June has felt, to me, like a very unbalanced month. I got into a pattern of being really obsessed with one thing while ignoring all other things, then feeling bereft when the thing I was obsessed with came to an end. After a few days I’d switch to another thing to be obsessed with to continue the cycle. It was fun to spend time immersed in things, but ultimately it left me feeling a bit off-kilter.
As I look back on my reading this month, I can see part of the imbalance:
- Enger, Lin: The High Divide (fiction) (Sept. 23 from Algonquin)
- LeDuff, Charlie: Detroit: An American Autopsy (audiobook/nonfiction)
- Bardugo, Leigh: Shadow and Bone (audiobook/YA fantasy)
- Lee, Chang-rae: On Such a Full Sea (fiction)
- Doughty, Caitlin: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (memoir) (Sept. 15 from WW Norton)
- Booker, Sheri: Nine Years Under (memoir)
- Bardugo, Leigh: Siege and Storm (audiobook/YA fantasy)
- Edmonds: Michael: Risking Everything (nonfiction)
- Bardugo, Leigh: Ruin and Rising (audiobook/YA fantasy)
Look at all of those audiobooks! It’s something like 40 hours worth of audio when normally I’m happy to finish one or two audiobooks. Part of the reason I spent so much time listening to books is because I got a FitBit and have been walking more and part is because I wanted to re-listen to a Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm before the third book in the trilogy, Ruin and Rising, came out on June 17. I finished the trilogy (it was amazing!) and will have some thoughts to share on it next week.
I also didn’t read a single review copy the entire month. I did pick up both The High Divide and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes from BEA, but I read them because I was excited, not because I felt like I “needed” to read them to hit a publishing deadline. That was fun. That said, a lot of the reading I did this month was for other projects — I’m hoping to have more “me” reading in July.
A Look to July
This summer is a big one for finishing up trilogies that I love. In June, the third book in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy, Ruin and Rising, came out. This month, the third book in Ben H. Winter’s Last Policeman trilogy, World of Trouble, is hitting the shelves. And in August, the third book in Lev Grossman’s Magician’s trilogy, The Magician’s Land, will be out. As such, there’s been – and will continue to be – a lot of re-reading in my plans this month.
Aside from books in the series I already mentioned, here’s what else I’d love to get to in July:
- The Crossword Century by Alan Connor (July 10 from Gotham)
- Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay (Aug. 5 from Harper Perennial)
- Out With It: How Stuttering Helped Me Find My Voice by Katherine Preston (Atria Books)
- Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong by Juliet Macur (March 4 from Harper)
As always, this list is only a starting point for where my reading might take me this month – you never know what might happen. And since I’m heading out for a long weekend at the cabin tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be starting the month with my version of beach reads. I’ll have that post up tomorrow.
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I need to catch up with Ben Winter’s trilogy. I did read and love the first book, but did not get to the second book yet because I wanted to wait for the third to come out. This month is probably a good time to read it.
They boyfriend and I are listening to the second book on audio right now. I don’t love it as much as the first, but I like the way the world is expanding — I’m curious to see what happens in book three.
I totally understand that feeling. Lately I’ve been obsessing over TV shows, and I’ll sit for HOURS and binge-watch them, getting nothing else done. I’m in a lull now after finishing Fargo. It’s fun but doesn’t feel healthy LOL. Yay for the Fitbit, love my Fitbit. And I’m so totally excited about World of Trouble. I just recently listened to the first two on audio, so I feel I have to finish with the audio. So I’ve been hovering over my library website, waiting for them to add it so I can get in line. You just know that the asteroid disaster will be averted somehow. By that deal that his sister is involved in I think.
The boyfriend and I are watching Fargo — it’s so good, but it hurts my brain after an episode or two. He’s pretty good at not binge watching shows, which is helpful for me, since that’s my natural watching state.
I love my Fitbit too. I walk in the morning and listen to audio books then. One of my neighbors teaches school and has been walking with me the last few weeks. She’s a great friend but I miss my audio time!
I was doing pretty good at taking a walk after work, but I’ve slipped a bit the last couple weeks. I’m hoping to get back in the habit soon.
It sounds like a great reading month! I’m glad you read so many books that were really absorbing, even if it made you feel a little off-balance. Enjoy your weekend at the cabin! It sounds lovely.
There is something bizarrely reassuring when one has the first two books of a trilogy on a TBR list, only to learn that the third is due to be published soon; suddenly an oversight (or mismanagement of the TBR) is repackaged as foresight and planning. I’m keen to read the Grossman and Winters books (and have the first pairs waiting), so now I’m off to check out the trilogy on your list: sounds very enticing!
I think that’s just good TBR management 🙂 I like both the Grossman and Winters books for different reasons. I’m probably more excited for The Magician’s Land, but World of Trouble looks excellent too.
What did you think of On Such a Full Sea?
I really liked the narration style (can’t remember what it’s called… second person?) and the way the narrators were both reliable and unreliable in different ways. I wish it had offered some more explanations at the end, but I get why it didn’t. Maybe 3.5 to 4 stars?
I’ve had a problem this year of wanting to read ALL THE THINGS at once and then not reading anything. Ugh! Bookworm problems.
That’s been my problem for many months of the year too. It’s so frustrating!
I keep forgetting about the Lev Grossman book! There are shortly going to be way too many new awesome things to read. I can’t keep track of all the soon-to-be-out books I’m excited for!
This summer has a ton of great books coming out. I love that 🙂
I really need to re-read Bardugo’s and Grossman’s series; although the way I’m going it may be awhile.
Looks like you had a fun month of reading! I’ve read Shadow and Bone, but I never continued with the trilogy-some day!
What a great idea – listen to an audiobook while walking! That would get me walking more often. Do you use a specific app or anything on your phone for the audiobooks? I use Overlook for public library loans, which includes audiobooks. I may exercise this summer after all!
I get most of my audio books through Audible, which is an online service and an app. I’ve used Overdrive a couple of times, but Audible is just so simple. I have the one credit a month plan, which is plenty for my reading pace.
great audiobooks! here is my wrap up: http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/07/03/2014-june-wrap-up/
Audiobooks are pretty rocking I must agree! How are you liking the FitBit? I’ve been thinking of doing something similar to get myself into some better habits…. I really like walking on the trail behind my house but it is so darn mosquito filled lately D: I’m so glad that you loved Ruin and Rising, I did too! I hadn’t though to listen to those on audiobook so I’ll keep that in mind when I’m missing Miss Bardugo’s amazing writing now that the series is over D:
I really like the FitBit, although it’s a little depressing to know how inactive I can be some days. But knowing a step count for a day has been helping me improve my habits, slowly, which is good.