In recent years, summer months have marked a precipitous drop in my reading activity. Now that the kids are a bit older (and I’m in a reading groove, mostly because of all the wonderful book suggestions sent my way by blog readers), I ended up reading 12 books in July!!!
This month’s reading had a little bit of everything in terms of genre. Let’s discuss.
BOOKS I READ IN JULY – THE SHORT VERSION
- Horse — Geraldine Brooks ★★★★☆
- How to Read a Book — Monica Wood ★★★★☆
- How to Skimm Your Life — The Skimm Inc ★★★☆☆
- Silver Like Dust — Kimi Grant Cunningham *not rated
- Memorial Days — Geraldine Brooks ★★★★★
- Superheroes — M. Jean Pike ★★★★★
- Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll ★★★★☆
- The Christmas Appeal — Janice Hallett ★★★★☆
- The Paris Express — Emma Donoghue ★★★☆☆
- Happiness Falls — Angie Kim ★★★☆☆
- The Heart of Winter — Jonathan Evison ★★★★☆
- Isola — Allegra Goodman ★★★★☆
BOOKS I READ IN JULY – THE LONG VERSION
Horse — Geraldine Brooks (historical fiction) ★★★★☆
4.5 stars rounded down to 4.
I really enjoyed this novel and thanks to whoever it was that recommended it to me.
Horse is based on the true story of Lexington, a record-breaking thoroughbred whose genetic line includes the likes of War Admiral and Secretariat. (I’d heard of those horses but not, I’ll admit, of Lexington.)
The historical plots, especially the storyline of the enslaved groom Jarret are compelling. The modern-day timeline felt less essential and started to detract from the overall impact of the broader story (for me; others may disagree!). I wish Brooks had stuck to the core of the story instead of jumping around, but the alternate timelines were well managed.
This book does a good job of blending fact with fiction to flesh out a story, and the characters are vivid and memorable. If you’re drawn to novels that bring history to life, this one delivers. (Though I’ll admit I’m starting to feel some multi-timeline fatigue. Every author seems to be doing it these days. Can we just have some linear storytelling for a change??)
- Summary. Spanning 1850s Kentucky, 1950s New York, and 2019 Washington, Horse traces the story of the legendary racehorse Lexington and the people — slaves, artists, jockeys, scientists, and historians — whose lives intersect across centuries through their connection to him.
- Trigger warnings. Some profanity; systemic racism.
How to Read a Book — Monica Wood (fiction) ★★★★☆
This was a memorable novel with a strong emotional core. Wood does a great job of using alternating perspectives within a (mostly) linear timeline to build depth and connection with the characters. The story is a hopeful exploration of guilt, redemption, and the unexpected ways lives intertwine.
That said, it wasn’t without flaws. The ending felt rushed and, silly as it may sound, the title didn’t do justice to the story. (Even the author seems to highlight this latter fact in the acknowledgments section where she apologizes about the title.) There was a fair amount of profanity and some unsettling predatory (to my mind) behaviour. That said, the various settings (prison book club, bookstore, animal behaviour research lab) were charming and the characters’ personal journeys made it a rewarding read.
- Summary. After serving time for drunk-driving, 22-year-old Violet crosses paths with Harriet, a retired teacher who ran the prison book club Violet once attended, and Frank, the widower of the woman Violet accidentally killed. Over time their stories further intertwine. Violet has to start life over again, and forges unlikely friendships — including talking parrots and the researcher manages them.
- Trigger warnings. Profanity; substance abuse; infidelity; predatory-adjacent behaviour.
How to Skimm Your Life — The Skimm Inc (non-fiction) ★★★☆☆
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
This was a mixed bag. If the topics covered happen to align with your interests (like wine tasting or U.S. politics), it might be worth a skim (pun intended). For me, as a non-drinking Canadian, most of it felt irrelevant. I expected broader insights on how and why to “skim” in a world of information overload, but what I got felt more like a lifestyle grab bag.
I’d skip this book unless the table of contents speaks directly to you.
Silver Like Dust — Kimi Grant Cunningham (non-fiction; historical/family biography) *not rated
I’m not officially rating this book because it’s a memoir and I tend to avoid giving specific ratings for that genre of books.
This is an intergenerational memoir that sheds light on the overlooked history of Japanese internment during WWII (which I knew shamefully little about), told through the lens of the author’s grandmother’s experience.
