Happy April! March was an interesting month for me — it’s when life felt like it was finally returning to normal. We’ve had some beautiful weather in Nashville, my boyfriend and I have had some more weekend activities pop up, and we are both scheduled to get our vaccines next week. Things are looking up! Despite everything going on in life, I managed to finish seven books in the month of March – I’m now up to 20 books read in 2021, which is a huge accomplishment for me. Let’s get started!
one | How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi — E-Book
Kendi’s book on antiracism differs from almost any other book on the market by focusing on his own growth from racist to antiracist. He challenges readers with stories from his past and history to rethink how they can shape an antiracist world around them. This antiracist book goes deeper into history and challenging the norms than any other book I’ve read. It’s definitely worth the read, but if this is your first antiracist read, you may want enter the world on a lower level. No rating
two | A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
Kell, Lila, and Rhy are joined by new and old friends as they protect Red London from a vicious magical God. Osaron has infiltrated the land from White London, and he’s determined to be the true king. He infects the people through their minds, and Kell, Lila, and Rhy have to find a way to defeat him while dealing with their own personal troubles. The trio are joined by friends and enemies alike that help them on their mission to defeat the ancient enemy. This book perfectly wrapped up the Shades of Magic series, and I’d love to recommend it to any fantasy lover. 5/5 Stars
three | Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Shonda’s life is changed with just six muttered words one Thanksgiving morning; “You never say yes to anything.” Not anymore. Now, now she says “yes” to everything. From appearances on TV shows to speeches at award ceremonies, Shonda’s life blossoms when she starts saying “yes” to the opportunities in front of her. This Year of Yes transforms Shonda’s life in more ways that one, and it’s bound to inspire anyone that reads it. 5/5 Stars
four | How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang
Lucy and Sam only have each other now. After their father, Ba, passes away, they must trek across the western dessert that promised gold to bury him. Told across three timelines, How Much of These Hills is Gold is a gripping story about Asian America immigrants during the gold rush, family, and adventure. Sure to break your heart in unexpected ways, this book is one of a kind. 5/5 Stars
five | Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman — Audiobook
Eleanor is completely content with her life as it is. She likes her routine, she likes her alone time, and she definitely likes her vodka. One day, everything changes for Eleanor and friendship is thrust upon her whether she likes it or not. When she saves the life of a man on the street with her coworker, Raymond, Eleanor’s routine is completely disrupted and life changes as she knows it. She can no longer hide from her secrets or her problems. People care about her now, and she’s going to have to fight to care about herself.
I didn’t fall in love with this story like I expected. It was a little bit heartbreaking but also a little bit predictable. It was a delight to listen to and definitely kept me entertained, just nothing groundbreaking. 3/5 Stars
six | The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke are inextricable linked throughout their young adulthood. Nadia and Luke have a history. They dated one summer between high school and college, and nothing was ever the same. As Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke grow up, their paths become even more intertwined. A story about being a mother and not being a mother, The Mothers tackles the complicated decisions that shape our lives and how our choices follow us no matter where we go. 5/5 Stars
seven | Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift — Audiobook
Lemuel Gulliver can’t say no to an adventure. Each adventure he goes on is wilder than the next. He encounters tiny people, giants, a land of academics with his favorite historical figures, and an island inhabited by horses that rule and are served by humans. It’s a tale of adventures with meanings deeper than surface level. 5/5 Stars
Happy reading,
Kimberly
