Eleanor Oliphant is a bit of an odd ball. She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. That, combined with her unusual appearance (scarred cheek, sometime wearer of an eczema glove), means that Eleanor has become a bit of a loner – or ‘self-contained entity’ as she calls it. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life and phone chats with ‘Mummy’ (in prison for crimes unknown).

But everything changes when Eleanor falls for the local Hipster-band frontman, Johnnie Rivers. As Eleanor prepares herself for her inevitable union with the object of her desire (appropriate attire, new laptop for Instagram stalking), she inadvertently befriends the new guy from her office, Raymond.

As Eleanor navigates the waters of obsessive love and her long-distance relationship with ‘Mummy’, she realises she can only overcome the horrors of her past if she accepts a little help from Raymond…

Filled with unabashed wit, Eleanor Oliphant follows its quirky and troubled female narrator as she realises that the only way to survive her current state of mind is to open her heart to friendship.

Is it just me or is 2018 going by quickly? I had 3 books I wanted to read for April’s challenge but only managed to finish one 🙈 Did you like the book(s) you picked?

This month, our genres are:

Matron Lit
I was so intrigued by this genre when I first heard of it and I just knew we had to try it for one of our challenges. Books in this genre typically focus on female protagonists between their late 30s to mid 60s. I don’t know about you, but I think these books could be pretty awesome. When was the last time you read a book with a protagonist in this age group?

Matron lit is a very underrated genre, so finding lists and recommendations for this was quite challenging. It’s also sometimes referred to as hen lit (as opposed to chick lit 🐥) or hag lit (rude!) and I’m really looking forward to seeing the books that will be read for this.

Here’s a list I found if you’re looking for ideas: Popular Hen Lit Books on Goodreads. I know it’s not much, but hopefully some of us have read a book that falls under this genre and can recommend it to others! 🤞🏼

Flintlock Fantasy
I know what you’re thinking. From Matron Lit to this? Yes, my randomness amazes me too. This genre is one I’ve wanted to feature for a looooong time so this month is as good an excuse as any. 😜 The term ‘flintlock’ comes from the fact that it’s the typical level of firearms technology the setting has reached. Authors who are well known in this genre include Brian McClellan, Django Wexler, and Brent Weeks. Here’s a handy list of books from Goodreads.

I would love to hear what you’re planning to read for this challenge! I don’t have one for Matron Lit yet but I’m going to tackle the first book in Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage Trilogy for my Flintlock fantasy pick. 😎

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe has neither the look nor the voice of divinity, and is scorned and rejected by her kin. Increasingly isolated, she turns to mortals for companionship, leading her to discover a power forbidden to the gods: witchcraft.

When love drives Circe to cast a dark spell, wrathful Zeus banishes her to the remote island of Aiaia. There she learns to harness her occult craft, drawing strength from nature. But she will not always be alone; many are destined to pass through Circe's place of exile, entwining their fates with hers. The messenger god, Hermes. The craftsman, Daedalus. A ship bearing a golden fleece. And wily Odysseus, on his epic voyage home.

There is danger for a solitary woman in this world, and Circe's independence draws the wrath of men and gods alike. To protect what she holds dear, Circe must decide whether she belongs with the deities she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

The more challenges we do, the more sub genres we’re discovering! Do you enjoy this or would you prefer having one common and one lesser known genre per month?

In honour of Earth Day (April 22), here are our genres next month! They may seem similar, but they have some notable differences.

Climate Fiction
More commonly known as cli-fi, books in this genre deals with climate change and global warming. It focuses on the effects of climate change on a particular location and explores options available to people trying to adapt/mitigate those effects.

List of Popular Cli-Fi Books on Goodreads

Dying Earth
A subgenre of fantasy and science fiction, books in this genre take place in the far future in which the Earth or the universe itself is dying. As the world fades, magic and technology intertwine and sometimes challenge the laws of nature.

List of Popular Dying Earth Books on Goodreads

I feel like it’s going to be a bit challenging to find books for these genres but I’d love to know which books come to mind when you think of these genres! There may just be a few that Goodreads has missed. 😉

The Rules of Blackheath

Evelyn Hardcastle will be murdered at 11:00 p.m. There are eight days, and eight witnesses for you to inhabit. We will only let you escape once you tell us the name of the killer. Understood? Then let's begin...

Evelyn Hardcastle will die. Every day until Aiden Bishop can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others...

The most inventive debut of the year twists together a mystery of such unexpected creativity it will leave readers guessing until the very last page.