March 2023 Reading Wrap Up
Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
Today is actually my very last post, as I've decided I'm quitting this blog and other bookish content...April Fools! Did I get you?
Okay, my cringe attempt at a joke aside, I can't believe we're already in April. I am begging the universe, God, whatever higher cosmic power there is, to give me one month of stress-free days. No more death, no more funerals, no more depressive episodes. That's all I want!
In March, I read a total of 12 books: 3 novels, 1 novella, 1 nonfiction, and 7 manga volumes. However I also had a DNF, and even a book left unfinished. Yes, you read that right: I left a book on my TBR throughout the month. When I tell you March was hard, it was hard. I don't think I've had any "leftover" books on my TBR since 2018. It's definitely weird.
Well, let's just get into the wrap up.
Novels
1. The Shattered City by Lisa Maxwell
Genre/Age Range: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction/YA
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.43 CAWPILE
Page Count: 768 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.01 - 3.10
Goodreads Thoughts: It's finally over! I don't mean that in a negative way, but I do have to admit it felt a little longer than it needed to be. I just think there were some storylines that weren't necessary added in just to make the page count longer. I feel like we could've gotten the same story (if not better?) if books 3 and 4 in this series were the same size as book 2. But I'm still pretty satisfied with what we got in the end.
Genre/Age Range: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction/YA
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.43 CAWPILE
Page Count: 768 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.01 - 3.10
Goodreads Thoughts: It's finally over! I don't mean that in a negative way, but I do have to admit it felt a little longer than it needed to be. I just think there were some storylines that weren't necessary added in just to make the page count longer. I feel like we could've gotten the same story (if not better?) if books 3 and 4 in this series were the same size as book 2. But I'm still pretty satisfied with what we got in the end.
2. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - REREAD
Genre/Age Range: Mythology, Fantasy/Middle-Grade
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 5 stars/10.00 CAWPILE
Page Count: 229 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.09 - 3.10
Goodreads Thoughts: I mean, what did you expect? I can't give this any less than a perfect 5/5, because that's exactly what it deserves. This is truly the most perfect book for me to pick up whenever I'm feeling low, because CAMP HALF-BLOOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO WELCOME ME HOME.
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 5 stars/10.00 CAWPILE
Page Count: 229 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.09 - 3.10
Goodreads Thoughts: I mean, what did you expect? I can't give this any less than a perfect 5/5, because that's exactly what it deserves. This is truly the most perfect book for me to pick up whenever I'm feeling low, because CAMP HALF-BLOOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO WELCOME ME HOME.
(And now please excuse me while I go cry tears of nostalgia...)
3. After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz - Review Here
Genre/Age Range: Historical Fiction, Mythology/Adult
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 5 stars/9.00 CAWPILE
Page Count: 272 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.15 - 3.28
Goodreads Thoughts: I am in absolute awe from this book. I want the entire manuscript tattooed on my skin, that's how much I love this writing. Selby Wynn Schwartz has a GIFT and I can't wait to see what she does next.
Genre/Age Range: Historical Fiction, Mythology/Adult
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 5 stars/9.00 CAWPILE
Page Count: 272 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.15 - 3.28
Goodreads Thoughts: I am in absolute awe from this book. I want the entire manuscript tattooed on my skin, that's how much I love this writing. Selby Wynn Schwartz has a GIFT and I can't wait to see what she does next.
Novellas
1. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Genre/Age Range: Fantasy, Magical Realism/YA
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 4 stars/7.71 CAWPILE
Page Count: 161 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.14 - 3.15
Goodreads Thoughts: While this might not have been my favorite Wayward Children story (that honor still belongs to In An Absent Dream) I think this is the one that impacted me the most. Most, if not all, young girls understand Ansty on a fundamental level, myself included. That loss of innocence is so jarring that it was hard to read on the page, but of course the writing was so, so good.
Genre/Age Range: Fantasy, Magical Realism/YA
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 4 stars/7.71 CAWPILE
Page Count: 161 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.14 - 3.15
Goodreads Thoughts: While this might not have been my favorite Wayward Children story (that honor still belongs to In An Absent Dream) I think this is the one that impacted me the most. Most, if not all, young girls understand Ansty on a fundamental level, myself included. That loss of innocence is so jarring that it was hard to read on the page, but of course the writing was so, so good.
Nonfiction
1. Off With Her Head by Eleanor Herman
Genre/Age Range: Feminism, History, Politics/Adult
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.71 CAWPILE
Page Count: 384 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.19 - 3.26
Goodreads Thoughts: The feminine rage I felt while reading this book was STRONG. I thought that it was very well researched, well outlined, and well written. You can really tell that this is a topic the author feels very passionately about. While I can't say I "enjoyed" reading this (I mean who really wants to read nearly 400 pages of women being belittled, demonized, and vilified) I think it was an important read and it left me with a lot to think about and reflect on.
Genre/Age Range: Feminism, History, Politics/Adult
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.71 CAWPILE
Page Count: 384 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.19 - 3.26
Goodreads Thoughts: The feminine rage I felt while reading this book was STRONG. I thought that it was very well researched, well outlined, and well written. You can really tell that this is a topic the author feels very passionately about. While I can't say I "enjoyed" reading this (I mean who really wants to read nearly 400 pages of women being belittled, demonized, and vilified) I think it was an important read and it left me with a lot to think about and reflect on.
Manga
1. Komi Can't Communicate vol. 20-22 by Tomohito Oda
Genre/Age Range: Contemporary, Slice-of-Life, Comedy/YA (Shonen)
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 2.5 stars/4.00 CAWPILE (vol. 20)
Page Count: 576 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.08, 3.12
Goodreads Thoughts: Honestly...I'm getting kind of bored? It's just the same story, over and over again...I'm just waiting for Komi and Tadano to admit they like each other, but since I'm assuming that won't happen until the end of the manga, I'm struggling to remain interested.
Genre/Age Range: Contemporary, Slice-of-Life, Comedy/YA (Shonen)
Star Rating/CAWPILE: 2.5 stars/4.00 CAWPILE (vol. 20)
Page Count: 576 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.08, 3.12
Goodreads Thoughts: Honestly...I'm getting kind of bored? It's just the same story, over and over again...I'm just waiting for Komi and Tadano to admit they like each other, but since I'm assuming that won't happen until the end of the manga, I'm struggling to remain interested.
2. Yona of the Dawn vol. 1-3 by Mizuho Kusanagi
Genre/Age Range: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance/YA (Shojo)
Star Rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page Count: 584 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.10
Goodreads Thoughts: N/A
Genre/Age Range: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance/YA (Shojo)
Star Rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page Count: 584 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.10
Goodreads Thoughts: N/A
3. Assassination Classroom vol. 11 by Yusei Matsui
Genre/Age Range: Science Fiction, Comedy, Action/YA (Shonen)
Star Rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page Count: 208 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.27
Goodreads Thoughts: N/A
Genre/Age Range: Science Fiction, Comedy, Action/YA (Shonen)
Star Rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page Count: 208 pages
Day(s) Read: 3.27
Goodreads Thoughts: N/A
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Total page count: 3,182 pages
Favorite book of March: After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz
DNF'd books: The Secret Loves of Geek Girls edited by Hope Nicholson
Unfinished books: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
March book haul: The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
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Alright, that's a wrap on March! Here's hoping April is the start of the year turning around for me...
What was your favorite book that you read in March? Let me know in the comments, or DM on Instagram (link found in sidebar under "More Media").
Until next time, friends!
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