I listened to and loved As You Wish: inconceivable tales from the making of the princess Bride. Most of the original cast narrates the book, which made it extra charming. I also read The Editor, the new biography of famous editor Judith Jones. That fit right into my wheelhouse.
For me, August was an unusual month in terms of reading material. I re-read two of my all-time favourite novels: Crime and Punishment, and The Grapes of Wrath. There won't be a month in which the best books I read will be better, until I choose to re-read these ones again.
So happy for your shout out to Swan Song by Robert McCammon!! I read/listened to it 7 years ago and Wow.. it was sooo good. But since you mentioned it I have to share one of my all time favorite books ever is also by that same author Robert McCammon “Boys Life”. I bought extra copies to give to other friend readers!
For me the book of the month was Michael Connelly’s “The Wrong Side of Goodbye.” It demonstrates the author’s growing mastery of his job through deft descriptions and pacing. It even has an “I didn’t see that coming” end.
By far, the best book I read in August was James by Percival Everett. An original retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Jim. It was so good that I put two pages of quotes in my book journal! Best book of the year so far.
First - good choice on Wilder's novel; I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Second - I'll do the opposite(?) and choose two nonfiction books: David Oshinsky's Polio: An American Story and David Zucchino's Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy, winners of the Pulitzer for History (2006) and Nonfiction (2021), respectively. These are excellent and if you have an Audible membership, they're included.
I read take less, do more by Glen Van Peski. It is life lessons in generosity, gratitude and curiosity from an ultralight backpacker. I found it to be enriching.
The author was a civil engineer and along the way started Gossamer Gear a backpacking gear company. You don’t have to be a backpacker to enjoy the book.
Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South by Varon, and Wired by Douglas Richards. Varon details the culture and times in which Longstreet lived. This gives a the reader a wider view of that time in history. Richards knows his science and is more of a Ludlum style author.
My favourite August read was Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi. I listened to it as an audiobook and Emezi's narration is exquisite. It's a very intense and dark read, but absolutely beautiful and unique. I've never read anything like it!
I listened to and loved As You Wish: inconceivable tales from the making of the princess Bride. Most of the original cast narrates the book, which made it extra charming. I also read The Editor, the new biography of famous editor Judith Jones. That fit right into my wheelhouse.
That was a great audiobook! We loved it.
It's high on my list! (Along with The Princess Bride book.)
For me, August was an unusual month in terms of reading material. I re-read two of my all-time favourite novels: Crime and Punishment, and The Grapes of Wrath. There won't be a month in which the best books I read will be better, until I choose to re-read these ones again.
Bravo!
GoW is a favorite book.
I read Grapes of Wrath for the first time in August and I loved it. I also really enjoyed If Beale Street Could Talk
by James Baldwin,
So happy for your shout out to Swan Song by Robert McCammon!! I read/listened to it 7 years ago and Wow.. it was sooo good. But since you mentioned it I have to share one of my all time favorite books ever is also by that same author Robert McCammon “Boys Life”. I bought extra copies to give to other friend readers!
Great to know! It was my first McCammon experience — there's definitely more in my future!
For me the book of the month was Michael Connelly’s “The Wrong Side of Goodbye.” It demonstrates the author’s growing mastery of his job through deft descriptions and pacing. It even has an “I didn’t see that coming” end.
Nice! Never read anything by him.
By far, the best book I read in August was James by Percival Everett. An original retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Jim. It was so good that I put two pages of quotes in my book journal! Best book of the year so far.
Agreed wholeheartedly. It's on my shortlist for faves of the year, for sure.
First - good choice on Wilder's novel; I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Second - I'll do the opposite(?) and choose two nonfiction books: David Oshinsky's Polio: An American Story and David Zucchino's Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy, winners of the Pulitzer for History (2006) and Nonfiction (2021), respectively. These are excellent and if you have an Audible membership, they're included.
Glad to hear you enjoyed those two!
In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides. True story of an ill fated expedition to the North Pole.
He's one of my favorites in the narrative history realm.
"You Could Make this Place Beautiful" by American poet Maggie Smith. This darkly funny memoir quickly became on of my favorite books of the year.
I read take less, do more by Glen Van Peski. It is life lessons in generosity, gratitude and curiosity from an ultralight backpacker. I found it to be enriching.
The author was a civil engineer and along the way started Gossamer Gear a backpacking gear company. You don’t have to be a backpacker to enjoy the book.
Oh that sounds great — thanks for the rec!
The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz
Haven't heard of it — thanks for sharing!
Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South by Varon, and Wired by Douglas Richards. Varon details the culture and times in which Longstreet lived. This gives a the reader a wider view of that time in history. Richards knows his science and is more of a Ludlum style author.
Varon's work has been on my list a long time.
My favourite August read was Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi. I listened to it as an audiobook and Emezi's narration is exquisite. It's a very intense and dark read, but absolutely beautiful and unique. I've never read anything like it!
I've never heard of it, but now I'm definitely going to look it up.
As I Lay Dying- Faulkner's ode to humanity, family, love and death.
I have yet to read Faulkner.. next year is probably the year.
My best book for August is Jean Rhys’ 1966 novel written as a prequel to Jane Eyre about “the madwoman in the attic” - WIDE SARGASSO SEA!
Ah excellent! Glad you enjoyed it — I've not read it, but it's been on my list a long time.
I didn’t read as much as I’d have liked in August, but thoroughly enjoyed Feh by @Shalom Auslander. But maybe ‘enjoyed’ isn’t quite the right word…
I had 3 favorites out of 10 books in August. A PRAYER FOR THE DYING BY JACK HIGGINS THE DRIFTER BY NICK PETRIE THE WEDDING EOPLE BY ALLISON ESPACH.