July Reads

While my family and in-laws are watching GoldRush I'm taking time to catch up on some much needed posts. I feel like time is just flying by and I just can't keep up with life, let alone the summer.

This past month I read the following and listened to one audiobook. The audiobook I really enjoyed. It was "The Art Forger" by B.A. Shapiro. It was a really enjoyable story about an artist. And her job of being a Degas replica specialist and gets involved in some interesting detective work as an artist and in some interesting relationships. Added bonus some historical fiction about Degas. I highly recommend it.

My book club book this month was Amy Tan's " Saving Fish from Drowning". I really enjoyed the story line. I felt lie the story could have been cleaned up a little and some pages cut out, but otherwise thought it was worth my time. I felt kind of like I felt when reading Ann Patchett's State of Wonder. I still like Amy's "Bonesetter's Daughter" book better.

One great find in te cookbook section at the library was "A Homeamade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table" by Molly Wizenberg. I enjoyed this look at Eric life and family experiences via recipes. Each chapter ended with the recipe that was somewhere and somehow featured in that chapter. I loved the family stories and really want to buy the book for the recipes. Anyone who loves to read and cook should pick this one up.

"My Ideal Bookshelf" by Thessaly La For e was a great and entertaining read. The premise is to think about what your "ideal bookshelf" would or does look like. She then asked people from all walks of life: careers, ages, gender, ethnicity, etc what their "bookshelf" would look like. Some of the books I'd never heard of, some I had read and are favorites, some I disliked and some I've had on my "to read" list for awhile.   The other thing  I loved about this book was one page was the reader's story about their shelf and the other page was what the book spines of their shelf would look like if someone was looking at their shelf. The artwork was beautiful. Te artist and editor even give you your own blank template at the back of the book to pick your own favorites for your bookshelf and illustrate your book's spines. I'll share my bookshelf with you in the week to come.

Lastly,I read "March" by Geraldine Brooks. It is Mr. March's story during the period of time "Little Women" takes place.  I thought it read like Historical fiction and I really enjoyed it, although it is at times a sad story. I love this author and "People of the Book" is still my favorite of her's. I recommend reading them both.

I didn't get much kid's lit read this month. I think this is because 1. I'm not making time to read to kids daily (oldest is plowing through Little House on Prairie books and Bones- I know odd twosome. My youngest meanwhile is trying to be like her big brother and "read" on her own. 2. I thought I was going to have all this time to read to them on our travels this past month, but I ended up doing a ton of driving during vacation. So instead I'm still reading the same chapter book I started end of June and unfortunately have to return it due to "fines" I owe on book- I know shame on me!  Hopefully I will have at least one chapter book in the August Reads post.

On to bed now in prep to get good shut eye before tomorrow's tri. I'll have to fill you in on my workout life in the next few days too. Goodnight, hope a good read is sharing the last few minutes of your day with you.

This was suppose to post Saturday night, but something went wrong so getting it out now.