Summer is almost over and school has started once again! I’ve been enjoying the fantastic weather and spending a lot of time hiking, running, biking, and swimming. But that means not so much time for reading.
I read only a few books at the start of this month and then picked up more toward the end, but I’m still ahead of schedule to hit 100 books for the year. It can be great to take a step back from one hobby to focus on others. Nonetheless, I still got a few good ones in.
I read another solid Agatha Christie book and I’m looking forward to seeing the movie version. I also saw the movie adaption for Where the Crawdads Sing. It was pretty good and I was pleased with the casting. Lots of great shots of Kya’s artwork. I wonder who drew them for the set?
I had one book this month that was a real let-down, but you can read more below. Otherwise, a good selection for August.
Can’t wait for some good fall reads!
A Molecule Away from Madness
By Sara Manning Peskin
Very interesting book. I’m a fan of science, but not always medicine. This book taught me a lot about the way our brains work and what happens when things go very wrong.
Braiding Sweetgrass
By Robin Wall Kimmerer
I’ve been reading this as part of a summer book club and was hesitant at first. I loved the idea of combining hard science with cultural wisdom, but I think the fluffy writing took away from the desired effect. Not enough fact, too much personal memoir.
The 4-Hour School Day
By Durenda Wilson
Not all books can be winners. I picked this one up hoping to gain some insight into the homeschool education system and maybe learn how to adapt some new skills to my work. I was left disappointed as there were no suggestions on how to have a 4-hour school day.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
By John Green
This was a refreshing change of pace. John Green is a great writer and he adapted his podcast into this essay-style format to delight his readers with stories about everyday life. Pleasant to listen to on audiobook and great for starting conversations.
Eat and Run
By Scott Jurek with Steve Friedman
I picked this up because I knew of Scott Jurek from the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. He uses Steve Friedman to take on the writing, but the stories are all Scott. It’s adventurous, inspiring, and dangerous. Even if you aren’t an ultrarunner, you’ll enjoy these wild tales.
Messy
By Tim Harford
Interested in learning how to embrace the messy things in life? Harford gives real-world examples of how leaders use chaos and disorder to their advantage to embrace the unknown and come out ahead. You don’t need to be the best to win, you just need to handle the situation better than your opponents.
Death on the Nile
By Agatha Christie
Well, I didn’t guess the ending to this murder mystery, but can anyone really guess what Agatha Christie is planning? Very elaborate and I’m looking forward to watching the movie adaption.
Deaf Utopia
By Nyle DiMarco with Robert Siebert
I was really drawn in by the title of this one but didn’t realize who this was until about halfway through the book. Nyle DiMarco is the winner of America’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars. His life story is unique and I like that he wants to advocate for the deaf community while doing the things he’s passionate about.
The Keeper of Lost Things
By Ruth Hogan
This book was just lovey! It’s two intertwining tales of lost things and the people who find them. I was genuinely moved at the ending when everyone was able to grow and find peace. Definitely recommend!
Spine & Leaf Books 
My tally for the challenge is 42 books – 7 for August, and I’ve read a total of 152 books so far with 22 more books this month. All these books for the challenge were read while I was on vacation, which was easy to do.
#40 About travel – Geoffrey Trease The Grand Tour ~1967 -272- 4 stars: Not at all what I expected but a good read nonetheless. I thought the author would bring us from one point to the other with what was to see and eat. That sort of thing. Instead, it’s diaries notes from multiple people, intertwined with wars, inquisition, new popes and new kings. Interesting historical facts if you’re a fan, which I am.
#21 Under 100 pages long – Monique McDonell Snowbound -80- 5 stars: Sweet story. Clean too. They did stuff but you don’t see anything. Kyle is the epitome of a nice guy and the douche bag is the jerk of all times. Well done. Unputdownable kind of story. Fast reading too.
#01A With a color in the name – Macy Babineaux Dragon Blue: A Lie That’s True (The Dragonlords of Xandakar #1) -182- 5 stars: Magic. Lesbianism. Great start to a new series. LOL. Miranda’s mystery is no mystery to Corban since he has seen many of those.
#01B With a color in the name Macy Babineaux Dragon Red: A Fire Unfed (The Dragonlords … #2) -180- 4 stars: The sweetest story in the series even though unwilling sex is also included here. By this time you know Nevra is evil and the details are awful. Marko is no better. Violation of servants. I think Thalia was the best help in all the partners.
#01C With a color in the name – Macy Babineaux Dragon Green: A Vision Unseen (The Dragonlords … #3) -199- 3 stars: Gang rapes in abundance. Not really my thing. I liked Brynn a lot and she’s my favorite in all the women. Dark, violent, savage even.
#01D With a color in the name – Macy Babineaux Dragon Black, Dragon White: Darkest Day, Brightest Night (The Dragonlords … #4) -183- 4 stars: Imagery is sometimes ugly: “dozen birds flew into her mouth as she crunched down”. I was confused as to why Myrian didn’t breath health back into her maidservant and the other people she encountered. Gang rape talk with details. Dark, violent, but still a good story. Not for the faint of heart.
#01E With a color in the name – Macy Babineaux Dragon Gold: A Tale Untold (The Dragonlords … #5) -258- 2 stars: A complete let down for a last book in the series. The heroine Fiora first abandons her post to protect Austin, then all she think about is jumping him while in grave danger and facing a war that seems hopeless. Also some unbelievable scenes such as when Austin seems the assistant coming out of a black sphere and thinks it looks like the birth of a child and how would he know that??? It’s dark and violent and always talk of rape. Details such as chewing bones and blood splattering all over. I was also annoyed and confused as to how she would know better than all the dragons where to go and how to do things. She threw her trash in the air while travelling on Austin. What??? At 85% I’m like “are you for real?”. 90% extra cheesy and unnecessary. 91% No, just no.
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