My April 2021 Wrap Up

Happy end of another month! I swear, if I wasn’t paying attention the month would end much sooner than it does.

While nothing much happened this month for me (another month in the pandemic), I did celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband. I think this was the most eventful anniversary since we took some time out in nature, watched movies and tv together, and then headed to the Wedge; a huge surf spot in Southern California where the waves were monstrous! I took a few photos with my phone and so happy to capture Mother Nature doing her thing.

This month I did a lot of experimenting with my reads. First, I tried to continue my poly reading journey. That didn’t happen since I’m a creature of habit and all I did was go back to one book at a time. Then, I also scheduled out my reads. This was something I was trying to see if I can stay on a schedule. Turns out, that’s not possible either. Finally, I tried listening to books while I was at work. That also didn’t work because it became too distracting to either the story or to the job.

So with a ton of failed experiments, I actually did a lot better than I thought. I read nine new books and one reread. Most of the books were physical with two audiobooks in the mix. I’m so happy with the books I read. I started off the month with Becky Chambers and then ended the month with P Djeli Clark. Starting and ending your monthly reads with authors you love is probably the best reward for reading books lol.

I had a good mix this month! I read a few contemporary stories, a few sci-fi, and I’m always reading fantasy nowadays. I’ve discovered new favorites, disappointed in some highly anticipated books, and just generally stayed off my phone and read the books. Let’s talk about them.

A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark – I really loved this one and finished my month with it. Clark is a fairly new author to me since I’ve only read Haunting of Tram Car 015 last year. But after this book, I’m a fan for life.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee – I didn’t know there were people of Chinese descent aboard the real Titanic! This story is loosely based on those people and while it may not be true, it was such a great story filled with heroism, strength, and tons of support.

Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders – Ah, a highly anticipated book of the YEAR and I was a little bit disappointed. I was hoping this would solidify my love for Charlie Jane Anders and in some ways it did, but this one didn’t really meet the mark for me.

Malice by Heather Walter – A Sleeping Beauty retelling that I really loved. Heather Walter really embraced the story and made it her own with a sapphic romance between Princess Aurora and Alyce, a Vila whom everyone believes to be the villain. But there are bigger dangers than Alyce in the world and this story brings up those subjects.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – This was my first time reading this book! Yes, I know I’m very late to the game. But after that BookTok trend about it being so good it’ll bring you to tears. While it was a good book and I definitely loved it, I didn’t cry. But then again, I don’t cry for sad romance stories. My heart is made of stone.

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez – I absolutely loved this one! I’m probably blinded by my love for this story that I missed some bigger issues with the book, but it really kept my attention and made me fall in love with the two characters. It also brings up some important themes like taking care of yourself and not putting such harsh restrictions on yourself because of some inevitable fate. Plus, there’s a goofy rescue pup in it that I couldn’t resist.

The Conductors by Nicole Glover – I really enjoyed this one and if you’re a fan of mysteries that take place in historical settings, then you should check this one out. I loved meeting Hetty and the interesting magic surrounding her. I wished I like the story more, but I have more hopes this is just debut jitters and the next book will be even better.

I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman – I’m always surprised by Abbi Waxman’s stories and when I heard she wrote a mother/daughter story, I wanted to check it out. It was such an interesting story to see this duo go on their college visits road trip and stumble across some interesting moments. However, the story kind of falls apart with this admissions scandal included in it. I get that it’s supposed to be reminiscent of certain admission scandals that happened a few years back, but it was abrupt and entered the story way late. Other than that, a great mother/daughter story if you’re into them.

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers – I will always and forever stan Becky Chambers and this book is one of the reasons why. While the first book in the series, The Long Way Down to a Small, Angry Planet, felt like a fun space adventure with a ragtag crew of aliens and humans, this is an example of her softer side. The story focuses on two narratives and as you read, you get to know these people and who they were and the worlds they had to survive to get to the point they are today. I’m always so impressed by Becky Chambers because of this and I’m so glad I started the month with this one.

That’s it! How successful was your month? Did you get a lot of reading done?