We are getting close to the end of National Poetry Month and I thought I’d do a little check in and tell you where my poetry reading has taken me.

While I haven’t been to any of the local poetry events I had mentioned in my earlier poetry post this month, I’m still hopeful of going to Malvern Books before the end of the month. All of their poetry books are at 20% off and they have a fabulous selection. I have however been paying attention to my inbox for the poem-a-day from the Borzoi Reader. This has been a good year – I’ve been printing several of the poems and will be adding them to my poetry journal.

In case you’ve missed these daily gems, you can see them all here. Some of my favorites have been “In The Same Space” by C.P. Cafavy, “God Breaks the Heart Again and Again Until It Stays Open” by Sandra Cisneros, “Nurse’s Song” by William Blake and “Reminder” by Marie Ponsot.

I have finished an Everyman’s Library Poems collection by Langston Hughes and absolutely loved it. Some of the poems I felt like were songs and could easily imagine them being interpreted in dance or musical form. And, some of the poems made me sad and angry at the injustices. If you’ve not read anything by Hughes I highly encourage you to pick up one of his books.

Here’s some critical analysis that I found on Poets.org: During the twenties when most American poets were turning inward, writing obscure and esoteric poetry to an ever decreasing audience of readers, Hughes was turning outward, using language and themes, attitudes and ideas familiar to anyone who had the ability simply to read . . . Until the time of his death, he spread his message humorously—though always seriously—to audiences throughout the country, having read his poetry to more people (possibly) than any other American poet.”

So what poems have you discovered? Or have you gone back to read some favorites during this month?

I met with my book group last week and we discussed The Dry by Jane Harper. I think most of us liked the book. I found a few things that I thought were left unexplained but overall this is a great mystery. I also just found out that this is now the first of what is going to turn into a series so I’m excited about that.

We also have four books lined up for the next few months but for May we’ll be reading Thin Slice of Life and the author(s) might even make a guest appearance. Cool!

And, speaking of more mysteries I can’t keep up with all the new series out there but I’m trying. These are the latest ones that have ended up on my radar:

Shadows on the Lake by Giovanni Cocco. A new mystery series set in Lake Como and featuring the captivating Inspector Stefania Valenti.

The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn. A novel in which a small-town boy investigates the mysterious disappearance of his cousin and uncovers a terrifying secret kept hidden for years.

Black Water Lilies by Michael Bussi. Giverny, France. During the day, the town is the home of the famous artist Claude Monet and the gardens where he painted his Water Lilies. But once the tourists have gone, there is a darker side to the peaceful French village.

The Dinosaur Feather by S.J. Gazan. A Scandinavian thriller set in a university campus.

Now if mysteries aren’t necessarily your thing and/or you prefer to watch them. I recommend Kommissarie Winter. We just started watching this series over the weekend. Based on Ake Edwardson crime novels, this series is set in Gothenburg and features Chief Inspector Erik Winter. Once we finish the episodes we’ll move on to Bosch season 3. Looking forward to it too.

Anyway, what about you? Are you reading and/or watching any good mysteries?