Welcome back to another book review with what I read during spring of 2021!

April was a slow reading month for me because I felt a little burnt out from so much reading in March.

Then in May I ramped it up again and finished 6 books!

I am currently at 17/30 on my Goodreads challenge and have no doubts I will exceed my reading goal for this year.

Keep reading to find out what I have been reading lately!

If you want to check out other monthly what I read posts click here!

March

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I saw the 1997 film version of Little Women at a sleepover when I was a girl and it has been my favorite movie ever since.

I even visited the Louisa May Alcott home in Concord, MA but I never read the book until this year!

I am glad I did because it was amazing! It was so charming and had tons of good vibes. Highly recommend this one!

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

LOVE THIS!

I picked this book because I wanted to read something that talked about nature for spring and it did not disappoint.

Like Little Women, it had plenty of feel good vibes.

This is also a perfect choice if you want to read a cottagecore aesthetic book.

The Kingmaker’s Daughter by Philippa Gregory

This is the last book I needed to read in the Philippa Gregory Tudor and Plantagenet series.

I was already aware of the storyline of this book since I watched the ShowTime series the White Queen a handful of times and that show followed a bit of Anne Nevilles story.

I really enjoyed the entire series and although this one wasn’t my least favorite, it wasn’t one of the best either.

The Neanderthals Rediscovered by Dimitra Papagianni

I wanted to learn more about the Neanderthals after reading Sapiens by Yuval Harari.

This book was short but I found it a bit hard to follow along.

Additionally, early modern humans and other homo species were discussed fairly often.

If you want a brief history on our ancient ancestors this would be a good book to start with.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This is a wildly popular book that I have seen all over Goodreads but I was disappointed by all the hype.

The story was interesting enough but the moral undertone wasn’t my cup of tea and nothing I haven’t heard before.

April

Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir

This is the first book in Alison Weir’s historical fiction series covering the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives. 

I previously read the novels about Anne Boylen and Jane Seymour and really enjoyed them. 

This one was not as good as those two, but still a good novel. 

The story line is very similar to Phillipa Gregory’s The Constant Princess novel so I was already very familiar with Katherines story. 

Change Your Schedule, Change Your life by Suhas Kshirsagar

I really enjoyed this book and took pages of notes! 

This book focuses on the ancient Indian health and wellness system of Ayrevada. The author explains how to use Ayrevada wellness to change your schedule and optimize your health.

This book was straight to the point and gave very specific routines for your Ayrevada type.

May

The Burning Land: Book 4 of The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell

Another fantastic historical fiction novel from Cornwell!

The Last Kingdom series has not disappointed at all as I have loved all 4 books so far.

I enjoy the Netflix series based on the books, but the books are so much better and I highly recommend them if you are a fan of the show.

The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller

I heard about this book through a Gilmore Girls reading challenge on YouTube and was pleasantly surprised.

Normally romance books aren’t my cup of tea but this book has so much small town charm with a hint of rebellion that I didn’t once feel like gagging!

In fact, I loved this book and plan on buying this one to read again!

It definitely had the Gilmore Girls vibe as well.

Royal Witches: Witchcraft and the Nobility in the Fifteenth Century by Gemma Hollman

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I thought maybe it will discuss the possibility of these infamous women actually being witches with evidence supporting the claims.

It turns out that this book covers how these women were accused as witches for political reasons with a heavy focus on their biographies.

I found the book interesting but I was already aware of the biographies of Jacquetta of Luxemburg and Elizabeth Woodville.

It is worth a read if you enjoy English history and the roles women played in historical times.

The Little Book of Hygge: the Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking

I read this book to find out what all the hype is around hygge.

I found the Danish culture and tradition of hygge interesting but after reading I don’t feel like you can really experience hygge unless you actually are a Dane or live amongst them for a longer period of time.

Many of the traditions are similar to the American versions of I guess what we would call cozy; candles (lots and lots of candles), dim lights, sweets and pastries, fuzzy blankets, etc.

I listened to an audio version of this book but I think it would be a good reread in the fall or winter to give me some inspiration on brining warmth into my home during the cooler months.

Hadrian’s Wall by Adrian Goldsworthy

A brief and thorough history of Hadrians Wall.

The author gives background to the wall as far as where, why and how it was built. The book goes over how the wall was used during the Roman occupation.

The book was full of information but I found it a bit dry and not engaging. I did listen to this as an audiobook so maybe I would feel more engaged if I read it.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

This has been one of my favorite books since I was a child! This is probably the fourth time I have read it and I love it everytime.

Although the story focuses on a boy who runs away from home to live in the woods, as a 30 year old woman, I still want to run away to the woods and live off the land.

This is a great book if you like foraging, the forest and nature.

There is also two more books in the series but they are not as good as the first one in my opinion.

Currently Reading

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling 

Getting Things Done: the Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen 

The Princes in the Tower by Alison Weir

Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making a Home by Danielle Postel-Viney

The Bookshop of the Corner by Jenny Colgan

Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Style Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott

Until Next Time,

Rachel