March 2022
Remember to stay up to date with the world, listen to those facing atrocities and help spread awareness/donate where you’re able to.
In March I am going to be playing along with A Book Fiend Named Mel’s tbr game Roll of Reads, which is also a readathon as it’s Mel’s birthday. To participate in the readathon, you are also able to use Mel’s rolls/prompts, which is what I will be doing. To see the full announcement video for the readathon click here ♥
The official twitter is @RollofReads2022~
For this month, Mel rolled a 4, which means there are four books! I’ve not been reading as much recently, but I’m really happy with my tbr, plus I’ll be working from the office a bit more in March, so I should be able to read more on my commute.
ROLL ONE || NOSTALGIC VIBES
Stormbreaker; Anthony Horowitz
When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in gruelling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his own special set of secret gadgets, he’s off on his first mission to Cornwall, where Middle-Eastern multi-billionaire Herod Sayle is producing his state-of-the-art Stormbreaker computers. Sayle has offered to give one free to every school in the country – but there’s more to the gift than meets the eye.
Goodreads
I have been thinking of reading Stormbreaker for a few weeks now, so this prompt was easy to fill!
I read the first couple of books in this series when I was in Yr 6 and I remember sitting in a big chair in my primary school library section and reading them.
I’ve realised that I tend not to really like spies, but I’m hoping that I enjoy Stormbreaker as much as I did when I was younger (I don’t remember much of the plot, just the general idea that I really liked it).
ROLL TWO || FEATURES A MAGICAL OR MYTHICAL CREATURE
Gumiho; Kat Cho
Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret–she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. Because so few believe in the old tales anymore, and with so many evil men no one will miss, the modern city of Seoul is the perfect place to hide and hunt.
But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. Against her better judgment, she violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead–her gumiho soul–in the process.
With murderous forces lurking in the background, Miyoung and Jihoon develop a tenuous friendship that blossoms into something more. But when a young shaman tries to reunite Miyoung with her bead, the consequences are disastrous . . . forcing Miyoung to choose between her immortal life and Jihoon’s.
Goodreads
Gumiho has been on my TBR for a while, but I’m really excited to finally get round to it. The cover is beautiful and I really hope it gives me kdrama vibes ♥
This fits the prompt as our main character Mi Young is a Gumiho – a nine tailed fox – which is a creature from South Korean mythology.
ROLL THREE || A BEAUTIFUL COVER
The Mad Women’s Ball; Victoria Mas
The Salpetriere asylum, Paris, 1885. Dr Charcot holds all of Paris in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad, hysterics, and been cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated – these women are often simply inconvenient’, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, or wayward daughters. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is The Mad Women’s Ball, when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the Salpetriere dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves it is a rare moment of hope.
Genevieve is a senior nurse – after the childhood death of her sister Blandine, she shunned religion and has placed her faith in Dr Charcot and science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugenie, the 19 year old daughter of a bourgeois family who have locked her away in the asylum. Because Eugenie has a secret – she sees spirits. Inspired by the scandalous, banned work that all of Paris is talking about – The Book of Spirits – Genevieve is determined to escape from the asylum (and the bonds of her gender) and seek out those who will believe in her. And for that she will need Genevieve’s help…
Goodreads
I got this for my birthday and the cover is so pretty! It’s a lot prettier in person as it has gold foil ♥
This book also sounds like it’s going to be a very interesting and emotional read. It’s a little book, but I’m expecting it to have a huge impact!
ROLL FOUR || MAIN CHARACTER OVER 30
Kim Ji Young, Born 1982; Cho Nam Joo
Kim Jiyoung is a girl born to a mother whose in-laws wanted a boy. Kim Jiyoung is a sister made to share a room while her brother gets one of his own.
Kim Jiyoung is a female preyed upon by male teachers at school. Kim Jiyoung is a daughter whose father blames her when she is harassed late at night.
Kim Jiyoung is a good student who doesn’t get put forward for internships. Kim Jiyoung is a model employee but gets overlooked for promotion. Kim Jiyoung is a wife who gives up her career and independence for a life of domesticity.
Kim Jiyoung has started acting strangely.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is the life story of one young woman born at the end of the twentieth century and raises questions about endemic misogyny and institutional oppression that are relevant to us all.
Goodreads
While I’m not someone who tends to read contemporaries, I’m really excited to pick up Kim Ji Young, Born 1982.
This will be an impactful and insightful book and I’m also interested in watching the film adaptation in March as well (it stars Gong Yoo ♥).
EXTRAS
I’m writing this with three days left of February and I’ve yet to complete my TBR. I’m not giving myself any punishments this year, but I do think I’ll probably roll some of the books over – mostly just the ones that I have at least started.
I will also be reading Cultish by Amanda Montell which is for a reading group.
Through juicy storytelling and cutting original research, Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities “cultish,” revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups, Peloton leaderboards, and Instagram feeds. Incisive and darkly funny, this enrapturing take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of “cultish” everywhere.
waterstones
What are you planning on reading in March? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
I hope that you’re having a lovely day and staying safe ♥
DramaRambles 🌸 