Spring Reading Re-Cap
I am so glad I set this little spring reading challenge for myself this year. The season was much more uncertain and stressful than I could ever have anticipated. Luckily, I chose some lighthearted reading that provided an escape from the chaos that was my life. The content we consume really does affect the headspace we find ourselves in. This a lesson I hope to take forward with me for summer. In retrospect, some of these books were decidedly ‘un-spring’ like I just assumed they must be because, at a glance, the covers had spring vibes. More on that as we get into the spring reading recap.
Shady Hollow – Juneau Black
If you want to know what this book is like imagine The Wind in the Willows but with a journalist investigating a small-town murder. I did really enjoy reading this but it must be said you read this book for 70% vibes and 30% actual story. It wouldn’t win any awards for narrative but you are never the less delighted the whole way through.
Howl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne Jones
Like many people, I experienced Howls Moving Castle through the Ghibli animated film. Unsurprisingly I adore that film, it’s so lovely and sumptuous for the senses. After some nudging from a friend I finally agreed to give it a read as well. The movie changes up quite a few things but definitely stays true to the feel of the book. In that way the book was equally as enjoyable. It’s magical and quirky with some memorable characters.
Half a Soul – Olivia Atwater
I can accept judgement for this but I don’t usually read ‘non-spicy’ romance books. Once again a friend recommended this to me. It’s described as Bridgerton-meets- Howl’s Moving Castle. I enjoyed both those things so I gave it a chance despite the lack of spice. Glad I did because this book is beautiful. If you like fairies, love, adventure, and being unapologetically yourself, this book will be a new favourite.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries – Heather Fawcett
A was obsessed with fairies when I was a little kid and I really embraced that with my spring reading list. Seriously, send the fairie book recs my way! This was another great book about faeries. It has enough adventure to always be interesting but not needlessly dramatic so I would find it stressful. It’s written like a field journal of Emily Wilde, who I am sure you can guess is writing an encyclopedia of faeries. That is not a style I tend to enjoy but it was done very well in this book. You know how this is my spring list.. well this one takes place mostly in the heart of winter… it’s actually a contributing part of the overall story. So not spring content but I still really loved this book.
A Far Wilder Magic – Alison Saft
For my spring reading, I was really looking for uplifting low-stakes reading. I.e. don’t stress me out to read and leave me feeling hopeful and like life is ok. Nothing wrong with books that are full of suspense and absolutely devastate you. I’m just not at a place in my life where reading that content benefits me. Soft girl spring for me (Or Saft girl spring as it were. Don’t hate me for the bad puns) Of all the books on this list this one felt like it had the highest stakes. But this book did not play out the way I was expecting it to. The narrative arc did its own thing which was great but it put me on edge a little bit. If you’re not as much of a reading wimp as me you probably won’t find this suspenseful at all. Again, this one takes place in a fall/winter setting. It was a delightful story but not necessarily a spring one.
Mrs Dalloway – Virginia Woolf
Months ago I read The Sentence by Louise Eldrich in which the character lists Mrs. Dalloway as a perfect short novel. When I put together my spring reading list I wanted to include a few ‘classics’ to expand the horizons and feel a little more fancy. Didn’t hurt that I found this really pretty edition and wanted to buy it… Look, that’s how I motivate myself to read ‘academic-y’ books. Gotta say I enjoyed some of the themes in this book but I’m not the biggest fan of Woolf’s writing style. Just not my cup of tea.
Greenglass House – Kate Wilford
This one was on me, I heard Greenglass House and assumed it meant greenhouse thus it must be a spring book. Nope, this one full takes place in the middle of a huge snowstorm around Christmas time. Oops. So not spring related but still a fun read. This is also the first middle-grade book that made me understand why people read middle-grade books. You know other than being in the middle grades. Greenglass House gave Agatha Christie vibes but for younger readers. It’s a cosy, nerdy mystery with a host of eccentric characters.
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
I’ve seen the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie and didn’t like it all that much. Well, I loved the bread-and-butter-flies but could pass on the rest. But in the name of having another classic, I added it to my spring reading list. This one was probably the biggest surprise for me I loved it so much. The movie Alice was just sort of annoying to me but the book Alice makes it all make sense. It has such clever uses of language and was so enjoyable.
A Poem for Every Spring Day – Allie Esiri
Whoops didn’t actually get around to reading this one. When I made this list I was into the poetry game but by the end of Spring, I just wasn’t as invested in this one as much as I was the rest of them. Perhaps next year.
Hope you find some good books to read this summer! As clearly demonstrated these are not necessarily spring specific (several are specifically set in winter). I’m still looking to make a summer reading list so send me your recommendations!
Happy Reading
Hannah
