So March was an interesting month for me. My mood was up and down, as was my reading. Some how I managed to read 9 books this month. While not a record number of books, it’s still the highest number of books I’ve read in a single month. There was also a week when I tried to read 100 pages a day, and I was pretty successful. But silly me, I tried to read 100 pages a day when March Madness was beginning. It’s hard to read when there’s so much basketball on tv. Ready to see my reading wrap-up?
March 2021 Reading Wrap-Up
- Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
- The Final Revival of Opal and Nev by Dawnie Walton
- One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
- Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
- The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham
- Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
- The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
- The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
- The Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini
Brief Summary of Each Book
Book 1: Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
I chose this book as part of the Read Christie 2021 challenge. March’s prompt was a story with a society figure.
Cards on the Table is the 15th book featuring Hercule Poirot. He is part of a group investigating a murder with four suspects. There are the usual twist and turns. And by the end of the book, there are 3 deaths (including the one that started the investigation). It’s yet another easy read by Agatha Christie and one that can be read in not a weekend if not one day.
Book 2: The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
This was a book that I was excited to read when I learned about it at the beginning of the year. I was lucky enough to win a free copy of the book from Goodreads as part of a giveaway.
The Final Revival was an interesting read. There were many times I found myself wanting to find the Opal and Nev’s music, to see what their sound was. Then I remembered they were a fictional group. The majority of the book reads as if it is a written transcript of a documentary about a couple of pop culture icons.
Book 3: One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
One to Watch was a fun audiobook I chose to read. I had to read this book because I was interested to see how a romance was going to play out with a plus-sized main character. So many times, the plus-sized character is the best friend, and I found this refreshing.
Bea Schumacher is a fashion blogger who agrees to be a part of a show similar to The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Along the way she meets some nice guys, and some who are complete jerks. But the question is, will she meet the right one?
Book 4: Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Part of the reason I read this book was it received a lot of hype when it was first released in 2019. Another part is for my colorful reading challenge, with orange as the color for March.
Lillian was contacted by her friend Madison, as she needed help with her step-children. Why? Well, because they self-combust, and their father is a high profile politician. This is a short novel (less than 300 pages), and can easily be read in a weekend.
Book 5: The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham
This book took care of 2 challenges for me. The first challenge was part of my travel challenge, with Germany for March. The second challenge was a part of the Uncorked 2021 Reading Challenge, with the theme for March being a Historical Fiction Featuring Inspiring Women. It’s great when 1 book can knock off two challenges.
The German Midwife is set near the end of World War II, and is an alternate reality book. It asks the question what if Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress, was to get pregnant? Several of the characters in the book are based on real people, but the story is fictional. It is an easy read, and a great debut novel.
Day 6: Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
This book is probably the one that surprised me the most this month. And one that I am so glad I read. It is an amazing introductory novel, and it has teasing feeling of a sequel. This book was nominated for CBC Reads 2021.
Anna does data entry for a temp service. While on a job she was severely injured, and laid off. While recovering she learns she isn’t the only person to suffer like she has, and takes it upon herself to make those who injured her to pay. Oh yeah, she works for the “bad guys” and was injured by a superhero who feels he doesn’t have to even apologize for what he did.
Book 7: The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
The Tower of Nero is the fifth, and final, book in The Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan. It is the 15th book in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. It was a Goodreads Choice Award winner in 2020.
Lester and Meg are on their way to face Nero in New York City. Will they succeed? What about Lester/Apollo facing Python for control of the Oracles? I will say the story does feel formulaic, and we all know how it will end. But that doesn’t mean we won’t enjoy the journey.
Book 8: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
This was a book I just had to read. And I am glad that I did. I will admit, it’s not an easy one as the narrative deals with some serious matters (domestic violence, child marriage, rape). This was the second audiobook I listened to in the month of March, and I think it’s the best way to read the book. The narrator helps drive the narrative, and give Adunni a louding voice.
Adunni is a 14-year-old girl living in a small village in Nigeria, and her big dream is to go back to school. Her father instead sells her into marriage. After a tragedy, Adunni finds herself in Lagos, and with an abusive boss. She works hard, and just wants to learn and go to school.
Book 9: The Bughouse Affair by by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini
The Bughouse Affair is the first book in the Carpenter and Quincannon series. The series is set in 1890s San Francisco and features Sabina Carpenter and John Quincannon. The chapters are titled according to which character you are following, Sabina or Quincannon. The book is relatively short, under 300 pages, and thus could be read in a weekend.
Sabina is hired by a local amusement park to catch a pickpocket. Quincannon is hired by an insurance company to investigate a few robberies. Suddenly their cases overlap in a way they didn’t expect. Along the way they suffer the interference of someone claiming to be Sherlock Holmes. Who will solve the case first?
April 2021 TBR
I have a few books that I’m planning on reading in April. I’m pretty sure I’ll be reading more than these 4 books. It’s funny, my April TBR changed a couple of times in the past couple of weeks. Why? Because I was relying on my local library for a book for two reading challenges and it was going to be unavailable until May. There’s no way that would work, so I had to find two different books. After finding a couple of books for my challenges, I was able to find a copy of the book I had originally wanted to read.
So here’s the list I plan on reading for April 2021:
- The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie: A story set before World War II part of Read Christie 2021 challenge
- A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry: A book set on a train, part of the Uncorked 2021 Reading Challenge
- The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (And Their Muses) by Terri-Lynne DeFino: A book in a “B” location
- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley: A book with a green cover
What books are you planning on reading in April? Any input on the books that I’m planning on reading?
Looking for some more ideas to read? Check out my other monthly reading wrap-ups.
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