Parts of the narrative felt overly detailed which felt misplaced and a bit distracting. I think a summary page of statistics about the number of people interned, a map of where the camps were located across the US, and a few pages of pictures would have really added to the reading experience and helped bring it to life (in other words — bring on the visual aids!).
There was also no acknowledgments page felt like an oversight after telling such a personal story.
Those quibbles aside, it was a good book and I don’t regret reading it.
Memorial Days — Geraldine Brooks (grief memoir) ★★★★★
So…I don’t usually rate memoirs (see above) but I wanted to give this book a star rating to remind myself how much I appreciated the authenticity and relatability.
Memorial Days reminded me of The Year of Magical Thinking but I found it more relatable. (I seem to be the only person on planet Earth that did not enjoy Didion’s book; maybe I should try to read it again?)
The chapters alternate between the immediate aftermath of her husband’s sudden death and a quieter reflection set years later when she’s gone to a secluded island off the coast of Australia. It’s a beautiful, touching, and honest account of grief and what it can look like.
I read this less than a week after finishing her novel Horse (see above), which she was working on when her husband died. This provided more context to what had been going on for her personally while completing that novel.
Superheroes — M. Jean Pike (Christian fiction) ★★★★★
When blog friend Jean mentioned her new book, I jumped at the chance to get an advance review copy (the first time I’ve ever gotten to do this!).
I’m notoriously picky about faith-based fiction. As a Christian, I appreciate stories that explore spiritual themes — but too often these books feel forced, with unrealistic portrayals of faith and characters who are either unrelatable or unlikeable.
When Jean offered to send me an advance copy of Superheroes, she made it clear she welcomed an honest review. Gulp. I felt the pressure — wanting to be truthful while navigating my usual reservations about traditional faith-centric fiction.
But I shouldn’t have worried. I devoured the book in two sittings and found myself genuinely rooting for each of the characters. The writing is warm and compelling. The characters are fully realized, their backstories thoughtfully developed, and the moral arc is both believable and deeply satisfying.
I have nothing but good things to say about what Jean has accomplished with this book — pointing readers to Jesus, while reminding us that everyone faces challenges, and none is too big for our Rescuer.
- Summary. Abby Callahan rents a motel room in a new town with no friends and no plan, except pretending to have a boyfriend to keep her family off her back. Enter Rory St. George, a store manager with problems of his own. Their unlikely relationship, forged under pressure, is tested by life’s challenges. Can love — and God’s grace — turn ordinary people into “superheroes”?
- Triggers warnings. Discussions of substance abuse; imprisonment; violence against women.
Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll (historical fiction) ★★★★☆
This was a well-written fictionalized retelling of Ted Bundy’s Florida State University attack. I see why it won critical acclaim.
Knoll aims to reclaim the stories of the victims and survivors by subverting the usual serial killer focus.
That said, I struggled with the blurred lines between fact and fiction — a necessary creative device (maybe?), but one that made me question how we honour true-life tragedy in fiction. In some ways the book sensationalizes what happened by bringing it into popular culture yet again, blending factual suffering for victims families into a realm that bridges with some fiction (in terms of their names, etc).
Also, the alternating timelines (and narrators) were wearisome by the end.
But, overall, an excellent book and I found it hard to put down.
- Summary: In 1978, a man (The Defendant) enters a women’s dorm and murders several residents (Bright Young Women). One survivor, Pamela, becomes the book’s moral center, seeking justice amid a media frenzy that glorifies the killer.
- Trigger warnings: Violence; trauma; strong language; emotional distress tied to real-world crimes.
The Christmas Appeal — Janice Hallett (fiction) ★★★★☆
A short, festive mystery novella that’s equal parts quirky and charming. I did find it a bit confusing keeping track of all the characters, but the humour and cozy vibes made it worthwhile. I don’t generally like books that are written in letter/text/e-mail format, but since this was short and punchy, for me it really worked! (It reminded me of Richard Osman books.)
- Summary. In Lower Lockwood, the Fairway Players are putting on their annual holiday panto to raise funds for a new church roof. But behind the scenes, tensions are high — rivalries are simmering, props may or may not be made of asbestos, and someone ends up dead onstage. Enter Femi and Charlotte, the legal duo from Hallett’s previous books, to sift through Christmas letters, emails, and transcripts in search of the truth.
