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June Wrap-Up and a Look to July

June Wrap-Up and a Look to July post image

In all of the excitement of getting ready for Book Expo America last month, I totally missed doing a wrap-up for May and book list for June. But oh well, that time has passed, and we’re already on the way for July (seriously, July?).

I had another really good reading month in June. My goal most of the year has been between eight and 10 books, each month, and I managed to accomplish that this month thanks to finishing two audiobooks — Catherine the Great and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. Here’s the full list:

  1. du Maurier, Daphne: Rebecca
  2. Massie, Robert K.: Catherine the Great (audiobook)
  3. French, Paul: Murder in Peking
  4. Stone, Alex: Fooling Houdini
  5. Iversen, Kristen: Full Body Burden
  6. Jones, Tayari: Silver Sparrow
  7. Booy, Simon Van: Everything Beautiful Began After
  8. Lawson, Jenny: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (audiobook)
  9. Towles, Amor: Rules of Civility
  10. Sharpe, Katherine: Coming of Age on Zoloft

As you can see, I’m still working on finishing reviews for… almost all of them. That’s one of my goals for today, since boyfriend is working a double shift at work and it’s going to be too hot this afternoon to really enjoy being outdoors. We’ll see how that goes.

For those counting (mainly, me), reading 10 books in June puts me at 63 books for the year — well past where I need to be at to meet my goal to finish 100 books this year. And, happily, I’m still doing a pretty good job of balancing between my own books (22 books = 35 percent), review copies (25 books = 40 percent), and library books (16 books = 25 percent).

But what I suppose everyone really cares about is what books I have on my stacks for July. Next weekend, boyfriend and I are traveling to my parents’ cabin in Wisconsin to celebrate the 4th of July. As a birthday present to me, boyfriend has agreed to do all of the driving for the trip, so I expect to get a lot of reading done. I’m still picking out my reads for by the lake (always a fun challenge), but I have some idea of the books that will be on my plate when I get back:

  • The Mansion of Happiness by Jill Lepore — This is my current read, a history of ideas about life and death. The author, Jill Lepore, is a staff writer at The New Yorker, which is fairly obvious in just the few chapters I’ve read so far. They read very much like New Yorker essays, which I’m really digging.
  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald — This is the first selection for Book Riot’s first Riot Read, so I’d like to read it and participate in the discussion. I also want to do a list of nonfiction inspired by the book, but of course I have to read the book first!
  • How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran — When I got pitched this book, the publicist described it as a book people who were fans of Mindy Kaling, Jenny Lawson, Tina Fey and Peggy Orenstein would enjoy. That sounds exactly up my alley. I’m excited for this one.
  • Eat the City by Robin Shulman — I think the subtitle of this book will tell you all you need to know: “A Tale of the Fishers, Foragers, Butchers, Farmers, Poultry Minders, Sugar Refiners, Cane Cutters, Beekeepers, Winemakers, and Brewers Who Built New York.”
  • Triburbia by Karl Taro Greenfield — The biggest appeal of this book — a story of a group of fathers who meet for breakfast after dropping their children off an at exclusive school in Tribeca — is that it is a collection of connected short stories, a format I have a total weakness for.

There are several other books I’d like to get to this month, many that I’ve checked out from the library — Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead, The Life boat by Charlotte Rogan, The Romanovs by Robert K. Massie — but I suspect those will be lake-side reads.

For now, I need some breakfast and a little time outside in the sunshine before the day turns oppressively hot. Happy Sunday everyone!

Photo Credit: Rob Warde via Flickr

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Stephanie July 1, 2012, 9:28 am

    I LOVE Rebecca and The Rules of Civility was great too. I definitely want to read Catherine the Great! I really should reread The Great Gatsby. Enjoy your 4th of July!

  • softdrink July 1, 2012, 12:09 pm

    Ooh, you’re lucky to get to be a reading passenger! When we go to Oregon, we always take my car ’cause it gets the best gas mileage, but I hate the way HB drives it (my car is not meant to be a race car!), so I end up driving. 14 hours there and 14 hours back. *sigh*

    • Kim July 11, 2012, 6:51 pm

      We normally split the driving, but this was my birthday present. It was awesome! Ugh… 14 hours sounds HORRIBLE.

  • Bex July 1, 2012, 2:33 pm

    I love How to be a Woman SO MUCH. I read it about a year ago I think and I didn’t stop telling everybody I know about it for ages. It’s hilarious, I kept reading bits aloud to my husband (who I’m not sure appreciated it as much as me but oh well!). Hope you love it 🙂

    • Kim July 11, 2012, 6:51 pm

      I’m reading that one now, and it’s great! I’m a big fan. I think the boyfriend might read it next.

  • Vasilly July 1, 2012, 3:42 pm

    You’re doing great! I can’t wait to read your thoughts on Silver Sparrow. I read it last year and would definitely love to re-read it again soon. I’m also looking forward to reading your thoughts on the Moran book. Good luck getting your reviews written down.

  • angela July 1, 2012, 4:20 pm

    Triburbia sounds so interesting!

  • Joy Weese Moll July 2, 2012, 9:05 am

    I like this idea: list of nonfiction inspired by the book The Great Gatsby. I look forward to that!

    • Kim July 11, 2012, 6:52 pm

      I’m excited to that one, I just have to read Gatsby first!

  • Athira July 4, 2012, 6:29 am

    I really want to read How to be a Woman! I’ve read some interesting reviews and the book sounds right up my alley!

  • Amy July 4, 2012, 3:41 pm

    Congrats on another great month – it was lovely to see you! I was looking at Eat the City too! Look forward to your thoughts on it.

    • Kim July 11, 2012, 6:52 pm

      I think that one looks so fun. I love reading foodie books, even if I’m not much of a foodie myself.

  • Kailana July 4, 2012, 5:58 pm

    I hope you have a wonderful reading month in July!!

  • Nikki Steele July 5, 2012, 1:00 pm

    I’ll be doing the Riot Reads for Gatsby as well! Would love to hear your recommendations for nonfiction.
    Eat the City sounds really really interesting.

  • Emma @ Words And Peace July 7, 2012, 3:33 pm

    I read your #1 and 7 and loved them both very much. here is what I read in June: http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/06/30/june-wrap-up-2/