What I Read This Spring

Whew. I thought that I had a few dry spells this spring, and would have guessed that I didn't read as much as I have during the previous challenges at Callapidder Days. I think that I may be wrong. I think that I may have read the most. I do think that regular reading strengthens my reading muscles, meaning the more I read the faster I can read.

Katrina asked a few questions that we could include in our round-up, and I've addressed a few of them.

Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?

I mostly stuck to it, but I did switch some books out, and I added a lot of books. Part of this is because of my book-reviewing at 5 Minutes for Books. I am offered books that I'd like to read, and I can't wait 3 months to finish other books on my list. I like this flexibility.

My original list had 12 novels. I actually read 15 (linked below to my reviews). I had 3 memoirs on my list, but actually read 5 (reviews below). I had 6 children's/YA books on my list and read 9 (but a different 6). I read more non-fiction than I have in a while. There were 7 on my list (which was ambitious), but I read 10.

What was your favorite book that you read this spring? Least favorite? Why?
Did you discover a new author or genre this spring? Did you love them? Not love them?

I loved all the books I starred below*, but specifically discovered three new fiction authors I will enjoy reading more of: Thrity Umrigar, Katherine Center, and Mahbod Seraji.

As far as genre, for the first time in a long while, I read some crime fiction (The Scarecrow, linked below), and though it had all the elements of a good thriller, I didn't really enjoy it too much. I also started another book in the same genre, but couldn't get into it. I wonder if my reading tastes have changed.

All of the titles below are linked to my review (or in a few cases, the amazon page). A few of them have a giveaway that is still open, if you'd like to enter!

MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven
*The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal
Bittersweet: Lessons from my Mother's Kitchen (I did not care for this book. I reviewed it on amazon, so you can read my review there. Others liked it, so you might still want to check it out)
*Outcasts United
Crazy for the Storm -- Giveaway


FICTION

Cutting for Stone
Things I Want My Daughters to Know
Sea Changes
Life Without Summer
Four Wives
The Great Gatsby
*Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji
A Single Thread
Dating Da Vinci
The Spare Wife
*The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
*Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center
Rose House
The Scarecrow -- Giveaway
Maynard & Jennica

NON-FICTION (mostly parenting) -- I was surprised at how much non-fiction I read

Why Women Should Rule the World
Clutter-Free Christianity: What God Really Desires for You
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child
What to Read When: The Books and Stories to Read with Your Child
*Free-Range Kids
Empowering Youth
*Dear Mom: everything your teenaged daughter wants you to Know, but will never tell you
*The Purpose of Boys
Making Work at Home Work
Digitally Daunted -- Giveaway

CHILDREN'S LIT

11 Birthdays
Pieces of Georgia
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
*The Moon by Night
*Uglies
Also Known As Harper
Wings
Dessert First
*The Young Unicorns (reading this aloud with Amanda -- about 2/3 finished)

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