Every month I share what books I finished last month and what I’m reading now. I also love to hear what others are reading. Share your own book recommendations in the comments or friend me on Goodreads!
Well, this will be a short post because I only finished one book last month! (Cue sad trombone) But, I have a bunch of books in progress, and I spent a lot of last month catching up on my unread pile of magazines (looking at you, World of Interiors).
Finished in July
The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova. I checked this out from the library on a whim. I loved Kostova’s first novel, The Historian, which was a brilliant take on the Dracula story. The Shadow Land is an exploration of Bulgaria and its history, especially during World War II and its aftermath. The story is slow, but beautifully written. I only rated it 3 stars on Goodreads, but it is the kind of book that sticks with you long after you’ve read it, and I think I appreciate it more as I’ve had more time to reflect on it.
Reading Now
I’m simultaneously reading several books on creativity, including The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom by Christine Valters Paintner and Growing Gills: How to Find Creative Focus When You’re Drowning in Your Daily Life by Jessica Abel. I have taken on far too many responsibilities in both my work life and my personal life, and I am struggling to find time to do things I enjoy like needlework and designing/drawing. So, I turn to books like these to remind me that creative time is as important as all of the other things I have made time for in my life.
I’m also halfway through The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, which is both silly and delightful and a good antidote for work stress right now.
Here is what I read a year ago this time.
What are you reading now? Let me know in the comments!
Rabbit Girl Crafts 
At the moment I’m reading Life of Pi. That Jessica Abel book sounds interesting.
Life of Pi has been on my to-read list for far too long! The Jessica Abel book is really good, and it comes with a free workbook you can download from her site. Very useful so far.
I am listening to We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter, and reading In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin, then will start Ben-Hur. I timed out on the Catherine the Great, so have to wait for my turn again, and still have the third part of Ken Follett’s Century series to go, which will be another listen.
We Were the Lucky Ones looks really good. I just added it to my to-read list! The Ken Follett looks good, too. I read The Pillars of the Earth ages ago and enjoyed it, but that’s the only Follett book I’ve read.
My only complaint is his sprinkling of the F word throughout. My dad is a WWII vet, and I have never heard him use any thing close to a swear word. It just wasn’t done, so every time I see or hear one I’m thinking, Really, Mr. FOllett, isn’t that a bit TVesque? Especially in the first two, which were 1910-1948. However it won’t keep me from finishing the series.
I’ve read the one by Jonas Jonasson and thoroughly enjoyed it. A totally different style of writing to what I usually read, but the idea was very original.
Yes, the writing style is hard to describe. It feels like the story is being narrated to you, but yes, it’s a very fun read.
forgot to add, I’m currently reading “Too close to home” by Linwood Barclay, and loving it.