After a very slow start to my reading month, as I was far too busy with other things but reading, the second half of the month was a real come-back.
I am really happy with the books I have read. I knocked a few books off my 2020 TBR as well as my #20booksofsummer TBR. I found a new favourite, which is always the best surprise.
I actually completed 16 books in July, which by far the most books I have read in a month this year. It did include some poetry and a graphic novel, but overall I am so pleased with the books I have read.
7 of those were physical books, 6 were e-books and 3 were audio books (of which I own physical copies of two of those as well) So that’s 10 actual books that I can move to my read shelf. That is pretty good going!
THE BOOKS
- The Flatshare (Beth O’Leary) ★★★★★★☆
- A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson) ★★★★★☆☆ (audio)
- Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) ★★★★☆☆☆
- Mo’ Meta Blues (Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson) ★★★★★☆☆
- Uncommon People (David Hepworth) ★★★★★★☆ (audio)
- Lines by Leon (Leon Stevens) ★★★★★★☆
- Our Dark Duet (V E Schwab) ★★★★★★☆
- The One (John Marrs) ★★★★★☆☆
- Queenie (Candice Carty-Williams) ★★★★★★☆
- Submitting to the Rancher (B J Wane) ★★☆☆☆☆☆
- The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Holly Ringland) ★★★★★★★
- Hyperbole and a Half (Allie Brosh) ★★★★★★☆
- About A Boy (Nick Hornby) ★★★★★☆☆
- The Dinner (Herman Koch) ★★★★☆☆☆ (read in Dutch)
- It Only Happens in the Movies (Holly Bourne) ★★★★★★☆
- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou) ★★★★★★☆ (audio)
BOOK OF THE MONTH
I found another new favourite book, which The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland. I loved that one so so much! I loved the characters, the setting, it was just perfect for me.
Honourable mention goes to Queenie, which could have easily clinched it. Also, I want to mention It Only Happen In The Movies by Holly Bourne, which is one of the best YA romcom type of books that I have read. I also absolutely loved the audio books for both Uncommon People and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Both were amazing (and narrated by their authors) in very different ways. Lines by Leon was a poetry collection that managed to hit the right note and I recognised far too much of myself in the stupendously funny graphic novel Hyperbole and a Half.
AUGUST READING PLANS
I want to concentrate on two things: books left on my #20booksofsummer TBR and books that I have bought this year. I might read them alternately. We’ll see. I am also considering participating in the BookHiBearNation readathon hosted by Simon from the Savidge Reads channel on BookTube. I love Simon’s channel and the prompts are pretty fun! It starts tomorrow – EEK! If I do participate, I will be looking at books from the aforementioned lists!
