March was another great month of reading for me. Once again, what I lacked in the volume of books I read was made up for by their quality. I read four books this month, one of which I have chosen not to include in the wrap-up, but I promise I read it and that it was amazing! It was a month of stepping outside of my comfort zone and dipping into some good recommendations, and thankfully I was not left disappointed.
Here is a run down of all the books I read in March:
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
Synopsis: A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life. (Goodreads)
Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommended for: non-fiction, celebrity, memoirs, biography.
As soon as this book came out last year, I knew I wanted to read it. The only problem was that non-fiction has never been a particular interest of mine. I much prefer to lose myself in fantasy or romance if I’m going to pick up a book, but this year, one of my reading goals is to read more non-fiction. In the spirit of achieving that goal, I’ve prioritised a few of the non-fiction books I already own to find what kind (if any) non-fiction books I might enjoy reading.
I’m glad I started with I’m Glad My Mom Died. As someone who grew up watching iCarly and had a distant interest in Jeanette McCurdy’s career because of that, reading about how tough her life was while she was in one of the most beloved kid’s television series of its time and beyond was hard. It was as hard to read as it was to put down. It was well-written, surprisingly honest, and eye-opening. Despite the intense stories McCurdy relates, she keeps the tone light with a little humour and an ultimately positive tale of realisation and healing.
As a series of important experiences that shaped her, I’m Glad My Mom Died creates a picture of a life riddled with abuse, raising important points about the pressure parents can put on their children and how suffocating it can be. Rather than avoid the important questions, Jeanette tackles them head-on, probably thanks to the therapy she sought when at her breaking point. I can’t recommend it enough.
Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given
Synopsis: Women Don’t Owe You Pretty is the ultimate book for anyone who wants to challenge the out-dated narratives supplied to us by the patriarchy.
Through Florence’s story you will learn how to protect your energy, discover that you are the love of your own life, and realise that today is a wonderful day to dump them.
Florence Given is here to remind you that you owe men nothing, least of all pretty. (Goodreads)
Rating: 3/5 stars
Recommended for: feminism, non-fiction, LGBT.
In the spirit of reading more non-fiction, I jumped into another non-fiction book I had on my Kindle for years after reading I’m Glad My Mom Died. Rather than read the details of someone’s life however, I was looking to be educated, and while reading Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, I was. In many ways, I feel like I would have benefitted a lot more from reading this book when it was originally released, as reading it so long after probably impacted my response to it. I already had a good grasp on the subjects it brought up, potentially because the media is a lot better at trying to be more inclusive and encourage more inclusive behaviour nowadays.
I like how straightforward Florence’s writing was. It made her book far more impactful than it might have been had she tried to be gentle to spare the feelings of people who are not ready to face hard truths. I also appreciated how she did not attempt to speak for anyone else, and pointed towards people who might be able to enlighten readers further on certain topics, ensuring that while shining light on many issues, she was not herself edging into the spotlight. The beautiful illustrations were something I had not expected but added to the experience of reading and made me think I might need to buy a physical copy of the book (when I emerge from a self-imposed book-buying ban) to appreciate them fully.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Synopsis: Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.
Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him… (Goodreads)
Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommended for: thriller, mystery, psychotherapy.
The Silent Patient was not a book that was initially on my radar, but it was recommended by a friend who had been floored after reading it and gave it five stars. Going into it, I did not have any strong expectations for where the story would go or even what would happen, as my friend did not tell me anything. Going in blind is how I prefer to read and I think my lack of expectations made reading this book even better.
Not only did this thriller keep me wanting to read from beginning to end, it also had one of the best twists I’ve read in a thriller of late. Though I could compare it to another well-known thriller, I hesitate to do so in fear of spoiling anything, so I won’t, and I’ll simply say it was up there with my favourites.
Some of the plot was predictable and sometimes the characters felt a little bit stereotypical but as long as you take everything with a pinch of salt, it’s an enjoyable read. When it comes to reading, I’m looking to be entertained, not necessarily outsmarted, so while I can see where some of the criticism about the book being bad comes from, it did not ruin my reading experience too much.
That concludes my reading for March. I hope to keep journeying outside of my comfort zone and finding new books to love in the coming months.
How was your reading this month?
Read 'N Riot 