March Wrap Up & Reading Journal Spreads 📚 (so many new favourites!)

I'm back with another monthly reading wrap up in my reading journal! I finished 8 books in March and am super excited to share my thoughts on them with you :)
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✨TIMESTAMPS/CHAPTERS:
0:00 March Cover
2:18 March Overview & Stats
8:40 Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
13:00 Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
16:45 Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
19:48 Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell
20:57 Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate
21:35 Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy
22:58 The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
24:20 Monstress Book Two by Marjorie M. Liu
29:15 Yearly Goal Updates
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✨FAQs
What does your channel name mean? I picked "Plant Based Bride" for my blog when I started it back in 2015 as I was starting the process of planning my vegan wedding and wanted to document it. I have been vegan for 8+ years and married since 2016!
What's your real name? Elizabeth
Where are you from? I'm a Canadian from Toronto, Ontario.
Are you a natural redhead? No, I'm naturally a brunette. I dye my hair using Herbatint 8R.
Are your nails natural? Nope, they're press ons and I do them myself (see how in this tik tok: www.tiktok.com/@plantbasedbri... )
What nail polish are you wearing? Cirque Colors

[@kimmatthews8507]

Thank you for the “B-roll” of the graphs! So helpful! I love this format the combines talking about books with creative journaling.

[@PlantBasedBride]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it helped ❤️ I’m really enjoying this format, too!

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Well... I removed a book from my Master TBR.. way too many things in The Parable of the Sower.. While I do read to learn more about the world, I also read to escape it and that book sounds like a nightmare to me. Thank you for actually saying what it's about instead of just praising it like I've seen a lot of other people do (why it was on my TBR in the first place). I would have been so mad if I bought that book - you saved me! 😊

[@PlantBasedBride]

It’s definitely not a book to read for a light escape, that’s for sure! I loved it but it’s HARD to read. This is exactly why I do my best to share extensive trigger/content warnings when talking about books, because I want everyone to be able to make informed decisions about what they read and protect their mental health ❤️

[@tungstensmum1491]

Parable of the Sower is an incredibly tough read. Dystopian novels are already tricky for me but PotS is just too close to real life and I read it at a time I really shouldn’t have. Totally don’t blame you for dropping it.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

@@tungstensmum1491 yeah I'm okay with some dark stuff but I am particular about it and this one I know definitely would not work for me

[@tristins9644]

So much what I was thinking….

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

@@tristins9644 yeah that's a rough one.. don't need stuff like that rattling around in my brain

[@dawnbish9822]

Wow, I absolutely love watching your reading journal spreads. You are so creative! I've read Parable of the Sower and loved it, despite the content. I have had Monstress on my TBR for a while and now I will be moving it up due to your review. Thank you for sharing!!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oo I think you’ll really enjoy Monstress if you loved Parable of the Sower! They explore some similar themes though they’re different genres ❤️

[@creepypapermultipack]

I’ve read Kindred by Butler twice and the Parable series has been on my list for a while now. I think I’ll read it in January because the series starts off in 2024. It might be cool to read the book for the first time in the year that it takes place, even though it’s pretty depressing and scary how accurate Butler’s predictions are turning out to be. Love this spread. Love the spooky vibes.

[@shansbo217]

I hope when you finish this journal, you decide to publish it. I would love to read it, in its entirety. This is the most and best detailed book reading journaling I've come across. Your entire channel is interesting and intriguing. Thank you for sharing a piece of it with us. ❤️❤️

[@piafitoussi]

If you enyoyed Jasper Fforde's writing and humour, I very highly recommend his Thursday Next's series (the 1st one is The Eyre Affair). It's hilarious, unbelievably smart, and is clearly written by a book-lover for book-lovers 😊. Time traveling like i've never read about, jumping inside books, making dodos and mammoths from adn-kits... it's crazy and lovely, and the heroin is sooo relatable.

