Reading List 2015: August

July was a good reading month for me. Well, I didn't even crack open one book on the list but I figured I could go back to it some other time, so I'm shelving that one off (again) in the meantime. I'm trying to conquer my 2015 reading list so I have to prioritize reading those books.


Curious which book got shelved for the nth time? Let's do the July report:

  • Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald - Read with a couple of bookish friends. Quite depressing to say the least. 4/5
  • Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel - The Tudor saga continues! Goodbye, Anne Boleyn! 5/5
  • The Tudors by G.J. Meyer - Shelved.
  • Atonement by Ian McEwan - Beautiful. I saw the movie after reading this and it was just as beautiful. Sad, though. And Briony!!! 5/5
  • The Quiet American by Graham Greene - The book club's book for the month. Had our first EOP* discussion, too! 4/5

With these books I finished reading last month, my write-up backlog is beginning to pile up (again!) but I'm hanging in there. One write-up per week should do it. Currently gathering my thoughts about The Goldfinch so check back here for that.

And finally, for August:




  • To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - I don't know why I never got around to reading this until now. This mass market paperback I bought from a Book Sale outlet has been with me for years already. If the book club weren't reading Go Set A Watchman next month, I don't know when I would have picked this up. Buddy reading this with some friends from the book club.
  • Stone Mattress: Nine Tales by Margaret Atwood - It's been a long time since I've read an Atwood, and since it's The Short Story Station's first year anniversary this month, I thought I'd add a new short story collection to my list. (Happy Birthday, TSSS!)
  • The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie - Still curious why this book earned Rushdie the fatwa. Reading this along with my officemate, Mark, who needs this to "reawaken" his "reading mojo." Haha.
  • Ubik by Philip K. Dick - The book club's pick for the month. Done reading this already but added it because it belongs to this month, anyway.

Happy August, everyone! :)

______________________________________
*EOP - English Only Policy. We had an American newbie attendee, Steve, who came all the way from Tarlac with his Filipina girlfriend to attend the discussion. Awww.

Comments

Lynai said…
Oh, yes, Briony!!! I am so glad to see those stars for Atonement. :)

Also, happy birthday, TSSS! (Must do my own celebrating on the blog, I guess.)
Peter S. said…
Hello, Monique! Like you, I've always been fascinated with the Tudors. Have you seen the wonderful TV series The Tudors? It's so fascinating! Margaery Tyrell is Anne Boleyn! :-) (Oh, and it's not technically about the Tudors, but the TV series The White Queen is also brilliant! It's about another family line in the English monarchy, just before the reign of the Tudors. Also good!)
Tin said…
Ubik was...was..gah. In a good, mind messing way. I guess. Haha. And I barely made it through Rushdie's Midnight's Children! Haha. I think that kinda kept me away from Man Bookers for awhile.

And happy bday TSSS! And have a great August, Monique!
Monique said…
LYNAI: I have never wanted to strangle a child the way I wanted to with Briony. GRRR.

PETER: I haven't seen those! I'll try The Tudors first. Thanks for the reco! :)

TIN: I know what you mean about Ubik, it's a total mindfuck. Hahaha. I'm struggling a bit with the first parts of The Satanic Verses but I hope it'll get better later. :)

Happy August, friends! :)
Louize DG said…
Salman Rushdie is a huge fan of details, so beginnings are usually slow. He's an acquired taste. :)
Monique said…
Mommy L: So I noticed with TSV. :)
Anonymous said…
After Midnight's Children, I didn't bother much with Rushdie. Too Much Expectations, I guess. But maybe you'll like him more than I do.

And I thought you've finished Bring Up the Bodies a long time ago!
Monique said…
BUDDY: It certainly feels like that, haha. Can't wait for the third book to come out!

Can't say for now with Rushdie. We'll know soon.

Popular Posts