The amount of my TBR has stayed pretty well the same as last month; I took seven books off the TBR to read so even though I acquired a few, three of them were review books or loans, and it’s doing OK.
I completed 15 books in March (two left to review) and am part-way through four more (plus my Reading With Emma Read). I took part in Kaggsy and Simon’s 1940 Club and read three books for that, and I read a hardback bought relatively recently for that mini-project of mine to not let those languish. I also got through all six of my NetGalley books published in April (I DNF’d two: “Love on the Menu just never got going and wasn’t what I thought it was and sadly, the plot of “Happy Place” about exes pretending to be together just didn’t work for me) and also a couple of May NG books already plus two older ones, and my percentage is still at 90%!
Incomings
I’ve had books in from different sources and for different reasons this month
I went to The Heath Bookshop to help Matthew to spend his book token from Gill and couldn’t resist “The Book of Birmingham”, edited by Kavita Bhanot, in the same series as the Reykjavik one I’ve read, which covered the remainder of his book token and a little more. I was in The Works looking for something else and (honestly) felt I wanted to encourage them to stock books by people from the Global Majority People community so bought Nisha Sharma’s “Dating Dr. Dil” and I haven’t read any of Beth O’Leary’s books so picked up “The Switch”. Emma suggested Catherine Mayer’s “Attack of the 50ft Women: How Gender Equality can Save the World” as a read-together book and I found a heavily discounted copy online so picked it up for our pile. Ali kindly passed me Ruth Ozeki’s “The Book of Form & Emptiness” (which I will read with Matthew at some point: edited to add after comments, I have read all her other books and loved “A Tale for the Time Being“, mentioned “All Over Creation” in my Best books of 2005 post and read “My Year of Meats” before the blog, but had seen varied reviews of this and hadn’t got round to getting a copy) and loaned me Daphne du Maurier’s “The Parasites” to read for her DDM week this month and Kaggsy of the Bookish Ramblings kindly sent me Virago’s new celebration book of short stories, “Furies”. And I have the beautiful but very substantial “The Book of Wilding” by Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell to review for Shiny New Books (thank you!).
I won quite a few NetGalley books this month (but I’ve already read two of them!):
I’ve already read Stephen Buoro’s “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa”, an amazing novel about a 15 year old Nigerian boy (published in April, review here), and Rachel Barnett’s “A Summer on the Riviera” about high-faluting yacht life (published in May, review here). Ben Jacobi’s “The Orchid Outlaw”, non-fiction about the author’s attempt to see and save Britain’s orchids (published May 2023); Mariam Ansar’s “Good for Nothing” is a YA novel set in a small northern town with two British Asian and one British Black protagonists (published March, currently reading); I was invited by the publisher to read Elizabeth Acevedo’s “Family Lore” (Aug), a “deeply Dominican” book with a touch of magical realism (I have at least two of her earlier books to read!). “Everything’s Fine” by Cecilia Rabess (June) is a dual-heritage romance that asks questions of race and America; Lyn Liao’s “Crazy Bao You” (June) is a mistaken-identity love story with a Korean American heroine (though I’ve just spotted there’s a rescue dog in it so will be worrying now); I requested Caleb Azumah Nelson’s “Small Worlds” (May) because I was a bit ambivalent about his debut but said I’d read what he wrote next, and set between London and Ghana and about family, faith and friendship, this does look good. Rachel E. Cargle’s “A Renaissance of our Own” (June) offers essays on the power of reimagining yourself and of allowing Black women to be complex. Finally, I was offered “You were Always Mine” by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (July) because I read and reviewed their previous novel, “We are Not Like Them” – this one explores race, class and ethics as a baby is abandoned and a baby is found.
So that was 15 read and 18 coming in in April (oops).
Currently reading
As well as Adam Nicolson’s “The Sea is Not Made of Water: Life Between the Tides” with Emma, I’m still reading “Shakespeare’s First Folio”, which is brilliant but takes some concentration and is in small print, I’m part way through Mariam Ansar’s YA novel “Good for Nothing” and Deesha Philyaw’s book of short stories, “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies” (which I was supposed to read along with my friend Melanie but managed not to) and have made a start on Nova Reid’s important book, “The Good Ally”.
Coming up
It’s Daphne Du Maurier week 8-15 May over on Heaven-Ali’s blog (and I’ll be helping out by hosting the book review list page, coming soon) and she kindly loaned me “The Parasites”, an autobiographical novel about DDM’s childhood, so I could take part. Then I have these two review copies, “The Book of Wilding” and “Mother Tongue by Jenni Nuttall.
My NetGalley TBR for May has seven books on it, however I’ve already read and reviewed “The Three of Us” and “A Summer on the Riviera” and am part-way through “Good for Nothing”.
With the ones I’m currently reading (including my readalong with Emma as should finish it this month), that’s five books to finish and eight to read, which seems doable. If I get those done, I would like to read some more older NetGalley books and some more from my TBR, although I have nearly succeeded in reading the hardbacks I bought recently before they come out in paperback …
How was your April reading? What are you reading this month? Have you read or picked up any of my selection?
peterleyland
May 01, 2023 @ 11:36:18
Ruth Ozeki appeals to me Liz which you will read with Matthew as you say. Her book, a Tale for the Time Being, which I read with students on my Japanese Novels course was just brilliant. Hope you can get to it.
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Liz Dexter
May 01, 2023 @ 15:44:32
Given the first two comments, I have edited my piece slightly – yes, loved A Tale for the Time Being and her two previous novels though not sure I could read My Year of Meats now. If we don’t get to it before, we will read it on our November holiday (we have a Richard Osman to do first and they take us a while with the ebook and paperback going!).
