What I Read in July

I've always been a big reader, but lately I've started keeping a more extensive to-read list, which has been inspiring me to read more, and to read better. I read some good books in July and I thought I'd share my favorite with you.

What I Read in July.

I read the first two novels in the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear and I've been impatiently awaiting the third from the library (I'm finally at the top of the hold list). The series is set in post WWI England and features a young woman getting started as a private investigator. It's a time period and a plot that is a favorite of mine and I'm looking forward to seeing how the characters develop over the next several books.

I also really enjoyed the novel Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. I'll confess that what made me love this book a bit excessively was the setting(s). Every turn of the page was a reminder of somewhere I had been, or some tidbit of something I had once experienced but forgotten about. The story is pretty amusing and fun as well.

I've been searching out more memoirs lately, and I quite enjoyed Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah. I love reading about people's travels, and if they want to tell me more about food, I'm happy to listen to that as well.

What I Read in July.

I'll finish up with a light and easy double feature by Jenny Colgan, Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe and The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris. A little romance, a little food and an interesting setting I think make for the perfect summer novel. And my favorite quote of the summer comes from the Cupcake Cafe:

Muffins are just an American way of saying, 'I eat cake for breakfast.'

That made me proud to be an American :).

What have you been reading this summer? Anything good?

Tags:

reading

Recent Comments

Callie Douglass Sun, 09/28/2014 - 11:24

I love to read! Thanks for the list!

Barbara Ann Thu, 08/21/2014 - 09:39

Oh, I love this discussion. I'm a big fan of mysteries, especially all sorts of "cozy mystery" series. Throw in food and I'm a devoted fan for life. Memoirs, too. I've recently been on a Ruth Reichl kick (American food writer and former NYT restaurant critic). The Jenny Colgan books in particular sound so enjoyable. I hope my library gets the audio versions one of these days, as I rely on them the most. Thanks for the list!

Lizzy Janes Thu, 08/14/2014 - 15:37

Thanks for the book list! The Maisie Dobbs series sounds particularly good to me. I recently enjoyed reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I found it to be really good read. There are plenty of pithy quotes, and I kept thinking "that would be a good line for my art journal". Now I just need to find time for my journal!

Linda Purcel Thu, 08/14/2014 - 07:58

Love the suggestions! I have been reading two series of books...The China Bayles Herbal Mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert, and the Scrapbook Mysteries by Laura Childs.
Deanna..is The Gathering Storm a stand alone book or part of a series? It sounds interesting! And I love Joel Rosenburg!!

Sarah Lewis Thu, 08/14/2014 - 07:58

Thanks for giving me some new book ideas! I am always on the hunt. I just finished reading
"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"-a good story recommended to me by my teen daughter! I also read "The Vintage Tea Cup Club" and "The Boys in The Boat"-I would recommend all these books.

Deanna Patterson Thu, 08/14/2014 - 05:34

I read The Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenburg, which is a novel about five men who escaped Wuschwitz. After reading this, I read one of the books this author used in his research called London Has Been Informed: Reports by Auschwitz Escapees edited by Henryk Swiebocki. The novel was quite good but the real stories contained so many numerical facts that it was a hard read both mentally and emotionally. Now I am reading The Gathering Storm by Bodie Theone. She is may favorite author. I will have to look into the Maisie Dobbs series.

Jack "E" Abad Thu, 08/14/2014 - 01:39

The Diary of Angelina Grimke & The Yellow Wallpaper. I had to read them for my summer term but they were so enjoyable. :D

Randi Synnøve Larssen Thu, 08/14/2014 - 01:39

Thanks for Reading suggestons..love it!

Lady Phillippa Wed, 08/13/2014 - 17:19

I hadn't heard of Maise Dobbs, and it sounds fun! I hope my library has it on audio, as that's the only way I am reading a book these days!

Tiffany Johnstone Wed, 08/13/2014 - 07:14

LOVE LOVE LOVE your thoughts on these books! Thanks for the reading suggestions! Adorable word art too!

Angela Kaz Tue, 08/12/2014 - 12:37

I LOVE this post...I didn't get a chance to read much this summer, so I'm eager to see what everyone else comes up with...I did read the "Vintage Magic" series by Annette Blair; it's a mystery series with some romance and a little magic thrown in, and LOTS of fun vintage fashion details, I highly recommend all 6 books :)

susan diplock Sun, 08/10/2014 - 04:26

Clive Cussler & Terry Pratchett are my 2 favourite authors but basically anything written will do for me. I'm currently reading Veni Vidi Vici by Peter Jones which is a history of the Roman empire x

misty wilson Sun, 08/10/2014 - 00:05

Fifty shades of grey. It was very good, a little graphic but if you could get through those parts of the book you are sure to love the book.

Patricia Hardin Fri, 08/08/2014 - 08:57

I also like Maisie Dobbs and Harriett's The Lincoln Lawyer. Have you read any of Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series? Kind of like Maisie Dobbs, kinda light reading, but I have liked all of them. Unfortunately our local library doesn't have them so I'm reading them on my Kindle. Just got the newest one.

If you like unusual, try the Odd Thomas series from Dean Koontz. The latest one just came out and he said it is the last one. I'm on the list at the library and waiting impatiently since I have followed this character through 7 books and can't wait to see what the end will bring. My niece says they are too dark for her but I have really enjoyed them.

Marisa Lerin Fri, 08/08/2014 - 08:33

Thanks for the tips Harriett. I've added a few to my list!

Harriett Humphries Thu, 08/07/2014 - 17:33

Yeah, I like Masie Dobbs too and I love Paris so I'll have to read Mastering the Art of French Eating. You might like the Amy Leduc series by Cara Black (hip young detective in Paris). Crazy Rich Asians sounds like something I'd like also. Thanks for the tips. I'm usually behind the current favorites since I read from the library, but my favorites this summer were The Book Thief (Markus Zusak) and Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Jamie Ford). Didn't care so much for his second book. I like mysteries that aren't too gory (hard to find new ones) like the old Maigret series by Simenon, but just discovered the first of what I hope will be a good series, The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly. Also Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner (maybe for older folks). Right now in the midst of Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Quindlen. I could go on and on but will stop here, eagerly awaiting some suggestions from our great community.

Blog By

Marisa Lerin

About Me

Hi There! I’m Marisa Lerin and you’ll see me around at DigitalScrapbook.com a lot. I started this site in 2010 soon after I discovered a new love in digital scrapbooking. DigitalScrapbook.com has gone through some significant changes since that time and it’s grown into this lovely community site you are seeing now. I am daily surprised by the turn of life’s events that has led me down this path. If you're new to the site, welcome! Here are a few tidbits about me that I hope will help you get to know me better!

I’m originally from Minnesota, USA, but spent a good chunk of my childhood living abroad (in Bolivia and Hong Kong). I returned to Minnesota to attend university, got married and then moved overseas again (Korea, then Jordan and 1 year of traveling). My designs are heavily influenced by these many nomadic years. I am currently back in the USA, now living in the great state of Oregon!

I have no official training for what I’m doing, since I decided very wisely (haha) to study physics in university. I am always learning new things about digital scrapbooking, and this community has been immensely helpful for that!

If I manage to stop digital scrapbooking you will probably find me watching TV, reading or baking. I also enjoy writing for the blog here at DigitalScrapbook.com where I talk about whatever happens to be catching my fancy at the moment.