August’s reading was dominated by the Booker long list. I have now finished reading them all and will post my final review (Summertime) tommorrow. I will write a summary of the Booker long list, with my predictions for the short list, soon.

I read a total of 15 books in August and one audio book. The overall quality of the books I read was outstanding. I don’t think I have read so many great books in one month before.

Favourites of the month

 

Books reviewed during August

Heliopolis – James Scudamore 

The Invisible Mountain – Carolina De Robertis 

How to Paint a Dead Man – Sarah Hall 

The Glass Room – Simon Mawer 

The Double – José Saramago 

Far North – Marcel Theroux 

One Morning Like a Bird – Andrew Miller 

The Victorian Chaise-Longue – Marghanita Laski 

Brooklyn – Colm Tóibín 

Not Untrue and Not Unkind – Ed O’Loughlin 

The Quickening Maze – Adam Foulds 

Nocturnes – Kazuo Ishiguro 

Cloudstreet – Tim Winton 

Love and Summer – William Trevor 

The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and Jam – Lauren Liebenberg 

Me Cheeta – James Lever  (DNF)

Audio Book

Plans for September

I am really looking forward to September as I have some amazing books waiting in the TBR pile. I can’t decide which I am looking forward to more Catching Fire (Hunger Games Trilogy) or Her Fearful Symmetry.

Which one do you think will be the best?

I am going to try to resist buying more new books in September and make an effort to read the ones I already have. Do you think I’ll be successful?! LOL!

I hope that you had a great August and have exciting plans for September.

The amount of time I spend reading seems to be increasing – I managed to read and review 15 books and 1 audio book in July. I have also completed another 5 books and have their reviews waiting to be published in the next few days. I put this down to having a few spare weekends in July to read, so getting through a few extra books during this time.

I like having a few reviews/other posts under my belt, as it means I don’t have to worry about ensuring I have time to write a blog post each day. This isn’t something I’ve really done in the past, but planning posts several days in advance is something I recommend.

Do you write write your posts in advance? How many days ahead are you?

Favourites of the month

 

Books reviewed during July

The Other Hand – Chris Cleave  

Flu – Gina Kolata

Blackmoor – Edward Hogan  

Kill-Grief – Caroline Rance 

Lanterns on Their Horns – Radhika Jha

Fathers and Sons – Richard Madeley

The House at Riverton – Kate Morton 

Six Suspects – Vikas Swarup

Sugar Cage – Connie May Fowler

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx – Sally Koslow 

Tragedy At Law – Cyril Hare 

The Lost Book of Salem – Katherine Howe 

Sea of Poppies – Amitav Ghosh 

Reading in the Dark – Seamus Deane 

Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel (DNF)

Audio Book 

Rhett Butler’s People – Donald McCaig  

I also wrote this review for a favourite from my pre-blogging days:

The Clan of the Cave Bear – Jean Auel

---

Plans for August

I’m going to focus on the Booker long list in August, maybe adding a few Japanese books for variation.

I’ll try to add a few other books as well, just so you don’t get sick of reading about Booker books!

Did you find any great books in July?

Are you planning to read any thing from the Booker long list in August?

April has been an amazing reading month for me. I don’t think I’ve ever read so many great books in one month before!

Three  books!!!

 

 

In total I managed to read 9 books, and completed one audio book. This is slightly down on previous months, but you’ll have to let me off as one of the books was the 1000+ page Gone with the Wind.

Offshore – Penelope Fitzgerald  

The Giver – Lois Lowry  

Gone with the Wind – Margaret Mitchell  

Little Face – Sophie Hannah  

The Secret River – Kate Grenville  

The Road Home – Rose Tremain  

Olive Kitteridge – Elizabeth Strout  

Scottsboro – Ellen Feldman  

The Thing Around Your Neck– Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  

 

 Audio Book

Delicate Edible Birds – Lauren Groff  

 

---

Plans for May

May is going to be a very Orange month for me, as I continue to read all the books shortlisted for the Orange Prize this year.

I’m also joining Simon in reading Midnight’s Children and Sea of Poppies.

Remember my Half of a Yellow Sun Read-along starts tomorrow.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to squeeze much more into May, but I’ll try!

Are you planning to read any of the same books as me?

Did you enjoy all the books you read in April?

Thank you for reading my blog – I look forward to sharing more book related thoughts with you in the coming months!

 

I can’t believe March is over already – it has flown by so quickly! I read a total of 12 books, plus my first graphic novel, and one audio book.  I also completed my first challenge  The Victorian Challenge.

My March Reads

The Moving Toyshop – Edmund Crispin
The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite – Beatrice Colin
Netherland – Joseph O’Neill

 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne 
 
The Winner Stands Alone – Paulo Coelho
Three Men in a Boat – Jerome K. Jerome
The Seance – John Harwood
Foundation – Isaac Asimov
A Month in the Country – J. L. Carr

Blindness – Jose Saromago

Dirty Little Angels – Chris Tusa
The Comfort of Strangers – Ian McEwan

My first graphic novel: Fun Home – Alison Bechdel
One audio book: Getting Rid of Matthew – Jane Fallon

It was a very mixed bag for me. There were a few amazing books in there, but also some terrible ones! I look forward to reading some more great books in April.