June was a great month of reading for me! Here’s what I read:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle- Shirley Jackson
The Mysterious Affair at Styles- Agatha Christie
Whidbey- T. Kira Madden
Taken at the Flood- Agatha Christie
The Blind Assassin- Margaret Atwood
After the Funeral- Agatha Christie
Case Histories- Kate Atkinson
The Clocks- Agatha Christie
The Woman in Cabin 10- Ruth Ware
The clear winner of the month was The Blind Assassin, which I read because it’s Nicole’s favorite book! Yes, it’s so good. Atwood is an incredible writer. By the way, Nicole, this book is a mystery. I mean, it’s not a murder mystery whodunit, but there’s a mystery at the core of the story. So don’t tell me you don’t like mysteries!
A couple weeks ago I went to one of the used bookstores in my area; today I went to the other one. Unlike the first one, where things are very clean and orderly, here’s what this one looks like:
The selection is much bigger though, and I had a list of books I’ve been looking for. I felt like I was on a treasure hunt, and ended up with these:
… and I added this one, which was sitting on top of a pile at the checkout, at the last minute:
I originally had Mansfield Park from the library, and I really do want to read (or, reread) it, but it just seems like it’s not going to happen right now. Better to own a copy and be able to pick it up when the time is right. I’ll save the Agatha Christies and Strange Pictures for my upcoming trip TO INDIANA FOR THE WEDDING- I’ll need things to read but nothing that requires too much brainpower.
By the way… did you know Agatha Christie wrote poetry? I didn’t!
One reading podcast I’ve been enjoying lately is Books Unbound. In every episode, they talk about books they’ve read, what they’re currently reading, and books they’ve bought recently. Wow- they buy SO MANY BOOKS. There’s no way they have time to read them all! I’m trying not to follow in their footsteps, so I’m happy to report that of the five books I bought a couple weeks ago, I’ve already read three of them (and one is a very short book by Anna Quindlen, A Short Guide to a Happy Life- not a book I need to read right away. It can hang out in my house for a while).
On my way home from the bookstore, I stopped at the library because one of my holds was in:
Ah, I love the library. I love bookstores. I love books!!!
What are you reading now?
Have you read any of these?
20 Responses
That’s a lotta books! I did not know that Agatha wrote poetry, but I shouldn’t be surprised. The story for The Moving Finger should be very familiar, since it was spoofed in Dover 3. Outside of Christie, I read In An Instant for book club, which was solid but it’s fading in memory very fast.
I started Tom Lake last night. but it’s too early to say what I think.
Okay, I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Tom Lake. I’m avoiding it because I don’t think it’s my type of book, but you can let me know.
Hmm…I don’t know that The Blind Assassin is a mystery per se, but we can both agree that Atwood is an incredible writer! She is a national treasure. She also has quite a few dystopian books that aren’t up my alley, but you may really love them!
That used bookstore is so messy but I kind of want to peruse all those piles – I bet there are some real treasures there!
Oh hey, you know what, I read the Woman in Cabin Ten! It was a long time ago but I remember tearing through it – every once in a while a thriller will come my way and I’ll really like it! Every once in a while we overlap, Jenny, and I’m SO glad you liked The Blind Assassin. I reread it just a few months ago and it felt like coming home.
Yes, every once in a while we do overlap! There’s definitely a time and place for a good thriller. And I should definitely read more of Margaret Atwood. I read Cat’s Eye a LONG time ago and loved it.
I am so glad that The Blind Assassin worked for you, too! It was a delight to read it and message Nicole with my thoughts! Atwood is such a talented writer!
That used bookstore kind of stresses me out. Ha. But it can be fun to poke around and see what you might find. I very rarely buy books for myself. I usually only buy a book when it’s a book club book that I can’t get in time from the library. But since we pick our books far in advance (we vote on them in December and then I set the order of books based on library availability) I can almost always get them from the library unless I forget to request a book in time. I do buy books for the boys, though. Paul doesn’t like to read with me as much as he used to, especially since the world cup has captured his attention, so I am glad we can read Nevermore at our own pace. If it was a library book, we would have had to return it by now…
Right now I’m reading “The Burning Side” which is about a couple who is on the brink of a divorce and their house burns down, forcing them to live with the wife’s parents for awhile. I just started it last night but am liking it so far. The fire scenes were a bit tough to read at the start but I figure it’s good exposure therapy for me.
Ooh- that book sounds good (although I can see how it would be stressful for you). I’ve heard about it somewhere else as well. I’ll wait for your full review and then maybe I’ll read it.
