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Monthly Reading Roundup - July 2024 - What Books Did I Read in July?
July was one of my busiest reading months of the year. I'm still on my Summer break from college, so my numbers are likely to dwindle a little once August comes around. Not only will I be IN college, but essays will need to be done, assignments completed, and studying hours will be required. Studying is one of the times that I simply can't listen to audiobooks too, my brain will zone in on one or the other, never both!
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Monthly Reading Roundup - June 2024 - What books did I read in June?
June 2024 was a busy reading month, despite being away on a Hen weekend and at a music festival, I still managed to carve out plenty of reading time. I read/listened to 10 books (head over to my 2024 Reading List for links to the reviews, and all of my reviews for 2024 so far). I've not posted any blog updates or reviews for a few days, my laptop decided that it wanted to have a break (literally) so it's in the shop getting repaired. Blog posts on my phone are disastrously slow but I'm still here, slowly getting there! Happy reading!
My Sister's Grave - Robert Dugoni
Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart
Sex, Lies and Chocolate Cake - Steven Morris
The Alone Time - Elle Marr
The Martian - Andy Weir
The Hobbit - J.R.R Tolkien
Bluebeard - Peter McDonnell & Jim Clemente
The Other Mrs Walker - Mary Paulson-Ellis
The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
You Like It Darker - Stephen King
These books consisted of 2140 pages and 36.98 hours of listening time. I read more physical/digital books this month but reduced my audiobook listening time as I took annual leave from work so didn't have my weekly commuting hours. This averages out at about 70 pages a day, plus 70 minutes listening time, but similar to last month, I definitely didn't listen or read every day, and I promise I do other things other than reading (sometimes!!). I also listen at 1.7 speed, so my actual time spent listening is almost half of the number of book minutes. Being a Scot, I am used to fast talking so any slower than 1.7 and I get frustrated about how long it's taking :)
Top Rated Books
I rated three books as 5 stars this month, along with four 4 star reads. My 5 star reads were The Martian, Shuggie Bain and You Like It Darker. It really was a month filled with some great reads across multiple genres. I'm finding myself getting more drawn to historical fiction, which surprised me but has opened me up to even more possibilities when I'm browsing the shelves!
Funniest Book
Sex, Lies and Chocolate Cake was by far the funniest book I read this month (being a comedy, I'd hope so!), it was a short but engaging read and was full of conversational banter and self-depreciating hilarity! Big shout out though to The Martian which was dripping in dry humour and sarcasm despite the gravity (no pun intended) of the situation.
Most Heart-warming
The Other Mrs Walker was a heart-warming read which ended on a cosy note and left me feeling hopeful. Though some of the subject matter was tough and bittersweet in parts, the underlying sense of family, similarity, and new bonds, was really sweet.
Most Likely to Re-Read
The Time Traveller's Wife was already a re-read for me and will always be a story that I can pick up and enjoy at any time. Revisiting The Hobbit might be interesting too, especially once I have completed the LoTR trilogy. Reading it with a bigger understanding of the world is bound to be interesting and enjoyable. I also loved You Like it Darker, and would enjoy re-reading some of the individual stories, to soak their brilliance in even more!
Top Five
1) The Martian
2) Shuggie Bain
3) You Like It Darker
4) The Time Traveller's Wife
5) The Other Mrs Walker
This month was top notch from start to finish, thoroughly enjoyable reads. I can't wait to see what July holds, I have some great ones on my list of hopefuls, plus plenty of room to squeeze in the unexpected random!
What did you read this month? What would you recommend to me as my next read from your list?
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During May 2024, I read/listened to 10 books (head over to my 2024 Reading List for links to the reviews I've done this year) Happy reading!
Malignant - Anita Waller
The Optician's Wife - Betsy Reavley
The Interpreter from Java - Alfred Birney
Nowhere to Hide - Max Luther
The Serial Killer's Wife - Alice Hunter
Notes on A Murder - B.P. Walter
The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Playing for Freedom: The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl - Zarifa Adiba
Legends and Lattes - Travis Baldree
Bookshops and Bonedust - Travis Baldree
That's a total of 1751 pages and 48.7 hours (60 pages a day roughly plus 90 minutes of listening time). I didn't read every day, far from it, I read when I had the time and inclination to do so. I listened to my audiobooks most days though, as I am in the car most days.
Top Rated Books
A whopping 6 books got a 4* rating from me in May, The Inheritance Games, Playing for Freedom, Notes on a Murder, The Interpreter from Java, Legends & Lattes, and Bookshops & Bonedust.
None of the books I read were particularly intended to be funny, but the Travis Baldree books (especially Bookshops & Bonedust) had some laugh-out-loud moments, along with some lighthearted characters. I caught myself grinning throughout.
Most Heartwarming
Playing for Freedom definitely sits there as the most heartwarming book in May. The fact that it's a true story and shows some real successes in the face of adversity really did elevate it above the feelgood fiction/fantasy of the Legends and Lattes duology.
Most Likely to Re-Read
I'd like to re-read the Travis Baldree books, I feel that I may get more from them by reading rather than listening, especially as I am clueless about spelling for names and beings. Once I've finished the Inheritance Games series, if it's as good as I think it is, I will want to have a physical copy to jump into again.
Top Five
1) The Legends and Lattes duology
2) The Inheritance Games
3) Playing for Freedom
4) Notes on a Murder
5) The Interpreter from Java
I know that's technically 6, but I'll make an exception. I am a bit of a mood reader so that top 5 may be different every time I'm asked, especially as I rated them all 4* and they are all so very different.
Please share what you read this month? Tell me your favourite May read :)
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