WRBA Review: March
Reader of the Month
A few weeks ago I interviewed a woman in the library who reads 30 books a month.
Yes, mathematicians, that’s one book a day!
How does she do it?
In her own words:
I read between 300 and 500 pages a day. I spend three to four hours reading. I’m 80 years old. And I’m alone. My husband passed away. When I’m not out doing things like this literature group, this writing group, or my art group—or teaching yoga or whatever—I’m reading.
I hope I’m half as happy and engaged as her when I’m her age (or even now).
She highly recommended the Lymond Chronicles series by Dorothy Dunnett, which she’s read 13 (!) times because it’s “so full of detail and so well done.”
If we can’t trust a recommendation from someone who reads a book a day, who can we trust?
Here are the other standout recommendations from last month.
Recommended Books
⭐ Starred recommendations have been recommended in a prior month, suggesting they are extra-super-duper-good books (or at least very popular right now).
Fiction
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas
He was originally kind of going after revenge. He then changed his mind and it was about having a good life.
THIS MUCH I KNOW IS TRUE by Wally Lamb
It started out with a bang, and then it was just interesting all the way through.
ANIMA RISING by Christopher Moore
Absolutely hilarious.
⭐ THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M. LION by Beth Brower
It’s the most adorable storytelling. You fall in love with all of the characters. It’s just so entertaining and lovely. They’re lovely books.
A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas
I’ve been reading the ACOTAR series. My friend suggested it and I was pretty resistant at first because a lot of people are like, “It’s just fairy smut.” But it actually has a pretty good plot.
Nonfiction
I AND THOU by Martin Buber
Life changing book for me. In a nutshell, it says: As I become I, I say thou. So you don’t become a full person until you actualize relationships with someone else.
WILD THING by Sue Prideaux
I loved that book. It really brought out the struggles that he went through.
NOTE: I loved Wild Thing, too. It’s a beautiful look at the life of a truly starving artist. I recommend the physical version instead of the ebook because of the color prints.
Support the Show
Thanks so much for reading the WRBA Review and watching the show. I hope this series offers a fun way to discover new books and better understand the role books play in our culture.
If you’d like to support the project, please consider purchasing my first novel (available now) and/or my second novel (coming September 2026).
Proceeds allow me to buy food + coffee (short-term goal) while moving me one step closer to my dream of being a full-time book person (long-term goal).
Thanks again,
Will Pass