I got through 4 books in March, which I was pretty happy with, and I actually really enjoyed all of them. I’ve been on a good reading streak recently, where everything I’m picking up is super enjoyable. So, here are the books that I finished in March.
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
Despite this being a classic, I’d actually never read it before. I studied Sylvia Plath’s poetry during my A-Levels and always meant to read The Bell Jar, but somehow never got round to it. Then I was ordering some stuff on World of Books and was trying to add something to get to free delivery, and this popped into my head on a whim.
As semi-autobiographical novel it was really interesting to read and added a new element to the poetry I had previously studied. The Bell Jar follows the life of Esther Greenwood over one summer, cataloguing her deteriorating mental health, and eventual suicide attempt, as well as the recovery afterwards.
I always love books with an unreliable narrator, and I think this did a really good job of it. You could see things from Esthers point of view, but were also aware that this was definitely skewed. I also love the famous fig tree metaphor, I’ve read it as a quote before, but it was nice to actually have it contextualised in the main story.
Babel – R. F. Kuang
I actually started his book in October 2024 and just couldn’t get into it, so I gave up and read Fourth Wing instead. I still wanted to read Babel though, so picked it up again this spring, and I am so so glad I gave it another shot.
I think this is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. The writing and story are brilliant, and it’s also incredibly meaningful and thought provoking. I’d never read anything by R. F. Kuang before, but I’ll definitely look into more of her books after this.
Babel is an alternate history book, set in a world where silver is used to do magic. This works by inscribing translations of words into the silver to unlock its properties. The story takes place in Victorian England, where the British empire is at the height of its power, using languages from around the globe to power its silver empire. Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton, is taken from his home by a mysterious guardian for the purpose of studying at Babel, Oxford Universities prestigious translation institute, where all the silverwork comes from. However, over the course of his years there, he begins to see thought the façade, and become aware of the darkness that Babel, and the rest of the empire, is built on.
It was a super interesting read, as well as being beautifully written. I loved all the characters, and the gradually rising stakes helped create so much tension throughout the novel and keep me really invested in it.
The Silent Patient – Alex Michaeldes
After two pretty intense books, I wanted something that would be a bit easier to read, so I tried The Silent Patient. This worked so well that I actually finished it in one day – a feat that I hadn’t managed since primary school, before I knew the internet existed.
The story splits between psychotherapist Theo’s narration, and the diary of Alicia, a patient that he is treating. Alicia shot her husband six years ago, and hasn’t spoken a word since. Theo is determined to get the full story out of her.
I knew that this book was supposed to have a good twist, but it still astounded me as I did not suspect it coming at all. It was the kind of twist I love, where the whole story is reframed once you know.
The pacing was really good, it really drew you in and kept you guessing what was going to happen next. I find that thrillers of often quite formulaic, but this had slightly new angle which was interesting.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
I’ve had this book on my mental reading list for a long while now, and it’s been sat on my shelf since November. Therefore, I was really anticipating reading it and thankfully it did live up to the hype.
There’s a story within a story, which I really liked. The main story follows Monique, a journalist who has been enlisted to write the autobiography of ageing Hollywood superstar, Evelyn Hugo. The secondary storyline tells Evelyn’s story, from her rise to fame, turbulent relationships, and career milestones. However, as the novel progresses, similarities and connections between the two women start to arise.
The characterisation of Evelyn is brilliant, and at times I almost found myself forgetting that she wasn’t a real celebrity. The reader is placed in the same position as Monique, eagerly anticipating the next surprise or twist in Evelyn’s story. Taylor Jenkins Reid does a great job of drawing on our desire for gossip and scandal, we want to find out Evelyn’s secrets, just as we want with current celebrities.
So that’s everything that I read in March! All quite different from each other, but all great in their own ways.