What DID I read in April?

Not much is the answer.  It was a busy month and my lowest reading in history.  I read 2 (two) books in all those 30 days.  It was a month of starting books.   Hopefully more free time in May will help me clean up my record.

I started:

The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow:  This is the book club pick for May.  I've read the first 5 chapters and I don't know if I'm going to continue.  It was recommended by our oldest member, Jean, who diid this year.  We are reading it in memory of her so I would like to finish it but I'm not drawn to the story or the character of Gertie.

Girl at War by Sara Novic`:  I won a copy of this book by responding to a tweet from David Ebershoff from Random House. Girl at War is a story from Croatia, 1991, when the war is just beginning and Ana's childhood is a changed forever.  Ten years later Ana is in NYC for school and is haunted by memories of war.  I like this one and plan to read more this week now that I've made the choice to let The Dollmaker go for awhile.

Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore: Groovy Girl and I started this one a few days ago.  I'm lucky she hasn't gone back to "I don't want to read with you" shenanigans (read all about that here) because it is the best way to end our day together.  Spunky  main character, Aislinn, has a lot going on with her 4 younger siblings and an alcoholic father.  They are saving money for a dream house in the country and her mother is pregnant again.  Groovy Girl and I feel this is not going to end well.

The life-changing magic of tidying up; the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing by Marie Kondo:  I read an article about this book and ordered it from the library (I already have enough books clutterin up my house)  I like her advice and am in the process of rethinking objects in my house.

The Organically Clean Home by Becky Rapinchuk (from cleanmama.net): Healthy recipes for cleaning.  Also ordered from the library.  Recommended by V and a topic of conversation while in Arkansas.

The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney: Recommended to me by a neighbor friend who happens to be a counselor.  One of my two kids at home right now is withdrawn and I'm trying to learn more.  This book is helpful and makes me realize why I'm socially awkward at times.

This is what I finished:

Nest by Ester Ehrlich:  Marvelous tale of Chirp who loves birds, nature, and playing outside.  Her mother is diagnosed with MS and Chirp, her sister, and father have to watch as she struggles to deal with this new reality.  Her family sets her apart in school as well, they are Jewish and her father is a psychologist.  Luckily they are surrounded by nature on Cape Cod and this serves as a healing force for Chirp.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart:  Crazy story of four orphans ready to save the world from mass brainwashing.  Mr. Benedict places an advertisement looking for gifted children and once they pass all of his tests they are rushed off to save the world.  Read for 6th grade book club and it was just exciting enough to take their minds off of Legend series for a just a bit.  Our last book for the year is Champion by Marie Lu.