Thursday, May 5, 2016

April Wrap-Up


April Overview


What happened in April? I finished my third semester of graduate school, and the weather was so bad that I had a lot of time to read. I didn’t take any pictures in April because I don’t want to spend more time in the snow than I have to.




Since I’ve been reading so much, my TBR shelf now has less than 40 books on it. I’m hoping that it will have less than 30 by the end of May. I feel a lot less stressed out when I don’t have a ton of unread books sitting around.




Books I Read


I read 13 books in April and got very close to finishing Neal Shusterman’s Unwind series, which was my reading goal for the month.



UnDivided – Neal Shusterman
Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow – Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Saving Wonder – Mary Knight
UnStrung – Neal Shusterman
A Guide to being Born – Ramona Ausubel
Poor Things – Alasdair Gray





Best Books of April


Picking favorites was painful this month. I liked so many of them.



2. Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow – Susan Campbell Bartoletti
3. A Guide to being Born – Ramona Ausubel




Most Viewed Reviews








Most Viewed Non-Reviews






In May . . .


I’m going to be taking a blogging hiatus from May 25 to June 5. I have a few posts scheduled during that time, but I probably won’t be looking at the blog very often. I will be in Kentucky for my school residency. If this residency is anything like the others, I will be insanely stressed out and running around like a crazy person for two weeks. The blog will be back to its regularly scheduled nonsense on June 6.




Tentative May TBR


May is going to be busy, so I have no idea how much reading time I will have. I know for sure that I’m going to read these:

UnBound – Neal Shusterman
Travels in Vermeer – Michael White
The Lover – Marguerite Duras




All The Things


All The Things (AKA my TBR pile) = 36 books.


I’m currently reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.












25 comments:

  1. Looking forward to your thoughts on Never Let Me Go....The movie was pretty good too.

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  2. Looks like a great reading month. Great job on getting your TBR down!

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  3. Good luck. Though you seem like a smart person, so I expect you to do well.

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  4. Awesome reading month!! I'm looking forward to see what you think about the ending of the Unwind series! Good luck with your hiatus! I'm sure you'll do well! :D

    Tracy @ Cornerfolds

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  5. It looks like April was a great reading month! I know you've been reviewing the books individually, but how are you finding the Unwind series as a whole? I read the first book in the series a while ago now - I loved it - but haven't continued as of yet because I suck when it comes to series!

    I totally get what you mean regarding your unread books. One of my goals for the year is to get my unread shelf down to just 15 books and I'm well on the way so far. It's funny because although I'm not physically carrying those books around, I feel lighter for having worked through them. Good on you for getting the stack down!

    How is Never Let Me Go working out? Have you seen the film? I've read the book, not seen the film - I would like to though.

    Happy reading!!

    Reading With Jade

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    1. I liked the Unwind series as a whole. If I have time, I want to write a giant series wrap-up review that puts all of my thoughts in once place. I liked Never Let Me Go, but I didn’t know that there was a movie! Good luck with your TBR pile. I’m a lot happier with a small TBR.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  6. Wow! What a reading month you've had! Very nicely done~ :)
    I can't wait to be right there with you at the end of the Unwind dystology. I've a bit too much on my plate exactly right now, but I have a feeling I'm going to love it to bits.

    Hope you have a happy May! Keep on slayin' that TBR. <3

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  7. You had a awesome reading month. I have read and loved the last book in the Unwind series, which I thought was one of the best book in series. I also plan on reading unbound soon. Also enjoy your blogging hiatus, sometimes we all need a break.
    Tori @InToriLex

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    1. I also thought the last book was one of the best in the series. It’s rare for me to say that because I’m often disappointed with series ends.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  8. Oh my, April sounds like it was a very busy month AJ, and I completely understand not wanting to be outside in the snow more than necessary.
    Good luck with your residency later in May!
    Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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  9. That's quite a bit of reading for someone in grad school! Looks like you had a great month.

    Oh, I loved Never Let Me Go when I read it in high school. I hope you're enjoying it too.

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  10. Oooh trips! Sometimes it's good to take a blog hiatus! :) How did you like A Madness so Discreet? I couldn't even finish it :/

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    1. I liked A Madness So Discreet but didn’t love it. I thought the author’s other books were better.

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  11. Wow you read a lot of books! That's awesome, I didn't get to read much, work hates me lol

    Carrie @The Book Goddess

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  12. I feel so so less stressed when I don't have a ton of books on my TBR too. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE A ZILLION RIGHT NOW. *cries* I really need to sort this out. Argh. Anyway. ;D I loved Unwind too! I haven't read it in YEARS though and I never finished the series, so I want to reread it this year and read the rest. :D I mean, once I conquer this huge tbr. 😂 Good luck for your hiatus and I hope you don't get TOO stressed...*gives you encouraging chocolate*

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    1. Thanks! I totally need encouraging chocolate. Good luck with your TBR, and I hope you get a chance to finish the Unwind series!

      Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  13. Well done on cutting down on your TBR! I need to avoid the library - I can't seem to walk away without checking something out even though I have a lot of books waiting at home. Good luck with your residency - I'm sure you'll do fantastic!

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  14. Great selection of books you have! Neal SHusterman's Unwind series is great isn't it? I hope May isn't too hectic for you and good luck with the residency.

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  15. I know it's a little late but congrats on finishing your third semester of graduate school! Well done. :) It's good to hear your cutting down your TBR list and getting lots of reading done, i hope your kicking May's reading goals' butt! Some great books you've had for April and I'll definitely have to check them out!

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