- Trigger warnings. Some strong language; brief references to substance abuse.
The Paris Express — Emma Donoghue (historical fiction) ★★★☆☆
This was a tough one to rate—more of a 3.5 for me, rounded down. The premise (a tragic 1895 train crash in Paris) is fascinating, and there are some memorable character sketches. But the sheer number of different plots and constant switching between them made it feel choppy. I think that was part of Donoghue’s literary intent (a nod toward the tiny glimpses we get into people’s lives when we share space with them on public transit). I wish I’d kept notes while reading.
The inclusion of a surprise infidelity plot felt unnecessary and jarring — like it was added purely for shock value.
That said, I could easily imagine this as a film adaptation. If you read this book, I’d suggest you keep a notebook handy to keep track of the different characters.
- Summary. Set aboard a real-life train that famously derailed in 1895 at Montparnasse station in Paris, this novel follows a diverse cast of passengers — including politicians, anarchists, a woman about to give birth, students, a young boy travelling alone, and artists — hurtling at top speed toward Paris, and an unexpected disaster.
- Trigger warnings. Miscarriage, infidelity, and suicide bombing. Can’t remember strong language, so assume there wasn’t much profanity?
Happiness Falls — Angie Kim (fiction)★★★☆☆
Another book I’d label a 3.5, but rounded down. This was an emotionally complex read for me since a member of my extended family has Angelman Syndrome and is non-verbal. The idea of “trapped intelligence” was powerful, and I appreciated Kim’s exploration of communication, disability, and family dynamics.
But the book really dragged for me at some points, and Mia — the narrator — could be frustratingly self-aware. I got weary of the constant retrospective commentary (“what I should have done…” or “later, I’d look back on this decision…”), and some plot elements felt repetitive.
Still, it’s a thought-provoking story that tackles race, disability, and language with sincerity and nuance. I’m glad I read it!
- Summary. When their father disappears, Mia’s family is thrown into chaos — especially since the only witness is Eugene, her nonverbal brother with Angelman Syndrome.
- Trigger warnings. Profanity;COVID-19 references; discussions of autism and Angelman Syndrome.
The Heart of Winter — Jonathan Evison (fiction) ★★★★☆
This one was very nearly a 5-star read. A quiet, slow-moving, character-driven novel about enduring love, aging, and loss. Some plot twists felt a bit forced, and a few threads were left unresolved — but in a way, that mirrored real life.
A beautifully human story about what it means to grow old with someone.
My favourite quote:
“By eighty-four years old, the mileposts marking Ruth’s passage through life, once a freeway teeming with destinations and diversions, were situated farther apart along a road that was but a single-lane highway leading one place. Ruth was no longer in a hurry, no longer harried or constrained by the ticking clock. These were the days of surrender, the days of relief, the days of idling and routine, early mornings, and afternoons and evenings that each bled into the next with little if anything to distinguish them beyond a call from Anne, or Kyle, or Maddie, a doctor’s appointment, a trip to Rite-Aid, occasional constipation, fits of afternoon exhaustion, sore joints, and inexplicable cravings for shrimp cocktail and tapioca pudding.”
- Summary. Abe and Ruth have spent nearly 70 years together on a farm in Bainbridge Island. But now Ruth is facing a devastating illness, and Abe is forced to become her caretaker. As their adult children question his capacity to care for her, they’re forced to renegotiate their relationship and confront both their shared history and uncertain future.
- Trigger warnings. Pet death, cancer, suicide, infidelity.
Isola — Allegra Goodman (historical fiction) ★★★★☆
A solid, slow-burn historical novel based on a lesser-known true story. The pacing was a little uneven —too slow in spots, too fast in others. If you enjoy survival stories or anything even loosely based on real-life heroines, this one might be worth picking up.
One very specific pet peeve was Goldman’s frequent use of Alas. If someone else reads this book, I would love, love, love to have a tally on the number of times Alas shows up!
- Summary. Marguerite is an heiress whose life is upended when she’s orphaned and forced by her guardian to travel to New France. When an unsanctioned relationship is discovered, she and her husband and nurse are abandoned on a remote island with no means of survival.
- Trigger warnings. Infant loss, abandonment.
There were three books I started and put down because I had other things competing for my attention, but all three are DNFs I’d consider picking up again at a later date…maybe? Probably not, but they were DNFs of the ‘too many books, too little time’ variety.
