For some reason, blogging always seems to flag for me near the end of the month — same thing happened last June. Then again, last June, I was hurtling towards unemployment. This latter end of July, I was plonked into a new job. I have my excuses. But, well, what I hate about not updating this blog is that it almost always means that I’m not reading. Bah. I’ll figure things out soon enough. And I think the reading will pick up once I find my glasses.
So. It was an uneven July — Some books, I feel even now, would reverberate; also, I just know I’m going to reread them again until they fall apart. Others, well, were Meh. I don’t know what irks me more: That a book dare to be Meh, or that a book wouldn’t even give me the satisfaction of tearing it to pieces. Oh well — Here, my July reads:
- The New York Trilogy, by Paul Auster.
- Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives, by David Eagleman.
- How I Became a Famous Novelist, by Steve Hely.
- The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer.
- Asleep in the Sun, by Adolfo Bioy Casares.
- Almost No Memory, by Lydia Davis.
- The Invention of Everything Else, by Samantha Hunt.
- Suite Française, by Irène Némirovsky.
- This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper.
- On Writing, by Eudora Welty.
- The Cry of the Sloth, by Sam Savage.
- Cecilia, by Linda Ferri.
- Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen.
- The Easter Parade, by Richard Yates.
- Bird in Hand, by Christina Baker Kline.
Favorites: [4] [5] [9] [10] and [15] — Yes, reunited with Richard Yates and it’s just so fine, baby.
Elsewhere, Miscellany: [1] Books bought on the first day of unemployment (but I’m employed again, now, hee!) [2] I registered for the BBAW. [3] My review of Asleep in the Sun, by Adolfo Bioy Casares, was for The Philippine Online Chronicles. [4] I reviewed The Secret Lives of People in Love, by Simon Van Booy, also for The Philippine Online Chronicles.
I’m more hopeful for August. Yes, I say that at the beginning of each month. But, well, lots of good books have arrived at S&TS HQ, and most of them can fit in the bag I bring to work (and isn’t that the bag requirement, ladies?) Again, hopeful, hopeful. Time’s the issue, of course. But I can be a devious goat. Bwaha.
Let’s wave at July at it flutters off. Happy August, everyone!
I absolutely loved the Jonathan Safran Foer book, it is the cutest story ever!
Enjoy reading it!
5, 9 and 14 are on my to-read list – actually have Suite Francaise and Water for Elephants already, so, I might read one of them in August.
I loved Gatsby when I read it, so glad you did too.
Happy August.
16 books makes a great reading month to me! I’m glad to hear you found a new job :)
And happy August to YOU!
That’s quite the July stack, right there. A few I loved & at least one (Némirovsky) I’m very much looking forward to.
I say your month of July was pretty glorious — the ‘presence’ of F. Scott Fitzgerald has such power (and Némirovsky and Auster help.) Anyway, happy August.
I know I’m bitching because I’m nitpicking, haha. I want it all fabulous, sadly. :] Happy August to you too, Alex. :]
@ Caroline, anothercookiecrumbles, Iris, Emily:
Thank you so much. :] Really loved some of the books but the rest, well, too Meh for my taste. But, yes, I’m very very glad that I read some of these books. When they were good, they really blew me away. Foer! Fitzgerald! Nemirovsky! Wee!
Just came across your blog quite randomly and loved it! You’ve got a fabulous way with words, and you make me want to break free from my reader’s block – especially with [5]! Will be lurking =)
Thank you so much, Lena. :]