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Best Books of March 2021
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- Title - All The Devils Are Here (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #16) - Author - Louise Penny
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - Hard back (Christmas Gift. The best)
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - Related to a NATO alphabet code word. The word was Quebec. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec.
- Brief reason why it was the best _ This has to be my favorite series. I love the world of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.
- Title - It Ends with Us- Author - Colleen Hoover
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - book and audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - ATY#52 - A book related to "the end"
- Brief reason why it was the best - Wow, this was one powerful book. It was not what I was expecting.
- Title - Pretty Girls
- Author - Karin Slaughter
- Rating - 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - ATY#30 - a long book
- Brief reason why it was the best - This was one freaky, scary book!! I like thrillers, but not so much horror books. But I couldn't stop reading it!
- Title - Dark Matter- Author - Blake Crouch
- Rating - 5 perfect stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) #34 A book with a travel theme
- Brief reason why it was the best - In Blake Crouch's own words, "It contains elements of thriller, science fiction, paranoid suspense, the slightest touch of horror, but at its core, it's a love story."
- Title - The Vanishing Half- Author Brit Bennett
- Rating 5 Star
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) A book about racism or race relations
- Brief reason why it was the best Hard to articulate what it was that made this work but to start I really enjoyed reading about the women at the center of the story. I also found there was oh so much to think about but it was presented in a subtile whisper which I found me more eager to listen. There was a lot of sadness but that was always laced with hope never leaving it too dreary.
Honorable mention
- Title Good Girl, Bad Blood
- Author Holly Jackson
- Rating 4 starts
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) A book that you consider comfort reading
- Brief reason why it was the best I really enjoyed the first book in this series and thought this was a super fun follow up. A little simplistic so perhaps not the best book in the world but boy did it fit that comfort reading prompt!
- The Architect's Apprentice- Elif Shafak
- 4.5
- 17. Muslim character or author
- Historical fiction with a strong connection to place (Istanbul) and time (1500s Renaissance) is my favorite kind of book to read.
- Humankind: A Hopeful History (original Dutch title: De Meeste Mensen Deugen- Rutger Bregman
- 5 stars
- #47 - a nonfiction book other than biography etc.
- This is a very positive book about humankind. The translation of the title should have been something like: 'Most People Are Nice People'. The author illustrates this by numerous examples throughout history.
There is still hope for the human race!
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- Author - Abi Daré
- Rating - 5
- Format - Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - 100 Black Novelists
- Brief reason why it was the best - The main character goes through a lot of difficulties but is never defeated. She has a great spark. The narration on audio was outstanding, showing all the emotions of a 15-year-old girl.
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Title: Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War IAuthor: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Rating: 4.5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book related to "the end"
Brief reason why it was the best--Both a love story and a fascinating story of what women were allowed to do in World War I. I also loved that it was told in letter form.
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Title: Girl, Woman, OtherAuthor: Bernardine Evaristo
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Libby ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 5. A book by an author on USA Today's list of 100 Black Novelists You Should Read
Brief reason why it was the best: My first 5 star read of the challenge! I tend to be a bit skeptical of stories that are told through multiple perspective - I think it's hard to do well and rarely adds to the story. But I loved the different perspectives here and really appreciated how it allowed us to see both how the characters were seen from the outside and how they saw themselves.
-Title: Detransition, Baby- Author: Torrey Peters
- Rating: 4
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Not used for ATY
- Brief reason why it was the best: It was an interesting premise, and a frank discussion of things I don't get to read much about.
I'm adding two books this month.Fiction: Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz
- Rating: 5
- Format: Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #13: A book written by an author of one of your best reads in 2020
- Brief reason why it was the best: Although the protagonist is an assassin, he works for good and not for evil. Every book in the series so far has been fast paced and although the situation for Evan looks bleak at many points, you always have the strong suspicion that he will come out on top.
Nonfiction: This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
- Rating: 5
- Format: Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): None
- Brief reason why it was the best: (condensed from the book blurb) Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, this book provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking, this diary is everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn't – about life on and off the hospital ward.
