April Reads

 Hi Guys,

April was a lovely month with days where I got out and about to explore the Essex Coastline. From Walton on the Naze to Frinton on Sea, then from Clacton to St Osyth. 

This month was centred around audiobooks. I discovered that I could change the speed and ever since I have been listening at 1.25-1.5 speed. I also discovered nature writing and fell in love. 

So here is a breakdown of my April Reads:

1. The Mabinogion, Author Unknown, Translated by Jeffrey Gantz, Narrated by Gwyneth Keyworth. An audiobook read between 18/03/2024 and 01/04/2024. I had read The Mabinogion many moons ago when I lived in Wales. It is a collection of 11 prose stories taken from Medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales have changed as they have been passed down, some were based on real events, some based just in myth and legend. King Arthur appears in passing in a couple of the tales, but not as the hero as in English legend. I love folklore and folk tales and even though some of these stories contain historical events they also feature the classical themes found in folk stories. 

2. Wonderland: An Anthology of Works Inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane, Narrated by various narrators. An audiobook read between 26/03/2024 and 06/04/2024. I listened to this book whilst walking. Lots of very different narratives drawing inspiration from Wonderland. Some classical, close to Carrol’s imagining, some narratives were mundane and others dystopian. I was surprised at the amount of stories that touched on paedophilia or unwanted sexual contact, often using Dodgson as the name of the character. It is a very dark collection. 

3. Bridgerton Book 7: It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn, Narrated by Rosalyn Landor. An audiobook read between 05/04/2024 and 09/04/2024. Once again this is a story about a character that is hardly mentioned in previous books. Hyacinth is the youngest Bridgerton sibling. She is still in need of a husband after many unsuccessful seasons, mainly due to how she is so outspoken and witty. She is similar to Lady Danbury who she visits weekly to read to her. It is through Lady Danbury that she meets Gareth St Clair. They are a true match for one another. This story tells us a mysterious and complex history of the St Clair family which Hyacinth helps to unravel. 

4. Shunned: How I Lost My Religion and Found Myself by Linda A. Curtis, Narrated by Emily Ellet. An audiobook read between 09/04/2024 and 11/04/2024. Linda Curtis was raised a Jehovah's Witness, and spent her young life knocking on doors spreading the word of Jehovah. She married young, and when she became successful in her career she started to question her beliefs. She tries to maintain her life but eventually files for divorce to pursue new career opportunities. She becomes shunned by her family and spends her time researching other beliefs. I enjoy reading biographies, especially religious ones. I find them incredibly interesting. This book was incredibly easy to read because of a great narrator. 

5. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. A paperback from World of Books read between 09/04/2024 and 12/04/2024. I loved this book. I really related to Nora’s character as she is full of self doubt. Her demise was a series of devastating events that led to her taking an overdose. She finds herself transported to the Midnight Library whose custodian is her school librarian. She reads the Book of Regrets to find the right story for her to live in. She has a choice of every scenario her life could have taken but Nora finds herself miserable in every one of those lives. Can all this disappointment motivate her to live?

6. Church of Lies by Flora Jessop and Paul T. Brown, Narrated by Eve Bianco. An audiobook read between 11/04/2024 and 13/04/2024. I have listened to many podcasts and audiobooks about the Fundamental Latter Day Saints (FLDS). This story is a harrowing account. Flora Jessop had a vulgar upbringing, having been molested by her father. She had several failed attempts of escaping which resulted in her being married off to her cousin, but this was actually her real escape. She was crazy and rebellious in her early years on the outside but once she had settled down and had a family she started helping others escape the FLDS. She is an amazing woman, never backing down and breaking laws in order to help save others. 

7. Folk by Zoe Gilbert, Narrated by Penelope Rawlins. A BorrowBox audiobook read between 21/04/2024 and 21/04/2024. This was a random pick whilst scrolling through BorrowBox. It is set on a remote island, Neverness and it tells the tales of its inhabitants. These stories are told in the oral tradition by storytellers and by mothers to protect their children. The stories range from gossip, to historical events, to stories with origins in folklore. We learn family secrets and scandals and peoples unfortunate events, all tied through story over generations. 

