Not so much of summer this month. It’s been cold enough some days that we’ve considered turning on the heating. I didn’t read much at all this month but then there were many events and lots of editing to do.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Kristy Cambron: The Butterfly And The Violin – A gallery owner looks for the original of a painting she loves; a girl sent to Auschwitz tries to keep her hopes up, worshipping God with her music. Some flaws but not a bad book overall.

Meike Ziervogel: Clara’s Daughter – A woman who has responsibilities to everyone tries to juggle them to little success. Outstanding, and the way the events are jumbled is a delight.

Philip Pullman: The Broken Bridge – Ginny’s trying to work out who she is and it was difficult enough, but now a brother she didn’t know about has shown up. Excellent early ’90s young adult fiction dealing with identity, race, sexuality and one’s place in the world.

Clara’s Daughter wins this month. The Broken Bridge was a very close second. They are of different genres, so ultimately I had to choose the one that suited me most. The Butterfly And The Violin wasn’t bad, and I think it was a fair choice as my first Christian fiction book – it didn’t put me off – but if I were ever to read another I would be more picky about what I chose.

Quotation Report

None this time.

Well I can’t really say summer’s gone as it seems it’s back and I’ve heard that we may have weather similar to two years ago when everyone was able to go to the beach on November 1st. Yep, in Britain, I know! (as said by Monica). I can say there are some fabulous books arriving in the autumn and a few good times to look forward to.

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?

So… wow. I can’t actually remember the last time I wore jeans. The weather this month has been amazing; we thought last year was great but this year it’s as though we’re very far from Britain. Thanks to Suzanne Collins and her fast paced work I read The Hunger Games trilogy in full, and the delight it caused in me carried on enough that I was able to read further books in good time, too. My routine changed a bit with the two manuscripts I took on (before then I had been working on one at a time) and you probably noticed I missed a couple of days blogging here. July has been great – sunny, busy, and full of books.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Ai Mi: Under The Hawthorn Tree – In the time of Mao, a young woman struggles to blend social expectations and her feelings for a friend. It’s alright, but the main character quickly becomes frustrating to read about.

Andra Watkins: To Live Forever – A man stuck in a sort of Purgatory has one more chance to enter the afterlife and it all depends on a girl and her quest to find her father. Okay, but needs more editing.

Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games – In a dystopian world, children are chosen to fight to the death in a televised ‘game’, and Katniss has volunteered in order to save her sister. Loved this book, enough said.

Suzanne Collins: Catching Fire – Having got through the games, Katniss finds herself with the threat of entering another over her head as the districts’ rebellions continue. It does repeat the first book, but is still excellent nonetheless.

Suzanne Collins: Mockingjay – Safe in District 13, Katniss must continue to be the face of the rebellion as President Coin and her soldiers prepare to take on the Capitol. It’s not in the same league as the other two, but strong enough in itself.

No question, Collins’ trilogy makes first place this month. I loved it – Mockingjay may not have been as good, but overall it is an awesome set of books. I wasn’t so keen on To Live Forever but it wasn’t a bad book.

Quotation Report

None this time.

Here we go, last month of the summer incoming…

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?

This month has been slow and I appreciated that. I had an interesting couple of weeks feeling like I was in a reading slump until I realised it was just that I hadn’t had much time to read, so of course Wecker’s almost 500 page novel took a long time to finish. Oh, and we now have bookcases (yay!)

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Jenny Barden: The Lost Duchess – Escaping potential scandal, a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth I joins the people leaving for the New World. Very good and with a fair emphasis on the effects of abuse.

Hanne Ørstavik: The Blue Room – A girl about to travel abroad with her boyfriend finds herself trapped in her room, and it’s possible she’s been locked in by her mother. I will admit that I don’t think I saw everything there was to see in this novella, but liked it all the same.

Helene Wecker: The Golem And The Jinni – A master-less golem and a somewhat-freed jinni learn how to live in the world of humans whilst everyone around them learns how to live in a different situation. Fantastic.

Irène Némirovsky: Fire In The Blood – A man set in his ways pays his attention to the life of others and notes how passion can overturn everything. Not as good as Suite Française but a fair way to spend a couple of hours.

John Green: The Fault In Our Stars – Two teenagers with cancer, one in remission, the other in a stable condition, fall in love amongst the happiness and trials in their life. One of those rare books I found lived up to the hype, but it’s definitely something that won’t work for everyone. (And yes, I did purposefully read it this month so I could see the film if I wanted. Having seen the trailer and compared it to what I’d imagined, I’m not sure…)

Both The Golem And The Jinni and The Fault In Our Stars were excellent. Choosing between them is too difficult; I liked each for different reasons. That said, I reckon Green’s book will stay in my mind longer. The idea of writing my review was so overwhelming I had to change my surroundings in order to even attempt it. Whilst writing I realised I may have to write a good couple of further thoughts posts on it. It’s one of those books on which conversation is practically a necessity.

