April 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.

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It’s time for another KPOP TBR and for the month of April, my reading is influenced by song titles from Lee Hi’s discography.

I became a fan of Lee Hi when she appeared on SBS’ Kpop Star 1 (she was the runner up while Jamie was the winner) and have followed her career since then. She’s one of my favourite female singers and her music has always been on another level! I was so happy when she was signed to AOMG as we’ve seen her take up more opportunities and be given a lot more support from her labelmates ♥

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Rose

read a book with a flower on the cover: Graceling; Kristin Cashore

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, who is smart and beautiful and lives in the Seven Kingdoms where selected people are born with a Grace, a special talent that can be anything at all. Katsa’s Grace is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his brutal enforcer. Until the day she meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, and Katsa’s life begins to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace-or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

_Waterstones

A long while back I heard these books being talked about, but never really knew what they were about, so when I saw the books while I was book shopping with my dad on my birthday, I read the blurb and was intrigued. My only issue will be that there is a character (I’m guessing the love interest by the synopsis) and they’re called Po… like the Teletubby… 😂

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I’m Different (나는 달라)

read a book in a different format than usual: Stalking Jack the Ripper; Kerri Maniscalco

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story’s shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

_Waterstones

I’ve been meaning to read this book for ages and it’s been in past tbr’s. I tend to read a wide range of formats – this month I’ve listened to an audiobook, read physically and read ebooks on my phone – and technically this counts as a paperback, but I rarely read mass market paperbacks and I’m classifying them as their own format because to me they’re like rare little Pokémon or something lol

1, 2 (한두 번)

read a book in a duology: Dokkaebi; Kat Cho

*spoilers for Gumiho below*

As Vicious Spirits begins, Miyoung and Jihoon are picking up the pieces of their broken lives following the deaths of Miyoung’s mother, Yena, and Jihoon’s grandmother. With the support of their friend Somin, and their frenemy, Junu, they might just have a shot at normalcy. But Miyoung is getting sicker and sicker by the day and her friends don’t know how to save her. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice and, let’s be honest, Junu isn’t known for his “generosity.” Meanwhile, the events at the end of Wicked Fox have upended the forces that govern life and death and there are supernatural entities lurking in the background that will stop at nothing to right their world.

_Waterstones

As I’m writing this I still have four days left of March and I should be able to complete Gumiho. I have started it, but am feeling a bit slumpy 😭. Hopefully, this will be able to bring me out of it!

I like Kat Cho’s writing so far, even though Miyoung is coming off as “not like other Gumiho’s” and I don’t know if I would prefer this type of plot in a drama format. I’m only a little way in, so I have a lot of time to get on board.

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No One (누구 없소)

read an underhyped book: The Forest of Stolen Girls; June Hur

Hwani’s family has never been the same since she and her younger sister went missing and were later found unconscious in the forest, near a gruesome crime scene. The only thing they remember: Their captor wore a painted-white mask.

To escape the haunting memories of this incident, the family flees their hometown. Years later, Detective Min—Hwani’s father—learns that thirteen girls have recently disappeared under similar circumstances, and so he returns to their hometown to investigate… only to vanish as well.

Determined to find her father and solve the case that tore their family apart, Hwani returns home to pick up the trail. As she digs into the secrets of the small village—and reconnects with her now estranged sister—Hwani comes to realize that the answer lies within her own buried memories of what happened in the forest all those years ago.

_Goodreads

Another book I have yet to finish this month is The Silence of Bones by June Hur and I’m hoping to get that done as well by the end of March. Or if not, as much as possible so that I can get to The Forest of Stolen Girls. This one sounds a lot eerier than her debut and who doesn’t love a creepy village filled with secrets? I have only really heard people talking about The Red Palace, which I’m super excited to get to and I think that’s only because I was actively seeking it out when I saw the stunning cover on Twitter.

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girlxoxo Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

Books to Screen: Read a book that has a movie or TV adaptation made based on it. For an extra challenge, watch the adaptation after reading the book: Pride and Prejudice; Jane Austen

When Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr Darcy, she is repelled by his overbearing pride and prejudice towards her family. But the Bennet girls are in need of financial security in the shape of husbands, so when Darcy’s friend, the affable Mr Bingley, forms an attachment to Jane, Darcy becomes increasingly hard to avoid. Polite society will be turned upside down in this witty drama of friendship, rivalry and love – Jane Austen’s classic romance novel.

_Waterstones

Should I be reading an unread book sat on my shelves? Probably. Will I be rereading Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time instead? Yes, yes I will be. Which means I will also be watching both of the best adaptations – BBC 1995 miniseries and 2005 film ♥

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What are you planning on reading in April?

Thanks for reading!

I hope you’re having a lovely day and staying safe ♥