Where I’m sitting in the South right now, we’re not quite sure what season we’re in. It’s not unusual for this part of the world to experience unpredictable weather patterns around this time of year–sunny and record highs one day, gray and threatening snow the next. This year, nature seems to have taken a particularly grab-bag approach. Every time we ask our Echo to give us the update for the week, it sounds like she’s offering the weather options for three different cities rather than the specifics for our little part of the planet.

We haven’t escaped the pollen, either. We’ve been on the receiving end of that, too, in a way that seems designed to torture all the allergy sufferers slowly and masterfully until they submit to the will of the trees. Death by a thousand dendro-spores or some such.

March was an odd month for me. If you follow me on my various social media platforms (links in the header above for those who need them) you may have seen me mention that I was having a little more trouble than normal with my depression and anxiety. It happens, even though it sucks. I am, as always, a work in progress.

I did manage to do some reading, but not as much as I’d hoped. According to Goodreads, I’ve still finished 16 books so far this year. That means I’m already better than halfway through the number I’d set for myself on the Goodreads challenge, so I’ll call that a big win.

Here’s how I fared in March:

Finished:

1. Forever Mine (Westin Pack Book 3) by Julie Trettel – A nice addition to this sweet little series.
2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle – I’d read this one before many, many times, but wanted to brush up before I saw the movie. Sorry, movie fans. The book was infinitely better.
3. The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf – finally finished! I really enjoyed this one. I learned a lot and it’s been interesting to read it so close to some of the other sociopolitical books I’ve been reading lately–both fictional and nonfictional. Relevant for all my feminist friends and scary to see how very little the world has changed since 1990. Warning for fellow cynics, though, this book will make you raise an eyebrow at pretty much everything around you, if you don’t already do so. Bonus points: you’ll shout far too enthusiastically when you get a joke from the “Beauty Pageant” episode of Parks and Rec you’ve never gotten before because you now recognize the author’s name.

Not finished:

1. Dreamlander by K. M. Weiland
2. The BadRedhead Media 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge by Rachel Thompson
3. The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby
4. The Republican War Against Women by Tanya Melich

You know how I do: my ratings and/or reviews for the books I finished are up on Goodreads. You can rate The Black Wolf Series or add the latest books by my alter ego, too.

So, what’s on my shelf for April?

1) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath – I’m a little reluctant to admit I’ve never read this one, and I’m really not sure why I hadn’t picked it up before now. I’m looking forward to it because I’ve heard so much about it over the years.
2) The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – This is one of my husband’s favorite books, and I actually thought I’d read it until we watched the first season of Hulu’s rendition. I added it to my reading list right away, but wanted to give some time between the show and the book so I could cleanse my palate.
3) Safe House (Steel Infidels Series Book 1) by Dez Burke – I’ve been wanting to try another MC series since I finished reading through everything Autumn Jones Lake has to offer. I grabbed this one since it’s on KU and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes!
4) Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block – I’m not sure how I missed this one back in the day, but it never hit my radar. I think I found it on one of those wild and wonderful essential reading lists on Pinterest–you know the ones I mean. They have like, 1,001 books you must read by the time you’re (insert age here). It looked interested, though. Apparently there’s a cult following? I don’t know. I’m not that cool–but maybe once I read it, I’ll learn.

(Not pictured, but on the list)

5) Heart of the Wood by A.K.R. Scott – this came as an incentive back when Scott put out her first novel, Inharmonic. I started it back then, and I can’t remember what happened, but I had to set it aside. Sorry, A! I’ve been wanting to get back to it, so I scheduled it into my reading list for this April spot. I’m looking forward to getting some time with Pax, who I simply adore!
6) The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller by John Truby – I’ve fallen into the trap I often do with books like this where I want to take notes on every little thing. I’m trying to force myself to just read and absorb what I can, since I own the book and can reference it at any point in the future. It’s hard though. #typeaproblems
7) The Republican War Against Women by Tanya Melich – This is another one that’s been interesting to read in conjunction with its fellow sociopolitical books on my plate. Fascinating to experience the history of lawmaking from behind the scenes while I’m also reading fictional responses that came about as a result of the things that were changing in the real world during the timeframe this book covers.
8) The BadRedhead Media 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge by Rachel Thompson – I’m still working my way through this one, even though it is a 30-day challenge. I’m continuing to see success from the things I’m doing, though, so yay!!
9) Dreamlander by K. M. Weiland – not finished. I’m really enjoying this one, but I got side-tracked and didn’t get back around to it. I’m leaving it on what appears to be my ever-growing ongoing list.

Umm…anyone else think I’ve got my work cut out for me in April? Maybe it’s time to go on vacation so I can get some serious reading done!

What’s on your shelf this month? Comment below to share what you’re reading right now or tell me about the best book you’ve read recently. I can’t wait to hear!

Cheers!