August 2022 Reading

Despite my recent love letter to August, I am very happy to flip past it on my calendar. There were some wonderful moments in the garden and with family and friends, and still – you know me. I’m ready for fall and the cozy season. I’m especially ready to turn my attention towards activities in the house, which almost always means a smidge more time for reading. What a wonderful thing! Today I’m sharing the books I read in August, a few highlights from the month, and some thoughts about September.

I ran into a little problem sharing a snapshot of the books I read this month. I had been saving them to a monthly Goodreads shelf (2022-08, for example) and then taking a screen shot to capture a single image of everything read that month. But I read so many books in August that I couldn’t fit them all onto the screen! So I just put all of the images into a gallery in WordPress; it’s not as succinct of a view, but it will have to do. It might be a good problem to have?

August was an excellent reading month for me. I think it showcased my eclectic tastes and included a little bit of everything I tend to read, although it’s a bit heavy on the literary fiction thanks to this year’s Booker long list. Tomorrow the short list will be announced and I’m just wondering what life is like in the Booker offices. They must be so excited and working so hard to get everything just right for the announcement. I want a job like that! How do I get a job working for one of the big literary prizes? I’d be happy making the tea and writing the minutes. I’m sure that person also gets free books? Anyway – it’s exciting and I can’t wait to see the list.

Highlights from August:

• The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher – this was my second Pilcher novel and I adored it. There was so much to love here! I’m planning to read another by her this month.
• Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer – my favorite of the Booker long list so far. A beautiful story of a young mother with cancer.
• Booth by Karen Joy Fowler – This was on of my favorites on the Booker long list! A look at John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin, through the eyes of his siblings.
• We wrapped up our summer school activities and finished books about Leonardo da Vinci and Maria Merian. We also read three Moomintrolls books during our school time this summer (we finished one in July and two in August).
• Bronwyn and I finished three American Girl books together.
• Bryce and I have been reading The Phantom Tollbooth at night together, but haven’t finished it yet. We’re enjoying all of the word play and are taking it nice and slow.

SEPTEMBER THOUGHTS:

I’ve committed to three big reads in September:

• Kristin Lavransdatter, which I’m reading with Karen at The Simply Blog.
• September, which I’m reading with fellow bloggers here at The Cozy Borrow (I am happy to send out invitations to the Discord channel where we’re discussing, just let me know!) AND a few fellow patrons of Fiction Matters.
• Lonesome Dove, another Fiction Matters buddy read this month.

I did this back in April too (when I attempted to read Coming Home, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Books of Jacob all at the same time) and it didn’t work well. But I think I have a manageable plan for September: I’ve started listening to Kristin Lavransdatter on audio and will plan to just extend the holds on all of my library audiobooks until I finish it (except for the Booker titles as they become available). I’m going to start September as soon as I finish my current read and will (hopefully) finish it by mid-month. And then I’ll turn my attention to Lonesome Dove. Although they’re all big books, it’s possible for me to finish them as long as I can maintain a modicum of focus. And well… focusing is not a strength of mine! One of my reading goals this year was to read BIG books and Kristin Lavransdatter was THE book I had in mind. I’d hate to end this year without finishing it.

I’m also hoping to wrap up the Booker long list in September, including the books that don’t make the short list tomorrow. As I write this, I only have four books left and I think it’s possible to squeeze in one a week. And of course, my annual reread of Thornyhold is on the list as well as The Good Lord Bird for Fiction Matters. If I end September with less than 10 finished books and meet all of these goals, then I’ll be very happy!

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What’s on your list this month? Do you have a prediction for the Booker short list? I’d love to hear your reading plans! I’m planning to be back on Wednesday with an update on what I’ve read in the last week. Take good care!

PS: Thank you all for the kind words you left in the comments of Friday’s post. Sunday was the first day that Colton didn’t have any symptoms since Tuesday night, so I think we’re finally headed in the right direction. And somehow no one else in the house has gotten sick – yet. My fingers are crossed!