April 2022 Reads
Oh April. I’m writing this at the end of May and I hardly remember you. But, I’m glad I made it through the books I did during your month. YA, short books, & graphic novels FTW.
The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass
A friend sent me The Selection as a throw-away, fun book and the first 3 books really hit the spot. Y’know when you’re like, I need to read fiction for my mental health, but everything feels too taxing/scary/difficult to get into? Welcome this YA romance of princesses meets Hunger Games light. While there is suspense, character development (more than I expected), and romance, there is nothing here too heavy or deep. Book #2 was my favorite. E-book. Purchased on my Kindle. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
How To Not Always Be Working: A Toolkit for Creativity and Radical Self-Care by Marlee Grace
This little book felt like a few blog posts bound together with some prompts and side sentences where Marlee spoke directly to you. Some of the points were very helpful and new to me, shifting my thinking. Some of the thoughts were basic or things I’d heard before. Their honesty drew me in. I do subscribe to Marlee’s newsletter and super appreciate their approach to their own creativity. Paperback. Library loan. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Journal with Purpose: Over 1000 Motifs, Alphabets and Icons to Personalize Your Bullet or Dot Journal by Helen Colebrook
This is mostly a book of hand drawn icons, which is lovely for inspo, but I was expecting more text on the “journal with purpose” part. E-book. Library loan, read on my phone (full color). ⭐️ ⭐️
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker with Wendy Xu (Illustrator)
My only complaint about Mooncakes is that I read it in April and not October. A witch and a werewolf are friends and battle evil together. Throw in witchy grandmas who own a books/supply shop, add a dash of Chinese American, one parts hearing disability, queer it all, and you’ve got yourself a perfectly lovely read. Will aim to reread when the seasons turn. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Book I’ve been reading for what feels like forever, but I carry on…
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is taking me FOREVER. Granted, it’s 600pgs. I love following Marian as she learns to fly. I appreciate the ways the story carries women’s lack of rights and the patriarchy. I am taken away by the historical details and emotional-dagger sentences, and I’m also irritated all the while because it is… depressing? slow? I texted a friend, “Does Great Circle ever get not sad?” and they were like, “…not really…?” I’m determined to finish it, but the verdict is still out if this will even grab 4 starts from me. (Reading the hardcover, which H bought me for Christmas. Hoping to finish it before we pack up to drive Xcountry bc who wants to lug a half-way-thru 600pg hardcover??)
The StoryGraph
I’m on Goodreads here, but I am trying to use The StoryGraph more for a few reasons: Goodreads is problematic (read this Time magazine article) and it’s owned by Amazon. And I like StoryGraph’s metrics much better, plus it was founded by a Black woman. So, I’m linking the books above to their StoryGraph page.