2019 Reading Updates – April Updates

Now, I’m not saying I’m certifiably insane – although, let’s be real: aren’t I, though? However, I participated in the O.W.L.s readathon, passed the necessary O.W.L.s to be an alchemist, and then read like as much books after that – just for fun. It’s time for my 2019 reading updates – april updates!

What I read

1. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 7: Mothering Invention, Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie & Matt Wilson
2. Collected Poems, W.B. Yeats
3. The Princess and the Fangirl, Ashley Poston
4. Gender Queer: A MemoirMaia Kokabe
5. Royals, Rachel Hawkins
6. Geekerella, Ashley Poston
7. The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang
8. A Cotswold Christmas, Kate Hewitt
9. Meet Me at Willoughby Close, Kate Hewitt
10. Find me at Willoughby Close, Kate Hewitt
11. Kiss Me at Willoughby Close, Kate Hewitt
12. Marry Me at Willoughby Close, Kate Hewitt
13. Cinder & Ella, Kelly Oram
14. Tine en de Ondeugende Tweeling, Ann M. Martin
15. Dieren-babysitter Jessie, Ann M. Martin
16. Furthermore, Tahereh Mafi
17. Onder Moeder’s Paraplu – Veel Geluk Assepoester, Francis B. Andrée
18. Another Together, Lauren James
19. The Next Together, Lauren James
20. The Last Beginning, Lauren James
21. Een Droomvakantie voor Betty, Ann M. Martin
22. Gertie Zorgt Voor Een Verrassing, Ann M. Martin
23. Waar is Tijger, Ann M. Martin
24. Joke en het Grote Verdriet, Ann M. Martin
25. Jessie en de TV-ster, Ann M. Martin
26. Welkom Thuis Petra, Ann M. Martin
27. Tine en het Geheimzinnige Dagboek, Ann M. Martin
28. Inge en Betty worden Zussen, Ann M. Martin
29. Betty en Inge Maken het Bond, Ann M. Martin
30. Another Beginning, Lauren James

And – fun fact, and I didn’t even realise this until just now, when making this list, but… – apparently I read a book a day again? Which, like – I’m not mad about that!

O.W.L.s round up

So as I mentioned earlier, I participated in the O.W.L.s Readathon. I set myself the – rather ambitious, I have to admit – goal of going for the O.W.L.s necessary to become an alchemist. And I got them! The best part about that was, undoubtedly, that it forced me to read outside of my comfort zone a bit… And of course: to finally tackle some of the books that had been on my TBr for so long that, honestly? I was kind of convinced they were just going to remain there… For all eternity :p

Anyways, these are the books I ended up reading for the O.W.L.s Magical Readathon!

Ancient Runes: retelling

As planned, I read The Princess and the Fangirl  for this, although I also snuck in my back up option. Both were really enjoyable, and I even liked The Princess and the Fangirl so much that I also read the first book in this series – geekerella – a little later. Which, btw, could also count for this prompt!

Arithmancy: a work written by more than one author

This was my first read for the entire readathon, just because I knew that reading The Wicked and the Divine would be relatively swift. And it was, and I loved it, and now I can’t wait for the next part in this series to be out!

Astronomy: “star” in the title

I ended up completely changing my mind on this read. My plan was to read either The Sun is also a Star or Mijn Gele Ster. I didn’t own either of those books, and I actually found that my motivation to read either of them? Not high enough to actually be okay with purchasing them. So I went for a book from the Baby-Sitters Club series (a recurring theme, as you’ll see) that had the word star in its title: Jessie en de TV-Ster.

Care of Magical Creatures: land animal on the cover

Another one where I reached for the BSC books – in this case, my back-up option for this prompt: Jessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter

Charms: age-line: read an adult work

Honestly, there were so many options for this one, but I ended up pinning it down to The Kiss Quotient – I absolutely loved it and I’m really looking forward to the release of its sequel this month!

Defence Against the Dark Arts: Reducto: title starts with an “R”

Royals, Rachel Hawkins: loved it, another one with a sequel coming out this month that I really want to read as well!

Diviniation: set in the future

My plan for this one was, from the beginning, to read the second book in the The Next Together-series. These books technically also take place in the past, but hey, at least part of it is in 2019 (the future at the time of writing), 2035 and even later! Also, this one is a typical example of how reading sometimes escalates for me – I was just going to read the second one. And then suddenly I also re-read the first one, and I downloaded the freebie inbetween-ones, and now I kinda read the entire series? I don’t know, this is just how my life happens, sometimes :p

Herbology: plant on the cover

Honestly, I’m so proud of myself for this one – I finally read Furthermore! I’ve had this one ready to read, next to my sofa, for over a year! And I finally read it and really enjoyed it as well!

History of Magic: published at least 10 years ago

Honestly, I had such good intentions of getting to the Anne of Green Gables series. And then I just wasn’t motivated. So instead, I reread another big chunck of the BSC-books, and basically any of those could count for this one!

Muggle Studies: Contemporary

Gender Queer – a graphic novel memoir which was both interesting, touching and eye-opening. Review coming soon!

Potions: next ingredient: sequel

4 out of 5 of the Willoughby Close books. I mean, I don’t know – I’d read a *sort of sequel* just before Christmas, and then these books got recommended to me on Amazon and I basically just read all 5 of them in like 3 days. I’m telling you, having the Kindle app on my phone has been so good to me!

Transfiguration: sprayed edges or red cover

I did it! I read Yeats’ Collected Poems! I got this book like a year and a half ago, and I’ve been meaning to get to it, but I always found it quite intimidating. Because I got to read it and alternate with the other books I *had* to read though, I actually found myself grabbing it time and time again – and I kinda really like his poetry? Who’da thunk it!

What I thought

As you probably realised by now, I really enjoyed reading this past month. It probably doesn’t hurt that my two weeks of Easter break fell right in the middle of that month and that my doctor forbade me from actually doing any work during that period.

Either way, though, I got to read a lot, and more importantly: I got to enjoy just about all of the books I read! My absolute personal highlight was Furthermore – I cannot believe I waited so long to get to that one!

Anyways, that’s it for my 2019 rading updates April-editionas far as reading goes – what have you been reading this past month? Any books in particular you would recommend to me? Be sure to let me know below!

-Saar