Boy, April, you've been a doozy real life-wise. Between administrative headaches at work and a surprise week-long cold in the middle of the month, you've left me itching for a vacation. Good thing I'll be going to Chicago in May for a wedding (and, hopefully, to meet Julianne!).

Book life-wise, April's been decent. The month brought me a strange mix of 3-star and 5-star reads; I felt like I was either pleased but vaguely underwhelmed or shouting from the rooftops. All things considered, being thrilled by 1/3 of your books ain't too shabby.

Here's what I read:

• Boy in the Twilight: Stories of the Hidden China, by Yu Hua
• Tell the Wolves I'm Home, by Carol Rifka Brunt
• Loving Day, by Mat Johnson
• Ashes in My Mouth, Sand in My Shoes, by Per Petterson 
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer
• The Complete Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi

Fun fact: Tell the Wolves I'm Home is the book that finally got me to attend my local book club meeting (you know, the one I've only meant to attend for the last 22 months. Oops). It's also the first book that's made me cry in a very, very long time. I keep meaning to write a review or other post about it, but the words still aren't coming to me. I hope to get around to it soon.

I posted a couple of reviews, including one for Loving Day (due out on May 26!). I also shared a few thoughts about Hausfrau and rounded up some of the most thoughtful writing I found on the novel. It's short, but it packed a devastating punch.

Finally, April was all about the reading challenges! I participated in the #ReadingMyLibrary challenge hosted by Stefani of Caught Read Handed and Amy of Read What I Like. I finished a total of five library books this month and saved $64.42 while doing it! You can check out my weekly updates here, if you're so inclined: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4.

Oh, and Dewey's. We can't forget about Dewey's. This was my first time participating in the readathon since I began blogging. I felt much better prepared for it, and going into it with friends at the ready made it an even more wonderful experience. I can't wait until October to do it all again!

#rahrahreadathon #rahrahreadathon #rahrahreadathon *\o/*

— Shaina (@shainareads) April 25, 2015

In May, I want to focus more on non-fiction. My stack has been full of fantastic stories lately, but I want to get back to my science, history and social justice reads. On the docket so far are In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson and Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari. Anything I should add?