Quotation Report

None this time.

We’ve sadly passed that longest day, but Wimbledon has been on. I’m glad to see Serena Williams and Sharapova out as the noise is just too much. July sees our sixth anniversary, so I’m hoping the weather holds out. It’s really not been bad this year so far.

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?

I had another major slump in May. Not really able to ascertain what caused it, I’m wondering if the sudden reintroduction of sugar to my diet was the reason. Easter’s great except when you’ve sworn off sugar but feel you can’t say ‘no’ to chocolate from your family. I’m back off it and I’m being productive again. No headaches, no random tiredness, no ‘meh’.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Isla Morley: Above – A girl is kidnapped and smuggled underground by a man who is planning for the end of the world. There is more to it than that but to say more would constitute a spoiler; it’s a pretty good book even if it’s not sure what it wants to be.

Laini Taylor: Daughter Of Smoke And Bone – Karou likes her chimera family but is frustrated at not knowing about her background or what all her errands amount to; yet there may be good reason for the secrecy. I liked it but the twist was predictable as I’ve read books with similar set-ups before.

Noelle Adams: Married For Christmas – Jessica proposes a marriage of convenience between her and her friend so that she can have a family and he can become pastor to their childhood church. I’m glad I didn’t wait until Christmas to read it.

My favourite this month was Above. It isn’t perfect but it’s fair enough and I liked what I saw as secondary issues included. I didn’t enjoy Married For Christmas which was a pity because I’d been wanting to read it for a while, though I’m open to giving the author another chance.

Quotation Report

None this time.

May was strange, and the weather was strange also. We’ve gone from picnic and shorts weather to requiring a blanket on the sofa weather. Hopefully June will see the return of the sun.

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?

April has been good for my reading. The readathon didn’t go as planned and I was sick for a few days, but deciding at the start of the month that I would read a good amount led to it happening and I’m pleased to at last have several books on a round-up list. April also saw the return of reader-boyfriend after a break of about three years. I think he’s on his sixth book so far these last couple of weeks (his reading speed’s incredible) and I’m hoping he’ll keep it up long enough to get through the Narnia set I gave him years ago.

The Books

Non-Fiction

Greg McKeown: Essentialism – The author tells us how doing only those tasks deemed essential will improve our lives at home and work, including the tough-to-implement plan to say ‘no’ when people ask a lot from you. It’s ironically repetitive at times but contains much to think about.

Lindy Woodhead: Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge – The story of Harry Selfridge from his very first job, to his retail success, to his death as a poor man. There isn’t much to be blown away by, particularly because the writing style doesn’t lend itself to excitement, but it’s an informative and unbiased book.

Fiction

Elizabeth von Arnim: The Enchanted April – A couple of women dulled by life, along with two others they interview specifically for the plan, rent a castle in Italy for a month to have space to think and relax. It wasn’t as compelling as I’d expected and there was a plot twist that I thought a pity, but it’s a good read nonetheless.

Jane Austen: Mansfield Park – The daughter of an average family goes to live with well-off relatives and is the only person not impressed by the arrival of a couple of neighbours, neighbours who express romantic interest in her cousins. Objectively it’s not bad, but I have to be honest and say I found it a bit dull – predictable from the start and I didn’t feel Austen provided enough information about the villains until too late, leaving Fanny to appear as rather over the top in her dislike at the time.

Johanna Lane: Black Lake – A man who hasn’t told his family of debts, loans their estate to the government whilst they have to relocate to a small house in the grounds. An excellent book that shows the different affects sudden displacement can have on people of different ages.

Louise Douglas: In Her Shadow – A woman starts to see her dead friend in certain locations, and wonders if she didn’t truly die. Another brilliant story by Douglas, this book focuses on hidden abuse and the differences in perception that come with age.

Peggy Riley: Amity & Sorrow – A woman who has finally realised just how bad life with her husband and his cult is, escapes, but whilst she is just about able to renter society, her children are not. There are a fair few flawed concepts in this book, most especially at the end.

My favourite this month was Black Lake, with In Her Shadow a close second. I wasn’t crazy about Mansfield Park and wish it hadn’t been my last Austen, but it has at least made me more determined to dig out my copy of Pride And Prejudice for a re-read. I’m happy to say there were no really bad books this month.

Quotation Report

None this time.

I’m somewhat sad to see May as it means we’re very close to that day when the light starts to fade again, but warmer weather would be nice. It’s not cold but not yet time to venture out without a coat.

What was your favourite book this month (or week if you round-up each week)?