March was a good reading month for me. I re-read some favorites and added some 5 star reads to my list. Below are the books and my take on them.
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Lately I find my patience with unreliable narrators isn’t there and I think that is the main reason for me not liking Alice Feeney’s “Sometimes I Lie”. The book is told from the POV of the main character who is currently in coma and is trying to piece together how she got there. We are taken down numerous unreliable roads to the point where I was getting frustrated. If like an unreliable narrator, if you are in the mood for guessing what is true or not, this book might appeal to you.
Halsey Street by Naima Coster
Naima Coster’s “Halsey Street” packs a solid punch. We met a city going through a lot of changes. We meet the main character who is battling a life of unfulfilled dreams while trying to take care of her father who is dying. If you are looking for a fresh new voice on the literary street, this is the book for you!
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
“Milk and Honey” is Rupi Kaur’s first collection of poems. I am usually not one for poems because I generally feel they are too deep and I always miss the point. This collection however, is for those who aren’t lover of poetry but understands when a line speaks to their being.
P.S. Not for those who are currently going through a break-up.
By Love Possessed by Lorna Goodison
Lorna Goodison is a master storyteller. She captures the Caribbean spirit and people like no other. I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in this collection. It is vibrant, oozing with unforgettable characters and situations. If you are from an island and homesick, pick up this cure.
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
I decided to give this book a re-read because I remember loving it so much when I first read it. “Tuesdays With Morrie” offers life lessons for living with no regrets and getting to the heart of what makes a great life. I enjoyed this because it helps to be reminded what are the big things you should be focusing on in life.
How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents by Julia Alvarez
How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents follows the fours Garcia girls who were uprooted from their home in Dominica and relocated to NYC. We meet the four Garcia girls and see how they each handle their relocation. While I wanted to love this book, it fell a little flat for me. Too much was happening, and the plot did not follow. After a while I could hardly remember one significant thing about each Garcia girl.
The Schoolmaster by Earl Lovelace
I read “The Schoolmaster” during my high school literature and I decided to read re-read it 10 years later. I am so happy I decided to do this because I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book that is set in the country I currently life- Trinidad and Tobago. This book is so well written, one of my absolute favorites from Earl Lovelace. This book is about the price of change.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
I read “Things Fall Apart” at least 15 years ago and seeing that I was doing a lot of re-reads I added this to the list. I can definitely say I have a better appreciation for this novel 15 years later. Chinua Achebe wrote about colonialism in a way I have never read about before. It is sad that this novel is still timely even in 2018. This is a must read for anyone.
The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin
This is a mix between “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Big Little Lies”. If you loved either of those, or if you are in the mood to read about strong female characters I suggest you pick this one up. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, regardless it is a good beach read.
The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips
This novel broke my heart into a million tiny pieces. It is a novel about redemption, family, abuse, Jim Crow and poverty. This is heavy in so many ways, but also a necessary read.
Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
I love reading historical fiction because I always end up learning about a period in history I knew nothing about. In Between Shades of Grey explores we are told about what happened to the Baltic States in 1941 under the regime of Stalin and his men. Told from the POV of Lina, our strong female protagonist, we are given a heart-breaking look into her family’s life and what happened when they were uprooted from their home and sent to work in camps. If you love historical fiction, I am sure you will enjoy this.
Mr. Potter by Jamaica Kincaid
I have been slowly making my way through Jamaica Kincaid’s collection of books. So far Mr. Potter is my least favorite for many reasons, the main one being, it was not for me. I did not identify with the main character, I did not enjoy the use of reputation in this story. Overall the book did not appeal to me.
Everything is Beautiful Here by Mira T Lee
Mira T Lee knows how to write about mental illness and how it ruins a family. This book is absolutely beautiful and brilliant.
So Many Islands
So Many Island is a collection of stories, essays and poems by writers on various island. This collection features writers from the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific and Indian Ocean. If you are from an island, live on an island or plan on visiting an island, reading this book is a must.
What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley. I am not usually one for YA novels because I find they tend to border on the generic, however, I found myself getting into this book. If you are looking for a somewhat light YA novel, this is one you should pick up.
Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha
Girls Burn Brighter is a heart break story about two girls and their quest to find each other after being separated for over ten years.
Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
This was an interesting look at Big Data and the things they tell us. I liked that the book was engaging, and I was not overwhelmed by all the various data/research that went into the book. If you are looking for an engaging read, this might be a nice book to pick up.
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
If you read “The Glass Castle” and loved it, then you will also love “Educated” . This memoir is one of the best I’ve read for the year.
Live Fearless: A Call to Power, Passion and Purpose by Sadie Robertson
Live Fearless by Sadie Robertson packs a punch in offering solid advice on how to do away with fear and live with Passion and Purpose. I might have read this book at the wrong time, but the message is still very clear. I will be revisiting this book in the future.
The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? By Rick Warren
I read this book every year and I usually read it over 40 days as suggested by Rick Warren. If you are stuck in life, if you don’t know why you are on earth, if you are still trying to figure out the purpose of your life, pick this one up!
There you have it, my March 2018 Wrap Up. Hope one of these books make it into your hands.
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