[@PlantBasedBride]

I want to get a copy as I keep getting recommended it! I think it would be right up my alley ❤️

[@mellymel1100]

You do SO much writing! I don't think I'd be able to write one page like this all at the same time anymore--my hands cramp up with arthritis. Thanks for sharing your creativity and your quotes. And Shades of Gray--I loved the book!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha my hand is definitely sore after a while! Especially because I tend to grip pens too hard lol

[@arciafalcon]

Can I just say - you inspire me to read more than my confort genre? Also, phenomenal reading spreads! Love your voice!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I love that! Of course, there’s nothing wrong with mostly reading what we know we love, but sometimes it’s wonderful to get outside of our comfort zones and reading something different that challenges us ❤️

[@Octobig]

so many five star ratings!! very happy for you 💖 parable of the sower has been on my TBR for ages, and i'm definitely also adding monstress. i'm looking forward to the next reading vlog video!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I hope you enjoy them both when you get around to them! And thank you 🥰 I love a month full of books I loved haha I wish all months were like this! ❤️

[@sophhnavarro]

This is such a cool way to show your wrap up, I love it 😃Also, Monstress sounds awesome, definitely gonna have to check that out!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I hope you love it as much as I do! ❤️

[@XxunforgottenxXxlove]

Loved this. I also really like hearing the quote you really liked from the books!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Aw thanks! I love saving my favourite quotes ❤️ they bring me right back to the feeling I had reading them for the first time!

[@katiewilliams9537]

Thank you for inspiring my to create a reading journal. (It will actually be a combined reading, video game, and board game journal. All the hobbies!)

[@martad654]

For reading around the world, I recommend you the brilliant Polish science-fiction writer Stanislaw Lem (yes, I'm Polish 😁). I've enjoyed every one of his books so far, but my most favourite are Solaris, His Master's Voice and The Invincible. I think you would enjoy them ☺ Great video as always! ❤

[@_babyabdalla]

Sometimes I'm doing something else and I played your videos in the background because your voice calms me. Thank you =) BTW I love your journals, you're so creative!!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Aw I love that! I’m glad I can be a calming influence ❤️

[@balletbookworm]

I gotta say, Jasper's Thursday Next series is one of my favorites (and my favorite within the series is the third one ;) ) The Eyre Affair is a bit of a set-up novel but by the time he gets to The Well of Lost Plots he's on a roll📚

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oo good to know! I picked up another book of his from my library that seemed to be a standalone but I’ll have to look into that series, too. I have a feeling he could be a new favourite author for me!

[@charlotteharper4202]

My husband and I have been reading through the Thursday Next series to each other since September, and have so enjoyed it!!

[@Taralovescoloring]

Love your videos! Your layouts are always such an inspiration and yours lists always give me at least one book to add to my TBR. I really look forward to a video on how your make everything, would also love to know what printer you use to print off everything, your book covers look a lot better than the ones I've printed off.

[@GailB0707]

Love the book cards 💕

[@PlantBasedBride]

I’m glad they’re helpful!

[@StetStudio]

Hearingyou talk about Monstress Book Two makes me think you might really like Kameron Hurley's Worldbreaker Saga.

[@lydiamodderman]

I have just found me the book I want to read for my "released when I was born" reading goal: Parable of the Sower, 1993. Sounds right up my street, and like the most worthy book to reach this goal with. Thank you!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I hope you enjoy it! ❤️

[@georginachard8604]

I love the stats B-Role!!

[@tungstensmum1491]

I am going to have to check out Shades of Grey. I’ve sort of rediscovered my enjoyment of sci fi (Thanks Becky Chambers) in the last few months and have been keeping an eye out for recommendations that aren’t *too* dark

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oo I think you’ll love it if you enjoy Becky Chambers! It’s not quite the same vibe (less wholesome, more tongue in cheek) but there are similarities there ❤️

[@jenniferpontius442]

Added Hester to my TBR! I always watch your reading wrap-ups with my library tab open on my computer :)

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha amazing! I hope you enjoy it 🥰

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Another beautiful, helpful video, thank you so much! 💛

[@PlantBasedBride]

You are so welcome!

