Reading Wrap Up | July 2019

I chat about all the books I read in July. Click 'Show More' for links to all the books mentioned. xx

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MY BOOKS:

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THINGS MENTIONED:

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WHO I AM

Hello, my name's Jen. I'm an award-winning poet and short story writer. My debut short story collection 'The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night' is published by Two Roads, and my children's books 'Franklin's Flying Bookshop,’ ‘Franklin and Luna Go To The Moon’ and ‘Franklin and Luna and the Book of Fairy Tales’ are published by Thames and Hudson. I'm also the author of the Sunday Times bestselling 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' series, 'The Bookshop Book,' 'The Hungry Ghost Festival’ and ‘The Girl Aquarium.’

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Where to find me:

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[gailgilchrist]

I positively adore your videos -- they are my happy place! Thank you for mentioning The Butcher's Hook as this reminded me again that I need to read it.

[KotaCakes]

I had actually placed a hold on Things We Say in the Dark when I was browsing through the books my library had on order because it sounded right up my alley. I've never read from Kirsty Logan before but I'm even more excited now I've seen you talk about it. I only started watching your videos the other day but I really love your channel so far!

[MercysBookishMusings]

Oh, I’m even more excited to get to How it Was after hearing your thoughts! I feel like I haven’t read enough books set in the seventies so I’m happy that this one is.

I’m obviously very excited for Kirsty’s new collection - they sound great!

I love the combo of your headscarf and the flowers - it makes me feel cheerful 💜

[freddylowe]

I reread your Weird Things series last week while on holiday in France. Such a delight!! They will forever be favourites of mine, so thank you very much. Very into your work :)

[Larissa_KD]

I read quite a lot in July, my favorite has been The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. There has been so much hype around this, but I think it absolutely deserves it.

[josephinewinter]

when a teenager in a teen magazine, a letter from a girl who'd been in love with her cousin for a year intensely but secretly against their parents' will who died in a motorbike crash, i've always remembered it, the pain and not being able to tell anyone. It would be a good book or story too

[TomesAndTravel]

Kirsty Logan sounds like a fascinating writer, especially with the dark fairy-tale and magical-realist aesthetics. I actually wrote my undergraduate dissertation on magical realism in the historical fiction of Gabriel García Márquez, so I'm always looking out for brand new magical realist books. Thanks for the recommendation! Love how you always introduce us to new books that I've sometimes never heard of before.

[tiffanylishan]

Love your reading wrap up, as always. Love your purple nail colour too!

[michelepastele]

I read Elizabeth Gaskell's Women and Daughters, The History of Saturday Night Live (on Audible), Coyote Woman by Tina Le Marque, the Long Way Home by Louise Penny and just started The Art of C.J. Jung (which is beautifully illustrated). I had never read Elizabeth Gaskell before (LOVE Austen and Bronte!) and really enjoyed it.

[SupposedlyFun]

I have the same thoughts on Jackson Brodie. I thought Case Histories was just fine, and I haven't felt compelled to follow the rest of the books in the series. How it Was is definitely going on my TBR, though!

[InfiniteText]

I'm currently in the middle of a wonderful book called Work by Louisa May Alcott. It's about a young woman who is looking for work as a choice because she wants her life to be exciting and filled with passion. She ends up trying many temporary jobs and each one brings new challenges, and she even finds something spiritual in each one. I think you would really love this book

[comfortreadsJess]

I’m middle of Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson and, Jen, you have to read it. I genuinely think you’re going to love it. Almost reminds me of something Ali Smith would write.

[ShakespearesLanguage]

I really like your videos!! This one was great!


What you said about losing someone whom no one knows you are close to really hit me so hard. A few years ago, my now ex-boyfriend lost his father, I had become very close to his father and very involved in their family life in the 18 or so months leading up to his death while he struggled with terminal illness, after his death I felt weirdly like the family were grieving as a group but I was annexed from them, I felt like I had no right to my grief and because obviously it was my boyfriend's father I didn't want to upset him by talking about it or to detract from giving my energy to dealing with HIS grief at losing a parent. It was so strange an experience and incredibly miserable to the point that I don't actually think I ever properly dealt with my grief around that loss as it was so unlike anything else I've ever experienced and I was just unable to process it in any of the normal or healthy ways.

[grodriguez]

I’m currently reading Circe, it’s amazing how human Circe is compared to the rest of the gods! I’m also reading The Victorian & The Romantic, it’s sweet and makes me want to read Elizabeth Gaskell‼️ And last but not least, I’m reading An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, it’s funny and mysterious‼️

[michelepastele]

I wish you were the narrator for all my Audible books!

[NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

I LOVED Jason Isaac as Jackson Brodie (just found it on BritBox); I was heartbroken that it wasn't a longer series. Now I'm reading the books.
Totally off topic, but I have to mention this... your garden in the background is stunning! Those hydrangeas are gorgeous (they don't grow well here). I am so busy staring at the garden I find I'm forced to go back and listen to bits of the vid again as I totally missed parts of your review.

[katjas]

I read Becoming Mrs Lewis which I had high hopes for but didn't quite deliver and The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman which I really liked - he is just such a wonderful writer. 😀

[katnissfire]

A book finished reading in July Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston. And love your videos 📖😊

[HopelesslyInLove]

Kirsty Logan's book and How It Was sound like book I would really enjoy...I'm going to put them in my bookdepository cart as soon as I finish to watch this video

[jacquelinemcmenamin]

Jason Issac was great as Jackson Brodie in the tv adaptation. Best books I read July
Frankisstein by Janette Winterson
Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Unless by Carol Shields