Here’s what I’ve been reading, listening to, and watching in April 2024!
BOOKS
I read 14 books in April: 7 in print, 3 in e-book format, and 4 in audio format. They were:
1. Triad Blood (Triad #1) by ‘Nathan Burgoine (PRINT)
2. The Brides of High Hill (Singing Hills Cycle #5) by Nghi Vo (E-BOOK)
3. Macbeth (an undoing) by Zinnie Harris (PRINT) (also saw a live production)
4. Triad Soul (Triad #2) by ‘Nathan Burgoine (PRINT)
5. Becoming by Michelle Obama (AUDIOBOOK, Non-Fiction Challenge, 2024 TBR Challenge)
6. Stories of a Lifetime by Dan Rather (AUDIOBOOK, Non-Fiction Challenge)
7. Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes Book 1) by Travis Baldree (E-BOOK)
8. The Champions Classic: The Complete Collection by Tony Isabella, Bill Mantlo, Don Heck, John Byrne and others. (PRINT, Graphic Novel Challenge)
9. House of Slaughter Volume 3: The Butcher's Return by James Tynion IV, Tate Brombal, Werther Dell’Edera, Antonio Fuso and Miquel Muerto (PRINT, Graphic Novel Challenge)
10. House of Slaughter Volume 4: Alabaster by James Tynion IV, Sam Johns, Werther Dell’Edera, Letizia Cadonici and Francesco Segala (PRINT, Graphic Novel Challenge)
11. All The Names They Used for God: Stories by Anjali Sachdeva (AUDIOBOOK, short story challenge)
12. Paradox Lost by Roberta Pescow (E-BOOK, short story challenge)
13. Breaking Bold and Brave: A Fan's Journey Through One of Comics' Greatest Titles by Jim Beard (introduction by Paul Kupperberg) (PRINT, Non-Fiction Challenge)
14. Harry Clarke by David Cale (AUDIOBOOK)
STORIES
Here’s what I read this month and where you can find them if you’re interested in reading them too. If no source is noted, the story is from the same magazine or book as the story(ies) that precede(s) it.
1. “A Pedra” by Endria Isa Richardson, in Lightspeed Magazine #167, edited by John Joseph Adams
2. “Under a Star, Bright as Morning” by David Anaxagoras
3. “Mother's Day, After Everything” by Susan Palwick
4. “Limping Towards Sunrise” by Rich Larson
5. “a testament to indirection, an enigma, the sun above” by Mitchell Shanklin
6. “How To Know Your Father Is a God” by Modepeoluwa Shelle
7. “Salemo” by David Marino
8. “Travelers' Tales from the Ends of the World” by Vandana Singh
9. “A Traveler's Guide to Fantastical Countries” by Seanan McGuire, on the Author’s Patreon
10. “Vivisepulture” by James Bennett, from The Dark #107, edited by Sean Wallace
11. “Water Like Broken Glass” by Carina Bissett
12. “Imago” by Steve Rasnic Tem
13. “Dead But Dreaming Still” by Michael Kelly
14. “The Coffee of Torcat” by Devin Miller, from Beneath Ceaseless Skies #404 edited by Scott H. Andrews
15. “The Lark Ascending” by Eleanna Castroianni, from Clarkesworld #211, edited by Neil Clarke
16. “An Intergalactic Smuggler's Guide to Homecoming” by Tia Tashiro
17. “Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo, from Uncanny Magazine #57, edited by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas
18. “The Best Ever Cosplay of Whistle and Midnight” by Annalee Newitz
19. “Three” by ‘Nathan Burgoine, from Blood Sacraments: Gay Vampire Erotica, edited by Todd Gregory
20. “Possession” by ‘Nathan Burgoine, from Erotica Exotica: Tales of Sex, Magic, and the Supernatural, edited by Richard LaBonté
21. “Bound” by ‘Nathan Burgoine, from Not Just Another Pretty Face, edited by Louis Flint Ceci
22. “The World by Night” by Anjali Sachdeva, from All the Names They Used for God
23. “Glass-Lung” by Anjali Sachdeva
24. “Logging Lake” by Anjali Sachdeva
25. “Killer of Kings” by Anjali Sachdeva
26. “All the Names They Used for God” by Anjali Sachdeva
27. “Robert Greenman and the Mermaid” by Anjali Sachdeva
28. “Anything You Might Want” by Anjali Sachdeva
29. “Manus” by Anjali Sachdeva
30. “Pleiades” by Anjali Sachdeva
31. “A Life in the Service” by Roberta Pescow, from Paradox Lost
32. “Bad Left Turns” by Roberta Pescow
33. “A Monster's Tears” by Roberta Pescow
34. “Be Right Back” by Roberta Pescow
35. “A Presence Beyond the Shadows” by David Lee Summers, from Arithmophobia: An Anthology of Mathematical Horror, edited by Robert Lewis
36. “The Artful Eagle” By Barbara Krasnoff, from Kaleidotrope Magazine, Spring 2024, edited by Fred Coppersmith
37. “Where the Girls Who Were Eaten Alive Live” by R.K. Duncan
38. “Pillow Fort” by Alexandra Munck
39. “Harry Clarke” by David Cale, from Harry Clarke
40. “Lillian” by David Cale
41. “Necessary Evils” by ‘Nathan Burgoine, from Raising Hell: Demonic Gay Erotica, edited by Todd Gregory
42. “Intercession” by ‘Nathan Burgoine, from Wings: Subsersive Gay Angel Erotica, edited by Todd Gregory
So that’s 42 short stories in April. More than “1 per day” for the first time this year, which puts me back on pace for the year! (April 30th was the 121st day of 2024.)
MOVIES
April was an improvement over March because I managed to watch four movies in April:
1. Knock at the Cabin (2023)
2. Gamera vs. Viras (1968)
3. Just What the Doctor Ordered (2021)
4. Doctor Who: The Movie (1996)
TELEVISION
· Heartstopper Season 1, Episodes 1-8 (8 episodes)
· Heartstopper Season 2, Episodes 1 – 8 (8 episodes)
That’s 16 episodes of television, again not the “1 per day” I was shooting for, and slightly worse than February’s total.
LIVE THEATER
It was another good month for live theater:
· Macbeth (an undoing), Polonsky Shakespeare Center, Brooklyn, NYC
· Water For Elephants, Imperial Theatre, NYC
Summary of Challenges:
“To Be Read” Challenge: This month: 1 read; YTD: 2 of 14 read.
366 Short Stories Challenge: This month: 42 read; YTD: 121 of 366 read.
Goodreads Challenge: This month: 14 read; YTD: 41 of 120 read.
Graphic Novels Challenge: This month: 3 read; YTD: 11 of 52 read.
Non-Fiction Challenge: This month: 3 read; YTD: 7 of 12 read.
Read the Book / Watch the Movie Challenge: This month: 0 read/watched; YTD: 1 read/watched.
Movie Challenge: This month: 4 watched; YTD: 9 of 52 watched.
TV Shows Challenge: This month: 16 episodes watched; YTD: 79 of 366 watched.
Live Theater Challenge: This month: 2 shows attended; YTD: 6 of 12 attended.