This month I read a fair number of books and got to add another non-fiction to my finished list.

The Books

Non-Fiction

G W Bernard: Anne Boleyn – Fatal Attractions – Bernard has an opinion and he’s not afraid to use it. He might be a total idiot. Recommended only if you’ve read about Anne previously because most of Bernard’s opinions aren’t to be taken seriously.

Fiction

Julie Kagawa: The Iron King – A girl finds out she half faery and has to help her fellow winged people fight the new enemy, Iron faeries born of the new technological dreams of mankind. Very good.

Julie Kagawa: The Iron Daughter – Meghan has to do it all again. What you’d usually expect from the second book in a teenage series in this current era, lots of filler material and repetition.

Kenneth Cameron: The Bohemian Girl – Denton’s got a letter from a girl who is afraid and he’s going to have to track her down while there’s a sinister fan on his tail. Dips towards the end but it’s a good enough Victorian/Edwardian story.

Shannon Stacey: Yours To Keep – Emma needs a fake fiancee and considering the man whose name she used was in the army it didn’t seem such a bad idea. It might when her Gran comes to stay, even if Sean is back.

It’s a toss up between Yours To Keep and The Iron King for my favourite this month. Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions was most definitely my least favourite.

Quotation Report

I will fill this in when I’m back properly.

Everything considered, in other words the things I will be talking about shortly, I think I’ve done well this month. I apologise for the scantness of this post.

June, the beginning of my four months away from study. More free-time and less pressure. June, days of sun. Days outside with friends. June, Wimbledon for two weeks, still not finished.

I didn’t read much in June.

I got through a lot of Marie Antoinette, in fact I revelled in it for a good week or so and made it the only book I was reading, but then the politics overtook the domestic and it became so bogged down in facts and people changing alliances that I started to become lost. I’ve been reading it on and off since April and unfortunately it’s going to take me at least another week. Only a few days ago, the evening of the day I posted about my reading slump, I finally found a book that got me back in the game, even if the pace has since slowed, and The Bohemian Girl by Kenneth Cameron is nearing my “have read” pile.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Freya North: Chances – Two lonely hearts find each other, both bringing to the table painful backgrounds. Less painful than their backgrounds but still not a particularly good read.

J B: Zor – A man who is contented with his life meets a philosopher who illustrates that contented isn’t good enough. On the fence between fiction and non-fiction, would make a good introduction to philosophy.

And that’s it.

Quotation Report

None this time.

Although my July is going to have disruptions also, I’ve a few “big” books on my list for it and hope to have a good round-up come August.

Considering this was my last month of study for this educational year, and thus it was hard work, I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve read.

The Books

Non-Fiction

The Hippie: Snowflake Obsidian – An ex-self-harmer tells her tale of multiple issues and depression. Good for the target audience.

Fiction

Charlaine Harris: Dead Until Dark – Sookie meets a vampire called Bill at a time when vampires are an accepted minority group. Humorous but definitely adult.

Grainne Toher: Comings & Goings – A group of friends living through life. Required more detail.

Jan Van Mersbergen: Tomorrow Pamplona – A boxer on the run from his life hitchhikes with a man on his way to the Pamplona Bull Run. Each are looking for something to get away from, but for Danny the boxer it’s more than most. You have to be on the ball constantly with this one. The writing is powerful.

Jennifer Greene: No More Mr. Nice Guy – Carroll wants a more romantic love life and Alan realises that might be the only way to keep her so he switches routine for spontaneity. Rather ordinary.

Sarah Haynes: Things He Never Knew – Steph’s secret of the father of her twins not being her husband may be hidden now, but that won’t necessarily stay the same. Very good story and extremely difficult to put down.

My favourite this month was Things He Never Knew, amidst a pool of average ones it stuck out for it’s good writing, continuously interesting storyline and cleverly thought out discussion. Tomorrow Pamplona, my last read of the month, also won me over. I am done with pure romance for now, although No More Mr. Nice Guy was okay, the lack of any other genres in a lot of romances has me bored, so in future I’m likely to stick with historical romances. Eloisa James has been on my list for a while.

Quotation Report

In Snowflake Obsidian, Willow makes the assumption that whoever said blondes had more fun was likely referring to Marilyn Monroe and a steam vent. And in Dead Until Dark Sookie has trouble telling whether a vampire is unconscious or dead – it’s difficult to tell the difference.