Title: This Is How You Lose the Time War
Author: Amal El-Mohtar
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 26. A short book (<210 pages) by a new-to-you author.
Brief reason why it was the best: It handled the time travel brilliantly, and ended up being a sweet romance, which I was not expecting.
- Title One to Watch - Author Kate Stayman-London
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) I did not use it for ATY, but I did use it for Popsugar and Read Harder. Fat Positive Romance and A Book That Discusses Body Positivity respectively.
- Brief reason why it was the best
I like romance novels, but sometimes get bored with the way the characters always seem to be the same. Bea brings some difference to the table. Both her body size and just her personality make this stand out from the rest.
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Author: Julia Phillips
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Print
ATY Prompt you used it for: A book connected to ice
Brief reason why it was the best: This book is so hard to describe. There's a kidnapping, so there's a mystery aspect, but at the core, it was about the people and their stories. This book made me feel less alone in the world.
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- Title - Klara and the Sun
- Author - Kazuo Ishiguro
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format - Print (with autographed bookplate!)
- ATY Prompt you used it for - Title & author both contain letter "u"
- Brief reason why it was the best - As usual, Ishiguro has an unreliable/uninformed narrator so the reader has to figure out a lot of what is going on. Klara is an Artificial Friend who is powered by the sun. I thought I had figured out how the story would go, but it took a couple excellent twists. There is a lot to discuss in this book about love, faith, and what it means to be human.
- Title: Unnatural Magic- Author: C.M. Waggoner
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 40. Greenery or flowers on cover
- Brief reason why it was the best: I didn't have any 5-star reads this month, but of the 4-star books, this one was the best. The characters stayed in my mind and I really liked the descriptions of troll society.
- Title: Honey Girl- Author: Morgan Rogers
- Rating: 5 STARS
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 50. A book published in 2021
- Brief reason why it was the best: This was like, an existential crisis in the best way, wrapped up in some of the most magical storytelling I have encountered in a long while
- Title: Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses- Author: Kristen O'Neal
- Rating: five stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): "You read what!?!"
- Brief reason why it was the best:
Despite a few annoyances I loved the main character and the friendship that front and center in the story, as well as the portrayal of chronic illness, and the overall quirkiness of the book.
I'm also going to slip in a non-fiction favorite because this book deserves a shoutout:
- Title: Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round
- Author: Myquillyn Smith
- Rating: five stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): none
- Brief reason why it was the best: I just LOVE her approach to using decorating as a way to serve people better, especially those who live in the house being decorated, and she's great at giving you the tools to figure out how to enjoy your living space better, including seasonal enjoyment, instead of just telling you what to do.
I had 7 - yes 7! - 5 star reads in March. It's hard to just pick one, so I'm not! :) - Title - Black Spire (a Star Wars novel)
- Author - Delilah S. Dawson
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - #14 A Book set in a made up place
- Brief reason why it was the best - I really enjoy science fiction, but it is male dominated. This book was written by a woman, and it is a very good example of why representation is important. Her characters are real. They are not some ridiculous trope. She has awesome characters. She has multiple women characters and they are complex. It was such a treat to read a scifi book with interesting women characters.
- Title - A Court of Mist and Fury
- Author - Sarah J. Maas
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - #30 A long book
- Brief reason why it was the best - It was the best for many of the same reasons as the above. Again, not a whole lot of female representation in the fantasy world. I love reading fantasy, but it gets very tedious. The characters are very much the same, and all the (very few) women are tropes. Maas writes complex and interesting women characters. This book is the second in a series. The first book is very good as well, and I also gave it five stars, but the second and third books are fantastic. If you like fantasy, I would highly recommend this series.
Other five star reads this month: Maisie Dobbs, Going to Meet the Man, Reconstruction and the Rise of Jim Crow: 1864-1896, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, A Court of Thorns and Roses
I read quite a few books in March, so this is a challenging question. And looking back up this thread has me adding to my To-Read list!- Title: Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness
- Author: Peter Godfrey-Smith
- Rating: 4 stars (but I should perhaps upgrade it to 5!)
