Where did this summer go?! I’m pretty sure I lost the month of July completely. August was a bit better and for my reading as well. I had three books I absolutely loved, but did struggle with finding the right blend of reading. I had a streak of intense, timely novels that mirrored reality too closely and left me drained. An occupational hazard, I guess!
Of course, next month welcomes all the big fall releases. Before I jump into what’s new (I’ll have my list of anticipated fall releases out on Tuesday), here’s how August went.
Published by Graywolf Press
Publication date: April 3, 2018
Waiting for Tomorrow was recommended to me by The Boston Bibliophile and was the right reading at the right time. It’s a small novel that doesn’t rely on twists, as it opens with Adam, in prison, awaiting release for the death of Adele, an illegal immigrant he and his wife, Anita, befriended who helped care for their daughter. That’s as big as it gets and it’s more than enough. Set in France, Waiting for Tomorrow begins in the present and travels back to Adam and Anita’s past—when they met in Paris, how they fell in love, their marriage. It’s an awkward, tender, and uncomfortable look at both the largeness and smallness of life.
Published by Minotaur Books
Publication date: June 12, 2018
Geo is an accomplice to her boyfriend’s murder of her best friend in high school—a crime that goes unsolved for 14 years until he’s caught and she’s convicted. He escapes. Shortly after she’s released a gruesome series of murders begin—all of which seem to be related to her. Is her boyfriend back? Majority of the book works well as thriller and interesting insight to being guilty of a crime as a teen. Towards the end author Hillier goes in for shock value, piling on so many twists that they lose impact.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: Loved this beautiful debut. My review
The Air You Breathe by Frances Peebles. Review to follow
The Story of H by Marina Perezagua. Review to Follow
Bury Your Dead (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #6) by Louise Penny
Published by Minotaur Books
Publication date: January 1, 2010
A Trick of the Light (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #7) by Louise Penny
Published by Minotaur Books
Publication date: August 30, 2011
I turned back to Louise Penny to get me out of a reading disaster (reading a horror of a novel after reading an intoxicating one) and once again, she saved me. In Bury Your Dead, she finally knits together the mysteries of Gamache’s past—the operation he launched that, on one hand, made him look like a hero, but on the other almost killed him and the colleagues closest to him. As always, Penny’s fine sense of humor and ability to supply twists without being tortuous made for reading magic.
In Trick of the Light, there is a murder, but, more importantly, Three Pines resident Clara Morrow is finally going to be recognized for her art. The end result is a novel that plumbs the depths of what marriage means and can someone really change. As usual, Penny’s insight into human nature is as fascinating as the murder.
Published by Houghton Mifflin
Publication date: April 1, 2018
Lipman has six areas in life he feels need attention in order to have the best life. How to Be Well is best read like a reference book—browse the table of contents to find what catches your eye and read. There are interesting parts and useful information, but there are also vagaries like citing “some” studies in his section on why you should never hold a cell phone to your head or rest your iPad in your lap. At which point I check out, but may be useful information for others.
So Much Life Left Over by Louis de Bernieres: Absolutely loved this book about two British families in the aftermath of WWI. My review
Vox by Christina Dalcher: In the not-so-distant future women can’t work or read books and can only speak 100 words a day. Great dystopian fiction. My review
More great reading options from previous years
August 2016:
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A beautiful book about a controversial love
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A light and lovely novel that was perfect summer reading
August 2015:
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Five star historical fiction about a daring woman who lived life on her own terms
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An odd and charming novel about Great Britain during WWII, from a new perspective
How was your August reading?
I always know when you’re in a slump when I see you’re reading Louise Penny! And can’t wait to read your review of Air We Breathe…to figure out whether I should go back to it or not…
Honestly, Sarah, I don’t think you should. Too much else out there to read. It was good not great- and the plot felt very familiar, which is never a good thing for us.
More to add to my TBR listing! Waiting for Tomorrow and So Much Life Left Over grabbed my attention! Already had Vox and The Air You Breathe were already there! 🙂
So Much Life Left Over is beautiful and entertaining- can’t ask for much more than that. Maybe read it after you read Vox, because it will get you worked up!
It’s so great that you have an author like Louise Penny who so consistently works for you. It’s nice to have a go-to author when reading takes a dreary turn. Looking forward to your fall reading list next week. Have a lovely weekend.
She is definitely one of my key go-to authors. Even better news- two others have new books coming out this fall so I’m thinking things are going to be strong and steady in my fall reading!
My August reading was amazing in this new world of mine – I finished seven whole books!
We’ve already talked about your reading choices draining you. I sincerely hope that September is better for you in that respect!
September has started off wonderful- two books, both 4 stars. Plus, seeing Crazy Rich Asians made me a whole lot of happy.
I had a slow July & August in reading, go figure. Too much in life going on. I need to have the snow fly perhaps to get a lot of reading done. I need to ask : How did you like the movie Crazy Rich Asians? I just saw it and thought it was quite fun & light and a good escape.
I absolutely loved it! It was exactly what I needed with the toxicity in this country right now. I’m pretty sure I’ll go back and see it again!