March 2020 Wrap Up

Posted April 1, 2020 by Carole in Monthly Wrap-Up / 21 Comments

March 2020
Hmm…I honestly don’t know where to begin when it comes to wrapping up the month of March.  I think that just about everyone’s month was dominated by the coronavirus.  My younger daughter’s college extended spring break by a week and told all of the students to bring anything they might need home with them.  Now they are finishing the semester online at home.  My older daughter lost her job which is quite stressful.  My husband works for the local library which is now closed until further notice but he is working a few mornings a week for now.  My work is trying to serve our customers but business is quickly slowing down.  I am doing some work from home but it is difficult since I don’t have the software or database that I have at the office so I am still spending some time in the office.

I do have to admit that this virus is extremely interesting to me.  Don’t get me wrong, I hate the fact that people are sick and dying.  I hate the emotional and economic toll this is causing as well.  BUT I do have a bachelor’s degree in health education with a community health focus so I have been very interested in the epidemiology of this illness.  Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time reading up on the rapidly changing data concerning this illness and our response to it.

I feel like my reading was down this month but I was only 3 books shy of last month’s total so I guess I can’t be too upset.  I really have no idea what my reading will look like in April.  I listen to audiobooks at work but I am not spending very much time in the office at this point so I imagine I won’t be able to get through as many audiobooks as usual.  My house is also much busier with my daughter, my husband, and I spending almost all of our time here along with our 3 spoiled dogs.  I am cooking a lot more since we are all home for our meals.  It just doesn’t seem like I have the reading time that I had before even though I am home a lot more.  I am not going to push myself too hard and just try to enjoy the books I do read and listen to in April.

I am linking this post to the Monthly Wrap-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction.

Books Read
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu – My Review
Fantastic Hope edited by Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey
World Departed by Sarah Lyons Fleming – My Review
The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben – My Review

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel – My Review
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher – My Review
Hot to the Touch by Jaci Burton – My Review
Ignite on Contact by Jaci Burton – My Review

The Rise of the Magicks by Nora Roberts – My Review
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison – My Review
Oblivion Heart by Nazri Noor
Making You Mine by Melissa Foster – My Review

Reading Stats
Books Read: 12
Audiobooks: 5
Digital Books: 5
Print Books: 2
Re-Reads: 1
Book Source for Books Read in March
NetGalley: 3
Edelweiss: 1
Direct from Publisher/Author/Narrator/Publicist: 4
Purchased/Freebie: 3
Kindle Unlimited: 1
Borrowed/Library:  1
*Some books may fit into more than one category

Challenges
Goodreads: 46/100

Library Love: 1 read toward the challenge in March / 5 total for the year
Audiobook Challenge: 5 read towards the challenge in March / 23 total for the year
New Release Challenge: 6 read towards the challenge in March / 24 total for the year

End of the Month NetGalley Stats
Feedback Ratio: 87% (No Change)
574 Approved | 501 Feedback Sent

End of the Month Edelweiss Stats
12 books to review | 98 downloaded

Favorites of the Month

Up Next

How was your month? Do you have any reading or blogging goals for April?

21 responses to “March 2020 Wrap Up

  1. I had no idea about your background. You contain multitudes. I would think something like this would spark an interest given your background, while also giving you a perspective many lack. I am tired of the finger pointing. It's not productive. This is such a learn as we go situation, and trying to stay informed has not been easy with so much conflicting information. I am just trying to stay home, though, I was only given 2 weeks emergency leave. I may have to report back to work on Monday. Bus, train, shuttle, and a lot of social interacting. We just need to take it one day at a time. Stay safe!

  2. The virus is interesting to me too. I’m REALLY not happy that it’s happening, but I’ve read so many pandemic-themed dystopias that it’s interesting to see how realistic they are. I don’t know if anyone predicted the toilet paper hoarding.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

  3. Given your education/background, I can see how the current events would be interesting to you. I mean, it's horrible (obviously) but it's also interesting and kind of staggering to see the far-reaching effects it is on almost every aspect of life. I think getting through 12 books in a month where our routines have gone out the window is pretty great!

  4. Yeah this whole past month has been consumed by this virus…..I am just hoping it will die down quickly and we can get back to our regular daily living again. It should be interesting to see how everything plays out.

    Hope the month of April is relaxing and illuminating for you Carole. Happy Reading

  5. Man I hope we don't have another March like this one any time soon. I say you did great. I need to do a recap on what I read and hopefully can get it up Friday. Stay safe.

