Good Morning and Happy August! July passed in a flash, but it was actually a very good reading month for me. Assuming this summer reading frenzy will spill into August, I've gathered an optimistic stack of books for the coming weeks.
From the top:
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann (audio on my iPhone) - I loved the audio version of Let the Great World Spin and am hoping his latest, a Mann Booker nominee, is just as good. I'm also on the library hold list for a print edition.
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver (on my kindle) is for book club. I'm really enjoying this book and think it's Kingsolver's best since Prodigal Summer.
Wild Strawberries by Angela Thirkell - High Rising was SO good and I've been searching, with no success, for the second book in the Barsetshire series for months. This arrived a few days ago from Lisa at TBR 313 (the highlight of an otherwise stressful week) and I can't wait to read it.
Tigers in Red Weather by Lisa Klaussemann seems like a perfect summer read. It's been on my wish list for a couple of years and I couldn't resist an impulse purchase at the wholesale club this week. Besides, it was the only copy!
Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the August pick at the Backlist Book Club. It's been on my shelf for years and this kind of feels like a now or never situation...
The Whole Fromage by Kath Lisson - a review book I really meant to read in July.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - As part of Adam's Austen in August event, Melissa is hosting a Mansfield Park Readalong. It's not my favorite Austen, but I'm thinking it deserves a reread and sure hope I can fit it in this month.
I'm not an especially fast reader and a book a week is all I can realistically expect to finish. Obviously, I won't make it thought the entire stack, but it sure will be fun trying. What books are you looking forward to this month?
Looks like you've got some good books lined up. I'm still trying to decide if I'll join in the Austen fun. Heaven knows I love her but there are so many books around here that really need attention!
ReplyDeleteLisa - If I get to Mansfield Park, I'll probably miss the midpoint check-in on the 16th and do one post at the end.
DeleteGood luck with all of your picks for August :) I hope you enjoy each and every one! I've been meaning to get to TransAtlantic, can't wait to see what you think of it.
ReplyDeleteJennifer - Seems like reviews of TransAtlantic have been mixed so far. I'm not very far yet, but do like it. We'll see...
DeleteTransatlantic is on my list too. I've had an ARC since May, and other things keep getting in the way. I need to get this one finished before I go back to work August 12th!
ReplyDeleteBibliophiliac - I loved the writing, characters, and the way the stories eventually connected in Let the Great World Spin. My hopes for ThansAtlantic are high.
DeleteI've heard conflicting things about Transatlantic, but I absolutely LOVED Let the Great World Spin on audio, so I'll look forward to your thoughts on that one. I wish I were organized enough to know what I'm looking forward to! Ha! I have three books waiting to be read for review, and a few more that I bought on Kindle that I really want to get to. Once the gets kids to school, I am hoping things will get easier.
ReplyDeleteSandy - I really loved the audio of Let the Great World Spin, too... it's going to be a tough act to follow!
DeleteHmmpph. With regard to your first book, I have been resisting the call to get an IPhone, because I keep telling myself that all I need is the phone part. Thanks for ruining my resolve!! :)
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Heh heh... sorry. I'm at the point where I don't know what I'd do without my iPhone. Just love having my audiobooks and kindle books with me all the time. Now if I could just remember the earbuds ;-)
DeleteI just started doing this: composing a stack of books for each month. It's fun looking through your shelves, even if I'm not all that good at keeping to my plans and definitely want to select more than I can actually read in a month's time!
ReplyDeleteAs for the books you have: Please do read Half of a Yellow Sun! I procrastinated reading it for forever and then finally did last January and Adichie is absolutely glorious and so so smart. I really should have taken the time to review it.
Iris - My plan is to start Half a Yellow Sun as soon as I finish Flight Behavior... so many of my blogging friends love it!
DeleteI gave up on trying to plan my reading ahead. I always fail. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteKathy - This is the first time I've actually assembled a pile of books for the month... we'll see how it goes!
DeleteI'm so pleased that the Thirkell arrived at an opportune time :) I really want to read The Whole Fromage, but none of the libraries around here have it. Good luck with your August reading, and I hope that the coming week is less stressful.
ReplyDeleteLisa - Receiving Wild Strawberries in the mail was definitely a high point of my week. Thanks, again!!
