I realize I'm posting this late...I'm in the weeds of editing my novel so that is taking up most of my writing time. But I wanted to get my April reads up before the end of May so here we go!
April was busy, but I managed to do a lot of reading. It seems I was drawn to dense books (four of these titles are over four hundred pages). That slows me down a little but also makes me a bit more selective in the quality of the books I read.
Do you like long books? For me, there are times I want to dive deep into a story and get lost for days, and other times I need short chapters and quick reads.
Here's what I read in April
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Have you heard about this one? A few trusted sources posted about it and I was all in.
The Appeal is a mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie told through emails, texts, and other media. The story centers on a theater troupe in England and it was great reading on rainy, chilly spring days.
The plot was tight, but I did feel like it went on a little longer than I wanted it to. I am still in awe over the author's ability to make a narrative out of various forms of communication. Bravo!
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I am a Louise Penny fan girl. I love the way she tells a story and the characters she creates. I love the magic she makes when she describes the fictional town of Three Pines. I love that every one of her mysteries is smart and contains more than just a plot. I'm telling you, I love Louise Penny.
I usually save up her new release to read at some point during the year when I need a pick-me-up. When my mom had knee surgery in April I knew it would be the perfect time to go back to the world of Three Pines. And it was.
Covid is part of this novel, so be warned if you want to pick it up. However, Penny imbues even this catastrophic world event with her signature combination of honesty and hope. Hard truths are not shied away from, but hope is still possible.
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This was a wild ride. Speculative fiction at its best. A terrifying portrayal of the natural ends of society's current views on mothers and motherhood. Dysfunctional family lit on crack.
As a mother I find myself wrestling daily with the way society tells me to mother vs. how I really think a good mother behaves. I see the way women are pitted against each other and instead of learning from each other, we are encouraged to judge and belittle. And the pressure, don't get me started on the pressure.
The School for Good Mothers was like a manifesto making it clear that the current trends cannot be allowed to continue. The way Chan demonstrates the burden placed on mothers was deft and unemotional in a way that made this horrific school seem possible. It scared me, but I loved it.
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I am a skeptic when it comes to Christian living books. I read them looking for flaws. I hold them up against the things I read in the Bible. I am critical of bad writing, name-dropping, and oversimplification.
When I found out my pastor was publishing a book I was scared. I wondered if he would write a book that elevated himself and his friends or if the writing would be weak. I put off starting this because I was so nervous.
But then I began reading. You guys, it's good. Really good. It's a call to vulnerability. It chastises the church for not being a place where people can come with their hurts and brokenness and bleed on the pews if they need to. It challenged me to look at the things I hide and the ways I put up walls.
I debated about the five ⭐️s because I felt like people would think I was being flip and pandering. But this book made me cry, made me think, and changed me. So it gets 5 ⭐️s.
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This title. It is a mouthful and I get it wrong every. single. time. But the book is good.
This was my book club's pick for April.
Allende tells a story like no one else...but she fills the pages and takes her time. This one is shorter than
The House of the Spirits (but it's not better, in my opinion). Still, she manages to take us through the life of Victor, a young man in Spain as the Spanish revolution is beginning.
If you're looking for a dad book, this would be a great candidate. There is war, history that is not often talked about, and complex male characters.
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...And another book with a long title I could never seem to remember.
I got this ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book on NetGalley and couldn't wait to start reading. I loved Kevin Wilson's last book and this one was just as engaging. It gave me vibes of another book I loved,
The Impossible Fortress.
Frankie is a girl who is sixteen years old and looking to do something, anything. She meets another loner, Zeke and they have a memorable summer trying to figure out life and cope with their parents' divorces.
Though the main characters are teenagers, this was not annoying or angsty. The book considers the nature of art and what happens when it goes out into the world. It makes you feel like you're sixteen again and wondering how the rest of your life will unfold. And it brings it all full circle when the secrets from that summer come back to haunt Frankie after she's married and has a child of her own.
You can preorder this book now. It comes out in November.
Those are the books I read in April. What did you read? Leave a comment and let's talk.
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