TSS #1: August Reading Wrap-Up
Check out my contest to win a copy of Matrimony by Joshua Henkin!
Well, we’ve come to the end of August and my teetering TBR pile is 19 books shorter than it was (okay, well, it would be if I hadn’t acquired 60 or so new/used books via a library sale, BookMooch, Half Price Books, and publishers). Each and every book I read this month was sent to me for review, although that is fudging a little bit in the case of “Superdove,” which was actually sent to me in a trade, but it was a yet-unpublished ARC. I even branched out some this month, reading more young adult fiction (fantasy and ghost stories), a political thriller, and a science fiction novel. All in all, I read some really spectacular books.
Without further ado, here’s what I read this month:
Fiction:
- American Savior by Roland Merullo My Review - Buy on Amazon
- Matrimony by Joshua Henkin My Review - Buy on Amazon - Enter to win!
- The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti (although this clearly takes place in the past, I’m not going to characterize it as historical fiction) My Review - Buy on Amazon
- American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld My Review - Buy on Amazon
Historical Fiction:
- Stealing Athena by Karen Essex My Review - Buy on Amazon
- Sweetsmoke by David Fuller My Review - Buy on Amazon
- Guernica by Dave Boling My Review - Buy on Amazon
Young Adult Fiction:
- Far World: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage (fantasy) My Review - Preorder on Amazon
- Creepers by Joanne Dahme (ghost story) My Review - Buy on Amazon
- The Hunt for the Seventh (ghost story) - review coming soon
- RuneWarriors by James Jennewein and Tom S. Parker (fantasy) - review coming soon
- Something Wickedly Weird by Chris Mould (ghost story) - review coming soon
Science Fiction:
- Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi My Review - Buy on Amazon
Political Thriller:
- First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader My Review - Buy on Amazon
Short Stories (fiction):
- One More Year by Sana Krasikov My Review - Buy on Amazon
Short Stories (nonfiction):
- The Dangerous Joy of Dr. Sex by Pagan Kennedy My Review - Buy on Amazon
Memoir/Autobiography:
- The Shiniest Jewel: A Family Love Story by Marian Henley (review coming September 3)
- Resistance by Agnes Humbert, translated by Barbara Mellor My Review - Buy on Amazon
Nonfiction:
- Superdove by Courtney Humphries My Review - Buy on Amazon
Pick of the Month:
Okay, so this was INCREDIBLY difficult this month. So I wasn’t totally crazy about either Creepers or RuneWarriors, but everything else was REALLY good. Zoe’s Tale, in fact, completely surprised me with how much I liked it, since I don’t generally read science fiction and it had a very science fiction cover.
I’m declaring a six-way tie, with basically everything else (except those mentioned above) in a tie for 2nd place:
Click on any of the titles to read my reviews.
none
Stumble It!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:23 am
What a wonderful month of reading you had! You have definitely expanded your horizons all on your own. My reading this month was very slow. I think the change in the season and getting Emma ready to start kindergarten put the breaks on for me. I don’t even want to look back and see how many books I’ve read… It’s more apparent to me the books I haven’t read. I am definitely starting to feel trapped by my TBRs.
I hope that you have a great holiday weekend!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Ha! I feel slightly less trapped today becaues yesterday I re-arranged my bookshelves. We have about 20 pretty old books and now they’re all on one shelf instead of being displayed on the top shelves of two different bookshelves. I moved where my TBRs are to a bigger bookcase. They completely fill it and go 2.5 shelves on another case! But, the fact that they aren’t in a case then stacked in front of the case makes them seem more attainable.
About expanding my horizons…I was proud enough that I had read science fiction at all, but I’m amazed that it actually tied for my favorite book this month! I’ve now got all the rest of his stuff on my bookmooch wish list.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:29 am
I wish I had read half that number of books this month! I am curious about your take on Rune Warriors.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:53 am
Great month of reading for you. I know what you mean about getting organized with new bookshelves. I did this also in August and that helps a lot. Sweetsmoke was one of my favorite books that I read all summer. Have a great week. Wisteria
August 31st, 2008 at 9:58 am
That was some reading! I envy you. It was totally unproductive for me! I read only one book although in midst of I think, 10 or so!
Do check on my reading plans
August 31st, 2008 at 10:31 am
Holy cow, that’s a lot of reading! 19 books in 31 days… not too shabby! I think I’m mostly just jealous because I had a bit of a slump this month, between several very long and slow-reading books and a conference that meant I got pretty much no reading done for a week… but even without that, there’s no way I could match your pace!
August 31st, 2008 at 10:51 am
Lots of great reading! I have some of those titles you mentioned sitting on my shelf…will have to make more of an effoert to read them based on your reviews. =)
September 1st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Wow, I’m impressed at how many books you’ve read and reviewed in one month!