March seemed to fly by so with a new month starting it was time to round up what I've read and share my thoughts. I've had a slower start to the year when it has come to reading so I decided to set my 2021 reading challenge at sixty books so there was a little less pressure this year. My TBR pile is never-ending and I'm a nightmare for continually adding to it so I've placed a ban on myself until I've worked through what I have at home.
I read four books in March including one I wish I hadn't wasted my time on and I finally finished my first ever audiobook so I've included that too - I can't wait to hear what you think!
Becoming by Michelle Obama
My first audiobook was Becoming which was recommended to me by so many - I started this at the beginning of the first lockdown thinking I'd whizz through it, not realising how long they were or how distracted I'd get. Thankfully, with some advice to speed up the narration, I did get through it quite quickly and really enjoyed it. I loved that the narration was by Michelle Obama as it felt as though she was telling her story just to me.
The only downside to it was that I was easily distracted while trying to listen so I think I'd still pick up the paperback to read too. I enjoyed my first foray into audiobooks but I'm just not sure they're for me, I just don't soak it up as much as I do a paperback.
I might try one more, I'm glad I started with Becoming though, it's brilliant.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
I really wasn't keen on this at first and it took me a while to get into but once I did, I really enjoyed it. The book is written in free verse which I really wasn't keen on but soon became quite immersed in it. The story follows Camino who lives in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira who lives in New York City, their lives are turned upside down when it comes to light that their father is the same man after he dies in a plane crash.
Although I didn't warm to either character, the way the story is told really helped to distinguish each sister as their grief, anger and betrayal was portrayed. It was a really beautiful and poignant book and I'm really interested in reading more of her work now.
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Another plane crash novel, Dear Edward tells the story of Edward Adler as one summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Tragically the plane crashes and Edward is the sole survivor. The novel flits back and forth between telling the story of Edward's personal journey after the crash and giving us a glimpse into the lives of a handful of other passengers on the flight. Both narrative threads ultimately culminate with the passengers' final moments before the crash of the plane.
This is a really hyped up book and because of that I felt it fell flat in parts however I DID enjoy it and gave it 4 stars - I found it emotive, tragic and it really pulled at my heartstrings BUT I needed more, it felt as though there was a lot missing and it wasn't quite finished.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club is one I've wanted to read for AGES and I finally turned the final page last week and I bloody loved it. It was charming, funny and so much more than I was expecting. The book follows four friends who are living in a retirement village and love nothing more than discussing unsolved crimes, that is until a real murder turns up on their doorstep and things get more interesting.
This isn't your usual murder mystery and I loved that - the characters are brilliant, parts of the book are laugh out loud funny and I really couldn't put it down. It was the perfect dose of murderous humour I needed. I can't wait to get my hands on the next release, The Man Who Died Twice!
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
I had such high hopes for this one but I was so disappointed, part of me wishes I could easily DNF a book but alas I have to keep going until the end. When I first picked this up, the back of the book totally drew me in - The last person Alice Shipley expected to see since arriving in Tangier with her new husband was Lucy Mason. After the accident at Bennington, the two friends—once inseparable roommates—haven’t spoken in over a year!
It gave an allure of mystery and excitement but the actual novel is anything but. It was painful to read, boring and unbelievable not only that but the way Mangan writes about Morocco and its people is problematic, almost as if she has never visited the country. It's just hollow with no plot, no likeable characters and a complete waste of time.
Four out of five books isn't bad, right? What have you been reading lately?
