Book of the Month
I got seriously distracted from my other challenges by Kristen’s March Magics event this month, but how can I complain when it meant getting to read and reread books by two of my favorite fantasy authors? One that was new to me was Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett, and I loved its fractured mix of Shakespearean motifs, Discworld-style. I also love these Collector’s Library covers, and might have to collect some of them myself.
Checking in with the Reading New England Challenge, Massachusetts was a popular choice this month with reviews posted of Little Women; Practical Magic; The Storied Life of AJ Fikry; Boy, Snow, Bird; and The Wolves of Andover. There are also reviews of a paranormal fantasy set in Rhode Island, Sanctum, and Maine author Stephen King’s first horror novel, Carrie, as well as a cozy mystery set in Maine, The Whole Cat and Caboodle. Thanks to you all for participating — it’s so much fun to see what you come up with!
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Reviews
- I enjoyed immersing myself in Green Dolphin Street and The Child from the Sea, two historical chunksters from Elizabeth Goudge.
- For Reading New England, I visited The Country of the Pointed Firs thanks to Maine author Sarah Orne Jewett.
- For March Magics, I reviewed two books about witches: Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett and Witch’s Business by Diana Wynne Jones.
- And for a TLC Book Tour, I reviewed the eleventh Maisie Dobbs mystery, A Dangerous Place.
Other Books Read
How To Be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman- Missoula by Jon Krakauer – Nonfiction Book Club
- Lavinia by Ursula K. LeGuin – Reread
- Conrad’s Fate by Diana Wynne Jones – March Magics
- Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett – March Magics
- The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde – Review to come
- Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery – Reread
- The Return of the Twelves by Pauline Clarke – Reread
- The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge – Review to come
Other Features and Events
- March Magics has been a wonderful month-long celebration of the works of Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett, hosted by We Be Reading. As well as the review linked above, I shared my DWJ collection, posted a favorite quote, participated in the Equal Rites readalong, and collected my picks for bad cover art (to be posted on Tuesday).
- I profiled Maine publisher Tilbury House, another Reading New England feature.
- I read Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town for Doing Dewey’s Nonfiction Book Club, a difficult but eye-opening read.
- In Do you know what you’re saying? I shared some phrases that are commonly used incorrectly around the blogosphere. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but these are pretty egregious.
Coming in April
- I’m planning to celebrate Elizabeth Goudge Day on her birthday, April 24.
- I’ll also be joining in Brooding about the Brontes, a week-long event hosted by my blogging friend Susie at Girl with Her Head in a Book.
- And I’m looking forward to The 1938 Club, another brilliant blog event that focuses on books published in a single year.
Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and the Monthly Wrap-up Round-up hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The Emerald City Book Review Archive 
Great monthly recap! I read Missoula last year and thought it was very eye-opening, I hope you enjoyed it too.
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Eye-opening indeed — a disturbing but important book.
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I’ve never read any Terry Pratchett, I should probably try them sometime! Looks like you’ve got some fun stuff coming up. Hope you have a great week/month coming up!
Check out my Sunday Post
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Thank you, Lisa! Pratchett is not for everybody, but he’s worth a try to see if you like him.
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That Pratchett cover is amazing, my collection has a combo of the older cartoonish covers and stunning black ones with gold detail. I love his stories, it is such a shame he has passed.
Have a good week!
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All the Collectors’ Library covers are terrific. It’s nice to see editions that are both attractive and affordable.
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Sounds like you’ve had a great month. I am particularly pleased to see you have a couple of Pratchett’s witch books – I am hoping to read Witches Abroad very soon!
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That’s a really fun one. Enjoy!
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Wow, you had an awesome reading month! I hope you enjoyed The Eyre Affair as much as I did. By coincidence, the kids and I read some wonderful children’s books set in New England over Easter. I hope to post about them at some point in April. Thanks for the link to my Little Women post.
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I did enjoy The Eyre Affair, somewhat to my surprise. I’ll be posting about it during the Brooding about the Brontes week. I’m so glad you found some more wonderful New England books — I look forward to reading about those.
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How was How to Be a Tudor? I really really liked Ruth Goodman’s earlier book about being a Victorian, so I’m looking forward to the Tudor one.
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It was also excellent — I learned so much.
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A fun monthly review! The 1938 club sounds good, specific, but there’s fun in being that specific when it’s a hobby in question. I loved Wyrd Sisters, one of my favourites (top spot to Mort so far). Looking forward to your bad cover art post.
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The last time there was this “club” it was so interesting to see the books that were published in a particular year, some famous and some obscure.
Bad (and good) cover art is now up — have a look!
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Thanks for featuring my review Lory! 🙂
I’m almost finish with The Demonists by by Thomas E. Sniegoski which is AWESOME and set in MA. The release and review is coming up April 1st. I HIGHLY recommended it! I’m a big fan of his work. So far all his books have been 5-stars for me 🙂
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Always glad to hear of more reviews of New England books! I’ll be watching for it.
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You had quite a busy month! Happy April!
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Thanks Freda, you too!
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What a great March you had! I have seen great reviews of the Wyrd Sisters and now I really need to add it to my TBR. Hope you have a great April! My March Wrap-Up
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Wyrd Sisters is so much fun. Hope you enjoy it.
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That library book cover is so cool looking. I’m curious about Wyrd Sisters now!
-Lauren
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I think that’s exactly what a good cover should do — make you curious about what’s inside.
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I kind of ran out of steam at the end of the month as far as commenting on other people’s posts but I did want to come by and say THANK YOU for participating in my event again this year! You always bring something unique to it. 🙂
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Thank you, Kristen — I really liked how you organized the month this year. It was so lively and varied. Great job!
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What fun events coming up for you! I am a bad reader in that sense; I rarely attend things. I need to get it together, though!
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I find these blogging events hard to resist. I really enjoy focusing on an author or theme. I hope you’ll find some to join in!
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What an awesome reading month for you! I’ll definitely have to check some of these books out, they sound great!
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It was a great month, especially because of March Magics — with two of my favorite authors to enjoy, how could I go wrong?
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