- Dissolution — Nicolas Binge
- War Diaries — Astrid Lindgren
- The Anxious Generation — Jonathan Haidt
And that’s a wrap.
- Have you read any of the books I mention above?
- What was the best book you read in July?
- How do you feel about historical fiction and the blending of facts with creative license?
- Did anyone else read Isola and notice the frequent use of “Alas”?
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I just put The Heart of Winter on my list yesterday! We are twinning! I loved Isola and Happiness Falls, but I will say that How To Read A Book fell kind of flat for me. It really dragged in parts. I don’t love historical fiction generally, it has to be REALLY good for me to enjoy it, and I thought that Isola was incredible. But mostly it is a genre that doesn’t usually work for me. I try! I do!
I had three five-star books in July – Show Don’t Tell, So Late In The Day, and Shark Heart. Shark Heart was a book I loved that I almost didn’t read! So I guess you never know.
I think you’ll really like The Heart of Winter, Nicole!
I’ve been very intrigued by Shark Heart. I didn’t love Remarkably Bright Creatures (it was good, but not great for me), so I haven’t taken the plunge on it yet!
Thanks again for reading and reviewing Superheroes, Elisabeth, and thanks for the mention here. I’m thrilled you rated it five stars 🙂 The only other one on your list I have read is Monica Woods’ How to Read a Book. I was super excited to read it because her One in A Million Boy earned a permanent place on my book shelf. But I agree with your assessment. This new one was very good but not a keeper.
You’re more welcome. It was a pleasure to read your book.
I have put One in a Million Boy on my “For Later” shelf. I don’t dare add to my TBR pile and actual holds list right now. It’s…shocking.
Yay for the monthly reading recap! I heard a lot of hype around How to Read a Book, and now I’m starting to hear a chorus of “it was OK” so it’s moved down in my (imaginary) TBR.
I am all for creative license with historical fiction. People back in the day weren’t writing blogs and posting on IG, so all that we have are a few facts plus speculation about what happened. Fiction is the perfect place to speculate about what happened.
July was stellar: What Kind of Paradise, Heartwood, and One Good Thing were the standouts. August is not too shabby either. I read Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell in one day.
I liked How to Read a Book but didn’t love it and one plot point was rather icky to me.
I am like #8,000 on the holds list for Heartwood. I’ve heard such good things. I really enjoyed One Good Thing (though liked We Were the Lucky Ones even better)!
I’ve put a hold on Nesting 😉
Ooh, I love book reviews!!! Of these, I’ve read Happiness Falls- I liked but didn’t love it. I’m trying to save all Christmas-y books for November-December, so the Janice Hallett is waiting till then. I actually had How to Read a Book from the library, but ended up returning it unread. One reason is that I just read another book about someone incarcerated after killing someone in a DUI accident, and I had enough of that for the time being. Also I was starting to see some “meh” reviews. I might still pick it up again someday, though.
The best book I read in July was The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.
That would be a lot of DUI content 🙁
I have heard SUCH great things about The Correspondent and have it on my holds list. I think it’s one of those cases where I’m very far down the line, though! Will report back once it comes in.
I am also very tired of multiple time lines in books. Can the storyline not stand up to a linear arrangement? A flashback here or there is one thing; constantly bouncing between periods another. Very tiresome! Also multiple first person points of view. It seems as if once a popular novel is written with one nifty technique,everyone uses it.
Which is why I like a nice, straightforward police procedural.
I did enjoy Heartwood. I tried several Alice Feeny books and decided she’s not for me. I don’t know if I had a best book – most of them were meh.
I’ll have to see if the library has Superheroes- if not, I’ll request it. They’ll buy patron recommendations.
Right? I would say 75% of the fictional books I’ve read in the last 6 months have ALL had non-linear timelines. And SO many different narrators. I think you’re right – someone came up with it, it was a hit, and everyone decided to jump on the bandwagon.
I have Heartwood on my holds list, but am so far down the list I do not feel very optimistic I’ll even get it in 2025!
I skimmed Anxious Generation but couldn’t get into it either! Which is funny because I hear about it everywhere! I think I already agreed with the premise, so I found a lot of the data/graphs really dry.
Currently reading My Dear Hemlock for book club (not a book I’d usually read) and so far it’s excellent! But I continue to be in a year-long reading slump.
