Reading Wrap-Up: March 2025
The nine books I read in March, both fiction and nonfiction, plus a few book-related updates!
In addition to the arrival of spring here in the midwest U.S., March has brought some fantastic reading, an incredible author visit, and a healthy blend of nonfiction and fiction on my reading stack. Below you’ll find a few thoughts about each of the nine books I read this month, which covers quite a variety of genres and topics - hopefully a little something for everyone within this wrap-up!
Spring - along with life, work, and the world in general - has also brought an abundance of topics that I can’t wait to chat about with you in upcoming articles. We’ll be looking at how to practice active critical thinking, what ‘the good life’ means (which will also include a robust book flight), taking positive action in the world of literacy/books, and a variety of bookish updates and other reading- and purpose-related topics. Thank you for being here!
And a quick reminder: Our book club pick for April is Meditations For Mortals by Oliver Burkeman, and you can find the reading guide/reflection questions here. Membership in the Reading And Purpose book club is an automatic benefit for all paid subscribers, so feel free to join us to discuss this perspective-shifting book!
Alrighty, let’s get into the books!
A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush
I don’t set number goals for my reading, but I do often set other types of bookish goals, and one of them in 2025 is to read more poetry. I was not familiar with Lyndsay Rush but recently heard her poetry collection mentioned and decided to give it a try. When my hold came in from the library, I saw that she refers to herself as ‘Mary Oliver’s Drunk Cousin’ online, so I was expecting this book would probably be silly and light-hearted; imagine my surprise when the very first poem touched my heart to the point that I got tears in my eyes. I read the entire collection in just a couple sittings, then went back and reread poems I had tabbed. She is quite funny and there is a silly light-heartedness within many of the poems, but there is also a depth that has prompted me to write down certain lines on sticky notes and place them around my life. An unexpected delight.
“Love is rounding the bend on a darkened road
seeing the porch light on
and realizing you finally found your way home.”
- Lyndsay Rush
Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi
I first heard this book mentioned on the Book Riot podcast (give them a listen if you haven’t already!) and, as you may have surmised by now, nearly anything related to meaningful work and/or a purposeful life is going to capture my attention! Oishi focuses this book, and his research in general, on the idea that until now, ‘a good life’ has been defined primarily in two ways: a happy life, or a meaningful life. He’s suggesting adding a third dimension into the mix, what he calls a psychologically rich life - one marked by experiences, variety, trying new and different things. He takes an interesting approach to this work and I appreciated the various angles explored and examples given, particularly around the value of reflection, our ability to edit our stories, and the research on meaningful work. On a related note, I have an article on ‘the good life’ coming soon that will highlight a book flight (like this one here) and include more about Life In Three Dimensions, too. Stay tuned!
The Bookshop by Evan Friss
Subtitled ‘A History of the American Bookstore,’ this was a quite thorough and super interesting overview of bookselling in the US. The author covered various historical figures and their role in bookselling, the emergence of different types of bookstores from sidewalk stalls to mobile/on wheels, the development of niche bookstores, the impact of bigger chains on independent shops, and so much more. I didn’t take many notes, just thoroughly enjoyed following along and hearing all the perspectives as well as learning about some great pioneers in bookselling. If you love immersing yourself not only in books but in all things bookish, I think you’d enjoy this one!
They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
After reading a poetry collection of Abdurraqib’s last month, I picked up this essay collection from 2017 and wow, this was powerful: entertaining, touching, enlightening, tragic, fun, and just so good. I took pages of notes, many of them verbatim because his writing style and word choices are incredibly poignant. While much of this book covers music, it also weaves in so many additional topics including family, grief, racism, love, finding our way in the world, and more.
I then had the pleasure of hearing Abdurraqib speak at our local book festival and found myself absolutely captivated - he is very eloquent yet seems completely relaxed and relatable at the same time. As I waited in line for him to sign my book, I thought how I wanted to thank him for his work, how meaningful his writing has become for me, how his descriptions of grief have made me cry, and how some aspects are so relatable and others so eye-opening. Then, when it was my turn at his signing table, my brain froze and all I could say was, ‘Thank you so much.’ I hope he could tell how sincerely and deeply I meant those four words.
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
A random library pick that turned out to be quite engaging! This included a time travel element that also had adventure, mystery, love, family, questions around who to trust, and more. I’ve realized that I enjoy a time travel story as long as I a) don’t think too much about whether it makes sense in my brain or not, and b) space them out to one per year or so (last year’s was The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, which I also enjoyed). I was really just along for the ride with this one and it was a fun ride!
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
I’ve never been a big romance reader, but in the past year or two I’ve found a few authors who have really begun changing that for me, and Annabel Monaghan is one of them. This was my second book by her and I really love the depth she brings to her characters and the growth they experience throughout the story, both individually as well as in their romantic partnership. This one touched on elements of grief, parenthood, friendship, and trying to decide what you want when you’ve spent much of your life catering to others. I loved watching the main character find her sense of self and how considerate and respectful both partners were, too. A fun, unexpected addition to this month’s lineup.
Teaching Critical Thinking by bell hooks
I purchased this book about a decade ago, briefly picked it up a few times in the intervening years, and this month had a full-on right book/right time experience with it. I loved hooks’ clear, compassionate, and firm writing style blended with her personal experience, cultural shifts, research, and wisdom, which all combined to make this such a valuable resource. She was growing up as American schools were in the process of desegregating, and she then continued on as an academic, so hearing from her perspective as a Black woman throughout that path was uniquely profound. I’ll be sharing key takeaways and insights from this in an upcoming article on critical thinking, so stay tuned!
Optimal by Daniel Goleman & Cary Cherniss
I’ve long appreciated Goleman’s contributions to the fields of leadership and emotional intelligence, but it had been quite a while since I’d read any of his writing; when I happened to spot this one on the library shelf I decided to give it a go. The concept is interesting, essentially focused on what we can do - what we have agency over - to be at our best (optimal) selves. Some interesting tidbits throughout, and I particularly liked the penultimate chapter, all about purpose.
“While money and status might be lures for a given job, our sense of purpose will be a stronger force in how engaged we feel once on that job, and so how hard we work at it.” - Goleman & Cherniss
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
I wrapped up this month’s reading with a middle grade novel - it’s been quite a while since I’ve read one of those, too! When I recently shared my all-time favorite fiction and nonfiction books, I noticed some middle grade on the list, so that reminder, combined with the power of Freewater, is making me think I need to weave more of them into my reading life. This story follows a group of enslaved people who have run away and formed a new community, and essentially a whole new life, in the nearby swamplands; the book was enlightening, compelling, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and definitely page-turning. I love the ‘found family’ storyline in books and this one offered that up so well. The author’s note at the end is also worth the read, and I’m fortunate that the author will be visiting my area in the near future - I’m excited to hear from her!
What is the best book you’ve read in March? Have you read any of the ones listed above? What are you looking forward to reading next? Please share any and all bookish comments below!
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Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, and self-proclaimed book nerd, is a certified coach who helps achievers work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals. Feel free to share your questions, comments, or topic/book suggestions below or via email to readingandpurpose (at) gmail (dot) com.
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I enjoyed June Farrow as well, and just picked up The Bookshop after hearing Evan Friss at the Tucson Book Festival last weekend. I'm excited to read it... but my TBR is getting pretty hefty, so not sure when exactly that will happen.
My favorite March read so far was probably Marmee by Sarah Miller, with Other Words for Home (middle grade book in verse) by Jasmine Warga being a close second.
I loved June Farrow and particularly love time travel motherhood stories.