april reading wrap up
Jun. 1st, 2025 12:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
geodineSomething happened in the last two months, y'all. Like, in the month of May I read as many books as i did in January, February, and March combined. All to say, I really don't see a quarterly wrap-up being feasible if I don't want it to be a decades long post.
So, I'll be doing two separate posts about all the books I read in April and May, starting here! (As well as all the other media I got up to, I guess?) I'm doing my best to keep this spoiler free in case any of y'all want to take my word for book recommendations. I guess I'll include my star ratings, but please be warned that they are completely baseless and will probably fall apart if you start comparing them with each other.
I read 12 books in April, sooooo here we go!
Candide - Voltaire (4.0)
Every time I read a classic I get completely blindsighted by the fact that classic novels can be, y'know,,, good? Sometimes they are, in fact, Good! I was laughing out loud at a book that was written before the Declaration of Independence!!!
Your Forma #3 - Mareho Kikuishi (2.5)
Forgot that I ruined myself with the rest of the Your Forma series in April, huh... Love all these books despite their ratings, but this was definitely my least favorite just because Echika and Harold were basically separated for the entire novel. I missed the Antics! The Banter! Still absolutely devoured this one though
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune (2.0)
Y'all.... I really thought I was gonna like this one but it turned into a hate read by the end. I can't even say why exactly I disliked it so much, really? But this book genuinely put me off all lighthearted fantasy and contemporary romance so completely that it's almost impressive. Lightly put, not for me!!
The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo (4.0)
I read this book once in middle or high school, I think? My dad had read it and was finding a way to bring it up in every conversation, so I decided to reread it for him. I was worried that it wouldn't hold up but it was pretty much as good as I remembered it being. I can see this being lifechanging material for me if I had read it at the exact right time, so I definitely get why it has the place in culture that it does.
Your Forma #4 - Mareho Kikuishi (3.5)
Your Forma is not giving us two misses in a row, I'll tell you that! Having a Bigga-focused novel was such a treat, and it really makes me happy to see her character develop soooo much from the first book--I'm so glad she became a regular cast member in the series.
The Coin - Yasmin Zaher (4.25)
STRONGG five star contender. The writing style of this book is so uniquely captivating--the reason why I've started writing all my posts with about 50% more comma splices is because of this book, although I obviously don't make it work the way The Coin does. But MAN, this is a book that hijacks your brain. To give you an example of a passage that lives on in my head even though it's been over a month since I read this book:
I had done the math and come to the right answer, which is always zero, or even less. To love is not worth it. The benefits, whatever they are, are mostly a comfort from the relentless emptiness of being human, a separate being alone in the world. They are not worth putting yourself at the mercy of others. This isn't a secret, I said this to people, I even said it to my students. To love is to be taken hostage, boys, it's Stockholm syndrome.
Yes, I was with Sasha, we had been together for years, but he didn't have any power over me. I never thought of him when he wasn't there, my heart never skipped a beat. I'm not proud of this, I would have preferred a relationship of passion, but I always need one foot on the ground.
Not to say that this is gorgeous prose, exactly, but there's a rhythm to the writing that makes it feel like you're reading poetry, and it's sooo delightful to get swept up in. The only real reason that I couldn't five star this is because it does that thing every literary novel does where there's a focus on sex and sexuality that's just entirely inexplicable to me--I don't think that this is outright bad, but it's something that I personally haven't ever been able to wrap my head around, although there must be some artistic purpose for it.
I still ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to anyone who wants to read true messy woman fiction. This is the kind of book that lingers, and I'm absolutely rereading it someday.
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (4.0)
Okay, finally reread this for the first time since childhood since marathonning the LOTR movies, and like. Yes it was very very good and delightful but I don't really have any interesting things to say about it. You know, The Hobbit!
