Major Conflict: One Gay Man's Life in the Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell Military - Jeffrey McGowan Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game - Michael Lewis The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade - Ann Fessler Rick Steves Travel as a Political Act - Rick Steves Battlefield Angels: Saving Lives Under Enemy Fire From Valley Forge to Afghanistan (General Military) - Scott McGaugh

 Overall a not great reading month, with some serious low-level ratings. A lot of disappointment in the content of some of these books. But I am either on track or ahead on some challenges, so at least I am not falling behind while traveling around.

 

Best part of my reading this month is finally visiting the British Library and its long standing exhibit (the BL is between special exhibits at the moment)! Unfortunately, visitors can't take pictures of the documents/books in the exhibit so I don't have any to show you. I am going back for the upcoming exhibit on the Russian Revolution, which turns 100 this year. The British Library will also do an exhibit on Harry Potter this year.

 

Highlights, Lowlights, and Challenges

Best Books: Major Conflict by Jeffrey McGowan; Moneyball by Michael Lewis; The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler; Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves

 

Worst Books: The Girl's Guide to Homelessness: A Memoir by Brianna Karp; Elegy for a Disease by Ann Finger; Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan

 

Library Love Challenge: 8; 19/36 for the year

Pop Sugar Challenge: 8; 18/52 for the year

BL/GR Reading Goal: 42/150

 

1. Polio: An American Story by David Oshinksy (Pop Sugar prompt - On the TBR a long time) - Currently reading, not counted in my stats yet

 

2. The Girl's Guide to Homelessness: A Memoir by Brianna Karp (Library Love Challenge) - .5 star

 

3. Battlefield Angels: Saving Lives Under Enemy Fire from Valley Forge to Afghanistan by Scott McGaugh (Pop Sugar prompt - set in wartime) (Library Love Challenge) - 3 stars

 

4. Major Conflict: One Gay Man's Life in the Don't - Ask - Don't - Tell Military by Jeffrey McGowan (Library Love Challenge) - 3.5 stars

 

5. The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade by Ann Fessler (Pop Sugar prompt - Difficult Topic) (Library Love Challenge) - 3.5 stars

 

6. Cat Trick (A Magical Cats Mystery)  by Sofie Kelly (Pop Sugar prompt - Cat on the cover) (Library Love Challenge) - 1 star

 

7. Elegy for a Disease: A Personal and Cultural History of Polio by Anne Finger - DNF

 

8. Travel is a Political Act by Rick Steves (Pop Sugar prompt - Involves Travel) (Library Love Challenge) - 4 stars

 

9. Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan (Pop Sugar prompt - Set in a Hotel) - 0 stars

 

10. Echoes in Death (...In Death #44) by J.D. Robb  (Pop Sugar prompt - Published in 2017) - 1.5 stars

 

11. Moneyball by Michael Lewis (Library Love Challenge) - 4 stars

 

12. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (Pop Sugar prompt - bought on a trip) - 3 stars