I can’t believe summer is getting to an end already! Here in Ireland we’re seeing Christmas foods coming up in the shops (I have a lot of thoughts about that!) so that totally changes the atmosphere…
What to say about August?
July was unusual in terms of how many books I read, so August has returned to a more “normal” month for me, with a total of 10 books finished (some may have been started a lot earlier…). I did also complete my original reading goal for 2021, as illustrated by this brightly coloured shelf in my notebook:
I’ve pushed the goal to 100 books, which should be easily doable if I’m being honest – but I did 120 last year and it was pushing myself quite a bit, so 100 seems like a good balance. I may upgrade it again later.
Where I did fail, however, is to finish my TBR for this month. I don’t normally set one, but this month I thought, instead of always obsessing over what to read next, and always changing my mind, and then not knowing for sure what to read when it comes to picking up a new book… I should just write it down.
I’ve also started a buddy read with Tessa, but stuff happened for both of us that means it’s been delayed. We’re close to halfway through? I wasn’t sure it’d be finished in August anyways, just wanted it there for reference.
I’ve also put less pressure on myself in terms of blogging. I was struggling the last few months to post twice a week as I wanted, so some weeks would see 1 post, and others 2-3 depending on my writing and how much I read. Now I’ve decided to make it 1 a week as baseline, instead of pushing myself for more. That said I’m not beyond posting a review and a recap or something in the same week, like right now!
I’ve made plans for a September reading list too:
I do have a supporting membership to Worldcon this year, which comes with a) free copies of most works nominated to the Hugos and b) voting rights in said Hugos. I’ve read some of the books, but not all, and a lot do appeal to me, so my goal the coming months will be to get through those. Novellas for a start, and since they’re short I should be able to read them all this month. It’s a lot more ebooks than I’d normally read, though!
Books! Books! Books! – What I actually read in August
Dinosaur Therapy
One of the highlights for me, a short and sweet comics from @Dino_comics that I found randomly at a bookshop and loved even more than the twitter it comes from! Very uplifting and I know I’ll revisit it often. The cat approves too!
The Unbroken
I technically read this over 2-3 months, but I had to take breaks through it, not because it was bad, but because I was overwhelmed by the gut punches. It’s dark, it’s queer, it’s great! Full review here.
Hawai’i’s Story By Hawai’i’s Queen
This one sent me on the longest wikiwalk in ages, as you will know if you follow me on twitter. It’s about the US-led overthrow of the Hawai’ian monarchy, as experienced and written by the queen at the time. She goes through the larger history of the Hawai’ian monarchy. It is pro-monarchy so cringy at times, but ultimately anti-colonialism and a great window into that time, while feeling very current in light of, say, Afghanistan. Left me wanting to learn more
On a Red Station, Drifting
Friends, idk what to make of this cover… but the book is good, I swear! The audiobook is narrated by the same voice actress as Hawai’i’s story, Emily Woo Zeller, who’s really good at what she does. It’s your typical de Bodard story, Vietnamese-inspired space station antics, this time focusing on the meaning of family, and survival in wartime
Wintersmith
Part of my attempt to one day, possibly, have read all of Discworld. It was an abridged audiobook, and I don’t know what to make of it either way. I do like the witches, but the Tiffany stories are… not bad, per se, but a bit flat for me
Hellion’s Waltz
Also not my favourite cover, considering one of these ladies is supposed to be chubby, and… neither is, clearly (they also don’t look lower-middle class). Apart from that, lovely, lovely Georgian romance between a pianist and a ribbon maker who’s trying to get revenge on an awful capitalist man. Cements my love for Waite’s f/f romances once and for all. Full review here.
Project Hail Mary
This was a fun read, too, and it stuck with me a long time after. I keep thinking about Rocky, especially, and how he’d be welcomed on earth, in comparison. (I realise this won’t mean much to you if you’ve not read it). Full review here.
The Merchant and the Rogue
A pretty entertaining romance, not among my favourites this month but it was up against harsh competition
Seven Devils
I have sooo many feelings I don’t know where to put them! I finished it just at the end of the month, but I’ll be writing a fuller review for sure! Some of the best scifi I’ve read in a long while!
Alice Payne Arrives
Last but not least… Time travel shenanigans and regency queer Black ladies? What more can a girl want? It’s a very short audio, I’m in the middle of the second one and will likely write more when I’ve read both, but really great fun so far!