So yes, not a bad month, all things considered. I’m not expecting June to be brilliant as I hope to have a job within the next few weeks, but I’ve already made a start on Antonia Fraser’s biography, Marie Antoinette, which is fantastic, and I’ve still a couple more review books to go.

How was May for you?

Did I say that April was to be a busy month? In those 30 days I read a total of 3 books. One of those books was read in one day on the first of April specifically with the thought that the month was going to be busy and I wouldn’t get much reading done. I attended the London Book Fair and spent time beforehand preparing. I went to meet a person whose unknown family history I had accidentally discovered. I flew in a tiny plane. My studies were hectic, there were parties, there were holidays. To sum up it was a very good month, just not for literature.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Danielle Trussoni: Angelology – A group of scholars try to stifle the efforts of Nephilim. An interesting idea but poorly executed.

Lauren Oliver: Delirium – Lena falls in love in a world where love is considered a disease. Oliver surpasses her previous brilliance.

Shelley Munro: The Spurned Viscountess – A woman unable to find a husband or respect in her village takes a chance on a man without memories and finds herself in constant peril. Overlook the weak start, the story is good.

My favourite book this month would have to be Delirium, although I found it rather similar to Ally Condie’s Matched it was like a continuation on a theme. Oliver’s strength lies in the way that she looks at issues from different moral standpoints and the way that she looks at things deeply, and this was very much in evidence here.

Quotation Report

None this time, I’m afraid.

I’m both excited and apprehensive about May. My studies are nearing their end for the summer and while I like the idea of not constantly thinking about whether free time could be spent reading text books, I know that in actual fact I’m likely to feel at a loss without the routine in my life. It’s really not long at all since I decided to become an undergraduate but it’s quickly become a part of my overall self and while it’s difficult I still bask in it.

There is also that other issue. When my studies end I will need a summer job.

This month I strove to read more novels rather than novellas and completed my self-inflicted (although happily inflicted) challenge of reading another long book, which I hadn’t done since Villette.

All books are works of fiction.

The Books

Elizabeth Chadwick: Lords Of The White Castle – An outlaw marries a bold woman and causes King John endless issues. Very funny in places and, although it goes on maybe too long, is a joy to read.

Ella Drake: Jaq’s Harp – A secret agent climbs a beanstalk to get an antidote for her sick sister and meets her ex-fiancée in the proceedings. The bad guys may have it coming to them. A poorly-placed sex scene dampers the plot for a time, but overall the story is very good.

Elle Newmark: The Sandalwood Tree – An American in 1940’s India finds some old letters that give her purpose and reason while her marriage falls apart around her. Awesome stuff.

Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey – Gothic-novel-obsessed Catherine finds her hero easily and although her friends may cause a few problems, things go rather swimmingly, just as Austen says they will. In my opinion the Austen to rival Pride And Prejudice.

Katharine A Russell: Deed So – A girl living in 1960’s America lives through the changing opinions of whites to “Negros” while experiencing the situations that arise when communication breaks down in families. Full of grammatical errors but a good effort and interesting read by a self-published author.

Véronique Olmi: Beside The Sea – A mother takes her sons to the seaside for a holiday that may end badly. Brilliant, and provides a lot to think about.

I was delighted by Northanger Abbey, even if the first part was a lot stronger than the second, and the difference in writing style was fantastic to read. The Sandalwood Tree surprised me as I hadn’t expected it to be so compelling. Lords Of The White Castle was well overdue and showed me that yes, I really should read more Chadwick.

Quotation Report

In Deed So, Sarah Jane wants to read a bodice ripper, whatever that is, and in Lords Of The White Castle, Fulke feels his family is eccentric for his parents wanting privacy in the bedroom. Well, it is the late 1100’s after all. Also in Lords Of The White Castle, Oonagh’s dog is used to it’s mistress’s meetings turning into sexual conquests. When one looms it leaves the room with a bored sigh. In Northanger Abbey, while Austen critises the critics, Isabella spends time saying she’s not interested in two men before practically running down the street on their trail. And as we all know, a person is going to be very happy on meeting someone they haven’t bothered to see for years than they possibly would be had they made a point of staying friends – if you don’t believe it, ask Mrs Allen and Mrs Thorpe. Don’t expect a satisfactory answer though, these women’s conversations are never the result of two people talking on the same subject.

So not a bad month at all. I don’t know what April will bring, already I’m speeding through Lauren Oliver’s Delirium but this month is going to be a particularly busy one. I’m reading as much as I can while I have the time.