April 2018 Wrap Up!

As our last full month of school comes to a close, we tried to fit as many reads into our busy schedules as possible! We've been busy and stressed and we may or not be panicking, but here's what we've managed to read:

Annalise:

This month I read 5 books (which is a miracle). I listened to three audiobooks and read two books this month - all of which were great. I read: Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher, and It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini.

Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions: I absolutely adored this read. It was fascinating to listen to, especially since I am huge fan of both Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists and her fiction novels. This is a small, heartfelt read dedicated to Ijeawele, Adichie's friend, who gave birth to a daughter and wanted to raise her a feminist. Not only does this book have a comical voice at times, it genuinely made me smile and think. This is only an hour-long listen, and a short read that is perfect to pick up whenever you get the chance. It was beautifully written, perfectly executed, and left me thinking about how I will raise a daughter, or son, of my own one day. I gave this book a 4/5 stars.

Wishful Drinking: I was lucky enough to read not one, but two Carrie Fisher books this month. I would definitely vote for audiobooks on these because of Fisher's wry wit, funny voice, and candor. This books was hilarious, actually laugh-out-loud, and was also weirdly informative. I tried to read this book a while back and couldn't really get into it. Audiobooking made all the difference. The memoir follows different aspects and stories of Fisher's life, from the daughter of superstars to Princess Leia to electro-shock therapy, it was enlightening as it was hilarious. I definitely recommend. I gave this book a 4.25/5 stars.

Station Eleven: While this took forever for me to read, it was definitely worth the long-haul. This is one of the most original apocalyptic novels that I have read in while. The characters all melded together in wonderful ways. Each of the storylines were equally complicated but intertwined in mind-blowing moments. And who doesn't like a traveling symphony that acts out Shakespeare? The ideas in this novel were not only creative, innovative, and genuinely different, they were also human at its very core. While it took a little while to pick up (it was really the 100 page mark that helped the plot kick into gear) and I felt that the ending might've concluded a bit too fast, I have very few complaints about this novel. It was definitely a book that you should try picking up if you love apocalyptic reads, strong female characters, complicated story lines, interesting themes, and excellent writing. I gave this book a 4/5 stars.

The Princess Diarist: Listening to this book right after hearing Fisher's Wishful Drinking was so much fun. Fisher has one of the most expressive voices, it echoes in your ears even when you turn it off. Chronicling her Star Wars years, especially now that there have been continuations, this book has so much insider information that any Star Wars fan will fall in love. Not only did this book win a Grammy (which I can totally understand why), it captures some of the greatest dialogue and emotions that can be told in a book. Fisher's diary entries that are read by her daughter are absolutely beautiful. When they are read, the whole tone of the book changes and the language is stunning. I would read this book purely for that chapter. I gave this book a 4.5/5 stars.

It's Kind of a Funny Story: Not only have I had this book for years, it was on my 12 Books to read in 2018 list! This book was amazing. Vizzini was able to capture such real emotion, experiences, and ideas in this novel. Craig's voice is one that is heartbreaking and funny. In a lot of ways, I could hear a Jesse Andrews humor in this novel, but even better. I think it is super important to be reading about mental illness, and to see where getting the help you need can take people. Unfortunately, Vizzini committed suicide in 2013 - seven years after this book was published based on his own experiences. This book is poignant and real, raw and candid and it should be read by everyone. If you have a mental illness, it brings solace and humor into your life, and if you don't, it can provide empathy for those of us who are struggling. I highly, highly suggest picking this book up. I gave this book a 4.5/5 stars.

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Ellie:

This month I read 5 books. I read a few books on Libby this month, and still continue to recommend doing so! It's easy and helps me read through books a lot faster than normal! I still do love an in-person book, and will never stop loving that new book smell!

Adultolescence by Gabbie Hanna: When I was, I think, in seventh or eighth grade, I started watching YouTube with my mom. We watched beauty gurus, and makeup collections, and room tours. And during my awkward puberty years, I found a new way to connect with my mom. My obsession with YouTube hasn't gone away, but I'm definitely not watching room tours anymore. I started to watch comedians, family vloggers, and I kept by beauty guru obsession. I started to watch 'The Gabbie Show', and found myself relating to this girl who was awkward but still funny, and when she released a book last year, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. This poetry collection is nothing like Milk and Honey, and it is very reminiscent of Shel Silverstein. But is still so real, honest, and vulnerable. 2.75/5 stars.

The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle: Well this book just messed with my emotions, that's for sure. The novel follows Lily, a 16 year old girl with ADHD who routinely ditches her meds, breaks things, and shows up late to every event, and Abelard, a 16 year old boy with Asperger's and a pretty prevalent anxiety disorder. The catchphrase for this novel seems to be, "Lily was running 30 seconds faster than the world, and Abelard was always running 30 seconds behind". And when I read that little blurb, I thought, "well, that'll lead to some awkward interactions". Let me tell you: I was not wrong. These two find solace in texting each other, where they can plan their responses and use quotes from The Letters of Abelard and Heloise to communicate their new-found love for each other. I related to both Lily and Abelard, I grew frustrated with both Lily and Abelard, and I prayed for a happy ending to this romance. However, the lower plot lines of potential brain surgery and a school for the 'different' made my hands twitchy and my heart concerned for the relationship between these two. It made my heart warm, however, and I give this book a 3.75/5 stars.

6 Earlier Days by David Levithan: Last month, I read Everyday, and fell in love with the idea of someone waking up in a new body every single morning. I found that novel so intriguing, so when I realized that there were two companion novels, I knew I had to read them as soon as possible! This short novel encompasses just what the title says: 6 days before the events of Everyday. We get to watch A at varying points of their life, as they encounter six very different bodies and six very different lives. I wish that this novella had given us a look into more days in A's life, as I want to know about how they came to have peace with their life, and how they coped with the realization that no body else was like them. I gave this short novella a 3.5/5 stars.

Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist: Wow. This book did something I don't think any book has ever done for me before: it made me realize a new fear, which is going blind. This novel follows Will, who has been blind his whole life, as he starts his first year at a non-blind school. He's 16, awkward, and gropes a girl on the first day-so definitely an awkward start for Will. He starts to fall in love with his new friend Cecily, but this relationship is threatened when he learns that people haven't been telling him the truth about Cecily. Another running theme is that Will has the opportunity to undergo a surgery to give him the ability to see, and we get to watch as this all unfolds. I had to put this book down and breathe while reading it because it did really spark a new fear in me. I had never thought about going blind before, but reading about all of Will's struggles in life made me really nervous! But this book was incredibly well written, so I give it a 3.75/5 stars.

Summer Days and Summer Nights by a variety of authors: In December, I read the winter/holiday version of this collection of romance stories. I fell in love with short stories, fell in love with the overall collection, and desperately wanted it to be warm enough to read the summer-themed version. So, on the first warm day of April, I sat down and read this beautiful collection of love stories. There's not much to say on the plot front, as I don't want to give anything away, but trust me when I tell you: these stories are beautiful, intricate, and compelling. I highly recommend both of these collections, which are arranged by Stephanie Perkins! 4/5 stars!

#MonthlyWrapUp