April has been my quietest reading month yet, but it has held some fantastic reading, so I’m not complaining. And I was able to join in Dewey’s Read-a-Thon at the last minute too.
Challenge Reading/Reading Projects:
Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child (2012)
Manda Scott’s Hen’s Teeth (1997)
Elizabeth Jolley’s Miss Peabody’s Inheritance (1983)
Classic Reading:
Homer’s The Odyssey and Gareth Hinds’ The Odyssey (2010)
Sterling North’s Rascal (1963)
Astrid Lindgren’s The Brothers Lionheart (1973; Trans. J Tate Illus. Ilon Wikland, 1984)
Kate Wilhelm’s Where the Sweet Birds Sang (1976)
Orange Prize 2012 Reading:
Karin Altenberg’s The Island of Wings (2011)
Roopa Farooki’s The Flying Man (2011)
I Am a Serial Reader:
Ian Hamilton’s The Water Rat of Wanchai (2011)
Ian Hamilton’s The Disciple of Las Vegas (2011)
Ian Hamilton’s The Wild Beasts of Wuhan (2012)
Posts long overdue, from my 2011 Must-Reads:
Alexandra Harris’ Romantic Moderns (2010)
Edith Wharton’s The Custom of the Country (1912)
Chitra Divakaruni’s One Amazing Thing (2009)
Favourite Reads for April:
Pamela Porter’s I’ll Be Watching (2011)
Katie Ward’s Girl Reading (2012)
Heading into April, I wanted to catch up visiting challenge sites, updating and exploring other participants posts; I only managed about half this month, so here’s to more in May.
In March, less than 20% of my reading came from my own shelves, but more than half of my April books were my own…so I celebrated by going to the library and borrowing an absurd number of books.
April was good.
Coming in May, I’ll be hosting the next read in the Elizabeth Taylor Centenary Celebration, A Game of Hide and Seek. (Next month, Laura will be hosting with The Sleeping Beauty.) The introductory post will appear tomorrow, and I’ll start the discussion on May 7th.
And I’m already engaged in a handful of great reads looking ahead to May:
Charles deLint’s Dreams Underfoot (I am smitten),
Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief (such fun: the rest of the family was right),
the most excellent stories in Birds of a Lesser Paradise by Magan Mayhew Bergman,
another of Catherine Asaro’s Skolian Saga,
Jane Harris’ Gillespie and I (in my Orange stack),
and G.R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones (reading along with Vasilly).
And, I’m shifting into Alice Munro territory again, starting May3, with “Royal Beatings” from Who Do You Think You Are? (also titled The Beggar Maid, outside of Munro’s Canada). Feel free to read along; I’d love the company. These stories interweave more than many of Munro’s tales, so for those who are a bit shy of her stories, this might be a good collection to start with.
And, what about you? Have you read any of these?
How was your April? How was your May?
Have you been reading fiercely or lackadaisically?
I like how you celebrated by borrowing a absurd amount of books from the library :). I keep telling myself to catch up on what the other participants are doing in the reading challenges, but some how I never manage more than a few. Maybe this month. Good look with the Game of Thrones readalong, I’ve been meaning to read the series as well, but I promised my self, to finish a few series up before starting another – we’ll see how long that lasts!
I also enjoy Alice Munro’s writing, I find I like some stories more than others, but the quality in all of them is always fantastic. The more I read by her, the more I appreciate her. Thanks for the title of her book, I think I’ll have to c heck it out. I’ve been been on a Jane Urquhart kick lately, so why not add another great Canadian talent to that list!
Oh, it’s so sad: I’m staring at the stack as I write here. (I haven’t read a single one yet.) I made the same promise about series (I noticed that you joined the challenge for it; I didn’t join, but I’ve set goals for each year for reading later books in series) last year, but then realized that what I struggle with is continuing with the series, whether it’s a new one or an established one, so I’m still beginning new ones and as long as I continue with them, I count it as progress dealing with my series addiction. It’s not that you’re not enjoying the others, it’s just that there are so many books, right?
I quite enjoyed Jane Urquhart’s Sanctuary Line last year. And I agree that some of Munro’s stories are hard to “like” but, as you say, even those are of such quality that you can’t help but admire them. I hope you can find a copy of Who Do You Think You Are? or The Beggar Maid. I just read the second story last night and it’s quite good too.
Oh yes, it’s just there are so many books, I want to get a few off my back before I get to a new series. Wheel of Time is the big goal of the year for me.
I haven’t read Sanctuary Line by Jane Urquhart yet, but I plan on it.
