I’m going to go ahead and assume I won’t finish The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet or How Dolly Parton Saved My Life today, so my wrap-up for the month should be accurate now.
July was a pretty busy month, given that we had two weeks’ holiday in the middle, but I still managed to read plenty. I completed 19 books and I enjoyed most of them. As you can see below, I have probably overcome my aversion to historical fiction. It’s just about choosing unfamiliar places and time periods these days, I think. I also have a depressing number of reviews to work on!
Historical Fiction
- The Burning Land, Bernard Cornwell
- The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Amy Tan (can also be considered women’s fiction in part)
- Empress Orchid, Anchee Min
- Brooklyn, Coim Toibin
- Amandine, Marlena de Blasi
- The Wives of Henry Oades, Johanna Moran
Romance
- A Kiss at Midnight, Eloisa James (historical)
- Lead Me On, Victoria Dahl (contemporary)
Fantasy/Horror
- Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
- The Passage, Justin Cronin
- The Magicians and Mrs Quent, Galen Beckett
Non-fiction/memoir
- The Boy Who Loved Books, John Sutherland
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jean-Dominique Bauby
- Down Under, Bill Bryson
YA
- The Ruby in the Smoke, Philip Pullman (mystery)
- Envy, Anna Godbersen (historical fiction)
Women’s Fiction
- The One that I Want, Allison Winn Scotch
- Writing Jane Austen, Elizabeth Aston
- How to be an American Housewife, Margaret Dilloway
At least this month, I am able to choose a favorite, and that’s Brooklyn. I just adored that book and looking at it makes me want to read it all over again. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I don’t have too much planned for next month, but I know I’ll be reading and giving away copies of The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The White Queen last year so I’ve found myself looking forward to this one, and I hope I’ll be as excited to share it with you after I’ve read it.
How was your month in reading?
Some of these books were sent to me for free for review.
Thanks for sharing your July reading with us. My month has been mixed – I was studying up until the end of last week so didn’t read much for pleasure. I’m free for the next month or two and am looking forward to making up for lost time!
L Clare´s last post …Booking Through Thursday
You had a great reading month. I see some good books there. I had a slow July. Yet I like what I read!
Here is my post: TSS: What Books I Read in July
19 books in one month is fantastic!!
You had a great month. I can’t wait to read your review of THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET. I keep hearing such great things about it and David Mitchell.
Jessica´s last post …July 2010 Summation
What a fantastic month of reading! Brooklyn has been on my radar for far too long. If it made it to the top of your monthly list, it must be worth it. I’ll have to make time for it soon!
nomadreader (Carrie)´s last post …Sunday Salon- The Timing of Book Reviews
I’m so glad you liked “Brooklyn!” I bought it a few months ago because I thought it looked interesting, then promptly read like 2 less-than-stellar reviews. If you liked it, though, I might very well like it too.
Jen – Devourer of Books´s last post …The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory – Book Review