It’s time for a quick look back at my month in books and embroidery. Let’s just jump right into it, shall we? As ever, we’ll start with what I read.
Books read: 9
Yearly total: 35
The books I read in April
1. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
2. The Kids by Hannah Lowe
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
3. Dead Dad Jokes by Ollie Schminkey
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
4. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
5. Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin, tr. by Aneesa Higgins
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review to come for BookBrowse
6. Shiver by Junji Ito, tr. by Jocelyn Allen
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
7. Hello Mum by Bernardine Evaristo
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
8. Because of You by Dawn French
⭐ ⭐ | Review
9. Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ | Review
Favourite of the Month: The Vanishing Half
Now onto the embroidery projects I completed throughout April. As with the previous month, I enjoyed coming up with original designs and trying out a few different styles.
The first piece here came from a desire to try out something with a more contemporary look, while the second piece is a more traditional landscape with a chunky, textural feel.
The cat piece was made as a birthday gift for a friend; the squirrel is part of my little ongoing series of woodland creatures; and I’d wanted to stitch a bee for a while!
What was your favourite read in March?
Callum McLaughlin 
I love bees!
Me too! I couldn’t resist making one 🐝
Great wrap up! A pity that the Dawn French book did not work for you, but I really appreciate your thoughts on it – I was tempted for a moment to pick it up but now I have a better idea of what to expect and won’t be reading it.
Your embroidery is so beautiful. I adore the woman with flowers on her head one!
Thank you! The French is a decent book for the right reader, but honestly I can’t see anyone in our group particularly loving it 👀
Thank you so much! 🧵✨
Looks like you had a good reading month (although what did make you pick up the Dawn French?! 😉). You continue to impress with the embroidery, they are all really good, I couldn’t even pick a favourite this month.
I can’t deny that I probably wouldn’t have bothered had it not been listed for the Women’s Prize, haha. It’s a solid enough book for the right reader, but not my cup of tea.
Thank you so much! 😊
Lovely embroidered pieces.
Thank you very much! 😊
I really need to revisit The Vanishing Half and finish it! As always, your embroidery is gorgeous.
I’d be intrigued to hear your thoughts on it. Thank you so much!
Hello Callum. Such gorgeous embroideries. I’ll have to have a go. I loved The Vanishing Half. I kept missing bus stops and burning the spuds while reading it!
Thank you very much! Glad to hear you loved it too.
Lovely embroideries! Also I’m sure it’s really nice to do something that doesn’t involve screens?
Thank you very much! Absolutely, I tend to put some music or an audiobook on while I’m stitching, and must admit it’s nice to unplug for a little while!
I am OBSESSED with that cat piece! It is so beautiful (they all are, but I am a big cat lover).
I am supposed to read one of Junji Ito’s manga’s for a personal reading project; however, I suspect that I might be too much of a scaredy-cat to handle them.
Very much looking forward to your review for Winter in Sokcho. I read it earlier this year and really enjoyed it, so very interested to hear your thoughts.
Thank you so much! I love cats too, so I’m sure I’ll do plenty more cat themed pieces in the future 🐱
Ito’s stuff definitely gets under your skin! And yay for Winter in Sokcho; I hope to see more people reading and talking about it soon.
That first embroidery piece is stunning. Then again, they all are! 🙂 I also particularly adore the cat, I’m sure it made for a great gift! And it looks like you’ve had a busy reading month too- exciting to see The Vanishing Half as your top read.
Thank you so much! 😊
Pingback: a lit-el forecast | literaryelephant