AG felt a bit dry to me; I think I already adhere to a lot of the things he suggests. I read his main takeaways and agree with/do them all! It was very satisfying to see his suggestions about when to get kids phones etc were exactly what we have done with Belle so far.
I think you would like The Correspondent!!!
I’ve got it on my holds list, but I will be waiting a while! Oh well, it sounds like it will be worth the wait.
Isola is on my “want to read when it comes off my holds” list. I’m so intrigued. I do like historical fiction.
I read Janet Hasslett’s The Appeal (which I think might be the first book? It’s set at the community theatre) and thought it was a fun read. I *do* like epistolatory novels – the format is kind of voyeuristic for me, though I recognize that there are limits to the form.
I listened to a lot of audiobooks in July because I was commuting so much. My favorite, though not strictly a book was a dramatic adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I thought it was SO well done.
I think you’ll like Isola. My biggest beef was it felt a bit laggy in parts, but I was very motivated to keep reading.
Yes! The Appeal is almost like a Part 1 (I think they call the Christmas version 1.5).
I picked up an Agatha Christie book at a little library recently and I hope to read it the next time I visit my parents at the lake!
12 books in one month!! And I’m still 25% into “Gone with the Wind” (Birchie and Jenny read it in one week!) You made good use of your extra time.
I always look at your titles and covers first, then pick one or two that catch my eye – this time it would’ve been How to Read a Book, How to Skim Your Life, and The Anxious Generation. And look at that… not exactly your hottest picks! Just as well I have access to excellent book reviews – saves me from judging books by their cover, literally.
Also, I imagine reviewing a friend’s book must be a bit of a minefield. Thankfully, Jean made that part easy!
I’ve avoided Gone with the Wind because of the length. It feels like a PERFECT fall/winter read, so I’m planning to “tackle” it then.
I love, love, LOVE How to Read a Book’s cover. Isn’t it the cutest?
I have just started reading Isola, 10 pages in and so don’t remember reading the word “alas”, but I bet it will pop out at me from here on in LOL! I read Memorial Days and it was a hit and miss for me (I preferred Didion’s book). The chapters about her husband and what she had to deal with in the aftermath of his death were informative, but the chapters on the island didn’t say much about how she was dealing with her grief.
My favourite read was In Winter I Get Up At Night by Jane Urquhart. A rural school teacher in Saskatchewan reflects on her life. It is beautifully written. I also really enjoyed God of the Woods.
That’s so fun that you’ve just started Isola. I would love if you kept track of the uses of Alas. I didn’t notice it until quite a while into the book and then it seemed to be EVERYWHERE!
I agree that the island chapters weren’t as compelling. I just read it at a time where it really landed well for me.
God of the Woods was a great read! I read it earlier this year. I’ve put the Jane Urquhart on hold!
I read this post early this morning on my email, and came away from it thinking that you had recently read ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’, and now I see that no, you mentioned it in your review of ‘Memorial Days’. Funny what our brains latch onto.
I read ‘Memorial Days’ back in May, and I loved it. Her experience with her grief resonated so strongly with me. I remember reading ‘Magical Thinking’ in 2008, soon after my mom died. I found it so helpful for some reason. The time following the death of a parent is singular and surreal. I imagine the death of a spouse or a child would be just as singular, and perhaps even more surreal.
Just to make this comment all about me, when my mom died, I really wanted to read about grief and loss. I was drawn to it like an expectant parent is drawn to books about babies. In addition to ‘Magical Thinking’, I read ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’, by Studs Terkel, and ‘When Parents Die’, by Edward Myers. What I found helpful in all of these books was the comfort that others had gone through this extremely confusing time and survived it. I think ‘When Parents Die’ is the one that stuck with me the most.
When my dad died, I couldn’t read anything. I could barely read blogs. What was different? Who knows. What I come away from that with is an understanding that grief is different, not just for everyone, but also from one loss to the next. We do not know how we will react and process the complicated feelings of loss.
This comment was so helpful and reflective. Thanks so much for sharing <3
I have not had to grieve the loss of a parent yet, but I know it's inevitable. I feel like I have been drawn to books on grief for years and years. Maybe some of that is because there are so many. Loss is part of the human condition. And maybe it's a protective mechanism. Sometimes I even think that having a shortlist of books I've read and found insightful will be helpful to have to go back to and re-read when the horrible time comes and I do lose my parents.
