March 2021 WRAP-UP
I introduced my February recap saying we were getting closer to a Covid vaccine. I didn’t think things would suddenly accelerate, at least in some areas. So I just got my first vaccine yesterday!
March has been an interesting reading month, with the highest number of books read per month I believe, and possibly also for the first time more audiobooks than books in print!!
I have discovered that listening to audiobooks and doing jigsaw puzzles (checked out at my awesome public library) was indeed a great way to relax.
The focus these past 3 months has been on Japanese literature, for the Japanese Reading Challenge 14, and I managed to read 12 books, so actually 3 more than originally planned. This is also the most I have read for this challenge.
I’m actually going to read more Japanese fiction, even if the challenge is technically over.
I have also restarted posting notes from my Orthodox reads.
BUT, I am again way behind in my reviews, as I haven’t had time to participate in the Sunday Post, where I usually do short reviews.
📚 So here is what I read in March:
16 books:
7 in print
= with 1,859 pages, a daily average of 59 pages/day
9 in audio
= 39H17, a daily average of 1H16
6 in nonfiction:
- The Book of the Song of Songs
- The Book of Wisdom
- The Book of Sirach
- The Book of Hosea
- The Book of Amos – these first 5 books were as audiobooks, for The Classics Club and the Books in Translation Challenge
- Less Than Fully Catholic, by Trisha Day – written by a friend
5 in literary fiction:
- Kusamakura, by Natsume Soseki
- Le Mineur, by Natsume Soseki – French ebook
- To the Spring Equinox and Beyond, by Natsume Soseki – this one and all the above were ebooks for The Classics Club, the Japanese Reading Challenge 14, and the Books in Translation Challenge
- Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro – for the Japanese Reading Challenge 14
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – for the Japanese Reading Challenge 14. And Buddy read
5 in mystery:
- Cards on the Table (Hercule Poirot #15), by Agatha Christie
- Dumb Witness (Hercule Poirot #16), by Agatha Christie
- Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot #17), by Agatha Christie – these 3 were audiobooks for The Classics Club
- The Black Lizard/Beast in the Shadows, by Edogawa Rampo – ebook for The Classics Club, the Japanese Reading Challenge 14, and the Books in Translation Challenge
- Rien ne t’efface, by Michel Bussi – French audiobook
MY FAVORITE BOOKS THIS PAST MONTH
This is too hard, I have to pick four this time!!
READING CHALLENGES & RECAP
Classics Club: 32/137 (from November 2020-until November 2025)
Japanese Literature Challenge: 12 books
Total of books read in 2021 = 42/120
Number of books added to my TBR this past month = 10
NO OTHER BOOKS REVIEWED THIS PAST MONTH
GIVEAWAYS
The open giveaways are on my homepage
REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE
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And monthly raffle with a Newsletter
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MOST POPULAR BOOK REVIEW THIS PAST MONTH
click on the cover to access my review
MOST POPULAR POST THIS PAST MONTH
– NON BOOK REVIEW –
The top 8 books to read in March 2021
BOOK BLOG THAT BROUGHT ME MOST TRAFFIC THIS PAST MONTH
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Come back tomorrow
to see the books I plan to read in April
📚 📚 📚
How was YOUR month of March?
Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction
has created a Month In Review meme
where you can link your monthly recap posts
Thanks Nicole!
Words And Peace 
Wow, you did a lot of heavy reading in March! My first half was all of a slump, and in the second half I watched shows more than I read. I hope April will turn out to be better. Kudos again for managing to read such interesting Japanese Lit pieces, I have a lot of recs thanks to you. ~Lex
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So glad I’m encouraging you and others to read Japanese classics. There are a lot of gems out there. I don’t have TV, so that helps, lol
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Haha, yeah getting rid of the idiot box saves a lot of time!
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Did it more than 10 years ago, never regretted it
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At least some places are getting vaccinated. Wish they’d do a better job here in Canada.
Happy April!
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I hope you will get it soon. Things were slow in my county, and they suddenly accelerated. NB: I’m not 65, not even 60
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Great that you got your first vaccination – hopefully you don’t feel any side effects. It seems that Klara and the Sun is dividing opinions. I thought it was ok, but still a disappointment compared to Ishiguro’s other novels.
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No side effect for the first shot, thanks. I’d like to see your comment on my review, when I put it out, lol!
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Haha, I will await your review with bated breath!
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Thanks
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One of my reading groups will discuss Klara and the Sun in April. I am so excited to read it. You are inspiring me to spend some time with books from Japan.
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Looking forward to see your thoughts on Klara. What other Japanese novels are you considering reading?
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Hooray for getting the first vaccine! I love doing jigsaw puzzles while catching up on podcasts!
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Nice combo too!
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So glad you were able to get your first vaccination, Emma. My daughter-in-law in Chicago got hers last week, too. It gives me a feeling of relief.
Great reading month. Audiobooks plus jigsaw puzzles seems to work well for you.
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Yes, the jigsaw+ audiobook could easily become an addiction, lol
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The Bible, Japanese literature, and Agatha Christie — interesting combination of book clusters there! But I would not expect anything less from you. 🙂 Hope you’re going to be finding more time to do reviews. I also feel short of time these days, so I’m going to take a break to catch up.
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You never know indeed what you are going to see on this blog, lol. Back to the old book blogger dilemma: read or review!
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Congrats on getting your first vaccine! I got my first too. My arm is still sore from it. I hope you have a great April!
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The trick is to get it on the arm you use the most, because you use more the muscles, so less pain. I experienced just slight soreness the day after the vaccine, that’s it, not even need of ibuprofen or the like
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Hi Emma, that’s an impressive total! I’m glad you liked Klara and the Sun. I’ve read a lot of Ishiguro over the years but nothing recently, so I’d like to give it a try. I’ll look out for your review!
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You definitely need to try it
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It looks like you had a great month in reading! I’m definitely interested in a lot of the translated works you’ve read this month. I haven’t thought of doing puzzles while listening to audiobooks, I need to try that! Congratulations on getting your first vaccine as well!
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Let me know about your new experience of audiobook+puzzle! They should sell packages with one of each!
Any particular country literature you like reading in translation? By the way, I forgot, can you read Italian novels?
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I think that would be a great idea for a bookish box!
It’s been a few years since I’ve read Italian books, but it’s something that I’ve been wanting to return to (and brushing up on my Italian in general!) But other than that, my reading is very general when it comes to translated books. I’ve read quite a few from Central and South America, but would like to keep reading more from more countries and regions!
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I don’t remember if I told you, but I have been teaching myself reading Italian, because one day I want to be able to read Italo Calvino in the original.
I just finished an awesome German classic – not reviewed yet: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/750914.The_Swedish_Cavalier
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