I completely forgot to do July and I think I was a bit ashamed about how my books came in opposed to being read! I got over that 🤣. Anyway, let’s combine the two months.
PHYSICAL TBR:
Start 2022: 300
1 July: 311
Acquired: 35 (!!!!!!!!!! – How the hell did that happen? It’s ridiculous!)
Read: 15
Balance: 331
DIGITAL TBR:
Start 2022: 177
1 July: 168
Acquired: 11
Read: 5
Balance: 174
Clearly, something went wrong the last couple of months. I think I need some self control! To be fair, I bought a lot of cheap used books. It’s ok. It’s only books. Still. Compared to last year, I have bought a lot more books this year. I can’t really pinpoint why. I am reading more as well. I think that’s part of it. When I am excited about reading, I tend to read more. The problem is, I am running out of space and I really don’t want to add bookshelves, so my priority will have to be reading and getting rid of books.
I will try and restrain myself the rest of the year. I have two pre-orders coming. The problem is…. I am supposed to go to a charity shop with my friend next week…. Restraint, girl, restraint!
JULY & AUGUST READING REVIEW
My reading is back to normal after a few slow months, which is nice. August especially was a really strong reading month. Quality of reading was decent as well and I read a good variety of books.
JULY:
- American Gods (Neil Gaiman) 5* e-book
- The Reader (Bernhard Schlink) 6* paperback
- Wildwood (Roger Deakin) 7* audio/paperback
- To Kill A Kingdom (Alexandra Christo) 4* e-book
- The Summer Queen (Elizabeth Chadwick) 6* paperback
- My Brilliant Friend (Elena Ferrante) 4* paperback
- Better Than Fiction (anthology) 5* paperback
- Big Panda and Tiny Dragon (James Norbury) 6* hardback
- Samarkand (Amin Maalouf) 6* paperback
AUGUST
- Malibu Rising (Taylor Jenkins Reid) 5* e-book
- The Turn of the Key (Ruth Ware) 4* e-book
- Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) 5* audio/paperback
- The Hero of Ages (Brandon Sanderson) 7* paperback
- Don’t Look Now and Other Stories (Daphne du Maurier) 4* paperback
- Our Wives Under The Sea (Julia Armfield) 6* hardback
- The Jasmine Throne (Tasha Suri) 5* paperback
- A Bookshop in Algiers (Kaouther Adimi) 6* paperback
- Skin Deep (anthology) 5* hardback
- Love is a Mix Tape (Rob Sheffield) 6* paperback
- One Summer in Nashville (Mandy Baggot) 4* e-book
- No Time Like The Future (Michael J Fox) 6* audio
BOOKS OF THE MONTH:
JULY: I adored Wildwood. I listened to it, but it’s a great combination of travel writing, part memoir and nature writing. It was right up my street. Hence I ended ordering another (earlier) book by the author.
AUGUST: My favourite read was The Hero of Ages, the last book in the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I enjoyed it start to finish, which is good cause it was a big one!
September Reading Plans:
I am hoping to continue as I was. I am reading Sarum by Edward Rutherford. It’s a big one, so it might bring my final tally down. I am 250 pages in with 3/4 still to go. It’s commitment!
I have a few books I’d like to read this month. There’s a few left on my Summer TBR. We’ll see how it goes.
***
Happy reading!
Lola Et La Vie 
Thirty five in in two months makes me feel a bit better. I’ve only acquired a few print books each month in July and August but the TBR shelf (pictured yesterday) is only a year behind which means I’ve got all these books, a whole bookshelf, in one year! I did turn 50 in a shower of book gifts, but still!
I know! I hang my head in shame! 🤣