Books #30

[wishiniwasskinny]

My July reads:

- Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan - 4**** A perceptive and searing account of the class, race and political systems in the U.K. Bleak in many ways but I found the ending uplifting.

- In Ascension by Martin MacInnes - 3.5 ***
Not really sure what I thought to expect from this. It wasn’t anything like what I would usually read but I did quite enjoy it.

- A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers - 3.5*** An entertaining read by a psychopathic cannibalistic woman.

currently reading The Bee Sting and about 1/4 of the way through. Enjoying it so far.

 

[Katykatykaty]

Any recommendations for a tear-jerking book? No need to be actual good but it needs to leave me in tears (thanks in advance )

The most I ever cried at a book was Marley & Me while sat on a beach in Cyprus. I’m not even a dog person but that book broke me!

 

[SaintLeo]

Another month where I’m glad for the “pages read” stats on StoryGraph! I’m still working my way through Les Miserables (3/5 done!) so books read looks low but pages read is about average.

Around Les Mis I finished -
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent - enjoyed most of it but was a bit let down by the end

In The Unlikely Event by Judy Blume - an adult novel from Judy Blume that I bought mainly for nostalgia reasons! Not bad, based on true historical events in New Jersey in the 1950s. Lots of overlapping characters that made it a bit busy in places.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - loved it!! One of my faves of this year so far, really invested in the character and the lovely family dynamics.

I’m also nearly done with The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer. Hoping to finish it tonight to make it 4 in July!

 

[WeepingCassandra]

I'm still battling my way through As Good As Dead (the third in the Holly Jackson series) on Spotify.

duck meeeee. I've listened to like 7 hours already, it's still got 7 HOURS LEFT!

Not being funny, she's just killed Jason Bell, what the duck else is there to do in this book? Also how is someone who's so intelligent she's solved a murder, a kidnapping and is on track to go to Cambridge so bleeping stupid she thinks she wouldn't be able to get away with a self defence case for murdering the man who was about to kill and decapitate her?!

 

[Ashlgr]

July reads. I reread the first two Girls books in anticipation for Think Again! I'll read the next two this coming month
---
I'm 1/3 of the way through Toxic by Sarah Ditum, all about the treatment of 9 celebrity women by the tabloid media and society as a whole in the period of 1998-2013 (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Chyna, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston). It's so good, so interesting! I was born in the early 90s so very much part of the pop culture heydey of the noughties and I'm finding it all so sad and sobering. Tale as old as time when it comes to the treatment and judgement of women!

 

[nbt]

July wrap up (I included Witness 8 with June reads but it overlaps and I can’t get rid of it so not that one!)

I think this is the closet to a slump I’ve been for a while. Father’s Day was actually very good though which did save my last three reads really. Once I’d got Richard Madeley’s voice out of my head, it was better I’m keen to try more of his out in future, I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[Katykatykaty]

July wrap up (I included Witness 8 with June reads but it overlaps and I can’t get rid of it so not that one!)

View attachment 3084851

I think this is the closet to a slump I’ve been for a while. Father’s Day was actually very good though which did save my last three reads really. Once I’d got Richard Madeley’s voice out of my head, it was better I’m keen to try more of his out in future, I was pleasantly surprised.

Why such a low score for Sister? I’ve not read it but absolutely loved her book Three Hours.

 

[nbt]

Why such a low score for Sister? I’ve not read it but absolutely loved her book Three Hours.

I did too so I was disappointed by this one. I didn’t enjoy the style of writing and I felt it made things confusing. It also felt like there was quite a big chunk of the book where not much happened

 

[emmer_moans]

My July reads:-

Fourth Wing
Excuse me but can I please have a gruff sarcastic dragon as my pal who can talk to me telepathically?!

Death Comes to Marlow
I just enjoy the way Thorogood writes and I see a bit of myself in Judith's character

Clickbait
I enjoyed this

Everyone Here is Lying
Probably could be 5 but the age of the missing girl and her behaviour didn't quite work, the girl could have been older.


Broken Light
lots of repetition, could have been shorter, and I didn't care in the end.

Last Seen Wearing A Morse book
Okay, fine if you like Morse, was an audiobook listen whilst multitasking

Death of a Ghost
Again a light hearted audiobook to keep me occupied

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

July reads. I reread the first two Girls books in anticipation for Think Again! I'll read the next two this coming month
---
I'm 1/3 of the way through Toxic by Sarah Ditum, all about the treatment of 9 celebrity women by the tabloid media and society as a whole in the period of 1998-2013 (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Chyna, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston). It's so good, so interesting! I was born in the early 90s so very much part of the pop culture heydey of the noughties and I'm finding it all so sad and sobering. Tale as old as time when it comes to the treatment and judgement of women!

Have just used an audible credit for Toxic. Thanks

 

[Katykatykaty]

I did too so I was disappointed by this one. I didn’t enjoy the style of writing and I felt it made things confusing. It also felt like there was quite a big chunk of the book where not much happened

Ah that’s a shame. Off to remove it from my TBR in that case!

 

[Marylou]

My July round up. Happy to have read a book that's been on my Kindle for a number of years, slowly ploughing through them which is my goal.

 

[AllieBee]

Oh its the 1st of the month tomorrow. We all know what that means don't we!

 

[twilightgarden]

Oh its the 1st of the month tomorrow. We all know what that means don't we!

IYKYK

 

[nbt]

Ah that’s a shame. Off to remove it from my TBR in that case!

Oh nooo, you might really like it! I think it’s a book where you’d soon get a feel for whether it’s for you or not, so give it a go and if you don’t get into it you can always DNF.

 

[ToxicPony]

July summary (a TL: DR if you will)

Books read: 19

Book of the month: didn't give anything 5 stars, continuing on my fairly poor year. Favourite 4 star was probably 'A Marvellous Light'. This is the second lgbt magical mystery I've read this year and both have been pretty great, I think I've found a new favourite genre.

Letdown of the month: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I normally love anything David Mitchell but this was extremely dull.

Just OK: Demon Copperhead. Not sure I completely get the unanimous glowing reviews of this one.

Currently obsessed with: murder mysteries/thriller mysteries/detective fiction.

Nice surprise: How to Speak Whale. A really fun mix of whale biology, environment, technology and a little philosophy. Very unique angle for a non-fiction.

Average score for the month: 3.36

 

[HoGi]

I'm still battling my way through As Good As Dead (the third in the Holly Jackson series) on Spotify.

duck meeeee. I've listened to like 7 hours already, it's still got 7 HOURS LEFT!

Not being funny, she's just killed Jason Bell, what the duck else is there to do in this book? Also how is someone who's so intelligent she's solved a murder, a kidnapping and is on track to go to Cambridge so bleeping stupid she thinks she wouldn't be able to get away with a self defence case for murdering the man who was about to kill and decapitate her?!

I hated that third book so much.

Felt so unrealistic and like you say, so far away from how the character would logically act.

 

[ToolaRoola]

With 75 mins left of the month, I just purchased my first July 99p deal!

The first of the month, I'm possessed and want to buy everything. I become much more rational by the end of the month

 

[lokp0009]

My July books! I’m about a third through The Women and loving it but won’t get finished today!

My Dark Vanessa -

Keep It In The Family -

Fetching Raymond - .5

Book Lovers -

Prima Facie (Audio) -

The Serpent and the Wings of the Night -

Talking with Serial Killers -

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi -

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King -

Local Woman Missing -

Pressure Chamber -

Clickbait -

Funny Story -

Rising Tide -

Okay I did manage to finish The Women and it is a wonderful book!

 

[ToolaRoola]

My July wrap-up.

Favourite - The Women
Worst - It starts with us

I enjoyed all the others. Clickbait on audio was good.