8. The Wild Remedy: How Nature Mends Us - A Diary, by Emma Mitchell, Narrated by the author. An audiobook read between 13/04/2024 and 23/04/2024. This book really spoke to me. My anxiety has been really bad lately and when I’m out walking it fades. Emma Mitchell suffers from depression and uses walking and being in nature as her therapy. This book is her diary following the changes in flora and fauna through the seasons. This book is set in East Anglia, I love learning about places that I know. Emma teaches herself about the nature around her on her walks. She sketches and photographs her finds to document and learn more. 

9. 1984 by George Orwell, An Audible Original Adaptation by Joe White, Narrated by a full cast. An Audible Original audiobook read between 23/04/2024 and 24/04/2024. If you have Audible you have to listen to this adaptation, it is amazing! The cast are brilliant, especially Andrew Scott as O’Brien. The score was composed by Matt Bellamy from Muse who is a genius. I studied 1984 for my A Levels alongside Brave New World. I have rad BNW since but not 1984. This adaptation focused on Winston and Julia’s affair and the lives of the Proles. The audiobook was in Dolby soo it was great to listen to it with my headphones hearing street noises and machine sounds in one ear and narration in the other. It also brought Winston’s thoughts and memories to life. I really recommend this book. 

10. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. A Kindle book read between 28/03/2024 and 24/04/2024. I loved this book! I have been wanting to read it for a long time. I found the Kindle book on a 99p deal. Travis Baldree is so talented in creating this high fantasy world. Viv is an Orc who was a mercenary for hire who gave up that life to open a coffee shop in Thune. No one in the city has heard of coffee but it is soon a big hit. She has a close group of friends who help in her success. Her past soon catches up with her and everything is taken from her. I love the characters, the setting, the story, everything! I can’t wait to read Bookshops and Bonedust!

11. We Play Games by Sarah A. Denzil, Narrated by a full cast. An Audible Original audiobook read between 24/04/2024 and 25/04/2024. I like thrillers and this one kept me on my toes! Effie and Ben are two toxic personalities who together ruin peoples lives with their games. Something in their past went wrong, leaving Ben with an upper hand. Effie’s hatred of Ben leads her to discover the truth to make her able to enlighten the world of his deeds, but at what cost? This book is full of twists and some truly shocking moments. I was gripped! The cast were amazing bringing these characters alive, especially Billie Piper who plays Effie.

12. The Green Man’s Heir by Juliet E. Mckenna, Narrated by Will Huggins. An audiobook read between 25/04/2024 and 28/04/2024. I found this book on Audible when I was looking for folktales. It was free so I took a chance on it and ended up loving it! The narrator was also very good. It links real life events with tales of woodland folklore. Missing girls are being found dead but the mystery will not be solved unless Daniel can intervene. He is guided by the Greenman, dryads and naiads. He can see these mythical creatures because his mother was a dryad (tree nymph). This is the first book in a series which I look forward to reading.

13. The Bitter Taste of Dying: A Memoir, by Jason Smith, Narrated by Paul Costanzo. An Audible Original audiobook read between 29/04/2024 and 30/04/20024. This is Jason Smith’s second book. I have not read the first but this book reads like a stand alone book. His life is one of addiction and depravity. He speaks about his addiction to prescription drugs with clarity and honesty. His career takes him across Europe and China and in each country he is always able to find the drugs he needs. This is a great story of overcoming addiction and an attempt to help others. I will try to find the first book as it was a very gripping story. 

April was a mix of memoirs, folktales, thrillers and high fantasy. I really enjoyed all of my reads this month. If you also loved these books, drop me a comment below. 

I look forward to devouring more books throughout May.

Sammie