I sped through January, but got the flu in February and don’t seem to have regained steam in March, but I did get through 17 books (9 audio/8 physical; 11 fiction/6 nonfiction) and started three more.

Completed in March:

1. My Lady Jane (audio, fiction). Absolutely hysterical. Never thought “but he’s really a horse” could be a valid plot point in historical fiction, but here we are. I want to buy a copy for everyone I know.
2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (audio, fiction).  I remember discovering these books in my middle school’s library and feeling like I was getting away with something. I still kind of feel that way, especially listening to Stephen Fry read it.
3. Rules of Civility (paperback, fiction). This was not something I’d have picked up for myself – it was a book club read – but it was fun and engaging, with some deep-thinking bits as well.
4. The Deeds of the Disturber (hardcover, fiction). The next step in my goal to re-read this whole series this year. They’re always fun reads, and I wish I’d thought to grab the next in the series for my upcoming plane trip.
5. Norse Mythology (audio, fiction).  I’d listen to Neil Gaiman read the phone book. This was definitely more fun than the phone book.
6. Off the Sidelines: Raise your Voice, Change the World (audio, nonfiction). I grabbed this on a whim because I needed a new audio, and it surprised me in a good way. Senator Gillibrand seems aware of her privilege in a way that I think a lot of us can learn from.
7. Bad Behavior (hardcover, fiction).  Ugh, this was awful – the stories, the writing, all of it.
8. Fortunately, the Milk (audio, fiction). It was entertaining, of course – it’s another Gaiman – but really all over the place.
9. A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life (audio, nonfiction). I think the author needs to read Sen. Gillibrand’s book and get a handle on his privilege. This was a lot of “straight white guy pounces on opportunities in Hollywood and it makes him happy!”. There were interesting tidbits in there, so I didn’t throw it out the window, but overall not one I would recommend.
10. You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life you Want (hardcover, nonfiction). I wouldn’t call it life-changing, but it definitely helped me understand the theories behind their software.
11. The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore (audio, nonfiction). Full of fascinating lessons applicable to both leadership and life.
12. Heart and Darkness: Scary Adventures and the Evolution of Disney’s Dark Rides (paperback, nonfiction). A little dry, a little repetitive, this read like someone’s term paper.
13. Scary Godmother Comic Book Stories (paperback, fiction). Read in celebration of the delivery of the Kickstarter award doll. Always a good time.
14. The Case for Jamie (hardcover, fiction). The Charlotte Holmes series is one of my new obsessions – this is book #3 – and this book did not disappoint. The only downside is waiting until 2019 for the fourth book…
15. The Rogue Not Taken (audio, fiction). 2018 has been the year I rediscovered romance novels. After reading A Bollywood Affair in January, I tracked down some of the classics I had loved so much in the 1990s (hello Whitney My Love) – and I saw this enough on Litsy that I figured it’d be worth a try. Belly laughs, snarky arguments, and steamy romance? Totally a win. I’m listening to the sequel now.
16. The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone (hardcover, nonfiction). Interesting, but didn’t knock it out of the park for me.
17. How to Train Your Dragon (audio, fiction). David Tennant was made to tell stories like this.

Started in March and Still Going:

1. The Republic of Thieves (hardcover, fiction). I love getting lost in this series, though pushing myself through a 700-page tome that has to be back to the library before we leave for France in a week was maybe not my best idea.
2. A Scot in the Dark (audio, fiction). The sequel to A Rogue Not Taken.
3. Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz (hardcover, nonfiction). Delightfully written, with a lot of good info. Again, I shouldn’t have grabbed this right before vacation (especially since it’s an ILL.)

Image by rosevita via Morguefile.