DeleteI agree on the Kingsolver book. I think it may be her best to date. If not, then it's a close tie to The Poisonwood Bible.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to hear your thoughts on TransAtlantic. I've never read anything by him, but this book (or the cover art!) keeps calling to me.
Good luck with your stacks. Hope you have a stress free week!
Les - I didn't love The Poisonwood Bible as much as everyone else seemed to, but I did love Prodigal Summer. So far, Flight Behavior is just as good!
DeleteAfter reading your review of The Aviator's Wife, I can certainly see why you would be drawn to TransAtlantic. It's pretty good so far, but I've just started.
Everyone of the books on your stack is new to me, so I'm really looking forward to your reviews. Right now I'm reading Loteria and Dangerous Liaisons. I have a stack of classics to get to after that! Have a great August!
ReplyDeleteCol - I've been seeing Loteria on quite a few blogs lately. Hope you're enjoying it. I have a few more classics on the horizon for fall, too.
DeleteI do love to see what other readers are planning for the month. I had high hopes for Tigers in Red Weather when it first came out, but I didn't like it and ended up not finishing - I hope you can have a better experience.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of ARCs to catch up on and I'm also hoping to read a Persephone during August as I've only read one so far this year. Enjoy your month!
Anbolyn - Oh no, it's not a good sign if you were disappointed with Tigers in Red Weather. It seems like our reading tastes are similar.
DeleteI like your August list and am also planning on reading Half a Yellow Sun for the Backlist Book Club. enjoy it and all of your picks.
ReplyDeleteDiane - Glad to know you will be reading Half a Yellow Sun, too!
DeleteHappy reading to you in August! I've seen great reviews for Flight Behavior. Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I'm nearing the halfway mark in Flight Behavior... really like it so far!
Deleteohhh my, those are great books to read for the this month of August. Just like others, "Half a Yellow Sun" is little bit intriguing from the tittle it self, I want to read this. :)
ReplyDeleteShakespeare adaptations for kids
Happy August.
Light House Plays - I'm really looking forward to Half a Yellow Sun!
DeleteYay, Adichie! Half of a Yellow Sun was the first book of hers I read and I was completely hooked after finishing it. I hope you have the same experience :)
ReplyDeleteSam - I hope so, too. Will be starting Half a Yellow Sun next.
DeleteSo loved Flight Behavior, as I'm sure you will, too.even if one doesn't"love" it, it's a book not soon to be forgotten. It sticks with me like her novel The Poisonwood Bible...characters make choices I don't agree with, but are very powerful for them.
ReplyDeleteBellezza - I'm almost half way through Flight Behavior and think it could very well become a new favorite Kingsolver novel!
DeleteYou have a great lineup for August--I'm a fan of Flight Behavior and Mansfield Park. I always think it's my least favorite Austen until I am reading it and then I find myself laughing out loud, gnashing my teeth over Mrs. Norris and Maria, and wishing Henry Crawford were just a smidge better person so that he and Fanny could end up together.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your books!
JaneGS - Even a "least favorite" Austen novel is still better than most books!
DeleteSome good reading indeed. I *hated* Let the Great World Spin so much I couldn't even finish it. Hope the next one is good.
ReplyDeleteBethF - It already seems like reaction to TransAtlantic is split. We'll see...
DeleteLooks like you've picked some good ones! I enjoyed The Whole Fromage, and Mansfield Park is one of those novels I'll read eventually. I read Northanger Abbey over the weekend, and I have Persuasion on my stacks for my next Austen read.
ReplyDeleteANdi - Your enjoyment of The Whole Fromage definitely figured into my decision to accent it for review! I love Northanger Abbey... think it's Austen at her funniest.
DeleteTransAtlantic is on my TBR shelf too. Yay for Mansfield Park!
ReplyDeleteMelissa - August is shaping up to be a great reading month! Will be curious to see how you like TransAtlantic.
DeleteLovely stack of books that all look to have been well read!!! Enjoy your reading this month!!
ReplyDeleteI loved Flight Behavior. Half of a Yellow Sun is good bu tough!
ReplyDeleteI have my own stack listed at then end of my July recap:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/08/13/2013-july-wrap-up/
Mansfield Park is one Austen that I have yet to read. If I had time I'd join in!
ReplyDelete