- Format: Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
- Brief reason why it was the best: This was not the book I rated most highly, but it is a book I keep thinking about. It's a book that focuses on the consciousness from a biological perspective. How different are we from other living creatures, really? When and where and it what ways has intelligence developed, in terms of the evolutionary timeline and in terms of the broad array of living creatures? Especially moving are the author's anecdotes if interacting with cuttlefish and octopi while scuba diving. I would not have expected to find those stories as moving as I do.
Other stellar reads in March:
- Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin (audiobook and abridged, but now I want to read the whole thing!)
- No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe
- Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice by Shunryu Suzuki
- Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk - I counted this toward the women in translation prompt. This is such a strange and funny book!
- On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Devastatingly beautiful writing.
- The Light of Day by Eric Ambler - Really excellent period thriller. How did I go this long without discovering Eric Ambler? I have so much fun to come, as I will be reading more by him!
I didn't have any 5-star March reads, unfortunately, but I did give 4-stars to these three:
- Sister of Mine
- Sabra Waldfogel
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format: Audio
- A book whose title refers to person(s) without giving their name
- The narrative flows, and the subject is one rarely written about (Jewish families in the deep south who were slave owners)
- The Testaments
- Margaret Atwood
- 4 stars
- Format: Audio
- A book by an author whose career spanned more than 21 years
- Continuation of The Handmaid's Tale, enough said
- Mem
- Bethany C. Morrow
- 4 stars
- Format: Audio
- None yet
- A gem of an alt-history/speculative fiction book, taking place in the 1920s, which are not very different than our own history, but cloning technology has been invented - where the purpose of the clones (mems) is to house the bad memories of their "originals". Told from the perspective of the Mem.
A little late but reporting in! Had a very strong small group of reads for March, but only one hit 5 stars for me so I'll go with that:Title: The Kingdom of Copper
Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Rating: ★★★★★
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print (paperback)
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 3. A book related to the lyrics for the song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music ("bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens")
Brief reason why it was the best: A sequel that builds on and improves on the first book, this was dazzling: great character growth, interesting and very unique fantasy settings, beautiful descriptions and scenes, real stakes, an OMGWTF ending, just so well done!!!
Title: Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and HomeAuthor: Nikesh Shukla
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audio
This was a lovely hopeful book despite the subjects it covers. It's written as if to his daughter, so that really helps with the warm and friendly tone.
Two this month:Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Author: V.E. Schwab
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book about forgetting (for PopSugar)
Brief reason why it was the best: I thought this book was beautifully written, and I loved the way the author captured Addie's loneliness and the idea of memory/legacy.
Title: My Dark Vanessa
Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book about the forbidden for my ATY Top Picks challenge
Brief reason why it was the best: I absolutely loved the writing style and thought the book was so impactful and had such memorable characters.
- Title The Space Between Worlds- Author Micaiah Johnson
- Rating 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) side read but lots of possibilities!
- Brief reason why it was the best This was a great take on the multiple worlds concept (think Blake Crouch) that also speaks to inequality and climate change. Engaging and compelling.
- Title: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
- Author: Robert B. Cialdini
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 47. A non-fiction book other than biography, autobiography or memoir
- Brief reason why it was the best: I personally really like psychology books. I like knowing something about the way I think that isn't obvious.
My ATY 2021
My favorite book for March was The Lost City of the Monkey GodThis book is an interesting account of the search for a vast lost city in Honduras. I want to find out more about this region to see if more exploration was ever done.
- Title: Euphoria- Author: Lily King
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): I will use it for either 25.Takes place on an Island, or 35. Below the Tropic of Cancer. It also fits 8.
- Brief reason why it was the best: It is enthralling and smart, with interesting insights about people and cultures. It's historical fiction and based on the life of the famous anthropologist Margaret Mean. The main character was very smart, with flaws that made her more interesting. The audio performance fit the characters perfectly.
Better late than never! Title: Who’s That Girl?
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Audio & eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for: A book with a character who can be found in a deck of cards (Jack)
Brief reason why it was the best I cannot pinpoint exactly why I loved this story so much but I have already reread it. In part, it's a slow burn romance, but there's a lot more to the story. There's not exactly a happily ever after ending and I pondered how things might work out for for a long time.
