I read 24 books last month. Let's talk about them! 📚 | July 2020 Wrap Up

I chat about all the books I read last month. xx

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MY BOOKS:

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THINGS MENTIONED:

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Salt on Your Tongue by Charlotte Runcie
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong*
Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Braised Pork by An Yu
The Turnip Princess by Franz Xaver von Schönwerth
The Tale of Tales by Giambattista Basile
Cook by Maylis De Kerangal
At the Edge of the Wood by Masatsugu Ono
The Face by Ruth Ozeki
Pew by Catherine Lacey*
Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente
Pet by Awkaeke Emezi*
All the Little Places by Sophie Shillito*
Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford
The White Book by Han Kang*
Life Form by Amelie Nothomb
Territory of Light by Yuko Tsushima
Wanderland by Jini Reddy
Space Struck by Paige Lewis
By the Pond: Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies' Pond
Nepantla Queer Poets of Color
That Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie

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WHO I AM

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Where to find me:

This video does not contain any sponsored content. Some of the links above are affiliate links. Books marked with * were sent to me by publishers for an honest review.

[renee_]

Follow me to Ground was one of those books that really surprised me this year. I'm a medical intern (doctor in less than a year) with a disability/chronic illness, so this checked a lot of my boxes. I ended up adoring it. It can be a fine line to balance as a doctor when you want to help people with a disability, without feeling the need to "fix" them or making them feel like that's what you want to do. Communication is so vital, and small mistakes or omissions can cause so much frustration. Having been on both sides, I think this book captured that well.
I loved hearing your thoughts, and I'm glad you liked it too!

[butteredflies]

I keep switching between this video and my library’s app 🤓

[jennieguinevere]

temperature dysregulation is oh my I really feel you there - I recently read and loved Pew too and currently half way through Ali Smith's Summer and LOVING it - can't wait to hear your thoughts! xxx

[LouiseReader]

24 in a month! Incredible. You've made me very keen for Pew, Pet and All the Little Places. I have The Thing Around Your Neck lurking in the TBR somewhere.

[jackiesliterarycorner]

I watched that vlog on reading your shorter books, and I decided to read my shorter books too. Your vlogs as relaxing to watch and now I want to bake bread too.

[HannahHodgson]

temperature dysregulation twins! (Luckily I live in the north, where it's only a little warm. I feel you! Don’t know how you’re even filming in that heat!)x

[christinacampbellbooks]

Pew sounds intriguing! It doesn't sound like anything I've ever read before. Definitely adding to my TBR :)

[kaylaalbers]

You and I don't read the same genres, but I subscribe and watch every video because I love to hear you talk about books, even if I'll never read them! Does that make any sense? Haha

[hanghuhn]

I’ve read Salt on Your tongue thanks to your Patreon page. I’m not a big fan of water and the sea, but I really enjoyed reading the book. It’s something I wouldn’t have read had I not seen it on Patreon. A few words on air conditioning: my husband bought an air conditioner and it’s sooo good!

[eyrecester]

Great video as always, Jen. Speaking of fairy tales and analysing them, can I just recommend Vladimir Propp’s Morphology of the Folktale? I thought it quite an interesting read.

[jemgem]

Oh my 36C !... That is bordering on unbearable ... that temp makes me SO tired... anyway thanks for such an uplifting video today x 💛☀️

[bookingforewordtoit]

I really have to read Pew, I get more and more intrigued each time you mention it!

[mradcaqbdb]

I just picked up Pew from my local indie yesterday based on your previous video. Looking forward to reading it. I loved Bluebird, Bluebird and I’ve got the next book in the series here. I’m trying to hold off for a bit because, as you said, it’s only just come out and it’ll be awhile before we get the next one. I think she’s an excellent writer. I’ve added Follow Me To Ground to my list. It sounds delicious!

[Aftin]

I absolutely adored Follow Me To Ground. I got it as an arc early in the year and have been so excited to hear others thoughts.

[beccababy]

Cool books, writing down some down for my Amazon wish list, loves your creepy books list 📚 and got a few like perfume, revenge, what to do when someone dies and the dreamers. I Luv that head wrap😀❤️

[GaggingLit]

I concur with you on On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. I really wanted to like it as I adore his poetry, but I thought the prose was all over the place...some of the writing was lush, other parts felt very overdone. Look forward to reading more Vuong, though. On instagram he made out like he's writing another novel. I hope he comes out with another collection soon and that he takes his time with the next novel.

Nice to hear you had a good reading month. My reading is going well so far this month - onto Autumn by Ali Smith so far and liking it a lot - which I'm glad of, as I found The Accidental very dull eek.

[lightlawliet]

omg that's a lot. wonder how y'all do it?? it took me pretty much staying up all night for three days to finish only one book smh [ laughing crying emoji]

[rosielove]

I have picked up Follow Me To Ground in shops a few times and put it back down, unsure about it so I am so excited to hear your thoughts! Will definitely be on my next book haul 😍x

[amina]

I have a question unrelated to the video if you don’t mind. Do you think is it ok if a writer uses names of actual ancient locations for a fictional world, even though the actual real-world location has nothing to do with the fictional one? For example, The Great Pyramids name is used, but they are not real world pyramids, and the entire setting of the story is obvious fiction/fantasy. If yes? Can you give me examples of literary works using this technique? I’ve been doing so research on the topic and I couldn’t find any helpful information. I’ll be grateful if anyone could help here?

[thegoth_librarian]

I read Follow Me To Ground in March and I’ve been wondering what you’d think since— enjoyed hearing your thoughts!