01 May 2015

F*** You, April. (Otherwise known as Last Month In Review)


April and I are not on the best speaking terms.  Or should I say reading terms? I regularly knock off 8-10 books every month, but not this April.  Oh, sure.  There are a few extenuating circumstances. I traveled to Philly for a long weekend, and I'm in Ireland right now (as of this reading, if not this writing), which took a lot of time to prepare for at work and at home.  And some of the REASONS that slowed my reading down in March stuck around for April.  But still.  To have only finished 4 books?

I'm trying hard to meet my shortcomings with forgiveness rather than recrimination, but it's a little difficult.  Everybody goes through book slumps; this one just happens to have lasted longer than any other book slump I've ever experienced.

In chronological order, then, we have:

1) Nocturne by Dutchy. This is a work of Harry Potter fanfiction that is a bit darker than my usual fareThe unthinkable has happened.  Voldemort has won. Now, one Severus Snape must find a new way in this dark and twisted world, one seemingly devoid of all hope. You can find it on the Ashwinder site.

2) Round Ireland With a Fridge by Tony Hawks.  Le sigh.  A guy makes a bet that he can hitchhike around Ireland.  With a fridge.  This book sounded like it would be great and funny and the next best thing to Bill Bryson. Unfortunately, this book turned out to be all about Tony Hawks and not much about Ireland itself. Since I wanted a book that would be evocative of the country I was looking forward to visiting, this book was ultimately not for me.

3) Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne. How on earth have I not read this book before?  This is basically the pinnacle of what a children's book should be: charming and fun and lovable and funny. I never really was a fan of Pooh growing up, much to my siblings' chagrin.  They all had a "Now We Are Six" birthday party, which I had no interest in whatsoever.  I think it kind of broke their hearts.  Well, sibs, I'm sorry.  If I knew then what I know now, I'd be All About Pooh.

4. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson. This was a re-read for me from several years ago (2002, maybe?), and as much as I hate to say it, it didn't really live up to my memory of it.  I'm a Bill Bryson fan from way back, and he's probably the only nonfiction author I know whose works would make my laminated list, so I'm a little bit bummed.

And that's that.  A whopping big FOUR books that I finished in April, with one being a children's book and one being a re-read. May can only get better, is how I see it!

What about you? What did you love in April?  What disappointed you?

20 comments:

  1. We all have slow months. Unfortunately, so far all of 2015 has been slow for me. It's starting to pick up now though. And after having a slow April, your May will seem wonderful!

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    1. With luck, the reading for both of us will improve before more of 2015 spills away.

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  2. My husband always laughs at me when I'm disappointed about not reading as much as I expected or planned during a given period of time. He just doesn't understand!

    As for April reading, I loved Claire Kells's debut, GIRL UNDERWATER. I was pretty ho hum about Ingrid Thoft's BRUTALITY.

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    1. I don't think I know GIRL UNDERWATER, but I think I'll have to check that out. thanks for the rec.

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  3. That is exactly how I felt about Winnie the Pooh! I read it during a readathon a couple years ago and was like "???? THIS IS SO GREAT THOUGH." We should all read more A.A. Mine probs.

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    1. We should all read more Pooh. perhaps you'd like to host another readalong? POOH IS THE BEST.

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  4. I've loved seeing your photos from Ireland on Facebook! I hope you're having a great time. Ireland is very special to me - it wasn't my first trip abroad (I did a study abroad in Italy & France in college) but it was the first trip I ever planned myself. My best friend from college and I went for 10 days and drove all around the country - it was so incredible. And a huge adventure - trying to navigate and drive on the other side of the road!

    I read a lot of books about Ireland before and after the trip, including Round Ireland with a Fridge. I much preferred McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy.

    I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Ireland!

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    1. Thanks! The trip was great and I'll start posting about it soon. I so loved reading all of your travelogues through the Galapagos and the surrounding areas. That's definitely a dream trip for me one day.

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  5. Ahahaha YOU TELL APRIL!

    I have yet to read Winnie the Pooh though I was a big fan of it growing up. Welcome to Pooh Corner, one of those live action ones.

    I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR IRELAND TRAVELS

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    1. READ POOH, ALLEY.

      Seriously. Reading Pooh will make any bad day a little bit better.

      Ireland posts coming up soon. Still need to download the second half of my 900+ photos that I took...

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  6. I experienced the same frustration with low March/April reading totals - but as a teacher I take comfort in the fact that my best reading months are right around the corner. Best book I've read recently: I Was a Child by Bruce Eric Kaplan. Perfect blend of humor and melancholy!

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    1. Hi, Shelley -- Will you be coming this way soon to pick up your son from college?

      I'll have to check out the Bruce Eric Kaplan book. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  7. I'm constantly feeling like I didn't read enough. I feel ya.

    But Ireland!!! I hope you're having a blast!

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    1. Ireland was great -- as much for seeing my two best friends as it was for the trip itself. I've been following your posts -- it seems like you've been reading quite a lot, actually.

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  8. How could your not remember all the times I read the Pooh books to you...and then together with you? Rumbly in my tumbly was one of your favorite phrases.....your Now We Are Six birthday cake was just did not measure up to the Pooh cakes....

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  9. It's frustrating when we don't have enough time to read! I really hope your May is better and I'm glad you finally got to read Winnie the Pooh. Those books are favorites around here. :)

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  11. My husband and I read Round Ireland and laughed a lot. We bought another of his books about a piano and the Pyrenees. Humor is so individual :)

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  12. My husband and I read Round Ireland and laughed a lot. We also bought his book about a piano and the Pyrenees. Humor is so individual :)

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  13. I'm sorry Tony Hawks didn't work out. Like Terra, I loved it-for me it was like being there. But I guess it's not for everyone :(

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Please, sir, may I have some more? (Comments, that is!)