April 2015 Chapter

Welcome to the Read.Write.Repeat. monthly wrap-up.  Every month, I give a quick overview of what books I read, the progress made on the 100 Best Novels goal, a few book-related links, and general blog news.  

April News 

My adoration of North Carolina spring continues. I'm obsessed. My allergies are not nearly as bad here, the colors are amazing, and the weather is divine.

The last month has been a wonderful realization of life as I thought it would be when we first moved. No formal work hours, just online teaching and tutoring. I spent an entire week immersed in thesis writing and it is now officially done! As of this week, I have completed my Master of Liberal Arts and could not be prouder. On to the doctorate!

We are fully immersed in a house hunt and hope to buy sometime in the next few months. Meanwhile, it looks like I will be spending the summer putting in some hours at a local boutique which sells attire and home decor by local artists and fair trade organizations. The owner is in our small group at church; she also has two adorable little girls who I may quasi-nanny a bit as well. The first thing I told Kevin was that I'm bringing all my children's books back from my parents' house next time we visit so I can read to them all. summer. long. All in all, the summer is looking more and more appealing. Oh, and best of all, my sister and her husband are moving to NC, just a few hours from us! I feel like I want to use #blessed without being cliché...but I'm not sure that's possible. So, let me just say how thankful I am for the life I get to lead. It's not perfect and we certainly have our share of struggles, but overall I know I have far more than I deserve.

As far as the blog goes, I must admit I have been feeling some fatigue lately. I think it's just been the push of finishing grad school and feeling the pressure there. I am hoping to find some fresh inspiration and motivation this summer. I am reading more than ever and loving what I am reading, but writing has been a struggle some days.

This month, Movie Monday covered Holes and Gone Girl, two movies which could not be more different. I read 12 books, which seems crazy and about accurate. I am in the middle of a whole bunch right now - I have been loving the library lately - and excited about most of them! If you are looking for fun reads this summer, I promise to hook you up!

Books Reviewed

1. The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker
2. Station Eleven - Emily St. John Mandel
3. Parade's End - Ford Madox Ford
4. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld
5. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
6. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
7. The Bookseller - Cynthia Swanson
8. Madam President - Nicholle Wallace

Books Read

1. The Running Man - Stephen King
2. The Bookseller - Cynthia Swanson
3. Madam President - Nicholle Wallace
4. A Handful of Dust - Evelyn Waugh
5. The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
6. The Residence - Kate Andersen Brower
7. Delancey - Molly Wizenberg
8. Enchanted - Althea Kontis
9. The Sweet In-Between - Sheri Reynolds
10. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
11. The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
12. The Apprentice - Jacques Pépin

Pages Read: 3,809

Favorite Book Read: Since The Night Circus was a reread, I will defer and select another. It really is a close call this month, but I am going with The Residence. I'll have a full review for you next week!

100 Best Novels Progress

• A Handful of Dust and The Catcher in the Rye
• 40% complete

2015 TBR Pile Challenge Progress

I finished both The Red Tent and The Apprentice - both from the list! I'm still struggling through Blindness and The Elegance of the Hedgehog and now NW, too. If anyone happens to have a copy of Life After Art by Matt Appling, I am having some trouble finding an easy version. I may have to break down and buy it. 

Articles

I did not find anything this month that I felt was worth sharing. 

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Thanks for reading! Now get out of here, grab a book, and go enjoy the sunshine!