Reading is my oldest and favorite hobby. I literally can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love to curl up with a good book. Here are my reads for August, 2015…
Crossing to Safety, by Wallace Stegner – I loved this quietly dramatic story of the friendship between two couples. Larry and Sally Morgan meet Sid and Charity Lang at an evening event for academics at the university where Sid and Larry are instructors. The wives immediately bond over their pregnancies and before long the couples are closer than family. Stegner’s novel tracks their friendship as it ebbs and flows over the decades, until they all reassemble at the Lang’s compound in the face of tragedy. I’d never read any Stegner before and now I want to read everything he’s ever written. The writing was gorgeous, the characters so real, and the plot – while slow – was marvelously wrought.
Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More by Doing Less, by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest – I found this book while reading Goodreads reviews of Simplicity Parenting, which I read earlier this year. The reviews promised a similar premise to Simplicity Parenting, but a friendlier approach. I definitely found that to be the case. Much of Minimalist Parenting was common sense, but it was a good vote of confidence to continue working on right-sizing our life and family activities, which is something that I’ve been thinking a lot about these days.
Book Scavenger, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman – Twelve year old Emily is moving again; her parents write a blog about their quest to live in all fifty states, and it keeps the family on the go. Emily wishes they would put down roots, but she is excited about living in San Francisco, which is the home base of Mr. Griswold, the creator of her favorite game, Book Scavenger (think geocaching with puzzles to solve, and books as the prizes). But when something terrible befalls Mr. Griswold, Emily and her new friend James find themselves in possession of what they believe to be Mr. Griswold’s new game – and they’re not the only ones who want it. This was a cute middle-grade novel. Some Goodreads reviewers complained that it was too simplistic, but consider the audience; I thought it was a fun, quirky, light summer read.
Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis – I will have a whole post coming up on this at some point, but Lumberjanes was my first foray into comics and I found myself really enjoying it. Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five friends looking forward to an awesome summer at Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types when they discover a pack of three-eyed foxes and the message “Beware the Kitten Holy.” They are lured into a mystery involving river monsters, talking statues, and a boys’ camp where something is reeeeeeeally off. This was a blast. The dialogue was hilarious, the art was fun, and the mystery is drawing me in too. And with that, I formally retract my previous words about not being interested in any comics.
Breakfast with Buddha, by Roland Merullo – Otto Ringling is on his way to the homestead of his deceased parents. His sister Cecelia is supposed to accompany him, but instead she manipulates him into bringing along her guru, Volya Rinpoche. Otto, a confirmed skeptic, finds himself liking the Rinpoche more than he expected to, and agrees to show the Rinpoche some American fun in exchange for philosophical discussions in the car. They go to baseball games and discuss the meaning of life, and the journey changes Otto. So… I liked this, but not as much as I thought I was going to. I may seek out the next books featuring the same characters, but not for awhile – I didn’t love it enough to bump Lunch with Buddha and Dinner with Buddha up on my TBR.
Marvel Illustrated Pride & Prejudice, by Nancy Butler – Another comic, read for Austen in August. I enjoyed this one a lot. I love anything to do with Jane Austen, and the comic form was a cool way of experiencing her iconic work in a different style. I had some feelings about the author’s introduction, but I didn’t let that interfere with my enjoyment of the comic. This would be a great way for a lit lover to break into comics.
Love and Freindship, and Other Youthful Writings, by Jane Austen – My big reading project for Austen in August, I enjoyed reading Austen’s juvenilia. I found it hilarious and just wildly entertaining. (Everyone is drunk! Everyone faints! Everyone is horrible!) It was fun to watch the young Austen cutting her teeth; now I want to go back to the six canon works to see if I can find passages that show her progression.
Jane Austen’s England, by Roy and Lesley Adkins – Another Austen in August project. I found this cradle-to-grave tour of Georgian and Regency England interesting, but would have preferred if it had focused more on Austen herself and the middle class. There was a great deal about the very rich and the very poor, which was interesting but not representative of Austen’s England. I felt that the title was a hook to draw in Austen fans, and that Austen herself only made the occasional token experience; I think I’d actually have liked the book more if I didn’t feel a bit hoodwinked.
The Martian, by Andy Weir – Looooooooooooved this captivating tale of an astronaut’s survival on the red planet! Mark Watney is a member of Ares III, the third manned mission to walk on Mars. His crew is just settling in on their mission when a dust storm engulfs them. Believing Mark to be dead, the rest of the crew aborts and leaves Mars – with Mark, still very much alive, left behind. But Mark is plucky and brilliant, and he is determined to survive. Steve and I both read and really enjoyed this, and now I can’t wait for the movie! (Any babysitters want to volunteer to watch two ADORABLE children?)
August was a good reading month – lots of Austen in August fun, a new venture into comics, and a great sci-fi survival story. How could I complain? I think reading is likely to slow way down in September, now that I’m back from maternity leave (sniff – I miss the little guy so much). But I’m looking forward to some good library reads this coming month, and along with my friend Jen I’m hosting an Edith Wharton readalong! (If you haven’t joined us yet, please do!)
How was your August in books?
covered in flour 
I read The Martian in August, too, and my husband after me because I swooned over the book. I didn’t know there was a movie coming before I started reading, but of course it makes great movie material. Though I can imagine it is a bit too detailed and boring for some people (like Gravity).
The movie was great! They did a really good job of keeping the pace up and keeping people from getting too bogged down in the science parts. I also think the casting was brilliant, so that probably helped. The Martian seems like one of those books that is making its way through all the married couples! A few of my friends are reading it with or in proximity to their spouses, and I’ve heard of other couples listening to it on audio in the car (although you can only do that if there are no little kids in the car, because there is some language as you know!). Glad to hear you enjoyed the book, too! I thought it was so much fun.
We watched the movie last week (and I averted my eyes from the stitching-up scene, too). Since the story was still fresh in my memory, I noticed what parts they left out, but agree that was necessary.
Yes, I was disappointed that they edited out the storm as he approached the Ares 4 site, and rolling the Rover, but it was getting quite long so I suppose they had to. Rich Purnell was one of my favorite parts of the movie. I don’t remember him being such great comic relief in the book, but his character was hilarious in the movie! Glad he got so much screen time. (The actor was also nice to look at…)