Reading Wrap Up: July 2024

In which I muse about the books I read in July.

#bestbooks #booktok #bookwormsunite #booktube #bookreview #bookrecommendations #readingwrapup #fiction

Books discussed:

England is Mine by Nicolas Padamsee

A Load of Old Balls by Jo Brand

The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker

Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud

Clear by Carys Davies

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey

[chrissiepenguinful]

I love Catherine Chidgey. I met her at the Wellington Literature Festival last year and she said her next book is something different again and set in Blackpool!

[rachelknowles]

So pleased you enjoyed Axeman’s! ❤Yes I too thought really, a book narrated by a magpie … but Chidgey can make anything work and make it phenomenal! Double meaning in the magpie’s name: short for Tamagotchi but also Tama is “boy” and “son” in Māori.

[efkharisto]

After your recommendation of Pet (which I absolutely loved!) I'll definitely pick this one up too. I discovered a French author this month, who i adore now- French Windows by Antoine Laurain was great, but you can't go wrong with any of his works. Currently reading the latest one by Tracy Chevalier (The Glassmaker) set in 1400s Murano.

[YourTrueShelf]

So happy for you that you had such a brilliant month! I loved remote sympathy, so I should read all of Chidgey's work.
I think I heard Ben talk about England is mine and I added it to my wishlist then.
I have read West by Carys Davies and thought it was beautiful - again must read more!!

[andreadavies]

I have just finished The Prophet Song on your recommendation and enjoyed it immensely. Thankyou

[pampam]

Clear sounds really good - added it to my TBR (Church of Scotland call them Ministers rather than priests)

[sarah-roadworthy]

Your desciptiion of Clear made me immediately think of The Colony by Audrey McGee. The Twin made me think of Discomfort of Evening. I just finished Mobility by Lydia Kiesling and I thought it was absolutely fascinating. Encourage you to look into it.

[cindyhaiken]

So glad you loved Clear as much as I did. And you’ve completely convinced me to read England Is Mine.

[enidlacob]

I too have had a great reading month due in part to you I loved England is mine Pet was a favourite read too I will try the new one I really enjoyed the Esther Freud which I read last year after visiting beautiful Suffolk for the first time in my life and enjoying the Aldeburgh Bookshops local authors section. I really would love to go back . Isn’t it the most wonderful way to travel around the world A life without books would be hell Thanks for being such a wonderful book recommender from icy cold Cape Town

[Ali-AvidReader]

I absolutely loved Clear, such beautiful writing. I live in Suffolk so am keen to read Mr Mac And Me, I’d not heard of it before.

[susprime]

Great book shirt. I'm enjoying Never by Ken Follett, also The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (McBride is great) and Trust, which won the Pulitzer for Hernan Diaz, his debut novel was In the Distance, which I read for June on the Range. I'm happy for you having a good reading month.🎉

[gilliankingston]

Thank you for reminding me about Clear, definitely on my TBR - and The Twin sounds really interesting. It's been a good reading month for me too - My Friends, Brotherless Night, and I've so enjoyed The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken, an author I've not read before. Next is A Previous Life by Edmund White.

[caklock]

I loved Clear by Carys Davies - one of my favorite books ever! I've never read any books by Catherine Chidgey but just put The Axeman's Carnival on reserve at my local library. I'll look forward to reading it. Thanks for a wonderful video. God knows here in America we need good books to read instead of watching the news!

[smileycindy]

July was a great reading month for me quantity-wise - most pages so far this year and total of 10 books, but looking at the list, most of the books were very middle of the road. My favorite was Looking for Jane from Heather Marshall. I found this one in the new book section of the library and was intrigued by the summary so I picked it out on a whim.
I managed to finish two books that I was very close to DNF'ing: Detransition, Baby (Torrey Peters) and The Diana Chronicles (Tina Brown). Glad to have read them, but also glad to be finished with them. 😆

[carolewatson]

I loved the god in the woods by Liz Moore this month and now devouring All the colours in the dark by Chris Whitaker. Next up Julia, the retelling of 1984

[SavidgeReads]

Siri telling you there is nothing to read, hahahaha. That tickled me. I would like to head back to more Bakker, I read The Detour and remember absolutely loving it... back in 2013, blimey. Finally, she's read Clear and she loved it, woohoo! Now you need to read Stone Yard Devotional ;) Ooh The Axeman's Carnival sounds great, I have it but haven't read Pet yet. Oops.

[janebowell]

Are you going to read any of the Booker long list this year ?

[karenmiddlebrook]

You introduced me to Carys Davies, through 'Quiet' so I bought The Redemption of Galen Pike. Loved Clear. Didnt enjoy The Mission House aa much. Next up will be West.

[jacquelinemcmenamin]

I find it weird how someone can own areas of geography that you’d imagine would be public. Clear made me think of this ( even though I haven’t read it yet) . We have a major problem here with waterway pollution, the biggest one is Lough Neagh. Low and behold the Lough is owned by an Earl !!!

[janethansen]

I loved Pet by Catherine Chidgey but I did not enjoy the Axeman's Carnival at all. I generally dislike books narrated by animals. I thought Clear was wonderful. On to the Booker longlist now.