physical abuse

This was incredibly moving and sad, and overall very depressing, honestly. But truly fantastically written, even if you have to take it slow. I didn't find myself getting attached to any of the characters, and definitely felt as though I was merely an observer rather than fully immersed in the story, but it was still an amazing story.

4. The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Queer Romance, YA
Star rating/CAWPILE: 2.5 out of 5 stars/3.86 on CAWPILE
Page count: 304 pages
Date(s) read: 4.11 - 4.12
Goodreads thoughts: Eh? I’m not super impressed by this. I know I like Isabel Sterling’s writing because I really enjoyed her first book (series) but this was kind of a let down. The plot felt very convoluted and there was a lot that was never explained, and the characters were flat and one-dimensional. I’m pretty disappointed, not gonna lie.

5. Wings of Olympus: The Colt of the Clouds by Kallie George (ONE DAY READ)     
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Middle-Grade
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3 out of 5 stars/5.71 on CAWPILE
Page count: 256 pages
Date(s) read: 4.14
Goodreads thoughts: I enjoyed this sequel! I like that we finally got Pippa's backstory and who she really is, and I liked Hero as a character, his story was so sad! Since it didn't take me long to read I don't really have any sort of introspective thoughts or feelings, but it was fun and I liked it.

6. The Drowning Summer by Christine Lynn Herman (Review here)
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Queer Romance, YA
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3 out of 5 stars/5.71 on CAWPILE
Page count: 384 pages
Date(s) read: 4.21 - 4.24
Goodreads thoughts: The best thing about this book was the oceanside atmosphere, by far. I liked how Evelyn thought in marine-biology metaphors, whereas Mina thought more in fashion metaphors. It was a fun way to keep them separate in their POVs.

7. The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, YA
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 out of 5 stars/7.57 on CAWPILE
Page count: 528 pages
Date(s) read: 4.18 - 4.26
Goodreads thoughts: Wow. At the beginning this book felt one way, and by the end it was like I was reading an entirely different story. Part two was its own book, really. Completely incredible, though. Again, like in all of Ruta Sepetys's works, these characters felt so real, like you can totally imagine this is actually a work of nonfiction. I'm truly amazed at the craftsmanship.

8. The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery (REREAD - ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Fantasy, Classics, Middle-Grade
Star rating/CAWPILE: 5 out of 5 stars/10 on CAWPILE
Page count: 96 pages
Date(s) read: 4.29
Goodreads thoughts: (From 2018) I did not grow up with The Little Prince, and so this was my first time reading it. I don't think I have ever experienced a story quite like this, so simplistic and yet so heartbreaking. Thank you Little Prince. I will remember to look for your planet when I'm in the African desert.

9. Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull (REREAD - ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Middle-Grade
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 out of 5 stars/6.29 on CAWPILE
Page count: 477 pages
Date(s) read: 4.30
Goodreads thoughts: I haven't reread this since I first got it back in 2008, so naturally I've forgotten everything that had occurred. But it still holds up, and remains one of my favorite middle-grade series ever! Also imagine my surprise when Arizona is mentioned in this book! Of course back in 2008 I was still living in California so it probably didn't catch my eye the same way, but as an Arizonan resident now, I loved all the little details that Brandon put in the book!

Novellas

1. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Science-Fiction, Space Opera, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3 out of 5 stars/5.57 on CAWPILE
Page count: 149 pages
Date(s) read: 4.25
Goodreads thoughts: Ah, Murderbot is so great. While I find the plot and atmosphere of these books totally convoluted (I was really confused as to what was actually happening maybe 60% of the time) I find these characters so charming. ART was a great addition to Murderbot's sass and I'm hoping that we'll see more of them later on in the series.

Graphic Novels

1. Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Queer Romance, YA
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 out of 5 stars/6.00 on CAWPILE
Page count: 224 pages
Date(s) read: 4.12
Goodreads thoughts: “You know, you gotta be a careful around bitches. We roll in packs.”

Yesssssssss this is the ultimate “good for her” graphic novel and it’s awesome. The art style feels very retro and the story is akin to Heathers or Mean Girls, but make them werewolves. I had a lot of fun with this, though it won’t leave any sort of impression on me. Good entertainment for an hour.

Short-Story Collections

1. How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
Genre: Literary Fiction, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3 out of 5 stars/5.57 on CAWPILE
Page count: 192 pages
Date(s) read: 4.17 - 4.18
Goodreads thoughts: Every story in this collection is raw and unfiltered, and depressing in a way that makes you think. Is it the best thing I've ever read? No, but it was informative and thought-provoking.

Poetry

1. The White Book by Han Kang
Genre: Literary Fiction, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 out of 5 stars/6.43 on CAWPILE
Page count: 160 pages
Date(s) read: 4.14 - 4.17
Goodreads thoughts: This was stunning, I bookmarked several of the poems/essays because I was so moved. Han Kang's writing is exquisite.

2. Finding Mother God by Carol Lynn Pearson
Genre: Spirituality, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 158 pages
Date(s) read: 4.19 - 4.20
Goodreads thoughts: Ahhh, I loved this. It felt like I was getting hugged by God Herself. A big, warm, cozy hug that left me energized and content in life. I'll be looking for a physical copy of this so I can come back to it whenever I want.

3. Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Queer Fiction, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 93 pages
Date(s) read: 4.27 - 4.28
Goodreads thoughts: N/A

Nonfiction

1. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Genre: History, True Crime, Adult
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 out of 5 stars/7.14 on CAWPILE
Page count: 447 pages
Date(s) read: 4.01 - 4.21
Goodreads thoughts: Fascinating, if a little boring. I didn’t care much about the Fair, only really about Holmes and his story, as a true crime junkie would. I did like how readable and accessible the story was, Erik Larson really does have a gift. There was a lot of information thrown at me that felt a bit exasperated, but I liked all the little cameos that popped up—every once in a while a name would show up and you’d stop and think “hey, I know that guy!” Names like Teddy Roosevelt, Frank Lloyd Wright, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It really solidifies that this was history, especially since Holmes’s part of the story feels closer to fiction, like you’re reading a horror novel.

Manga

1. Mixed Vegetables vol. 1-2 by Ayumi Komura
Genre: Romance, Shojo
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 418 pages
Date(s) read: 4.02
Goodreads thoughts: N/A

2. Hunter x Hunter vol. 1-9 by Yoshihiro Togashi
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Shonen
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 1,784 pages
Date(s) read: 4.12, 4.15, 4.19
Goodreads thoughts: N/A

3. Jujutsu Kaisen vol. 2-5 by Gege Akutami
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Shonen
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 776 pages
Date(s) read: 4.19, 4.25, 4.26
Goodreads thoughts: N/A

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Total page count: 7,494 pages

Favorite book of April: The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery, Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Worst book of April: The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling

No DNFs this month

No unfinished books this month

April Book Haul: The Lost World by Michael Crichton
                               Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
                               The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
                               Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield 

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Alright, that's all I have for today! What a month, huh? What was your favorite read of April? Let me know in the comments, or tweet at me @AllyEmReads.

Until next time!