A whole bunch of 5 star reviews, with a smattering of 3 stars.

As the spring weather started to not improve outside, my ferocious book reading started to not wane. Five books—some with a considerable amount of pages—were checked off the list.

April

Category: A funny book
Sideways Stories From Wayside School, Louis Sachar
Goodreads review: 5 stars

This book remains amazing to anyone who read it as a kid. It's one of those you grow up on and you'll remain faithful to your whole life. It's the same way I feel about Goonies. Or The Boy Who Could Fly. Don't you dare try to tell me that movie isn't one of society's greatest feature films. Anyway, this was another bedtime read-aloud. It's the greatest book! The girls were a little thrown off by the first chapter when all the kids are getting turned into apples and then at the end the teacher becomes the apple and is eaten by Louis the recess guy. But we forged onward and they were amused. Or maybe they were amused just because I was amused. Who can tell. My favorite chapter—by far—is the one about the little boy who pulls Leslie's braids because the braids keep talking to him and begging to be pulled. This book should be required reading for every 3rd grader.

Category: A book that scares you
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
Goodreads review: 5 stars

I actually just switched this book to this category 30 seconds ago. I was planning on reading a book about famous unsolved murder cases (because those DO scare me! Think: Jack the Ripper!) but I'm just plain running out of time with this reading challenge. So I did some fancy switch-a-roo work and The Half-Blood Prince landed here. It didn't quote on quote scare me, but it's dark and dismal enough to fit the bill. Anyway, despite the ending, I enjoyed this book immensely because it went into great detail of Voldemort's history, Harry and Ginny get together (that scene was so cute!), and Ron's lovestruck episode for whats-her-face is amusing. It might have been my favorite book in the series. Despite the ending. And was it this book that you find out that Harry's dad was kind of a jerk? No, I think that was a previous book. Beats me.

Category: A book a friend recommended
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Goodreads review: 5 stars

First things first: Harry was born in 1980?! Who woulda guessed? Second things second: The best way to get through a series is to charge right on through. I hate getting roped into a series before it's all the way finished, because then you end up having to wait at least a year, usually more, to gain closure. So charging right through the Harry Potter series is just what I did, and then Tom and I borrowed the movies from a friend and had a movie marathon. Who doesn't love a movie marathon?! Although these movies don't come close in comparison to the books. There are about 300 more details taking place in the books that add to the plot that the movies don't ever address. This last book is the only one where I felt like the pacing was a little slow—in the middle of the book. I think Rowling meant it to be that way. It reflects the bleakness of Harry and Hermoine's situation. I was blown away by Snape's reveal at the end! Am I the only one who felt all the feels for him? Overall, this was a great series. I'm glad I finally got around it. Someday I'll re-read it with my girls. Oh! And before I forget, Maren keeps confusing the name and calling it "Peter Potter." It's adoracute. Plain, pure, adoracuteness.

Category: A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
Heist Society, Ally Carter
Goodreads review: 3 stars

Teen books are often annoying to me because they're full of inappropriate stuff—and I find it particularly annoying because it's all aimed at teenage audiences. Why do book publishers think teenagers need or even want to be reading these types of things? What do I know though—when I was a teenager I was putting 300 play pen balls in my car for kicks and giggles. Or throwing on a Blockbuster uniform to secretly measure walking distances inside a Hollywood Video. Or donning a home-made army hat and driving aimlessly through the Las Vegas suburbia to locate extra-bright street lights. Don't ask. Anyway. However! This book steers clear of teenage sex and underage drinking (I'm pretty sure?), so it's a fun little read for young girls. The premise is kind of ridiculous—it's about a 16-year-old who can pull off heists similar to something you'd see in an Ocean's Eleven movie. She travels all over the world and speaks a couple of languages like it's no big deal for a 16 year old girl. But I guess if you were 14 and reading this book, you'd probably think it was kinda cool. This book is the first of a series, but I haven't bothered with the others because I didn't care enough about it.

Category: A book you own but have never read
Emma, Jane Austen
Goodreads review: 5 stars

I finally did it! I finally read Emma! I've been meaning to for 10 years. This book is considered a romance, but to me it feels less like a romance, and more like a commentary on the different social classes that existed during Jane Austen's time. Emma's character both amused me and annoyed me. Like at the end, when she realizes her friend—Harriet, is it?—has the hots for Mr. Knightley she totally drops her! It's funny and depressing at the same time. I enjoyed Emma better than Sense and Sensibility because there is more interaction between Emma and Mr. Knightley. And shucks, I'm just a romantic at heart. Emma's father is also hilarious. I don't know, you'd need to read it to understand what I mean. But if Jane Austen's writing isn't for you, then try the BBC version! I loved it. Loved.