My April Book of the Month Pick

I almost didn’t order a Book of the Month as I am behind my reading by 4 or 5 books, but I ordered one anyway. I really need to get to some spring cleaning. We have more books than bookshelves in our house. My nightstands is overflowing with books, I think I’m going to have to order a bookcase just for my side of the bedroom. Anyway, here is a synopsis of the books offered at Book of the Month for April.

Fantasy: “Kaikeyi” by Vaishnavi Patel

Quick Take: Why should boys have all the fun? In this epic tale that pulls heartstrings, Kaikeyi fights for her place in history.

BOTM describes this book as long with a slow build at more than 400 pages. Based on Hindu mythology, this book is a retelling of the story of Kaikeyi who — according to Wikipedia — was the second consort of King Dasharatha and the Queen of Ayodhya in the Hindu epic, the Ramayan. This is Patel’s debut novel, and it has 4.5 stars on Goodreads. Ultimately, I did not choose this book since I am unfamiliar with Hindu mythology, but after looking up Kaikeyi online, it does sound like an interesting story. Also, the cover art is beautiful!

Narrative Nonfiction: “Bittersweet” by Susan Cain

Quick Take: Ever cried during a commercial or listened to Joni Mitchell curled up on the floor? This insightful book is for you.

BOTM describes this book as academic, brainy, and inspirational. I have never read anything by Susan Cain, but her book “Quiet” is one that I have been wanting to read. I watched her TEDtalk on the Power of Introverts a while back and really felt seen being an introvert myself. From the description, this book sounds like one that offers some profound ideas that will make the reader think. I have added it to my TBR list.

Mystery: “Like a Sister” by Kellye Garrett

Quick Take: Sometimes a sibling just knows. When her estranged sister dies under weird circumstances, Lena Scott gets on the case.

BOTM says this book is set in NYC and is a hard-boiled, “whodunit” mystery. This book also has a warning that drug and alcohol use are involved in the plot. The description says this book is a “twisty, voice-driven thriller.” I’ve never heard of Kellye Garrett before, but after looking her up, I learned that her works have been featured on the TODAY show, and she also worked as a writer for the TV series Cold Case.

I’ve been reading quite a bit of mystery lately, and my last Book of the Month is a mystery, too, so I decided not to choose this book.

Literary Fiction: “True Biz” by Sara Nović

Quick Take: What’s realer than real? This witty and life-affirming novel gives us the true biz about a school for the deaf.

BOTM says this book is more than 400 pages, has multiple viewpoints, without quotation marks. Sometimes, I’m a little too snooty for my own good, but just the fact that this book doesn’t have quotation marks made me decide not to pick it. Things like that bother me in novels, unless it’s poetry or something! This book has 4.33 stars on Goodreads, so it’s probably worth reading.

My April Pick – Historical Fiction: “The Good Left Undone” by Adriana Trigiani

Quick Take: Like a hug from your favorite aunt, this moving and wise WWII epic will remind you what life’s all about—famiglia.

BOTM notes that this book has a nonlinear timeline, includes family drama, has more than 400 pages, and has an international setting. I have read quite a few WWII novels, but this one is set in multiple countries including Italy, France, Scotland, and England. At 4.36 stars, the reviews on Goodreads were very positive, and many described it as heartbreaking and stunning. The last WWII novel I read was “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah, so I’m really interested to read this one.

Here is the book’s description if you’re interested:

“Matelda, the Cabrelli family’s matriarch, has always been brusque and opinionated. Now, as she faces the end of her life, she is determined to share a long-held secret with her family about her own mother’s great love story: with her childhood friend, Silvio, and with dashing Scottish sea captain John Lawrie McVicars, the father Matelda never knew…

“In the halcyon past, Domenica Cabrelli thrives in the coastal town of Viareggio until her beloved home becomes unsafe when Italy teeters on the brink of World War II. Her journey takes her from the rocky shores of Marseille to the mystical beauty of Scotland to the dangers of wartime Liverpool—where Italian Scots are imprisoned without cause—as Domenica experiences love, loss, and grief while she longs for home. A hundred years later, her daughter, Matelda, and her granddaughter, Anina, face the same big questions about life and their family’s legacy, while Matelda contemplates what is worth fighting for. But Matelda is running out of time, and the two timelines intersect and weave together in unexpected and heartbreaking ways that lead the family to shocking revelations and, ultimately, redemption.”