Yes, buying books for the kids makes sense. Plus, kids books are cheaper! I used the library as a kid, but we also had a lot of books that we owned and I liked that.
NOOOOO!!! I did not like that photo of that bookstore. That is NOT how books should be treated. I am verklempt.
That was a great reading month for you! Here’s hoping July is just as fruitful! (Will you have time to read during WEDDING MONTH?)
Ha ha… I knew you wouldn’t like that. And- there’s always time to read!!!
I’ve read all the Agatha Christie- that one cover of Elephants Can Remember is just like the one my mom had when I read it in…. a long time ago.
I did read Mansfield Park in June; I’m making one of my high schoolers read it. He is not impressed yet. I tell him to look for the sly comments that seem innocuous at first then you realize the zing within.
I read some forgettable books, tried and rejected the Silent Patient, the NYC translation department one- good but not in the mood- I’ll get it again in the fall.
Glad you have some good reads for your trip to the wedding!
Thank you Mary! I’ve also read all the Agatha Christies, but it was so long ago that I don’t remember most of them (there are a few notable exceptions- Murder on the Orient Express, for example). I think I read that same copy of Elephants Can remember… a long time ago.
Wow, you’re optimistic- Mansfield Park would be a tough sell for a high school boy. I’ll be impressed if he sticks with it and ends up liking it.
what a great month of reading! I haven’t read any of these. In June I read Whistler and early July finished the new book of David Sedaris, both great books!
Everyone has loved Whistler, but I’m not sure if it’s for me. I do love David Sedaris though!
I am not a buyer of books (almost ever) and feel very overwhelmed in most used book shops! But, some of the pressure is removed since I’m almost always just browsing.
I finished Yesteryear last night and LOVED it. After not much in the book department in June, I am leaning into reading in July and loving it. So many fun holds coming in; I’m in the “reader problem” space of having too many books that I genuinely want to get through and not enough time. I keep having to remind myself I have kids and work and life responsibilities and I cannot just sit down and read all day long. But, I did read most of yesterday afternoon and evening, finishing Yesteryear in a single day. I know you liked that book, too. It was a 5/5 for me.
Yes, it was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! It would be so fun to have a blogger book club meeting on that book, because people had varying opinions on it.
I know- I wish I could just sit down and read all day long. Sometimes I actually do that! But not every day, darn.
We went to four used bookstores on our reading retreat, and they ranged from small and curated to an episode of Hoarders.
I have an audio play adaptation of Christie’s the ABC Murders that I’m looking forward to listening to on my commute. The same group did an adaptation of The Mysterious Affair at Styles and I really enjoyed that. I’m finding that audioplay versions of Christie is nice for my commute because the different voices keep me engaged.
I loved the Blind Assassin when I read it years ago – it might be my favorite Margaret Atwood book, though Alias Grace is a favorite too.
LOL that bookstore looks like people just walk in with their books to donate and set them down anywhere — and maybe that’s how it works. LOL on the Trader Joe’s bag. Glad you found some books you were looking for.
What Engie said! I would have walked in and walked right back out. I can’t even stand to see a Little Free Library disorganized; I tidy it up immediately.
I don’t have a deep problem with the cluttered bookstore, but I would be afraid I was missing a gem in a box or a bag or something. Which is ridiculous because it’s not like I would buy 20 books or anything. Did you like We Have Always Lived in the Castle? I read it years ago and loved it. So weird and quirky. We’re the same age…do you remember a movie with a young Jodie Foster, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane with a very creepy Martin Sheen? (I almost said Martin Short – NOT THE SAME) I read The Blind Assassin but it’s been so long I don’t remember it anymore. Hmmm. Maybe time for a reread?
That bookstore gave me hives just through the picture! Haha!
We have a local bookstore near us that is similar to that, although a bit more organized. It’s a whole warehouse and every book in it is $1.25. It really is a treasure hunt in there, and I always leave feeling so happy/satisfied that I got a whole haul of books for less than the cost of one brand new one. I also LOVE my library but just wonder why it is that ALL of my long-awaited holds always come in at the same time!!!
Ooh, I love a good used bookstore, even one that might not be perfectly organized haha. I should take a trip to my local used bookstore soon as I have some empty cubes in my new cube bookshelf that need some friends!!
I had no idea that Agatha Christie wrote poetry!
Annnnd I definitely need to add that podcast to my repertoire. Thanks for the rec!