I read a lot more than I thought I did this month: eleven books. Of those eleven books three were library books, two were galleys, three qualified for 2013 challenges and one was nonfiction. I guess I read so much this month as I was avoiding life so if I wasn’t out walking (84 miles in July so far), I was reading. It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t want to do something else.
July was a busy month, but thankfully rather than a roller coaster ride it was more just one of those rides where you go straight up and then all of a sudden you drop; so only a couple of hiccups, but many self-created (I spend WAY too much time in my mind). On the plus side I completely cleaned my room and organized my desk and a pile of papers which had not been organized since September 2012 (if you’ve read my blog this long you know what happened then) and it was what I needed. It made me feel better and happier than I have in a long time. So now to close out 2013 with a bang or a kiss! 😉
Recent Acquisitions
Above you see the four physical books I purchased this month, whoops. I’ve already read The Velvet Rage (posted in early August) and I’m really looking forward to Blindness (thanks for the recommendations Dominic!). I won Jane Bites Back as part of the Mount TBR mid-year check-in and I can’t wait to read some of the Austen fan-fiction I’ve got saved up for Austen in August. And of course I had to buy a copy of The Cuckoo’s Calling knowing that it is J. K. Rowling’s latest piece. I wish I had discovered it on my own, but I never would have as I rarely read mystery. In addition I got John Irving’s In One Person as one of the Kindle Daily Deals and have one last galley I haven’t read that I requested this month, In Another Life (yay trashy romance!).
Challenge Progress
I was busy this month! I’m not sure how I squeezed in two official challenge books and a bonus book this month, but I did! Thankfully, it feels like I have gotten over my challenge slump as I am a tenth of the way into Les Misérables and that will qualify for multiple challenges for next month.
- Mount TBR Reading Challenge
- Monthly Progress: 1 book + 1 not listed
- Overall Progress – 9/12 (75%) + 10 not listed
- Back to the Classics Challenge
- Monthly Progress: 2 books
- Overall Progress – 8/11 (73%)
- Tea and Books Reading Challenge
- Monthly Progress: 0 books
- Overall Progress – 2/4 (50%) + 1 not listed
- The Classics Club
- Monthly Progress: 2 books
- Overall Progress – 26/100 (26%)
What’s Next?
As I said above, I’m in the middle of Les Misérables and I’m enjoying it so far, but good grief Hugo included WAY too many details – I may prefer the musical/movie to the book just for the sheer time saved and efficiency of it. I’ve already decided I will break up the reading with a few lighter books.
11 books and 84 miles that’s impressive. And 84 miles in July in Boston’s heat and humidity–that’s commitment there! I want to read Les Mis and have to since it’s on my 1001 list, but I’m not looking forward to all the details. I don’t care when Dickens (see how I slipped that in again) does it, but not sure if I’ll like Hugo’s details.
Yeah, there were a few days when I did NOT want to leave the house but I forced myself to! Haahaa yeah this might put Dickens to shame with details, blah.
I remember those days. I walked to and from work almost everyday. I think once there was an inch of ice so I took the bus and another time it was raining. I mean pouring and I had a meeting that day and thought it would be best to look professional so I hopped the number 1 bus. Don’t miss that job one bit!
Yeah – I don’t even walk to/from the T stop on a regular because I’m ALWAYS a sweaty mess. So that 84 miles is only when I’ve gone out specifically to walk. I should get a pedometer to see about my regular day-to-day walking.
I read 11 books in July, too, which is something of a record for me (it may even be 12 if I finish this one by the end of the day). I haven’t been so good about exercising though, and I’m missing my weekly yoga class that is on hiatus until October. Walking is great, though–I need to be doing more of that.
I’m looking forward to spending August reading Austen, too! See you there. 🙂
Some months you just need to read! I’m surprised I’ve been walking as much, but I’ve been enjoying it and I keep extending them so that they’re longer and longer which isn’t necessarily a good thing.
You cleaned your room! Yay! Hahaha!
I just realized, as I was putting together my July recap, that I never posted a June recap. OOPS. Guess y’all are getting a two-for-one this month. Hee!
Well cleaning wasn’t exactly the right word, but I filed a bunch of papers which I had just let pile up. And I didn’t vacuum/dust under my bed which I do desperately need to do.
Whoohoo for extra long wrap-ups! You could call it the J-months Jam 😀
Congrats on 84 miles! I know there was some real time investment there!
I just ordered my own copy of Cuckoo’s Calling (and also wish I had discovered it was J.K. on my own), so I’ll be curious to see what you think! Keep plugging through Les Miserables…it’ll be worth it. If you can make it past the first 200 pages (which I think are the longest and most depressing of the book) then you’ve got it. 🙂
A lot of time – apparently 28.5 hours (I roughly do 15 minute miles). It got me out of the house which is what I needed.
I think I’m through those first 200 as it seems to have picked up, but it’s still such a tome! Can’t wait to hear what you have to say about Cuckoo’s Calling!
Well done 11 books is a great amount! Now you’ve done your desk do you want to come over the pond and do mine? I don’t think I ever get on top of it all before more stuff arrives 😛
I would love an excuse to get back over there even if it was just to organize people’s desks! 😀