Month in Review: April 2024

Literature

April was my month for Reading the Theatre, and most of my reading did fall into that theme, with a few exceptions — and some cross-pollination with other challenges, like the Nonfiction Reader and the 1937 Club. I’ll do a full recap in a week or two (I’m still finishing up some viewing).

It was a wonderful month once more, and I also appreciate those who joined in the fun! Be sure to let me know if you posted anything so I can link up.

The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum – Reread, Ozathon Wicked by Gregory Maguire – Reread Making It So by Patrick Stewart – Nonfiction Reader Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh – 1937 Club Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel Death on the Down Beat by Sebastian Farr Limelight by Amy Poeppel Dancers in Mourning by Margery Allingham – 1937 Club The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill The Kindness of Strangers by Salka ViertelLanguage

With an English student I started reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid — easy reading for native speakers, but not that simple for a learner. My student was reassured to hear that it’s not just her! Colloquial language, middle-school slang, and slurred words like “gonna” are challenging, but also useful and important for understanding how people actually talk. So we’ll keep going with Greg’s adventures and see how far they take us.

In my own learning, I’ve almost finished Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer, and been impressed that I can read it mostly without a dictionary…daily effort does pay off, it seems. Next, I’m looking at a copy of Cornelia Funke’s Tintenblut (Inkspell) that I picked up for free. It’s the second part of a trilogy, but maybe that won’t be a problem. Have you read it? What do you think?

Life

Things are in transition all over, with my husband retiring, my son changing gears in his schooling, and me wondering whether I should stay in my current job or seek something else, possibly re-training so I have more opportunities within the Swiss system. It’s all a bit disorienting, and unclear what the future will bring. But I try to have trust and take one day at a time.

My book being published has also left me with something of a creative gap. What should I do to fill it? I have lots of tasks to take up my time, but nothing that’s quite so close to my heart. When something arises, I’ll let you know.

Linked at The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, the Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz, and the Monthly Wrap-up Round-up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction