Looking back on the books I read in July, I’d say it was a fairly lightweight month. Hidden Wives, a novel about the treatment of girls in polygamist marriages, was the only serious book I read. I read a classic children’s story, Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott, a general fiction, Heart On a String, a romance, Savor the Moment, a cookbook, United Cakes of America, and a graphic novel, Ethel and Ernest.
Everything else I read this month was a cozy mystery: Mrs. Jeffries and the Feast of St. Stephen, Hide In Plain Sight, Partners In Crime, and Murder Is Binding. I guess I was either feeling cozy this month or murderous.
My favorite character of the month was Mrs. Jeffries. Standing in for her is the author, Emily Brightwell. My sister introduced me to her and I enjoyed my time with the super organized leader of that detective household.
The Month Ahead: During August I have a couple of books I’m looking forward to telling you about. One is the latest historical fiction from Ivan Doig. I am so thoroughly enjoying the story that I don’t want it to end.
My daughter, Candice, and I are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It is such a moving story. It takes me back to the 1960s.
I also have a couple of cozy mysteries on my bookshelf and two good stories on my Kindle.
I’m also planning to take a week’s vacation from blogging in the middle of the month. I’m heading back to Southern California to help move my mom into a senior apartment complex. (We aren’t supposed to say assisted living anymore. It’s the “A” word.) That’s the time when I will travel light with my new Kindle.
What about you and your reading? Is your summer reading going the way you wanted it to? What will you read next?
This was first posted on my blog, Joyfully Retired
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If your going to be financially secure enough to venture out and see whats available in the B & B field...take your time and check it out. If you have to jump into a job..just to have one..you will not be happy. Hope you get the time to find wh
This is the first time I have responded to anything on VN! I am finally getting the courage to join in, and talking about books is one of my favorite things to do. I just spent 10 days in Panama and while I was there, I read several books that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wonder if anyone else has read these:
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick -fantastic thriller set in the early 1900s
The Feasting Season by Nancy Coons – great food and great sex – What could be better!
Hothouse Flower by Margot Berwin – a fun romp through the tropics of the Yucatan Peninsula searching for the “Nine Plants of Desire” !
I am currently reading Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor – memoir from the author of The Secret Life of Bees and her daughter.
I also listen to audiobooks in my car. I have a long commute during the school year and this has become one of my favorite parts of my day!
Hi Pattie,
I’m so glad your courage pushed you to join in the discussion. Some of us book-a-holics can’t help wanting to tell others about what we’ve read. I haven’t read any of the books on your list but two of them are on my Book-Wishlist. I’ve read many good reviews about A Reliable Wife. I’ve read mixed reviews on Traveling With Poegranates. People seem to either really like it or they hate it. The Secret Life of Bees is on my list of all-time personal favorites.
I just finished reading two I can strongly recommend: The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Work Song by Ivan Doig. If The Help is available on audio, I think it would make an excellent book in audio. Prior to my retirement I spent lots of hours commuting and audio books made the time very enjoyable. I know what you mean when you talk about your favorite part of the day.
Thanks for joining in with such a nice response. Now that you know how easy it is to do it, you’ll have to join in often.
Love to read also so I post often when it comes to books. Right now our book club is reading “Saving Cee Cee Honeycut” easy enjoyable read, just loving it. Also read “The Help” and have been telling everyone how wonderful it is. Just read a few books by Sandra Dallas, she is very good, about friendship with lots of mystery thrown in, easy reads for summer fun. I try and pick up authors that other ladies here on VN have enjoyed.
I go to the library often so if I don’t like a book by the first 50 pages or so I bring it back,why waste time on something I’m not enjoying.
I’ve enjoyed reading this summer, the most since I retired. I just finished a book called Bill W., the First 40 Years. Very intersting(autobiography) – the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. It tells the life of Lois, his wife, and himself before becoming a sober, giving member of society. I also listed the other books I’ve read in the section called the top 10 books I’d recommend, that was the first blog in today’s section. Happy Reading!