Great book reviews, as always. I fully trust your views on these books and appreciate the trigger warnings. We have such similar tastes, proven once again by your opinion on The Year of Magical Thinking (ick).
I just reserved How to Read a Book, Memorial Days, and The Heart of Winter based on your reviews.
THANK YOU!
Wow! I feel very real pressure!
How to Read a Book was great – definitely some trigger warnings and a few plot points I didn’t love, but I found it a very compelling book. There are some sad topics tackled in The Heart of Winter but, again, I found it beautifully written.
I’ve only read Happiness Falls (meh did not love) and How to Read a Book (loved!). I plan to read The Heart of Winter. It just became available for me but I know it’s a heavier book and after looking at what I have currently checked out, I decided to defer it for a bit and read something lighter to give my heart a break.
For July reads, I really loved Jordan Chiles’ memoir (would recommend to other gymnastics enthusiasts like me) and a middle grade novel called “The Labors of Hercules Beal.”
I had mixed feelings about Happiness Falls, but I was glad I read it!
I haven’t read any of those books. My July book was “Go, went, gone” by German author Jenny Erpenbeck. Which I can recommend. Gave the Swedish translation to my Swedish neighbour and she also liked it a lot.
Thanks for the recommendation! I just put it on hold at my library!
You did great. Nope, I’ve not read any of those, but a few do look familiar.
My favorite read from this past month was (I just finished it last night) The Stationary Shop. It was really good—historical fiction.
I had to look up Angleman syndrome from your review, as I’ve never heard of that.
I’m going to put a hold on The Stationary Shop!!! Thanks for the recommendation.
I LOATHED Joan Didion’s book. Which is basically heresy in the Palliative/clinical circles I’m in. And, I said what I said 😉
It wasn’t just me! I remember wondering what was wrong with me for not loving it.
Aren’t books fascinating? What works for one person doesn’t work for another. We’re reading the exact same words and yet we process and take from them very different things.
Forgot to say that I severely dislike Christian fiction —predictable, formulaic, hollow characters. The Yada Yada Prayer Group series was the exception to that dislike.
My five stars were The Mules of Mineral King by Kevin Alltucker (from my neck of the woods!) and June in the Garden by Eleanor Wilde.
This was my first book of Jean’s but I thought it was so well done. Maybe a bit biased because of our recent blogging friendship, but I thought she managed to avoid the familiar pitfalls of Christian fiction while pointing people to Christ!
No no no!!! It is the StationEry Shop!
Love,
Your typo psycho friend
Oh the shame! Can I get away with claiming I thought it was a shop full of stationary bikes for sale instead of stationery on which I could practice my spelling???
What a nice July of reading!
I love historical fiction, and I don’t mind if they take some creative liberties – so long as it’s not absolutely rewriting history. There’s so much of “what happened” that we don’t know, that I like the ability to imagine it 🙂
My best book of July was probably Stuck Up and Stupid – an Aussie retelling of Pride & Prejudice that was fun and easy to listen to.
Another great reading month for you!
From your list, I have only read How to Read a Book (3.75 stars – it was a little uncomfortable for me because stories about prison trigger my mental health) and Happiness Falls (4 stars, I think? I read it a few years ago, or whenever it came out. I liked it but didn’t love it). I DNF-ed Bright Young Women because I just wasn’t connecting with it and didn’t enjoy any of the characters.
The best books I read in July were Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler, and Back After This by Linda Holmes.
I am soooo far down the list for Atmosphere it’s depressing. No Cure for Being Human was a great read. I don’t remember any specifics from it, but I remember really enjoying it.
Your book posts are keeping me alive this summer!
Funny thing is I also DNF The Anxious Generation…because it made me feel so anxious!
I didn’t make it far enough into TAG to get anxious; it just felt…dry and boring. And life is too short for that. Plus, I suspect most of it would be relatively intuitive? When I read the summary of his suggestions of what he recommends, I was pleased to see we’d basically done all the things…
It makes me ever so glad to know you’ve enjoyed some of the books I’ve recommended <3
Such a fun mix of books. And some really high ratings. I have Memorial Days on my TBR but will move it up a few notches. Seems really interesting.
My July was not as successful (quality and quantity wise).
5 books…a favorite a memoire (?) from an migrant and what it feels like to feel German but not be perceived a German.
Also a fantasy Shield of Sparrows I really enjoyed.