Your Forma #5 - Mareho Kikuishi (4.0)
This is THE fanservice Your Forma volume and I absolutely ate it up! Sending the main characters on a tropical vacation; Dressing them up in ball room outfits; Giving the campiest possible raise in stakes for the crime they're solving; And ofc, plenty of opportunities for Harold and Echika to banter and almost-flirt throughout the book; Most of all, the return of my favorite character in the entire series, who I genuinely believed was never going to play a major role again. Basically, one of the most indulgent pieces of fiction I've read in my life, and I ate every single page of it up.
The Last Draft - Sandra Scofield
I don't really give ratings to nonfiction unless it's very very good or very very bad. This was a writing manual that was, by all accounts, Fine.
The Crash - Freida McFadden (3.0)
Okayy, this book probably doesn't deserve the 3 stars I gave it, like, at all. This was the second read for my sister's book club and I don't actually think it was much better than the first one. However! I read this while I was having a horrific mental health moment, and its insane convoluted plot was really right at my level to break through the brain fog, so I honestly loved the entire thing. If you like bad thrillers (and who doesn't?) this is a pretty good pick.
Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik (5.0)
FIRST FIVE STAR READ OF THE YEAR!
Yes, unshockingly, my Naomi Novik reread was given five stars; I cannot get over my obsession with this author, okay. I was sorta amazed by how much I enjoyed this one, though, since I didn't remember liking it much the first time I read it. Honestly, I think I was just too young to really have the patience for the plot. But as an adult this is really one of the most narratively impressive novels I've ever read. For how much I like this author, it's pretty amazing that her work continues to surprise me, huh?
All fantasy fans, I am begging y'all to pick this one up.
Your Forma #6 - Mareho Kikuishi (3.5)
By the law of equivalent exchange, the most fun Your Forma book just had to be followed up by the most emotionally devastating one possible, huh? I'm truly trying not to think about this book too hard until the seventh volume comes out because the cliffhanger it ends on is just utterly insane. Nothing has filled the Your Forma shaped hole in my heart since catching up on this series.
Wowww and there it is!!! Very mixed reading month but there were some standouts in there,,,
Other media from this month: Replayed Child of Light which was fine, and started both another BG3 run and a game of Avowed that I'm still working through. Only watched bad movies. I guess that's all,,,, May post coming soon!
So, I'll be doing two separate posts about all the books I read in April and May, starting here! (As well as all the other media I got up to, I guess?) I'm doing my best to keep this spoiler free in case any of y'all want to take my word for book recommendations. I guess I'll include my star ratings, but please be warned that they are completely baseless and will probably fall apart if you start comparing them with each other.
I read 12 books in April, sooooo here we go!
Candide - Voltaire (4.0)
Every time I read a classic I get completely blindsighted by the fact that classic novels can be, y'know,,, good? Sometimes they are, in fact, Good! I was laughing out loud at a book that was written before the Declaration of Independence!!!
Your Forma #3 - Mareho Kikuishi (2.5)
Forgot that I ruined myself with the rest of the Your Forma series in April, huh... Love all these books despite their ratings, but this was definitely my least favorite just because Echika and Harold were basically separated for the entire novel. I missed the Antics! The Banter! Still absolutely devoured this one though
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune (2.0)
Y'all.... I really thought I was gonna like this one but it turned into a hate read by the end. I can't even say why exactly I disliked it so much, really? But this book genuinely put me off all lighthearted fantasy and contemporary romance so completely that it's almost impressive. Lightly put, not for me!!
The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo (4.0)
I read this book once in middle or high school, I think? My dad had read it and was finding a way to bring it up in every conversation, so I decided to reread it for him. I was worried that it wouldn't hold up but it was pretty much as good as I remembered it being. I can see this being lifechanging material for me if I had read it at the exact right time, so I definitely get why it has the place in culture that it does.
Your Forma #4 - Mareho Kikuishi (3.5)
Your Forma is not giving us two misses in a row, I'll tell you that! Having a Bigga-focused novel was such a treat, and it really makes me happy to see her character develop soooo much from the first book--I'm so glad she became a regular cast member in the series.
