Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Reading Reflections: June 2020

Here we are...half way through the year already! How did that happen?

June was not a bad reading month for me. A bit of historical fiction, a bit of contemporary fiction, some Australian authors, some not.

Here's what I read:


The Palace of Tears by Julian Leatherdale - 4.5/5

This is the first book I read by Julian Leatherdale, who was an Australian author. The book was inspired by a hotel in the Blue Mountains just outside Sydney. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am definitely intending to read the other two books that were published before he unfortunately passed away earlier this year.




Normal People by Sally Rooney - 4/5

I had so many thoughts about this book, and then the TV series which I also watched this month, and yet I haven't written any of them down yet. I actually listened to this one on audio which I think helped because I didn't have to notice that the speech marks were missing. A brief summary of my thoughts - what makes this literature instead of young adult fiction?




The Silk House by Katye Nunn - 4/5

This is the first book I have read by Katye Nunn but it won't be the last. I did a joint review of this one with Bree from All the Books I Can Read. You can read our thoughts here.



Aria's Travelling Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin - 3.5/5

Books, food and France. What more can you want?




Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys 4.5/5

If I had to pick a best book of the month it would be this one. The irony is that this book has been on my bookshelf for more than 10 years, and in the end I only picked it up because I featured it as part of a Top Ten list. This book is a series of letters that were published during WWII and were then put together in a collection. The writer is writing to her childhood friend who is off fighting the war and she shares a series of anecdotes about life in her small village.



The House on Boundary Street by Tea Cooper 3.5/5

Part of the reason I mentioned the hotel when I talked about the Julian Leatherdale's book is because the same hotel is mentioned in this book. I do have a review half written on this book. Just need to finish it. I did enjoy some of the information about Sydney in the 1920s.



The New Beginnings Coffee Club by SamanthaTonge 4.5/5

This was my middle of the night read last week. It was also my first book by this British author. My library doesn't seem to have any more but I will be keeping my out for her books going forward.

I am linking my post up to the Monthly Wrap up which is hosted at Feed Your Fiction Addiction

12 comments:

  1. These all look so interesting, but can just say how much I agree with "Books, Food and France, what more do you need?!" LOL!

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    1. It's an apt description for a number of books I read really Verushka

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  2. So many great authors here that I really want to try. Leatherdale, Nunn, and Cooper are all ones I think I would really like.

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    1. I would start with Nunn I think Susan!

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  3. I've had Henrietta's War on my shelf forever. Thank you for writing about this one. You've just reminded me about it! Looks like you had a fabulous reading month. There are several books on here I'm taking note of!

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    1. Henrietta's War is definitely worth taking off the shelf and actually reading it! I read so many sections out loud to my husband because they are so much fun.

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  4. Looks like you had a great reading month! Hope you enjoyed them all!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  5. I've always like the cover of Normal People. I also like that Aria's Traveling Bookshop cover. HOpe you have a good July!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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  6. Your June was a great reading month. I haven't read your choices yet, but want to find Aria's Travelling Bookshop based on the cover alone.

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  7. Look like you had a wonderful reading month. I hope stay safe and healthy. Stop on by https://nrcbooks.blogspot.com/2020/07/monthly-wrap-up-june-2020.html

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