What I read in August

penny on September 6, 2018

Apparently today is #readabook day. As every day is read a book day for me, I’m not sure what to suggest other than to step away from social media and pick up a book. Here’s a list of I read last month and a few titles I recommend.

August Reading List

  1. All Good Things (The Split Worlds #5) by Emma Newman
  2. Under the Sea Wind by Rachel Carson
  3. Planetfall (Planetfall #1) by Emma Newman
  4. After Atlas (Planetfall #2) by Emma Newman
  5. Before Mas (Planetfall #3) by Emma Newman
  6. Iron and Magic (The Iron Covenant #1) by Ilona Andrews
  7. Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
  8. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
  9. Prudence (The Custard Protocol, #1) by Gail Carriger
  10. Imprudence (The Custard Protocol, #2) by Gail Carriger
  11. Competence (Custard Protocol, #3) by Gail Carriger
  12. Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, #1) by Bec McMaster
  13. Heart of Iron (London Steampunk, #2) by Bec McMaster
  14. My Lady Quicksilver (London Steampunk, #3) by Bec McMaster
  15. Forged by Desire (London Steampunk, #4) by Bec McMaster
  16. Of Silk and Steam (London Steampunk, #5) by Bec McMaster
  17. Sporting Chance by Elizabeth Moon
  18. Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch, #1) by Ann Leckie
  19. Forever the Road (Rucksack Universe) by Anthony St. Clair
  20. The Martini of Destiny (Rucksack Universe) by Anthony St. Clair
  21. Home Sweet Road (Rucksack Universe) by Anthony St. Clair
  22. The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World (The Mysteries of Nature Series) by Peter Wohlleben
  23. Knitting Modular Shawls, Wraps, and Stoles: Mix-and-Match Triangles + 212 Stitch Patterns = Unlimited Design Options by Melissa Leapman
  24. The Knitter’s Dictionary: Knitting Know-How from A to Z by Kate Atherley

List of Book Covers for titles read in August 2018

Those with eagle eyes will believe I may have neglected to complete a few series. If I’m rereading and/or all the books have been published, yes I try to read all through to the end! At this point in the number of books I’ve completed this year, what’s being off by one? ;) (On this sixth day of September, I passed 142!)

Recommendations

Nature

Under the Sea Wind and The Hidden Life of Trees. As I child I thought I’d be a (marine) biologist. If I had read Carson’s writing in high school (I have no idea why it was never put in front of me) I may have considered that path more strongly. Her words evoke poetry, are still timely (take of that what you may), and painted beautiful landscapes in my head while I was reading. I’m fascinated by the forest too and learned a ton about trees from Wohlleben’s book.

Knitting

Please go preorder The Knitter’s Dictionary by Kate Atherley. My review will be out soon, I can say that YES you need a copy. It’s beautiful and beneficial for all knitters.

Science Fiction/Fantasy

If you enjoy coming of age adventures with a mix of steampunk and not the everyday stereotypical werewolves and vampires, Gail Carriger is a treat. The third book in her Custard Protocol series, Competence is now available and I enjoyed it, the first book leaves something to be desired but it feels that this series has figured itself out. I am already impatient for the fourth book, due out next year!

If you’re looking for steamy romance with steampunk, Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series is for you. While browsing ebooks, Overdrive somehow suggested it (I think it came up in an author search?) so I checked the first one out without reading the description and then kept going to see how it all tied together. Not all of it was my cup of tea, but it was more enjoyable overall than I expected.

I also highly recommend the books of the Rucksack Universe by Anthony St Clair. My library acquired Forever the Road as an ebook (through Overdrive) and it was fun to reread. His new book, Wander will be out October 19th. Don’t see it at your local library? Ask them to order a copy!

The Planetfall series by Emma Newman was fun and at times I couldn’t put it down (at others I wanted to toss it across the room). Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews is set in the Kate Daniels world yet feels different, perhaps because the setting isn’t “urban Atlanta” but a bit more traditional for fantasy settings despite it’s modernity. If you’re sad summer is over and are looking for a beach-type read even though it’s September, please give these a try!

Next reads

We enjoyed our summer library book sales and I have many new acquisitions to enjoy. I hope now that it’s technically closer to autumn and the feeling of school is in the air I can finish reading my friend Jessica Ziparo’s book, This Grand Experiment. I enjoyed the first chapter and want to finish it!