Reading is my oldest and favorite hobby. I literally can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love to curl up with a good book. Here are my reads for March, 2023.

South Pole Station, by Ashley Shelby – While still in Antarctica, I read this fun novel set at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station – which came recommended by Sara. The novel follows a painter who goes to the South Pole on an artists’ and writers’ fellowship and navigates tricky station politics, big questions about science, “ice” romances, and personal trauma. I loved the story, which packed a surprising amount of food for thought into a novel that read like fluffy fun – it was a good read for the Drake and the long flight back home.

American Gardens, by Monty Don and Derry Moore – Needing to look at something green after all that (beautiful!) ice, I picked up American Gardens, a coffee table masterpiece by Monty Don, with photos by Derry Moore. Don and Moore travel the United States trying to understand the breadth and scope of American gardens. It was a delight from the first page to the last – and made me want to go on my own trip to visit some classic American gardens. (Or at least to finally get to Dumbarton Oaks, which is practically in my backyard.)

South!, by Sir Ernest Shackleton – Having read hundreds of pages on the disastrous Scott Expedition, I wanted to learn a bit about the marginally more successful Shackleton expedition. (Marginally more successful in that not quite as many people died.) It was really interesting – and Shackleton wisely confines his writing to the very exciting events of his expedition (it’s not a daily diary like Scott’s, which tended to drag) but by the time I got into this, I was kind of ready for a change from polar literature.

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens – Read for my Classics Club Challenge, and also because I’ve had this classic novel on my TBR pile for – literally – years, I loved following the story of Pip and his “expectations.” It read like a page-turner, but was poignant and thoughtful. Full review to come in the next couple of weeks.

Slightly Foxed Nos. 75 and 76, ed. Gail Pirkis and Hazel Moore – After reading Great Expectations for almost two weeks straight, I wanted something bite-sized – a palate cleanser, if you will – before moving on to another doorstopper. I was also behind on my issues of Slightly Foxed, so that made perfect sense. As always, these journals were a delight to read and exploded my TBR pile.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2), by J.K. Rowling – Nugget and I have been reading our way through the Harry Potter series before bed each night, and we wrapped up Chamber of Secrets in March. There’s nothing to say in the way of reviewing these books that hasn’t already been said before, many times. So I’ll leave it at two thoughts: the illustrated versions are such a delight, and what fun it is to experience Harry’s story anew through Nugget’s fresh eyes.

The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkein – Another one for my Classics Club challenge – I am closing in on the last few books now! Full review to come, so I won’t say much here – but this wasn’t really for me. The Silmarillion is Tolkein’s origin story and account of the “Elder Days” of Middle-Earth – the backstory behind The Lord of the Rings. Since I did not grow up reading LOTR, and was never really immersed in Tolkein’s world, most of this went over my head and I enjoyed it less as a result.

So, eight books in March. I’ll confess myself a little disappointed – I was hoping for a higher total. But everything I read was worth the time spent over it, and I can’t discount the fact that there were two Classics Club tomes in this month’s reading – Great Expectations, which I loved, and The Silmarillion, which I didn’t. Otherwise, American Gardens and the two Slightly Foxed issues were the highlights of the month, which tells me that I am definitely ready for warmer weather and garden season (and for reading in the garden season). April ahead – yay! – and I have a stack of spring books, am hoping to work in a re-read of The Enchanted April, and am planning more Classics Club reading. Check in with me for more spring reading as the season unfolds!

What were your March reading highlights?