My March 2024 Reading was great when it comes to the number of books that I read.
I read thirteen books in March. Which is a great number of books for me. Some will think that is a lot of books, but this is where I will remind you though to stop comparing your reading life to mine.
I am currently dealing with some health issues, on the days that I am struggling health wise, I can still read, which is why my reading as increased over the last year.
The good thing is that I love to talk books and the more books that I read, the more books I have to talk about.
This month I read a good number of books, but quite a few of them were only three star reads for me. However, I did have two five star fiction reads.
I read some clean romance that I reviewed very honestly. My thoughts might surprise some readers.
I like clean fiction, but I like it to be realistic. I am also not a huge romance reader, even clean romance. The two clean romance books that I read this month, just were not for me because they were not realistic.
I did have a great nonfiction reading month though. One of them might make my list of favorites for the year.
March Reads 2024
Click on the title of each book for a full review.
Fiction
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith. This is a YA historical fiction book set in WWII.
Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini. I loved this book set during WWI. I did not know a lot about this part of WWI, so I learned a lot reading this one. I also loved that there were great author notes so you could tell what was fact and what was fiction.
A Shadow In Moscow by Katherine Reay. This is a Cold War historical fiction book set in Russia. It was a five star read for me.
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. This is my first Marilynn Robinson book and I did not love it. I understand why others do, but it wasn’t for me.
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay. After reading A Shadow In Moscow I knew that I wanted to read Katherine Reay’s latest book. This is another Cold War historical fiction book. This one is set in Germany. It was another five star read for me.
Edenbrooke by Julianne Davidson. This is a proper romance book. It was fine for a proper romance book, but I did not love it. It was just way too unrealistic for me.
An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey. I had high hopes for this clean romance book. Once again it was just not for me. The conversations and interactions just did not read like real conversations and interactions.
A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde. This was a fun historical mystery to end the month.
Nonfiction
Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose. This book has been in my to be read pile for years, probably ten or so years. I am so glad that I finally picked it up to read.
I grew up in Oregon and know a lot of Oregon Trail history, but I had no idea that the Oregon Trail could be so interesting.
American Flannel by Steven Kurutz. This book about the American clothing company, American Giant and the textile industry in American, was an interesting read.
Christian Nonfiction
I read three Christian books this month, which is more than normal. Christian books tend to be slower more thoughtful reads for me. However, I have been listening to two Christian books on audio for several months and I was determined to finish them in March.
I have also decided that I don’t love listening to Christian nonfiction on audio. I think I would have enjoyed both audiobooks listed below better if I had read them in print.
Carved In Ebony by Jasmine Holmes. I liked this book, but didn’t love it. I listened to this on audio and didn’t love the narrator. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read it in print.
The Old Wives’ Tales by Clare Heath-Whyte. This is a book about seven women from Christian history. I liked this book. I had read books about most of them, so it wasn’t new information, but it was a good refresher.
Characters of Creation by Daniel Darling. This is another book that I listened to on audio. I liked it, but didn’t love it. I think that is once again because I did not love the narrator.
Oooh, I’m getting so excited for my next Katherine Reay! I’m actually incredibly excited about American Flannel, too!
Katherine Reay is such a great writer.
As a fellow Oregonian, Undaunted Courage has also been on my shelf for 10+ years. I’m glad to know you enjoyed it so much. I’ll add the Katherine Reay books to my TBR list. I’ve enjoyed her other books and will look for these in our local library.
Last year I started reading Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series and finished book #16 in March – The Enigma of Garlic. These have been lighthearted and easy to read at bedtime.
March also found me reading Forty Autumns by Nina Willner, BOMB by Steve Sheinkin, and Full Body Burden by Kristen Iversen. It’s only by coincidence that my recent reads have overlapped about the Cold War and the various perspectives have been really interesting. Full Body Burden counts as my Colorado non-fiction book.
I think you will enjoy Undaunted Courage. I read Forty Autumns several years ago and really enjoyed it. I have read a few of Alexander McCall Smith books but not 44 Scotland Street. I need to give that series a try. Full Body Burden looks really interesting. I had not heard of that one. Thank you! I am adding it to my to be read list. I love your book recommendations. We have similar reading tastes.