July was a good reading month. I didn’t read as many books as last month but they were all enjoyable books that I would definitely recommend.Want to see what I finished reading this month? Take a look:
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
The Sonnet Lover by Carol Goodman (my review)
Murder in Chinatown by Victoria Thompson (my review)
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (my review)
Playing with the Moon by Eliza Graham (my review)
The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
I wanted to write something about The Virgin of Small Plains and Hotel Du Lac but I just didn’t get around to it. Sad especially as Hotel Du Lac was fantastic. And, I think it’s actually my biggest reading accomplishment so far this year as I finally read an Anita Brookner book. For some reason I’ve collected a couple of her books and have been meaning to read them for years but well you know how that goes.
With regards to my challenge reads, well, I’m so behind it’s not even funny. I still have books in progress for the Southern Reading Challenge, the Mystery Reading challenge and Don Quixote. However, I have not even started the Armchair Traveler challenge. That is not good. Oh well, let’s see what August brings.
I’m excited to see how you feel about Gods in Alabama. I read it soon after it came out, but I don’t want to impose my opinion until after you read it!
You are doing better than 95% of the country.
So, congratulations on what you have read.
If you were a lady of leisure or an heiress, then you could read more. But, since you have to work so much, you doing great!
Yay for Anita Brookner! I’m glad you liked that book.
Wonderful list of books. I have many authors that I feel I must read and even own their books, but somehow it takes me years to get around to it. I read Hotel du Lac some years ago and enjoyed it very much, thought I haven’t read anything else by Brookner.
I’m kinda behind on my challenges too. Supposed to finish at least 1 non-fic book for the Non-Fic Five Challenge, but having problem with that. And I’m cheating a little on the Southern Challenge.
Oh well.
My reading challenge is to read all the books in my TBR pile…easier said than done! I took my daughter to the library three days ago and came away with yet another book to read, Sujata Massey’s GIRL IN A BOX, which is quite good and since it’s a library book I have to read it quickly and get it back. Which means my pile is neglected ):
Keep up the good work and like Isabel said…you are ahead of most people in the country (if not the world…)
I need to check out your reviews…
I recently mooched and received Hotel du Lac, so I’m going to read it super quick and we can talk about it. It’s one of those books I’ve known about forever, but had to be nudged to read. I noticed it on a bunch of other bloggers’ lists recently–you probably inspired them, too!
Jordan – You are blogging again! Good seein’ you. I still haven’t gotten to the Jackson book but I promise to talk about it when I do.
Isabel – In my fantasy life I am a lady of leisure 🙂
Dorothy W. – I loved it. I think I’m even going to nominate it at one of my book clubs.
Tara – That must happen to all of us right. I know I have lots of favorite authors but somehow I’m still behind on reading their entire work. There are always just so many new books to discover.
Dark Orpheus – I won’t tell that you are cheating 🙂 Hey, anything to get us through the challenges right.
Karen Olson – Oh I know what you mean – my TBR piles will require years to get through I think. I loved the Sujata Massey books in the beginning. It was one of my favorite series but I lost a bit of interest when they weren’t set in Japan and when she wasn’t dealing so much in Antiques. Hope you can get back to your stacks 🙂
Christine – hee,hee. I can’t wait for vacation. All those hours on planes & trains will be perfect for even more reading!
Gentle Reader – Ooh I can’t wait to until you read that. You’ll definitely have to let me know what you think. One thing I wasn’t expecting was at the end I really felt a lot of suspense (not in the murder mystery kind of way) but I really had no idea what the main character would do so it was very well done.
At least you are reading some good books. More than half of my library books are going back un-read. I just can’t get into some of them…..It’s gotta grab within the first 75-100 pages or I am done.
I would love to hear what you thought of Hotel du Lac. I have also collected a few Anita Brookner novels over the years but haven’t read her yet though you may have just tempted me to move her up on my reading list. I love your eclectic taste in books…I always seem to find interesting new reads on your blog!
Nancy – Don’t you hate it when you have to return unread books to the library. Happens to me all the time 🙂
Jennyellen – I’ll try to write up something. I just get so lazy sometimes 🙂 But really, it’s such a good book. I have so many pages earmarked.