That one, and David Eddings’ series, are ones that I’ve been thinking of for so long (and never actually did anything about) that I’m not sure I’ll ever get there. If you do end up trying AGoT, I’ll be interested to hear how you think they compare. Most readers seem to prefer Martin’s series, but I’m never sure how much of that is the added appeal of the HBO series as opposed to actually enjoying one series of books more than the other. What got you into Urquhart?
I read the underpainter a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed it. I was finding my next read by her and couldn’t choose, so I nabbed up a bunch by her.
I tend to collect her works faster than I read them; I hope you enjoy the next as much as you enjoyed The Underpainter. (That’s one I haven’t read, yet.)
I’ve got that one on hand, but I’m also quite interested in The Stone Carvers; I’m not rushing for the next of hers, but it’ll be one of those for me, I think. I’ll look forward to seeing which one you choose next.
I hope you enjoy the rest of Riordan’s The Lightning Thief I just raced through all the Percy Jackson series last year 🙂
As for coming reads I also have a copy of George R R Martin’s A Game of Thrones on my tbr shelf really need to get round to it soon. As I’m already on the second series of the television adaptation!
It’s like candy, uber-addictive, eh? I’ve even requested all the little “guidebooks” from the library, like I’m 8 years old and begging to be allowed into the clubhouse.
Admittedly, a big motivation for reading AGofT is that I really want to watch the series (it looks soooo good) and I don’t want the televised version to get first crack at my imagined version of this world. I just bought the second volume from my local indie shop the other day: I’m good and hooked for sure.
Ah, I read *no* books in April… that is, I read bits and pieces, a fragment of book here, a sliver of book there, but nothing in its entirety. In my bookish defense, I was up to my gills in working for a local literary festival, so my consciousness held the world of writers, readers and publishers at its forefront for every day of the month. I’ve begun May with voracious appetite, having consumed V. S. Naipaul’s second novel about Trinidad, The Suffrage of Elvira, and the John Green & David Leviathan YA triumph, Will Grayson, Will Grayson. A volume of poetry by a colleague of mine is already on my bedside table, as well as a hardbound copy of Wilson Harris’ Resurrection at Sorrow Hill. There’s a distinct possibility, dear BIP, that I’ll be just as print-buried this May as you! I couldn’t be happier at the prospect.
Shivanee – I’d say that counts as solid bookish time, even if you weren’t actually turning pages. I’ve never managed anything of V.S. Naipaul’s yet, but I’ll be interested to read your thoughts. It definitely sounds like your May will have more reading in it, which is a happy thought indeed, even if your April was still solidly bookish.
Laura – We had a nice bit of mild weather which took me away from my reading for a spell, but it turned cool again, which got the pages flying once more. Hope you enjoy the next Taylor!
Iris – I completely understand how that can happen with read-a-longs; they’re much more mood-motivated for me, too. And I’m sure you have some extra books on your stack with Dutch Lit Month coming up soon! With the Munro though, you could always just read a single story…
Nymeth – Iris just raced through the second half, and I’m thinking that I’m on the cusp of that as well; it does seem the sort of book that leaves one itching to discuss!
Rebecca – I’d like to read more of her work too (now I can say that and mean it!). I do hope you’ll enjoy A Game of Hide and Seek.
Jen – Unlike many short story writers, I don’t find that there are some that I prefer and others that I’m not fond of with Alice Munro’s stories. Every one that I’ve just read is my current favourite, even when I went back to re-read her first collection last year. Having said that, the collections that I’ve re-read, before starting this re-reading project, were Open Secrets and Runaway, and I used to consider those my favourites. But, even when I don’t like what happens in a story, I finish it with admiration and awe; there are no un-favourites.
Olduvai – I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the final story/segment; it’s a great collection and I’m curious what your favourite parts will be!
Great month!
I’m put a hold on Girl Reading after reading your review and hope to get my hands on it soon.
I’ve thought about Alice Munro for years. I’ve owned a few collections. I know I’ll love her genius. And yet, I haven’t delved into her yet. What are your favorites of her stories? Maybe that will get me started!
The one book you mention here that I’ve read is Custom of the Country, which I liked quite a lot. I’d love to read more Wharton! I’m also tempted to read some Elizabeth Taylor with you, especially since A Game of Hide and Seek is on my TBR shelves.
I’m also planning to read Gillespie and I soon, and I’m excited to compare notes with you and Iris. Happy reading in May!
I put a reservation in on the Alice Munro you mentioned. No promises, though, because I have way too many things I’d like to do a read along in in May, including A Game of Hide and Seek. So I really don’t know what I will end up reading.
Looks like you did a lot of challenge reading. One of these years I will get my challenges organised 🙂
Have a wonderful May!
Wow, you read a ton of books in April. I’ll be starting A Game of Hide and Seek soon and am looking forward to the book chat on it.