July - This Month in Reading

Well, I managed to make my goal of reading at least two books in July - I even exceeded it, reading three. MUCH better than reading fewer than two, or reading none. So I'm OK with these results.

For August, I would like to read at least four books - I have some library books I have to read for a class I'm taking, so I'll be satisfied if I can finish these books quickly. I'd be over the moon if I can then go back and read at least one book from my TBR pile, but I don't want to get too carried away with goals, ha ha!

How was your reading this month?

Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore

Christopher Moore is an author I've been meaning to read for a while now, but longtime readers will know that I'm a weirdo about having to read an author's books in the order in which s/he's written them, if the books are a series, and I heard that his books have a lot of the same characters, etc., so I figured that was close to a series, so I should read them in order. (Ugh, that's a terrible run-on sentence, sorry!) I haven't been using the library but I had to read a couple books for a class I'm taking so I had to break my own library ban, so I figured, why not get started with his books while I'm at it. I'll be honest, the first couple chapters weren't grabbing me, and I was tempted to give up. I can't stand abandoning books  if I can't help it, so I stuck with it, and in the end I enjoyed the book. It was a fast read with some funny moments that I found enjoyable. I have to get on with reading some other things or I'd get the next one; that will have to wait for a bit as I chip away at my assignments and also my neverending TBR pile, but  I look forward to reading more by Moore.

Book Blogger Hop - July 26

It feels good to get back into the Book Blogger Hop!

If you're new to my book blog, welcome! My reviews are deliberately spare so as to avoid spoilers. Please leave me a comment so I can be sure to visit your book blog and follow you!

This week's Book Blogger Hop question is a good one:

How do you organize your books to be read?

My response:

Not very well! Right now my TBR pile is on a bookshelf in my home office, and the books are horizontal (for space reasons) and in piles by size. I would like them to be alphabetical and/or organized by genre (fiction separated by non-fiction, for example) and author, but at this point, at least they are in relatively neat piles!

How are your TBR books organized?

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

Yet another book that was all over the bookblogosphere (is that even a word?) a while back that I hadn't had a chance to read until now. The description sounded amazing so I really wanted to read it, and I went to the library anyway for some other books, so I figured, why not check it out now.

I really wanted to fall in love with this book, but just couldn't. I loved the idea of the circus, and the reveurs (a wonderful idea), but clunky writing kept interfering with my immersion in its world. Apparently no publishing house employs proofreaders or actual editors anymore - sad. And here's something: in real life I swear like a sailor at home, but go out of my way not to do so on this blog or in situations (work, classes, being in public places) where it isn't appropriate. This book has a single instance of the "F b0mb" that is completely unnecessary, since swearing isn't a general character attribute of the person who says it, for example. In addition, it's anachronistic, and pulls the reader out of the book. It's jarring and it annoyed me, since its only purpose seemed to be to make sure people know the book isn't YA. So if I, as someone who has no problem at all with encountering swear words of all kinds in books of all kinds, object to an author's single use of one, something is very wrong.

Speaking of YA, I think this would have been a MUCH better book if the author had focused on 2 younger characters - it could have been billed as a YA book that adults could also enjoy, and it might have worked a lot better than the plot as it stands now.

Overall I can't really recommend this book, as much as I would like to.

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Apparently the last book I read, How to Buy a Love of Reading, was supposed to contain a lot of allusions to this American classic. As an English major, I have read this book multiple times, but ::cough cough:: that was sort of a long time ago ::cough cough::. Between reading the previously mentioned book, hearing about this movie that is coming out with ridiculously anachronistic music (BOO! I LOVE music from that era, and am not a fan of Baz Luhrmann, so I won't be seeing this film), and me realizing I barely remembered The Great Gatsby at all, I figured now was the time for a reread. I enjoyed this book more than I'm sure I did when I read it ages ago, since as an adult I can understand the adult characters better, etc. I'm glad I reread it and just sorry it has taken me this long. Highly recommended.

June - This Month in Reading

UGH. Seriously, that's all I can say for June's reading, since there was exactly one book of it. Needless to say, I met no goals in June. So for July, I'll say that I'd like to read at least TWO books and see how that goes. At least I'm closer to fall (autumn) now that June is over!

How to Buy a Love of Reading - Tanya Egan Gibson

Another book I found during the Borders Last Days sales and just got around to reading. And also another book that wants me to feel sorry for the poor, poor privileged children of wealth. As much as anyone else who did not have a happy childhood, I completely understand that having lots of money doesn't automatically equal having lots of happiness, but the wealthy characters in this book were so unlikeable to me that I couldn't drop my own bias about this and root for them like I would have liked. No, not even the main character, whom I did feel sorry for, but just couldn't like.  The ending reminded me of the ridiculously overwrought works of fiction commonly written by high-school aged children, and the denouement was extremely unlikely. Maybe I'm just cranky because it's summer, but I just couldn't love this book.

May - This Month in Reading

Wow, May turned out to be a banner month for reading. I think I actually read more books this month than I have in January through April combined! My TBR books are in neat-ish piles on a bookshelf in my office, so this month I decided that instead of browsing from the entire collection I'd attempt to clear a single pile, regardless of the actual books in that pile. In other words, no "I'm not in the mood for this type of book," whichever book was at the top of the pile was the next book to be read. That actually worked very well, and it was amazing how often I'd end up enjoying that next book on the pile. I didn't clear the pile just yet, but I did read a whopping 10 books and reduce it considerably, so I'm happy with that.

I read 10 books this month, but summer is going to be very busy for me, so I honestly can't be sure how much reading I will be able to do (although of course I will do my best to get some done). So for a goal for June, I think I'll try to read at least three books - that seems manageable. A bonus would be if I could read books for my challenges, but clearing the pile is more important for that psychological feeling of accomplishment.

How is your summer reading shaping up?

Three Lives of Tomomi Ishikawa - Benjamin Constable

I couldn't resist the intriguing premise of this book when I saw a recent NetGalley email, so I broke my own vow to only read books on my enormous to-be-read pile and requested it. I'm glad I did, I enjoyed it. I love puzzles so that aspect of the book really appealed to me. All in all, however, I really think this book is almost more of a character study than anything else, if that makes sense. I am left with lingering questions about the narrator and the nature of the narration, making me question the reality of some of the events of the book. So as to avoid spoilers, I can't elaborate, but when you read it you'll understand what I mean. It was almost like a journey through a writer's mind that also happens to be part of a mysterious story. I'd recommend this book.

The Finder - Colin Harrison

Another lucky Borders last days find. I enjoyed this book, particularly how the author wove together stories that seemed too disparate to ever be joined. I did take issue with a few too many exclamation marks here and there, but as someone who has a bad habit of overusing exclamation marks I can let it slide, since I was otherwise riveted by the story. I'd definitely check out the author's other books.