[@anzieizna9345]

Yaaaay, I love these videos! Not only did you do some beautiful spreads this month but your commentaries/reviews were so well written. I've definitely added Shades of Grey to my TBR as I'm very intrigued by a dystopian written as a comedy!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it ❤️

[@casper4496]

I love watching these as a slow start to the day in bed with a coffee! Such a lovely mood and introduces me to so many books I wouldn't see otherwise! Have added Monstress, Hester and Shades of Grey to my TBR. I'm ADHD and haven't read either of the non-fics so really interested to hear what your thoughts are in the upcoming vid :) I enjoy all your videos so much, thanks so much for making them :)

[@amilena_wyamesart]

Ah yes, the pain and anticipation of having to wait for the next comic/manga release is all too real! I have one series I've been wanting to finish for probably 10 years or so that the last few volumes aren't available in translated editions. I own the non-translated copies now and can't read them 😅

[@PlantBasedBride]

Ugh that sounds torturous!! I don’t envy you that at all 😭

[@Natalie-hi9gc]

I'm always adding your 4/5 stars to my TBR. Waiting for comic/manga releases is a pain but many times worth it.

[@PlantBasedBride]

I hope you enjoy the ones you get around to! I’m flattered that you trust my taste 🥰❤️

[@pamelajezek677]

You always add to my TBR. This time Shades of Grey, Hester and Monstress. Love your reading journal videos. ❤

[@PlantBasedBride]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy them all ❤️❤️

[@gracesarus]

I’m right with you on the waiting! 😂😂😂 Monstress is one of my favorite ever and I keep track of when they release the dates because I need to know how long I’ll be waiting. It’s so good

[@PlantBasedBride]

So so good! I was trying to wait it out and just buy the books but I’m going to have to switch to volumes because I’m not patient enough 😂

[@LarissaVeloso-Planttubber]

Shades of Gray definitely reminds me of Blindness, by Jose Saramago. If you liked that one, I really recommend it! 😊

[@elisacurbelo5594]

Oh no, I already have too many TBRs and you made me add two more. I love your whole creative process. Thank you for sharing each month.

[@PlantBasedBride]

Haha I’m so sorry (but I hope you enjoy them 😂❤️)

[@shelbseroo]

I LOVED Shades of Grey. A favourite of mine that I read a few years ago.

[@PlantBasedBride]

It was so fantastic! I can’t believe I’d never heard of it ❤️

[@hkhk3132]

Aaaahhhhh, your stats page 🫶🏽

[@AmethystMtzE]

I really love this idea! I can’t wait to read Hester cuz it’s definitely on my list!

[@PlantBasedBride]

It's so good! Definitely worth your time ❤️

[@anniepantheraleo]

I put the books by Butler and Fforde on my TBR! Loved watching this, as usual :)

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oo enjoy! And thank you 🥰❤️

[@olivia_vermast]

If you want to read something from The Netherlands (for your reading around the world spread) you could try Hersenschimmen by Bernlef. I think there’s an English translation of it. It’s written in the perspective of a man who gradually gets more and more demented (I think that’s how you say it in English lol) Bernlef wrote it for his father I believe, who suffered from dementia. Such a heartbreaking good book. It’s quite short too:)

[@PlantBasedBride]

That sounds so heartbreaking 😢 I’ll see if I can find and English translation. Thank you for the recommendation ❤️

[@olivia_vermast]

@@PlantBasedBride no worries:)

[@lunawarren6913]

loved this video!!

[@PlantBasedBride]

Thank you! ❤️

[@pavlinazitkova]

Amazing 🩷🩷🩷

[@sarahmcdougal2555]

I loved Shades of Gray and I am very excited the sequel is finally happening! I’m probably late to the party with this recommendation but The Eyre Affair is just pure bookish joyful nonsense and I think you will enjoy the heck out of it.

