A round up of all we have read, written and obtained in April.
What we have read in April
We kicked off April with a Blog Tour. The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton was very Lianne Moriarty-esque only set in England. I sure fire page turner with secrets and hidden pasts a plenty.
Roald Dahl, but not for children, was up next. Someone Like You is a collection of short stories featuring nudity, gambling and murder. Fans of the TV series Inside Number 9 will appreciate the strap line – expect the unexpected!
We then tackled Shakespeare, but not as you know it. Scandi King Jo Nesbo has retold Macbeth as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare Project. An alternative 1970s Glasgow was the setting but all the familiar names, including a knife wielding PC Macbeth are present.
18 Tiny Deaths by Bruce Goldfarb was another Blog Tour. This time we took a look at a very formidable woman responsible for pushing modern forensics right to the front of crime scene investigations. The lady was Frances Glessner Lee and the book explains exactly why she was no cardigan wearing grandma.
Next up was The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy and you should read our review to see why we think you should buy not one, not two but AT LEAST three copies of the book.
The Bible For Grown Ups by Simon Loveday failed to deliver the expected explanation of the stories within the bible. Instead Loveday examined when the bible was written, by who and, rather bizarrely, just who exactly did Jesus think he was?
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas was simply outstanding and should be read by all of us whether we are black, white, teen, American or martian.
The latest book from Station Eleven author, Emily St John Mandel, was up next. The Glass Hotel was beautifully written. It drew you in as you floated between ponzy schemes, shipping disasters and Vancouver Island but was it as good as Station?
Books of the Month for April
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn offered the chance to escape lockdown and travel the South West Coastal Path. Opening your eyes about homelessness and how we approach death despite its premise it was strangely hopeful.
The Austen Girls by Lucy Worsley gave the children’s book club an insight in to the world of Jane Austen. Following her nieces in their quest for marriage it was a brilliant introduction to the classics but not loved by the boys.
Read of the month for April
Such a difficult one to call this month as I’ve genuinely loved at least three. THUG for being different to anything I’ve ever read. I really do recommend you read it. The Salt Path was the perfect book of the month but I think right at this moment The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse edges it. Even if the title is bloody hard to remember!
What we got up to in April
Well not a lot really! We ate unicorn food, took on yet another savoury porridge recipe and continued with our book club questions for adults and children.
What we obtained in April
We purchased The Boy, The Mole etc. for a most special birthday. Children’s thriller Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick was purchased as a possible future book of the month and Fahrenheit 451 was finally added to the shelf after years of ‘Oh I want to read that one’
Until May then, whatever that may bring stay safe and read well!