What I Read in July

Can we take a moment and appreciate that it is the END OF JULY already?!? Woah. Actually, while you’re reading this it is probably already August… or maybe even several hundred years in the future and you’re part of an alien race that has somehow stumbled upon the long-quiet blog of mine and are curious as to what people read back in the “dark ages” of the 2000s. Either way, welcome!

I keep beginning my monthly wrap-ups with the word “busy” – and I hate that word, but I don’t know how else to describe the summer I’ve been having. It’s been full, chaotic, and mostly wonderful. Lots of running around, spending time with friends, tons of hours at work for both Scott and I. I’ve currently got 99% of the laundry done at home and it feels like such an accomplishment. Woo, adulthood.

Anyway – July was crazy and lovely and all sorts of sunny. And I got a fair amount of reading done, too. Here’s what I read in July:

Fiction

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – E. Lockhart is a master storyteller. I can’t say that I liked this book, but I read in awe of her ability to tell only enough of the story to keep the reader racing along, but not enough that you know the whole picture until the very end. If you are at all a writer, read this book and see how well manages to walk the line of telling without telling.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion – Earlier this year I read The Rosie Project for book club and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the sequel less, but if you at all fell in love with Don Tillman’s quirkiness in the first book, give the second a chance for a light summer read. My full review here.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – I loved this book. Loved it. Set during WWII, the novel follows the lives of two young people, one German and one French, as their lives spiral closer and closer to each other. Lyrically beautiful and of a scope that felt ambitious even as I read it, I recommend this title to everyone – and can see why it won the Pulitzer. My full review here. 

Nonfiction

Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling – This is the transcript of a graduation speech that J.K. Rowling gave, mixed with lovely graphics and some cool typography. It’s worth a read for anyone who likes to dabble in graphic design, just to see how the designer interpreted the words. I’ll be sharing a few photos from the book soon.

It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War by Lynsey Addario – This memoir follows conflict photographer Lynsey Addario through her first gigs as a freelancer in South America to covering the War on Terror, Somalian refugee camps, and more. It was a fascinating read, and I’ll be sharing a full review soon.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari – I had no intentions of reading this book, but my book club selected it for the month of August. It was a fascinating look at the cultural norms of dating today, both in America and other countries around the world. It’s interesting to see how we react as a whole to an increase in the choices we have when it comes to selecting a partner, and how it is not always directly proportional to our happiness in the end.

Still plodding through:

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This one is taking awhile, and for good reason. Lewis packs a lot into this defense of the faith, and I am trying to wade through slowly.

What are you reading this summer? Anything I should add to my list?