Video: March Wrap-Up
Watch this March wrap-up and other booktube videos on my Read Remark YouTube Channel.
Wow, March was a big month for reading. We had March Mystery Madness, the Tournament of Books, and five freaking weeks that made it feel like the month would never end. On the upside, for those of you getting paid biweekly, you probably got an extra paycheck. Hey-oooooo! Dolla’ bills, ya’ll!
Here’s my March wrap-up of books I’ve read.
Click each title to read my full review:
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
Abortion is outlawed in this dystopian novel. We follow four different women and the consequences of not having control over their own bodies. Come for the alarmism. Stay for the characters. These are interesting, messy, complex, imperfect women who embody the messy and complex world they inhabit.
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
A gymnastics phenom balances competition with young adulthood. Meanwhile, there’s a murder afoot. Abbott writes teens exceptionally well. We get an insider look into a secret, poignant, and dangerous society. One in which teens deal with grown-up problems with a still childlike mentality.
The Merry Spinster by Mallory Ortberg
Ortberg gives a darker and deadlier spin on the already-morbid fairy tales by the likes of Hans Christian Anderson, et al. Part of the fun of The Merry Spinster is matching the book’s story to the fable to figure out what it’s emulating. Dare I say, some of these have better endings than the originals.
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Manhattan Beach opens with a young Anna and her beloved father in the Depression era. Later, we cut back in with Anna as a young woman. Now, she’s the sole breadwinner of the family and an aspiring underwater diver. It is beautifully written. For me, the storyline itself didn’t catch.
Dear Cyborgs by Eugene Lim
In the beginning, Dear Cyborgs seems like a disjointed series of vignettes. Upon finishing this book, Dear Cyborgs still seems like a disjointed series of vignettes. the point is no point. It’s not meant to come together neatly. Rather, it’s likely a novel idea that deconstructs books and the reading experience. Here’s the brilliant article by Hua Hsu that gave me more insight.
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Selin begins her college studies at Harvard University, buys a questionable poster, hangs out with friends, and travels. I was ready to be finished when I was only a third of the way through. Situations are presented with no contribution to the overall narrative. The book meanders. Bravely boring? Or just boring? Here is Ismael Muhammad’s thoughtful write-up for the Tournament of Books.
Lucky Boy by Shanthi Sekaran
Ignacio is a lucky boy, pulled between two mothers who want nothing more than to provide a home for him. Simultaneously, Lucky Boy is heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. As a reader, it’s easy to want both sides to win. A satisfying ending on either side is tinged with sorrow and ache.
The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn
Agoraphobic Anna witnesses a murder from her bedroom window. Or maybe she didn’t. After all, she is on a potent mix of anti-psychotic drugs and alcohol. Interestingly, The Woman in the Window features frequent nods to black and white suspense movies. Heavy emphasis on the Hitchcockian thriller vibe.
Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman
Amy Kaufman takes us behind the scenes of The Bachelor. She exposes the drama behind the rose ceremonies and the social constructs that make up dating mores and the show’s success. Despite what the show’s legal team may think, this isn’t a takedown of The Bachelor. Rather, it’s a chance to revel in it.
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Drew needs a wedding date. Alexa’s up for it. The Wedding Date solves a lot of these tired tropes of the romance genre, delivering two characters who have a lot going for them but aren’t perfect. They have imperfections and insecurities with which many readers can relate.
Hope my March wrap-up has given you a few good titles to try. At the very least, perhaps you can help me see the light on the ones that didn’t quite work for me. Happy reading!
