I know it’s halfway through May already but better late than never, I guess? Here’s what I read in April:

• The Architect of New York: An historical fiction about the life of Rafael Guastavino, the Spanish architect responsible for much of New York’s Gilded Age architecture, as told through the eyes of his son (who also became an architect). I really wanted to like this one but it dragged on for me and I wound up skimming a lot of it, especially in the latter chapters. Not sure if this was a result of a heavy-handed translation or just the book itself. Interesting story, but a very slow read.
• The Mermaid Chair: A contemporary fiction about a middle-aged women whose conventional SAHM life has left her unfulfilled. When she travels to the small South Carolina island where she grew up to take care of her ill mother, she realizes that she wants more than the small space she’s occupied and begins a journey of self-awareness and awakening. This was my book club title for the month. In general, this one was just okay for me – not great/not awful. I think I’m not a big fan of this genre just in general.
• The Red Winter: A darkly fun debut novel that is a retelling of the original werewolf legend that began in rural France. I really enjoyed this one – creative, entertaining, and with several fun twists throughout. I can see why this one has gotten really good reviews.
• The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone: Quirky and fun, if a bit predictable. This magical realism tale follows Myra Malone, creator and internet darling, who refurbishes rooms in her tiny mansion (it’s NOT a dollhouse), while her personal world shrinks smaller and smaller. When one of her fans writes to tell her the rooms she decorates are coming to life in his family’s actual mansion, everything Myra thinks she knows about her tiny mansion is not at all what she thought it would be.
• A Most Remarkable Creature: My favorite book of the month, and kind of a sleeper title, I think. This nonfiction nature/travel book sheds light on the caracara birds, native to South America, and the author’s research around them. This book delves into genetics, climate change, travels in the jungle, and the amazing intelligence that these birds possess even as their habitats shrink. If you enjoy nature writing at all, this is a good one!
• The Genius of Birds: Also a good read, and another one for my personal curriculum in March/April about birds. The author looks at the biology of why birds behave like they do, including their memory, vocalizations, migration, and social patterning. Lots of good information in here and a book which puts to rest the idea of a “bird brain” being small.
• The Poet Empress: I read several good reviews on this book. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it. The story is interesting and the main character is solid but wow! This book is PACKED with violence and abuse, and I honestly thought about putting it down several times. Lots and lots and lots of trigger warnings here. I have no idea how to begin to rate this one but can say it is definitely not for everyone (or many)?