[@PlantBasedBride]

I keep hearing about this one! I need to grab a copy ❤️

[@BrittanyBWrites]

I have read Monstress (volumes one and two-the second one came from my library) and I really loved them (forgot to review them though) and I might read the rest of them once I get a chance. Thank you for sharing!! 📖

[@PlantBasedBride]

They’re fantastic! I’ve never really read comics and I wasn’t sure what to expect (I read a short story collection by the author that I loved and wanted to read more of her work) and have just been blown away, honestly ❤️

[@faridareads]

Can you please do a video on your most recommended stationery supplies? 💗

[@PlantBasedBride]

Oo maybe! I’ll have to see where I could fit it in ❤️

[@Lhyoshi]

I've recently started my reading journal, but I feel like I can't really start until I get every single piece of paper and sticker and stamp available to make it look remotely decent

[@Aleciko218]

I absolutely adore your videos; I find them so calming and just lovely

[@PlantBasedBride]

Thank you! I use the CAWPILE method to rate individual aspects of the story like characters and plot in combination with my gut feeling based on 1 star being a book I hated or thought completely failed at its goal, 2 stars for books that missed the mark and/or I didn’t enjoy, 3 stars for books that were good but not exceptional, 4 stars for great books/books I really liked where something is missing or there’s one or more significant issue I can’t get past, and 5 stars for books I loved that have flaws which weren’t enough to diminish my enjoyment. I hope that helps!

[@mollyb698]

I just love your reading journal videos! Where did you find the map for your Around the World Challenge? I've been trying to find a good map for coloring in countries and am having the hardest time.

[@PlantBasedBride]

I think I may have linked it in my original video creating my first reading around the world spread! That’s my “five more reading spread ideas” video ❤️

[@RobynElizabeth28]

I started reading The Parable of the Sower not long before you, got to about 50% and saw you were reading it on Goodreads. I'm still on 50%, I just struggle to go back to it. It's so dark! I've realised recently that I look at trigger warnings in a really lax way. I should just not read books that hurt the soul. Thank you for this video. 😊 Sorry for the ramble. xx

[@PlantBasedBride]

It’s definitely a very dark and emotionally draining read. I always need breaks between books that are so heartbreaking ❤️

[@brittanymiller3396]

Off the wall question here but what is the name of the nail polish you have on? You always have the prettiest colors and I can never find those colors!!!

[@GladysHunnam]

Watching this whilst I do my nails :)

[@PlantBasedBride]

Nice! ❤️

[@KellyAK]

📚 ❤

[@GailB0707]

Consider coloring differently per year in the reading around the world for tracking for the next journal?

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

Good idea!

[@PlantBasedBride]

I cut out a bit of a ramble of me explaining why I didn’t do that 😅 I realized I would need colours that layered well enough to show which books I read from both last year and this year, or a pattern/overlay of some kind that would likely be time consuming to draw by hand (and hard to distinguish when looking at the many teeny tiny countries on the map!) I think I’m just going to make a list to track them countries I read from each year (I already do this in a spreadsheet but I might add it into my reading journal as well) and use the map to track the overall goal!

[@IoneEvans]

📖 ❤

[@shannonmoreau2531]

📚📖😃

[@wendyhoward2699]

Why do you put the tabs in on the side. Blessings.

[@andreajacobs6069]

Did she mention which book from Guatemala she read?

[@PlantBasedBride]

Severina by Rodrigo Ray Rosa!

[@melb.4626]

Who is the guatemalan author?

[@PlantBasedBride]

Rodrigo Ray Rosa! I mentioned that I finished Severina this month and included it in this month’s stats, but created the spread for it last month since it was our book club pic for March ❤️

[@barbaraschmitt85]

Not that book 1 is bad by any means (gave it 4 stars), I actually much preferred parable of the Talents. it is however way too real, especially the political environment. If I didn't know Butler wrote this in 1998 or that she died in 2006, I would have guessed it was her answer to the current political climate

[@PlantBasedBride]

Butler really had a knack for intuiting how the future would play out, didn’t she? I had a tab colour dedicated to marking the places where she predicted the future a little too well for comfort 😳

[@sophiahodgson85]

Gabor Mate is a rather controversial author in the eyes of the ADHD community

[@PlantBasedBride]

I’ll be talking about that in my reading vlog! I didn’t know anything about him before I started the book and only learned about that when I was halfway through or so.