March 2019 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up + Book Haul

Goodbye March, & hello April!

March wasn’t a very productive blogging month due to the flu hitting my house & a vacation, but it was a decent reading month!  I was able to read 13 books in March: 5 counted towards #MiddleGradeMarch, 3 in honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, and 3 counted for #YARC2019.

Let’s see what I read in March…

» Moloka’i (Moloka’i #1) by Alan Brennert

Moloka’i is an amazing historical fiction set in Hawaii that spans decades.  Moloka’i is about the leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa located on the island of Moloka’i.  This book blew me away.  It will definitely make my “top books of 2019” list.

You can read my mini review here ⇒ Mini Book Reviews: March 2019 (Part 1)

» The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani Dasgupta

#MiddleGradeMarch #YARC2019

I listened to the audiobook for this one and I think that was a mistake.  The narrator went a little too overboard with the whiny pre-teen voice.  The Serpent’s Secret had some wonderful things going for it.  I can’t help but feel I would have enjoyed this much better in print form.

» Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

*4.5 Stars*

Set in a small Southern town in Alabama, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is an endearing story of friendship, family, love, community, and good food.   This book is guaranteed to give you all the warm & fuzzy feels.  I was NOT expecting that dark twist.

» Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky

#WomensHistoryMonth

Loved learning about all these influential women in the STEM fields throughout history!  I listened to the audiobook format, but will request this book from the library to check out the illustrations.

» Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

An important book that should be required reading for high school aged kids.  Speak portrays the trauma that victims of sexual assault can experience.

» Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky

#Women’sHistoryMonth

Another excellent collection of mini biographies.  This collection focused on female athletes.

» Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Another powerful & important book by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Wintergirls is a raw depiction of eating disorders, specifically anorexia.

» Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

*4.5 Stars*

A heartbreaking WWII historical fiction book about the Wilhelm Gustloff.   I am appalled that I didn’t know anything about this horrific event.

» The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi

#MiddleGradeMarch #YARC2019

A lovely middle grade book about a young boy born in the United States to an illegal immigrant.

» Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

*4.5 Stars*

#MiddleGradeMarch

A middle grade novel about a deaf girl on a mission to communicate with a whale.  This was a beautiful “coming of age” story.

» A Boy Called Bat by Elena Arnold

*3.75 Stars*

#MiddleGradeMarch

A lovely middle grade novel with a main character on the Autism spectrum.  I feel the representation was very well done.  The plot could have been a little more complex, there wasn’t much to it.

» Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan

Another collection of mini biographies of influential women throughout history.

» Game of Stars (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #2) by Sayantani DasGupta

#MiddleGradeMarch #YARC2019

The second book in a MG fantasy series rooted in Indian folklore & mythology.   Unfortunately, I feel like this series will most appeal to those that are familiar with Indian culture & mythology.  Since I was not familiar beforehand, I feel like many of the wonderful aspects about this series went over my head.  It also felt forced & cheesy at times.

Goodreads Challenge Update:

I’m currently 11 books ahead of schedule towards my Goodreads goal of reading 100 books in 2019.

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#YARC2019 Update: 6 books read in 2019

Year of Asian Reading Challenge TBR + Progress Tracker #YARC2019

I read 3 books in March that counted for #YARC2019:  The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani Dasgupta, The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi, and Game of Stars (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #2) by Sayantani DasGupta

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2019 Goals Update:

» 80% NetGalley feedback ratio = 15 backlist ARCs ⇒ 4/15 complete

I didn’t read any NetGalley backlist books this month.  #Fail.  BUT I am up to a 64% NetGalley feedback ratio!

» 30 physical TBR books ⇒ 8/30 complete

I read 3 books off my physical TBR.  I read Moloka’i (Moloka’i #1) by Alan Brennert, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

» No buying new books ⇒ Fail

As you will read below, I did end up buying a few books this month.  I have zero regrets 🙂

» Complete mini reviews for all books read ⇒ Still going strong!

I’ve posted mini book reviews of all the books I’ve read through February.  I will be posting my mini book reviews for my march reads in April.

» Two creative blog posts per month ⇒ Fail

I didn’t really post any new creative content in March.  Hard fail.

» Read long books I’ve been putting off ⇒ 0/3

While I have not picked up any of the long books that I had originally wanted to get read this year, BUT I did start Black Leopard, Red Wolf which is 620 pages… I consider anything over 500 pages a long book, so I am at least reading longer books right?

February 2019 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up

March 2019 TBR

Books I Read for #BlackHistoryMonth 2019 + Mini Book Reviews

Book Recs: Mini Biography Collections to Read for #WomensHistoryMonth

Book Review: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave

Kids’ Corner: Children’s Picture Books for #WomensHistoryMonth

Mini Book Reviews: March 2019 (Part 1)

I did buy a few books this month.  In my defense, only 2 of them were not exceptions to my 2019 book buying ban.   I was ordering a few books for my daughter for Easter off Book Outlet, and I needed to hit the $35 mark to get the free shipping… My hands were tied 🙂

Physical Books:

» Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

I attended Laurie Halse Anderson’s book tour for Shout, so I received a signed copy.  Exception to my book buying ban.

» Keeper of Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities #1) by Shannon Messenger

One of the books I ordered off Book Outlet.

» Akata Warrior (Akata Witch #2) by Nnedi Okorafor

The other book I ordered off Book Outlet.

» A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness

Bought this on a visit to The Book Loft with Jackie @Death By Tsundoku.  Again this was a special circumstance and an exception to my book buying ban.

» The Grisha Trilogy Boxed Set by Leigh Bardugo (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising)

Also purchased on my visit to The Book Loft.  This boxed set was on sale for $12.99.  How could I say no to that?

» March Boxed Set (March #1, March #2, and March #3) by John Lewis

Also purchased on my visit to The Book Loft.  I picked up the March graphic novels for $24!

» The Winter of the Witch (Winternight #3) by Katherine Arden

I couldn’t resist a signed copy of Winter of the Witch that I came across in a book store in Savannah.

Which books did you read in March?

Have you read any of the books I read or hauled this month?  If so, what did you think?

Did you buy any books?  If so, which ones?

Comment below & let me know 🙂