May was the month I got back to some serious reading and blogging.
It was cold and rainy here, and by cold I mean I was still wearing tights, sweaters, and a coat until last week. Now it’s full summer mode and I couldn’t be happier, even if it means humidity and mosquitoes. Summer means reading in the park, grilling, and drinking wine on the patio. I planted my garden finally – I’ve got cucumber, peppers, cherry tomatoes, herbs, strawberries, and I’m trying Japanese eggplant. My space is small and my thumb not-so-green, so we’ll see what works.
What I read this month:
- Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (reread)
- Hero by Belinda Crawford
- Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
- Half of a Yellow Sun by Ngozi Chimamanda Idichie
- Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett
- Company Town by Madeline Ashby
- Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
My favorite read this month? If I don’t include Dragonfly in Amber, which was a re-read (and a book I can almost quote in my sleep), I’d have to say my reading this month was all a bit mixed. I wanted to be blown away by Rush Oh! and Half of a Yellow Sun, but I wasn’t. Hero and Company Town, on the other hand, were pleasant surprises and really fun science fiction reads.
What I reviewed this month:
- Road Ends by Mary Lawson
- Company Town by Madeline Ashby
- The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenzie
- Pleasantville by Attica Locke
I also participated in Bout of Books for the first time (still have mixed feelings about blogathons) and wrote about putting more time into my blog. I got some really great suggestions from bloggers and even writers and publishers. I did not have a chance to go to BEA or participate in Armchair BEA, but maybe next May.
June brings family visits, a trip to see my niece graduate high school, getting ready for our trip to Hawaii in July, AND my 45th birthday. So it should be an eventful month. I was happy this Memorial Day to have some serious down-time.
What I’m reading now: Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo, a sequel to Nobody’s Fool, one of my favorite books AND movies. This book ties really closely to the first book so you should definitely read that one first. Next up, I have an advance copy of Naomi Novik’s League of Dragons, the latest in the Temeraire series, which is out June 14.
That was May — happy summer everyone!
