July is over and that means that the July Book Blowout is over too. So how did I do?
The short answer is not all that well, but there are excuses, no wait...reasons for that! Originally I set my target at 18 books because that would have been one more book that I had read in any other month of the year but I only managed to finish 15. As soon as I posted that target I realised, and subsequently mentioned in the comments of the post, that I had forgotten to factor in that I wasn't going to be catching the train to work every day during July like I normally do which chops out 3 hours of reading time every day. My other main excuse is that I read quite a few big books this month, including the two that I am still reading (one of which is nearly 800 pages long). I didn't organise that very well did I. I still have quite a few reviews to write, and I might get to them eventually
So the books that I did finish during July are:
Beware a Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries
Jack Maggs by Peter Carey
Devil Takes a Bride by Gaelen Foley
Master of Verona by David Blixt
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
The Drowning Tree by Carol Goodman
The Cupid Effect by Dorothy Koomson
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn
Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King
The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick
Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber
The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer
Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie (reread)
The best book of the month for me was Master of Verona by David Blixt that I absolutely loved. I just got so swept up in the pageantry and the battles. I am really pleased to here that is another book on the way from this author featuring the same characters.
Mrs S has given us some specific questions for the wrap up:
1. Did you discover a new author? 6 of the authors were new to me - Peter Carey, David Blixt, Lloyd Jones, Sherry Thomas, Susan Fraser King and Lesley Downer.
2. Where was the most unusual place you found yourself reading? I can't think of anywhere that I read that was out of the ordinary. I always read either in bed, on the couch or on the train.
3. Did you read more than usual? It turns out I read less than usual - see excuses reasons.
4. Did you give up anything in order to read more? Not really.
5. If you won the Amazon voucher what would you spend it on? I am not 100% sure at this time, but I am sure I can come up with something!
6. Would you like to see a 2009 Book Blowout? For sure, it was a lot of fun.
Special thanks to Mrs S from Blue Archipelago for hosting this challenge.
Glad you enjoyed MV! The sequel comes out in, I think, June '09. Depending on how it fares, books three and four will follow. I like these characters, too, and plan to play with them for a long time.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you think of LADY MACBETH? It's on my list (naturally), but I have very little time for leisure reading these days. Did you like it?
Again, glad you like my poor scribblings, and thanks for the plug!
Cheers,
DB
Hi David and thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI liked Lady Macbeth, but didn't ever feel as though I was submerged in the story. It was interesting and good, but not a great read IMO.
I am planning to write a proper review of your book and that will be posted in a few different places, and I definitely will be keeping an eye out for the sequel!
I struggled to finish six books in July! :) That's an impressive list! I love Carol Goodman's books by the way. I still have her last one that I need to read.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Seduction of Water. I wasn't so keen on the one I read this month, but I just picked up The Sonnet Lover to see how that one is.
ReplyDeleteMarg, you did awesome! :D I'm adding Master of Verona to my check out list.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!