Monthly Recap – June and July

I am thinking I’d better post about June and July’s reading before I have to post about August. Somehow I ended up with a very long list during these two months.  I have the oddest feeling I have forgotten a book for the end of July but for the life of me I can’t figure it out what it was. My library system doesn’t keep track of what you have checked out after your books are returned so there is no help there. I just have to hope I am thinking of some of my unfinished books (I have three going right now at home and reading one at my mom’s). I read a lot of good stuff in these last two months that it will be hard to pick “Best Read”. I hopefully will have one more review upcoming from June reads and several from July.

June 2011

• Towards Zero – Agatha Christie (re-read)
• The Bird Sisters – Rebecca Ramussen
• The Last Town on Earth – Thomas Mullen
• True Deceiver – Tove Jensson
• The Last Brother – Nathacha Appanah
• If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This: Short Stories –  Robin Black
• Daughters of the Revolution – Carolyn Cooke
• House of Silence – Linda Gillard
• The Great Lenore – J.M. Tohline
• The Shuttle – Frances Hodgson Burnett

July 2011

• Little Boy Lost – Margharita Laski
• When God Was A Rabbit – Sarah Winman
• Hercule Piorot Loses a Client – Agatha Christie (re-read)
• A Girl in Winter – Philip Larkin
• The Gendarme – Mark Mustian
• The London Train – Tessa Hadley
• Three Act Tragedy – Agatha Christie (re-read)
• The Old Romantic – Louise Dean
• Before I go to Sleep – S.J. Watson
• Christmas at the Mysterious bookshop – edited by Otto Penzler
• To Be Sung Underwater – Tom McNeal
• The Game of Secrets – Dawn Tripp
• Lyrics Alley – Leila Aboulela (Did Not Finish)

The best book honors goes to two books: The Old Romantic and The Game of Secrets (both of which I hope to review next week). Both had excellent writing and good plots. I liked The Old Romantic because of the personal connection I had with the plot (I am somewhat estranged from my own father) and while the outcome of the book will definitely not be my own outcome, I  really could appreciate it for what is was by itself.  The Game of Secrets was interesting, compelling and written in such a way that both my mother and I want to read her other works.

Next Up: Birdsisters was very good and well written. I liked the tie between the two sisters and what they meant to each other. The London Train was not my favorite book but I appreciated the writing and what the author was trying to say. I think both these books are well worth reading.

Best Book Group Book: There are two books on the list here as well. Both these books are fun to read, well written and have lots to talk about. The Great Lenore does have that Great Gatsby feel in setting and tone but stands on its own two feel. The choices character’s make will lend itself to great discussion. When God Was A Rabbit is somewhat heftier – there are a lot more lines of questioning with this book from Family, to being different, to friendship, etc.

Best Travel Book: I am going with House of Silence with its captivating plot of secrets and family, winter at an old country house, to finding oneself. I found it captivating and engrossing with an adequate length for a ride on a plane.

A Note on the Did Not Finish Book: Lyric’s Alley has gotten very good reviews. Set in the Sudan at the change-over between British and self-rule, it documents what happens to a well-connected family. I was enjoying it but ran out of time and had to return it to the library.

 

Advertisement