What I’m Reading – My March Round-Up!

what im reading book haul to be read list

What I’m Reading – My March Round-Up!

Hello lovelies and welcome to me and b. Today I’m sharing with you what I’ve been reading this March. The month started slow and then picked up the pace. I think the slow start was to do with an uninspiring fiction book. More about that in a minute. If you missed my January and February round ups then be sure to catch up with those too.

Anyways…

So March. I finally finished A Hundred and One Days by Åsne Seierstad. It took me a while to get into it but once I’d finished, I found myself reading more about the war in Iraq online. In my opinion a book is great if it inspires you to go and find out more. Read my full thoughts on this one in the Feb round up here.

I decided that, after the intensity of A Hundred and One Days, I’d try some light-hearted fiction. I’ve heard good things about Liane Moriarty and picked up The Last Anniversary in our local library…

The Last Anniversary – Liane Moriarty

…and I blinking hated this book! There were so many times when I thought “stuff it, I don’t want to read this anymore.” But because I’d heard good things about this author, I felt I should persist and give the book a chance. Nope. It continued with it’s dull plot, boring characters and predictable story line. I just didn’t give a toss about Scribbly Gum Island and Jack and Alice. Urgh. I had a nose on Amazon and some of the one star reviews say that this isn’t a great book to start with from this author. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and try one or two more. I loved Big Little Lies on Now TV which is why I was excited about reading some of her stuff.

After the disappointment of fiction, I decided to go back to non-fiction and memoirs. I have not been disappointed and if there are two books you should read this year, make it the next two. Honestly, I couldn’t put them down and both were read in two days.

Hope in a Ballet Shoe – Michaela DePrince

I stumbled upon this book after doing some searching on Amazon for memoirs and tales of struggle and success.

It was literally unputdownable. I read it in 24 hours and I couldn’t stop reading it. This book tells the story of a young girl, orphaned by war in Sierra Leone in the early 90s. She is adopted by an American family and goes on to fulfill her dream of becoming a ballerina. I have zero interest in dance or ballet but this book is so much more than that. Don’t be put off by the title. It’s about survival, life, hope, dreams, love – and what’s more, it’s true. When I finished this book, I went straight online to read more about Michaela, and to follow her on Instagram. Her story is sad but so inspiring. She’s amazing. I honestly can’t believe what she went through as a young child, the horrors she experienced. Trust me, go buy this book now. You won’t regret it.

The next book I read, and again, I stumbled across it on Amazon, was Tsunami Kids by The Gandy Brothers.

Tsunami Kids by The Gandy Brothers

To be honest, before reading this book I hadn’t heard of Gandy’s Flip Flops. I have now and I want a pair. This book is the story of two brothers, orphaned after the 2004 Tsunami on Boxing Day. I think most of us will remember the awful sights we saw documented on TV that day.

This book documents how these boys dealt with the harrowing events of that day, how they protected their siblings and bought them to safety, and it tells the story their journey after the fallout from the tragedy. It’s written really well, super sad but again, super inspiring. I can’t believe the strength these guys had and have. They’ve done amazingly well and their mum and dad would be so bloody proud.

tsunami 2004 kids gandy brothers books sri lanka

Reading this book makes me want to pack up life in the UK and travel.

Forever.

I don’t think mr D would be happy with that prospect but hey, I can dream right?

So there we go, our March round-up of books read. And what a fab month. It started slow and ended with some amazing reads. Up next and on the to be read (TBR) pile I have:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin

What have you been reading lately? Be sure to share with me here in the comments or on social. I love finding new books to read.

what im reading book haul to be read list  pinterest thumbnail

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This basically means I get a small commission if you click these links and buy said item. 

 

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