Title: Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and CourageAuthor: [[author:Anne Lamott|7113]
Rating: 5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Book
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 50. A book published in 2021
Brief reason why it was the best
I love spiritual books that remind me that I'm part of the universe.
- Title: Winter Pasture: One Woman's Journey with China's Kazakh Herders- Author: Li Juan
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: Book
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book eligible for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation* KIS option
- Brief reason why it was the best: It was very interesting, well written and told me a lot about a culture I had almost zero knowledge of.
- Title: Murder at the Capitol- Author: C.M. Gleason
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: Kindle
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book with a building in the title
- Brief reason why it was the best: One of my favorite historical mystery series.
This was an excellent reading month, 5/31 books were 5 stars! - Title Call Your Daughter Home
- Author Deb Spera
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable)
- Brief reason why it was the best Best book that I've read so far this year, and it's a debut novel, to boot. Historical fiction set in 1924 in South Carolina, it's the story of three strong women from different walks of life whose lives intertwine. The truths they find out, the actions they talk, the strength they share are told through their three voices.
#40: A book with flowers or greenery on the cover
- Title: Dune: the Graphic Novel, Book 1- Author: Frank Herbert. Adapted by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: eBook
- ATY Prompt: 20- Past, Present, Future
- Brief reason why it was the best: Excellent graphic novel adaptation of the first 1/3 of the book Dune! I don't recommend reading it on your phone though! There are 2 more graphic novels planned to finish the story so that's a downside, if you are reading the book for the first time and want to know the ending any time soon. This book could be a good stepping stone to get into the book.
Title: Archangel's WarAuthor: Nalini Singh
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 49 ensemble cast
Brief reason why it was the best: The culmination of an angelic war, this book speaks of love: between partners, families, mothers and sons, friends. 12th book in the Guild Hunters series.
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- Title: Conviction- Author: Denise Mina
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: Audio
- ATY Prompt: "A book with a female villain or criminal"
- Brief reason why it was the best:
After listening to a true-crime podcast and deciding to try and figure it out she finds herself in her own true-crime podcast.
This book was great! Plenty of action and also depth.
I got the audio version and hearing it in the proper accent just made it that much better.
TitleThe Family Upstairs
Author
Lisa Jewell
Rating
3.5★ - March was a very average reading month for me!!
Format (Print, eBook, Audio)
Audio
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable)
N/A
Brief reason why it was the best
It was really only the best by default! I'm not going to add it to the listopia - it was an interesting enough read, but not great!
Title: The Library at Mount CharAuthor: Scott Hawkins
Rating: ★★★★★
Format: ebook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): I didn't use it for ATY, but it would work for prompts 16, 23, & 43
Brief reason why it was the best: This book is amazing. Utterly bizarre and disturbing and severely messed up, but amazing.
- Title Breasts and Eggs
- Author Mieko Kawakami
- Rating 5 Stars
- Format Audiobook
- ATY Prompt you used it for A book related to "In the beginning..."
- Brief reason why it was the best Unapologetically honest about the physical aspects of living life in a woman's body. Plus some interesting ideas regarding the ethics and rights surrounding childbirth.
Title: Daisy Jones & The SixAuthor: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: 5 stars
Format: Audiobook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book written by an author of one of your best reads of 2020
Brief reason why it was the best: TJR is always layered and complex. Coming up with a storyline from scratch, and then tweaking it to be two, three, up to six or seven different views... she's masterful. I loved listening to the full cast on the audiobook. You could tell how much wistfulness and grit they had just from their voices, as they reminisce about their time in the band.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Daisy Jones & The Six (other topics)Breasts and Eggs (other topics)
The Library at Mount Char (other topics)
The Family Upstairs (other topics)
Conviction (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Taylor Jenkins Reid (other topics)Mieko Kawakami (other topics)
Scott Hawkins (other topics)
Lisa Jewell (other topics)
Denise Mina (other topics)
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