  6. Bea

    Makes sense that you would be interested in the virus with your background; even without that background, it's interesting. I hope things stay on an even keel for you and your family. You did have a good reading month and I think your goal for this month is a good one.

    Stay safe and happy reading!

  7. YOu had a good reading month! I had such trouble focusing this month. Didn't we all think abut what is going on. Stay safe

  8. I agree that it's interesting from multiple perspectives and I have no experience with public health! It is weird having everyone home and underfoot. I'm used to my son being home everyday but having my husband home is a bit weird. Nice but weird! I'm sorry about your daughter's job. I hope once we're out of quarantine people will be eating out in spades and they'll be desperate for help. It'll be interesting to see what April holds!

  9. I don't have a background in health, but I find all the details they give us about the virus on the websites interesting. It can get confusing, but is generally helpful. I've been cooking more than I have in years so I know what you mean about filling my time differently.

    You got a nice stack of books read/listened to which is great. I'm dropping behind on my review books, but like you, I've decided to just read and listen to what I can and not fret about it.

    Have a good April, Carole!

  10. At the moment, I'm not demanding too much of myself in any way! I'm reading and cross-stitching and hanging out with my family and just trying to stay sane in a crazy world 🙂 I'm glad you're doing the same. Looks like you had a nice reading month in spite of everything.

  11. As an introvert I don't seem to have a problem with the social distancing, but I am finding the virus very interesting and have been reading and watching most things that I can about it. My husband is DOD and has been working from home the past three weeks, it's been strange having a change in routine with him being home. I worry about my children, both are still working and one is a medic at the ER…

    Hopefully we all get through this soon and healthy… darn virus is causing problems for my motorcycle trip this summer!

    • After reading your review, I may have to pick up the Harlan Coben book. I'm so looking forward to reading the new Darynda Jones book, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you think about it.

      Hope you have a wonderful April.

  12. Well that's a very cool background. I do feel the govt response has been poor at the federal level with spreading bad info, not amassing emergency supplies well or having people stay at home sooner. Also not having testing available means everyone doesn't get tested so those with few symptoms run around and infect 100s of others without a stay at home order.

    Anyway, we like being home. But online classes and for some, online work won't be the same or work as well for some tasks. The dog is exhausted by us being home all the time.

    You read some great books this month. Just do what works for you. Stay healthy and safe.

    Anne – Books of My Heart

  13. Last month was crazy and I fear this month will be the same but at least we have books! You read some great looking books!

  14. I bet the dogs love having everyone home more often to give them more attention! Other than my dad having to do without his daily paper, we haven't seen much difference in our routine thankfully. I go to local shops a couple of times a week to keep up on essential items but I haven't been in a supermarket for weeks! Stay safe going in to work!

  15. I am sorry to hear this is impacting your family so negatively, and it seems there is no end in sight. On Friday night our governor announced schools will be closed for the rest of the year. When I found out, I called my mom and sobbed for almost half an hour. I am heartbroken for Eleanor not being able to finish first grade and for my sixth grade students who have made such huge gains this year. Stay safe, my friend.

  16. I am sorry for all you are having to deal with. I am sorry for all of us, really in one way or another. I know though it has hit some harder than others. My family so far has been very lucky considering. I try to remind myself of that when I'm feeling at my lowest. I do hope April will be kinder to you and your family–somehow, even with all of this going on.

    Your mentioning of interest in the epidemiology of this illness has me feeling less weird for wanting to read nonfiction right now dealing with epidemics and pandemics throughout history. I don't know if I could read a post-apocalyptic novel right now, but something historical and factual, I could probably do.

    I hope you have a good week. Stay safe and well.

  17. I'm sorry about your daughter's job, and your other daughter doing school online. It's definitely tipped things upside down in a lot of ways. I'm sure with your background it IS very interesting – nothing wrong with that. Luckily, I can work from home, so that's a plus, but it's definitely tough to be stuck at home almost all the time. I didn't read tons in March, but I'm slowly getting my focus back.

    -Lauren
    http://www.shootingstarsmag.net

  18. I am glad someone is fascinated by the virus. It seems to adapt and change and I think I would also find it intriguing in nature if I wasn't avoiding the news so much because I can't really handle seeing the death tolls all the time. If it wasn't for that number being attached to every article I think I would also read up on the research. Stay safe x I think everyone's reading is looking quite different from usual but we just embrace it best we can. Maybe you'll end up reading more physical books?!

  19. My son still lives with me because he went to our local university, but he's usually at school, work, or at his friends' apartments; so even though he lives at home it's been a big change having him home all the time except when he's at work. Because of this I've been cooking more, too. ? It's been kind of fun. ?✨