I know I said last time that I would be updating you all on my reading at least monthly, but I got a bit sidetracked from that. I’ve been reading, but I have to admit that I bit off way too much with my last TBR. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been reading anywhere between 5-13 books at once, and it got a bit overwhelming.
So, knowing that I was drowning in my ever growing pile of books, I came to another decision. I had to start fresh again, and I’m thrilled to be able to say that as I write this my Goodreads “currently reading” shelf is at a glorious 0 for the first time in way too long.
Now, looking back to the previous post as well, I didn’t do too well on what I had hoped to complete in my April reading life – not even after May’s come and gone. Of the book I had hoped to finish reading, I can only say that I successfully completed these nine:
- Goodnight, Mr. Holmes by Carole Nelson Douglas
- The Dwarf by Par Lagerkvist
- The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas
- Case Closed (Vol. 1) by Gosho Aoyama
- Under Observation by Amalie Skram
- The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler
- Fables Deluxe Edition #5 by Bill Willingham et al.
- The Colonel’s Family by Fredrika Bremer
- Candide by Voltaire
Though I absolutely hate giving up on books, especially once I’ve read as much of them as I had the others, I just couldn’t keep the dedication and focus needed to finish The Namesake, The Colonel’s Family, Arsene Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes: The Blonde Phantom, or even Mary and the Wrongs of Woman at this point in time. I’ll have to go back to them again at some point.
Out of everything else? Well that’s even sadder – I still haven’t gotten to any of the books listed. Instead, here’s what I did complete:
- Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
- Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
- The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy
- A Darkness Absolute by Kelley Armstrong
- Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
- Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
- End of the Earth by Chad Huculak
- The Orange Cat and other Cainsville Tales by Kelley Armstrong
- Lost Souls by Kelley Armstrong
It’s not a long list for two months, but there isn’t a single one on here I didn’t enjoy (though I definitely liked some more than others). Plus, it was really great to get back into the Cainsville world through The Orange Cat and other Cainsville Tales and Lost Souls, a short story collection and novella. Kelley Armstrong is such a powerhouse, and I am so set now for the August release of Rituals (though I’m still a bit sad that it’ll be the end of such a wonderfully intriguing series).
So what’s next for my reading life?
Well, I don’t think that a formal TBR is what I need at this point – at least if I want to stick to it. For now, I’ll just see where my whims take me and go from there; at least after I finish the next two works I’m about to start:
The Miniature Wife and Other Stories by Manuel Gonzales
I found out about this short story collection from the Book Riot podcast, and it’s been burning a hole on my Kobo TBR ever since. Perpetually flying airplanes, miniaturized wives, and other crazy things fill the pages, making this a book I’m incredibly excited to dig into.
How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse BallThis novel has also been on my list for a long time, but I’m finally going to start it. Not only is the cover amazing, but it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA novel – and I’m in the mood for some fiery teenage angst.
It’s nice to be free from the crushing weight of reading a ton of books at once, so I think I’m going to strive to keep my currently reading shelf at a more manageable two or three – and at least make sure to keep it at one per type/genre (i.e. novel, short story collection, graphic novel, etc.). Hopefully that will help me stay on top of everything, but who knows what the fall semester (and my last one of my degree!) will bring. In the meantime, I’ll just enjoy the summer and my extra reading time while it lasts; and I’ll keep updating here as much as possible for anyone interested.
Until next time, read on!
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