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Wendy
May 01, 2023 @ 12:09:02
I second what the commenter above said about Ruth Ozeki! I haven’t seen any of the other books you mentioned. I’m always amazed at the different selection of books you have in the UK as opposed to the US.
I’m publishing my mini book reviews tomorrow. I just finished up April with a really good one–Adelaide, about an American woman living in the UK for work. Hopefully, it will be available for you to read!
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Liz Dexter
May 01, 2023 @ 15:48:33
Yes, I have just edited the piece to reflect my ongoing enjoyment of Ozeki’s books, I absolutely loved A Tale for the Time Being. To be honest, I also think a lot of these books are fairly obscure, although there is a UK/US difference in NetGalley, as we know. I’ll look forward to seeing your mini reviews – I’ll make sure I look out for them as I’m still wayyyy behind with blog reading!
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A Life in Books
May 01, 2023 @ 13:07:00
Absolutely loved Small Worlds, and I’m keen to read The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.
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Liz Dexter
May 01, 2023 @ 15:49:25
I’ll have a look for your review of Small Worlds when I’ve read it. Did you rate it higher than his last one? The Church Ladies is v rude but really well written, entertaining and affecting.
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A Life in Books
May 01, 2023 @ 16:03:57
I found it more poignant than Open Water and the writing felt more assured. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2023 @ 13:34:38
Goodness, some wonderful incomings there, Liz! Will be interested in your thoughts on the DDM – I have read mine for the event and my response was – mixed!!!
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Liz Dexter
May 01, 2023 @ 15:50:59
Ooh, what did you read?? I have had some good ones and there are so many great ones on my shelf – fortunately I have two long coach journeys and a solo hotel stay and some time at home with Matthew away coming up so should be able to zip through the NetGalleys and get on with the print stuff, though the First Folio and Wilding ones are pretty substantial …
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kaggsysbookishramblings
May 01, 2023 @ 15:53:14
I went for I’ll Never Be Young Again… and was a bit conflicted, as you’ll see from my review!! And I’m mightily impressed you can read on a coach, I always get sick – but a train is fine!!
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Liz Dexter
May 01, 2023 @ 16:16:15
I’ll watch out for that. Yes, fortunately OK reading on any mode of transport!
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Laura
May 01, 2023 @ 18:04:31
Wow, had no idea your blog had been going since 2005! I’ve loved two Ozeki (Time Being, Year of Meats) and really struggled with the other two; I hope you enjoy Form and Emptiness more than I did!
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Liz Dexter
May 01, 2023 @ 18:16:56
It’s shocking, isn’t it! Started on LiveJournal mid-2005 and transferred to WordPress but brought it all over. I have reading diaries going back to 1997. Yours was one of the ones that made me think twice about getting it new, as I trust your judgement, but here it is, having come to me anyway!
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FictionFan
May 01, 2023 @ 22:33:42
I don’t know – those shelves are looking pretty packed again! Are you sure some extra ones haven’t sneaked on there when you weren’t looking? 😉
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2023 @ 07:40:18
Well I guess four read off the shelves and two more taken off them and six being added on will do that. I am doing well with my e-books this month already, though, so hopefully I’ll get it a bit more winnowed away during the month. I did have a book arrive yesterday and have two on order, however …
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hopewellslibraryoflife
May 01, 2023 @ 23:20:10
I LOVED “The Switch”!!! https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/review-the-switch-by-beth-oleary/ Happy Reading!
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2023 @ 07:40:42
Good to know!
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conmartin13
May 02, 2023 @ 04:22:49
I liked The Parasites and you will too, but I don’t think I would reread it the way I reread Rebecca and Jamaica Inn.
The Loving Spirit will be my du Maurier week read.
I read The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary which was cute if improbable but I was disappointed with the next book of hers I read, The Road Trip, which was a sort of disaster trip of eccentric friends or ex-friends to a wedding. I found the bad grammar and casual obscenity unnecessary and got tired of the tribulations they encountered.
Constance
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2023 @ 07:42:03
Yes, I would re-read Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel, there weren’t that many I had left I wanted to read so I was pleased I could borrow this one! I hope you enjoy The Loving Spirit. I didn’t fancy The Road Trip at all; the Flatshare has been all over the place but this one looked sweet and was £3, so …
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bookbii
May 02, 2023 @ 11:45:36
The Book of Form and Emptiness is excellent. If you’ve enjoyed Ozeki’s other works then I can’t imagine you won’t like this one too. It’s very good.
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2023 @ 21:03:38
I’ve seen varying reactions even from people who like her other ones, but I’ll give it a go and see …
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Annabel (AnnaBookBel)
May 02, 2023 @ 16:07:15
Nuttall was on Michael Rosen’s radio 4 programme Word of Mouth this afternoon if you want to listen – interesting!
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2023 @ 21:04:02
Ooh, thank you, I’ll have a look for that!
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articlealleyblog
May 02, 2023 @ 20:25:02
Currently, I’m working through The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Claire. I also have multiple others in play. Im also jump starting my blog again.
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Liz Dexter
May 02, 2023 @ 20:54:59
Welcome to my blog! I do like a series, though don’t read many of them. Have fun with your blog – did you blog under a different title before?
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articlealleyblog
May 02, 2023 @ 20:55:38
a long time ago yes! ive read lore series lately.
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heavenali
May 06, 2023 @ 19:13:25
A very good reading month, though always disappointing to have DNFs. I really hope you enjoy the Ruth Ozeki and The Parasites.
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Liz Dexter
May 08, 2023 @ 11:30:10
Poor NetGalley choices happen so it was OK. More annoying if I’ve picked them up, looked at them and chosen wrong! I am starting The Parasites today and really looking forward to it.
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State of the TBR June 2023
Jun 01, 2023 @ 11:46:25