August 2017 Wrap-Up

August is the first month after YALC, which means i’m naturally more likely to want to read and i can pick any book from my book shelf without worrying if that author is attending YALC or not and i want to get the book signed. So, i’ve had a pretty good reading month. It’s been like walking in to a book shop and pulling whatever i wanted off the shelves, but in my own home, it’s a whole sense of freedom i forget existed (Dramatic? Probably not).

Flight Of A Starling by Lisa Heathfield
I started this book back in July and carried it over until August, and it happened to be the book i was reading when i met Lisa Heathfield at YALC! I ended up absolutely adoring this book. I was skeptical going in as i’d only ever had one recommendation of her, but her stories are heart-wrenching and beautiful and told in such a respectful manner. I’m very pleased that i ended up reading this and it has become one of my favourite books of the year.

Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
It’s hard not to pick up an early release of a Sarah Crossan novel if it’s not in your hands. This is Sarah’s latest verse novel, based around a death row and the relationship a man has with his family who is to be executed. I picked up an early copy of this at YALC on the Bloomsbury stand, and i’m so glad i did. Sarah always creates an atmospheric read with very well thought out characters. I cannot wait for you all to read this one once it’s released in September.

David Inside Out by Lee Bantle
I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and lets just say, i was very honest. I didn’t enjoy this book, and considering i was quite excited about it when they contacted me and read through some of the Goodreads reviews, it was very disappointing. I explain myself a lot more in my review of David Inside Out, but i found it to be very choppy, David as character to not be very well rounded and everything about it a little off.

Wonder by P. J. Palacio
Wonder has been on my TBR for a long, long time now. I managed to pick up a copy about a year ago maybe from a charity shop and figured i’d get round to it at some point. And then they dropped the movie trailer. This middle-grade novel is the story of August who is trying to live like any other 11 year old boy, but he isn’t like any other 11 year old boy. I really enjoyed the story and the writing of this one, and although it’s not life changing (for me), i really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the movie.

Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett
Alex Approximately breathes a little bit of fresh air in to the ‘online relationship’ novels of YA. It was one of my most anticipated novels of 2017, and to be completely honest i was quite disappointed in it. I will have a full review up soon of the novel, however it just fell a little flat and the writing seemed a little off for me. I enjoyed the story of it, but not enough to give it more than 2 stars.

I also started reading The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth this month as a part of our LGBTQ+ book club. Admittedly i probably started it a little late and it took me a while to get in to, meaning i haven’t finished it. Hopefully i’ll get it done in the first few days of September as i’m way over half of it now!

In the last few days of the month i picked up I Am Traitor by Sif Sigmarsdottir, which i am actually very much enjoying. It’s an alien novel based in London that so far is having The Hunger Games feelings. It will definitely be in my September wrap up.

Books Read: 5 (and 2 halves)

Pages Read: 1,946

Average Pages Per Day: 62

Average Rating:

Years Of Release: 2012, 2014, 2017

Male/Female Authors:  6 female, 1 male

Genres: Contemporary, sci-fi, middle grade, LGBTQ+

Books Read This Year So Far: 3.3