I can’t believe it’s May already! Looking back at the books I read in April, it was probably my best month so far this year. I read fifteen books (plus a few children’s books – more on that later this week) including six from the Orange Prize longlist, two classics and my Persephone Secret Santa present.
Favourite books read in April
I loved Persuasion and now Sense and Sensibility is the only Austen novel I still haven’t read. I also enjoyed North and South – and as I’ve now read two works by Elizabeth Gaskell this year it means I’ve completed the Gaskell Reading Challenge. I thought Jamrach’s Menagerie was a very entertaining read. And Alas, Poor Lady has become one of my favourite Persephones so far!
Other books read in April
The Seas by Samantha Hunt
Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Song Before it is Sung by Justin Cartwright
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
Great House by Nicole Krauss
Darkside by Belinda Bauer
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
The Echo Chamber by Luke Williams
I enjoyed all of these apart from the Justin Cartwright book. Reviews will be coming soon, I promise! They’ve all been written and it’s just a case of scheduling the posts. I don’t really like posting more than three or four times a week but it might be necessary for a while until I catch up.
I hope you all had a good April. Enjoy your reading in May!
She Reads Novels 
You really had a blockbuster reading month in April! There are some great books on your list. I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on Brooklyn. I read it last year and absolutely loved and admired it.
Oh and wrong blog address if you click on my name. I now blog at http://gudrunstights.wordpress.com.
Thanks for the link! The new blog looks great. 🙂
I’m reading Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice right now! ♥ LOVE ♥ them!! (I prefer Persuasion, I think.)
I plan to read Sense and Sensibility next. I cannot wait.
I love Pride and Prejudice too, but I think I also prefer Persuasion. It’ll be interesting to see what we both think of Sense and Sensibility!
Good reading month for you as well!
Look forward to the reviews.
I don’t know how I got so far behind with my reviews! A case of my reading speed overtaking my blogging speed, I suppose.
S&S is great, but I have a special place in my heart for Persuasion — I think Captain Wentworth is the best JA love interest, even beating out Mr. Darcy. He pierces my soul!
And I have just received Alas, Poor Lady in the mail! I look forward to reading it.
I loved Captain Wentworth! I think I prefer him to Mr. Darcy too. I hope you enjoy Alas, Poor Lady.
I had a good April too! Thoroughly enjoyed ‘ The Crimson Petal and the White’ although it did take a while to get used to the language (out of practice with Victorian style). My most enjoyable one though was’ Half of the Human Race’ by Anthony Quinn. It involved suffragettes , the cricketers’ psyche and WW1. Would like to read more by him. Was moved and appalled by the subject’s treatment in’ Grace Williams says it Loud’. Thank goodness we have moved on. Had to read a Nesbo for some light relief! I too loved Brooklyn so also looking forward to the review. Don’t worry about the extra posts!
I’ve been wanting to read The Crimson Petal and the White for ages, so I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it. Hopefully I’ll get round to reading it at some point in the near future. I’m also interested in reading Grace Williams Says It Loud.
You had a great month! I read Brooklyn as well, and it was probably my favorite book of the month.
I’ve seen so many positive reviews of Brooklyn recently and mine is going to be another! I really enjoyed it, although there were other books that I liked better this month.
After slogging through April in a reading slump, I am a bit jealous of your list of books.
I’m loving S & S and it has definitely helped me out of my slump. I may immediately follow it with Persuasion after reading so many positive comments about it.
I’m glad you were able to get out of your reading slump. I would highly recommend Persuasion!
I read Gaskell’s Cranford in April and loved it-
I’ll probably read more of Gaskell’s work soon. I’ve heard a lot of positive things about Cranford and am looking forward to reading it.
15 books in one month? Holy cow.
This makes me sad. I only managed 19 in this whole year so far (and was actuall quite proud of myself!).
I thought I was dedicated!