April 2014 Recap

April in Wisconsin is a schizophrenic thing. It comes in like a big snowy lion, teases you with a couple of “lamb” days, then goes out as a grumpy, rainy lion. This week, it’s been raining endlessly, and the temps are in the 40s. It’s better than snow, but what I wouldn’t give for a couple of warm, sunny days heading into May.

But, April was another great month for reading. I didn’t finish quite as many books as I did in March, but I did get through eight. Again, quite a range of topics, from studying a dog’s language acquisition to parenting, from poetry to decorating to English gardens, and even (gulp) science fiction. I’m still behind on posting reviews, so I’ll give you a one-word summary until I catch up. If I ever catch up.

 

Nonfiction

Chaser, Dr. John W. Pilley, Hilary Hinzmann

infectious

 

Strings Attached, Joanne Lipman & Melanie Kupchynsky   

tragic

 

All Joy and No Fun, Jennifer Senior

interesting

 

 

Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life, Marta McDowell

springy

 

 

Poetry

Hunger Wide as Heaven, Max Garland

gentle

 

 

Children’s

Fortunately, the Milk, Neil Gaiman

imaginative

 

 

Science Fiction

 

The Martian, Andy Weir

smart

 

 

Decorating

 

My Passion for Design, Barbra Streisand

beautiful

 

 

Currently Reading

 

 

The Boys in the Boat, Daniel James Brown

Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers

I’m not very far into Mary Poppins, but I enjoyed Saving Mr. Banks so much, I thought I should read it.

I’m really enjoying The Boys in the Boat, too. I’m roughly halfway through. If you enjoyed Laura Hillenbrand’s books, Unbroken or Seabiscuit, or Empty Mansions, I think this is a must-read. It’s the kind of book that they make into a movie. Yes, that good.