The Coin - Yasmin Zaher (4.25)
STRONGG five star contender. The writing style of this book is so uniquely captivating--the reason why I've started writing all my posts with about 50% more comma splices is because of this book, although I obviously don't make it work the way The Coin does. But MAN, this is a book that hijacks your brain. To give you an example of a passage that lives on in my head even though it's been over a month since I read this book:
I had done the math and come to the right answer, which is always zero, or even less. To love is not worth it. The benefits, whatever they are, are mostly a comfort from the relentless emptiness of being human, a separate being alone in the world. They are not worth putting yourself at the mercy of others. This isn't a secret, I said this to people, I even said it to my students. To love is to be taken hostage, boys, it's Stockholm syndrome.
Yes, I was with Sasha, we had been together for years, but he didn't have any power over me. I never thought of him when he wasn't there, my heart never skipped a beat. I'm not proud of this, I would have preferred a relationship of passion, but I always need one foot on the ground.
Not to say that this is gorgeous prose, exactly, but there's a rhythm to the writing that makes it feel like you're reading poetry, and it's sooo delightful to get swept up in. The only real reason that I couldn't five star this is because it does that thing every literary novel does where there's a focus on sex and sexuality that's just entirely inexplicable to me--I don't think that this is outright bad, but it's something that I personally haven't ever been able to wrap my head around, although there must be some artistic purpose for it.
I still ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to anyone who wants to read true messy woman fiction. This is the kind of book that lingers, and I'm absolutely rereading it someday.
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (4.0)
Okay, finally reread this for the first time since childhood since marathonning the LOTR movies, and like. Yes it was very very good and delightful but I don't really have any interesting things to say about it. You know, The Hobbit!
Your Forma #5 - Mareho Kikuishi (4.0)
This is THE fanservice Your Forma volume and I absolutely ate it up! Sending the main characters on a tropical vacation; Dressing them up in ball room outfits; Giving the campiest possible raise in stakes for the crime they're solving; And ofc, plenty of opportunities for Harold and Echika to banter and almost-flirt throughout the book; Most of all, the return of my favorite character in the entire series, who I genuinely believed was never going to play a major role again. Basically, one of the most indulgent pieces of fiction I've read in my life, and I ate every single page of it up.
The Last Draft - Sandra Scofield
I don't really give ratings to nonfiction unless it's very very good or very very bad. This was a writing manual that was, by all accounts, Fine.
The Crash - Freida McFadden (3.0)
Okayy, this book probably doesn't deserve the 3 stars I gave it, like, at all. This was the second read for my sister's book club and I don't actually think it was much better than the first one. However! I read this while I was having a horrific mental health moment, and its insane convoluted plot was really right at my level to break through the brain fog, so I honestly loved the entire thing. If you like bad thrillers (and who doesn't?) this is a pretty good pick.
Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik (5.0)
FIRST FIVE STAR READ OF THE YEAR!
Yes, unshockingly, my Naomi Novik reread was given five stars; I cannot get over my obsession with this author, okay. I was sorta amazed by how much I enjoyed this one, though, since I didn't remember liking it much the first time I read it. Honestly, I think I was just too young to really have the patience for the plot. But as an adult this is really one of the most narratively impressive novels I've ever read. For how much I like this author, it's pretty amazing that her work continues to surprise me, huh?
All fantasy fans, I am begging y'all to pick this one up.
Your Forma #6 - Mareho Kikuishi (3.5)
By the law of equivalent exchange, the most fun Your Forma book just had to be followed up by the most emotionally devastating one possible, huh? I'm truly trying not to think about this book too hard until the seventh volume comes out because the cliffhanger it ends on is just utterly insane. Nothing has filled the Your Forma shaped hole in my heart since catching up on this series.
Wowww and there it is!!! Very mixed reading month but there were some standouts in there,,,
Other media from this month: Replayed Child of Light which was fine, and started both another BG3 run and a game of Avowed that I'm still working through. Only watched bad movies. I guess that's all,,,, May post coming soon!
