Reading: March/April

Because I'm clever, I decided to up my game last time by providing a little synopsis with each title. Because I am obsessive, I must continue that plan for all entries this calendar year. Because I am stupid, I didn't do this on a 'just completed' basis, so now I have to see if I can dredge up some memory of these books.
On Immunity- Eula Biss: very quick read exploring vaccines and the current controversy surrounding them. Uses logic and fact without being condescending or dry.
The Joy of Less- Francine Jay: I definitely found the author a little irritating, and there were few specific "get rid of this, keep that" tips than I'd hoped (which, honestly, wouldn't be possible unless she's been to my specific house). But it was still a good inspiration to start winnowing down and purging all the excess.
Shadow of Night- Deborah Harkness: 2nd book of the All Souls trilogy (first book is A Discovery of Witches). I reread this to remind myself what was happening before finishing the series. Didn't find it quite as annoyingly "romantic" as I did the first time. Still not nearly as good as the first book.
The Book of Life- Deborah Harkness: book 3 of the All Souls trilogy. This book could basically have been the last few chapters. A whole bunch of nothing happened, with a stunningly obvious and anticlimactic finale. Also, the characters were annoyingly inconsistent- are you brave or stupid? Are you incapable of even functioning away from your lover (ick), or are you a strong, independent person? Seriously. Pick one.
One Step Too Far- Tina Seskis: Woman decides to completely upend her life after mysterious tragedy, leaving her husband and starting over under a new name. The concept was interesting, even if the main character was a little too naive/ depressed to be very charismatic. But then the final reveal of the tragedy was just too horrible and kind of killed everything.
The Lost Island- Preston and Child: I've liked the other books featuring Gideon Crew as a roguish thief saving the day. This was so terrible, and pushed all limits of plausible suspension of disbelief. Not worth the $1 rental fee
Deadline- John Sandford: the latest entry in the Virgil Flowers series. Fun and easy read, as usual.
Her- Harriet Lane: tried to be mysterious and sinister, but failed miserably. So instead it's basically about 2 women forming a friendship, one out of desire to escape the dull depression she feels about being a stay at home mother, and the other because of some perverse obsession. Has a truly horrific cliffhanger ending.
The Martian- Andy Weir: there's a good chance this will be my favorite book of the year, partly because it has the best backstory. The author self published to his website, then published for $.99 on kindle when his readers demanded it. Raced to the Kindle bestseller list, the then New York times bestseller list, and now they're making a movie. For a book he wrote just for fun! It's about an astronaut stranded alone on Mars, and it manages to be incredible fun and fast paced while also so smart and  realistic. Incredibly fast read.
What Alice Forgot- Liane Moriarty: didn't like this quite as much as Big Little Lies, but WAY more than The Husbands Secret.
Golden Son- Pierce Brown: sequel to Red Rising. Along the same lines as Hunger Games and Ender's Game. Not as strong as the first, but still very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book.
Steelheart- Brandon Sanderson: this guy is the best sci-fi fantasy writer out there. Every idea is unbelievable original and complete. This is book one of the Reckoners series (YA fiction) and it's in the popular dystopian future vein. Fun, fast read, and I didn't even guess all the twists.
Firefight- Brandon Sanderson: book 2 of the Reckoners. Continues and improves upon the first book. Really bums me out I have to wait a year to read the next (last?) book.
Half a King- Joe Abercrombie: book one of the Shattered Sea series. Not as violent or gory as his usual books, but still fairly brutal. Standard 'betrayed king left for dead seeks to reclaim his throne' fantasy.
Half The World- Joe Abercrombie: book two of the Shattered Sea series. Nothing earth shatteringly original, but well written, and with some appealing new characters I liked even better than the first book.
As Good As Dead- Elizabeth Evans: insipid, dreadful "story" about a self-obsessed, self-pitying woman and her constant internal monologue over being dull, and unloveable, and ugly and a horrible person. I hated this book.
Ice Forged- Gail Z Martin: book one of The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga. Reread this book as a reminder before reading the next two in the series. Good story line and characters, but her writing is very amateurish.