I didn’t do a Sunday Salon or a July wrap-up last week, so here’s both in one post. I’ve had some great reading experiences this past week – including finishing The Help and Red Hook Road on audio and Beautiful Creatures in print.
Today, I gave up on The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I loved his essay collection, Maps and Legends, and so was excited to read one of his novels, but after making it to page 276 out of 600-something, I simply didn’t want to read any farther. It is well-written, but I didn’t care what happened next. Another title to add to the “everyone loved it but me” list. (A bit ironic that I loved his wife’s book – Red Hook Road.)
My reading time today – if I have any – will be spent finishing The Fiddler’s Gun by A.S. Peterson and making progress on Godric by Fredric Beuchner for a Faith ‘n’ Fiction Round Table at the end of the month.
What are you reading this second Sunday of August?
Books finished in July:
Tell Me a Secret
On Beauty
Truly, Madly
Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry
Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature’s 50 Greatest Hits
Dracula in Love
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
God of the Hive
Raiders’ Ransom
The Plague of Doves
North! or Be Eaten
Spells
One Day
Though Waters Roar
Update on reading challenges:
100 Shots of Short Challenge
Completed 93/100 short stories
100+ Reading Challenge
Completed 114/150 books
Amy Einhorn Reading Challenge
Completed 1/16 books
Art History Reading Challenge
Completed 1/3 books
Christy Awards Challenge
Completed 0/3 books
Clover, Bee, and Reverie Poetry Challenge
Completed 7/8 books
Countdown Challenge
Completed 54/55 books
EW Summer Books Challenge
Completed 2/5 books
POC Reading Challenge
Completed 10/15 books
Read the Book, See the Movie Challenge
Completed 1/2 book/movies
Reading From My Shelves Challenge
Completed 20/20 books – just need to give them all away 
South Asian Author Challenge
Completed 1/3 books
Support Your Local Library Challenge
Completed 49/50 books
TwentyTen Reading Challenge
Completed 19/20 books
War Through the Generations Challenge
Completed 3/5 books
What’s in a Name? Challenge
Completed 4/6 books
Women Unbound Challenge
Completed 6/7 books
Other bookish posts this week:
~ Book Review: Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin
~ Book Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
~ Book Review: One Day by David Nicholls
I had no idea Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman are married. It looks like you had a great month of reading. I hope August is as good.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathy – it was a good month as far as reading goes!
Twitter: Trish422
says:
This why I am not an author person. I never pick up a book because someone wrote it; I only pick up books because the story sounds fascinating.
Trisha´s last post ..Sunday Salon- Two Weeks of Fun
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Trisha – that was probably my problem with this one – I loved his non-fiction, so picked this one up without even really knowing what it was about!
Twitter: youvegottaread
says:
Well, like I said, I had to drop another one of his books (Yiddish Policemen). I am still tempted to read his non-fiction because it sounded hilarious. You read ALOT of great books in July! Which is probably a good thing because it kept you occupied as you were sitting at the hospital. Glad you guys are all finally home.
Sandy´s last post ..Sunday Salon- A Little Debauchery
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sandy – I am so glad we’re home, too.
Twitter: msbookish
says:
You had a great reading month in July! I have only read Chabon’s essays, none of his fiction, but I’ve read a few books that everyone raved about, that I ended up not liking. It happens, and if you read 200 pages, you certainly gave it a good chance!
Belle´s last post ..Two Beginnings- Two Tenses- My First Four Days of WFMAD
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Belle – When I find myself dreading a certain book, I know attempting to finish it is futile.