Bye, bye July!

So, it’s already 1st August. Where did July go? It seems like yesterday when I was about to read my dissertation and I had all the summer holidays ahead. Well, I still have a good part of them ahead and in the time gone I’ve enjoyed my free time like I’d never done before. So, basically, I’ve been reading and writing a lot, doing research on to-read books and watching amazing films with inspiring actresses and main characters. I’ve been also enjoying my free time with my lovely family, especially visiting Grandpa and having tea together (none of us will refuse an ice-cream and some chips, but then, who would?).

SONY DSC
This picture pretty much reflects the suffocating heat wave in both England and Spain.
Photo credit: http://amanderings.wordpress.com/tag/heat-wave/

As Leah pointed out, July was all about the 1920’s for me. It started with a historical biography on Zelda (Sayre) Fitzgerald which I loved and can’t wait to re-read. Then, I decided to do some compared reading with Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation, my first venture into non-fiction which proved to be a great experience. Finally and without fully realizing its setting before reading, I reviewed The Other Typist which is also set in the 1920’s. All this made it a glamorous month. I just kept reading red lipstick, red nail-polish and women bobbing their hair, so much so that one evening I even fancied bobbing mine yet again.

Comparing my reading to previous months, July has seen an increase in the number of books I read per month. I’ve been reading more than in previous months but not as much so as to forget what I read. My mind seems to forget about the books I read in short periods of time which I think is partly due to how much I like spending as much time thinking – or even writing! – about the book as reading it. But in July I seemed to balance my reading and non-reading time just perfectly.

For what remains of my summer holidays, I plan on keep reading both my books and the review copies I’ve requested. There are so many new books out there! My last request was Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach. Again, I read Naomi praising it (who else?! :)) and I knew I had to read it. However, I’ve also longing for some turn-of-the-century stories, so I asked for a review copy of Summer in February which I expect to read as soon as possible to watch the film starring Dan Stevens aka Matthew Crawley.

So, how did you spend July? Did you survive the heat wave trying to dehydrate us in both England and Spain?

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12 thoughts on “Bye, bye July!

  1. I’m so glad I’ve discovered your blog! Your month of July was spent reading the genre I am semi-obsessed with! After reading THE OTHER TYPIST I actually bobbed my hair 🙂 I look forward to reading your upcoming reviews! p.s. Are you in England??

    1. Thanks for visiting and comenting! Did you regret bobbing your hair? I did the last two times I did it because it took too long to grow it out.

  2. Glad to hear you had a lovely July Elena! I’ve been a little all over the place & behind on commenting but I’ve noticed that it’s everything 1920s reading-wise for you 😉 The titles you’ve read sound fantastic 😀 Sorry to hear about the heat wave, those are never fun (we had ours the other week…wanted to go into hibernation then, lol!)

    Ooh, I hope you get that review copy of Summer in February. I only noticed it a few months ago after I heard about that movie that was coming out…have yet to read it myself but it sounds interesting 🙂

    1. I have it! It was the Downton Abbey fan in me that propelled me to watch the trailer and I just loved it so much!

      Hope we review it soon and we can exchange a few emails 🙂

  3. I’ve been hearing so much buzz about Kiss Me First! I look forward to hearing what you think about it! I finally got a copy of Tampa (the lovely Jen of The Relentless Reader kindly sent me her galley), and I can’t wait to read it.

    1. Wow, everyone is really into Tampa, too! Let me know what you think, most of my GR friends rate it 3 stars, so I’m starting to think the premise is more provocative than the actual whole book.

      I’d love to be able to send you all books as presents… But transatlantic shipping is way TOO expensive.

  4. It sounds like you had a great month! My knowledge of 1920’s literature is scarce, to say the least, but I have this glamorous and idealized version in my head that I’m sure has little to do with the real thing. Any particular recommendations to start my reading of the time period?
    Enjoy the rest of the summer!

    1. I think most people imagine the 1920’s as a glamourous decade and you were right to do so: it was for the rich ones!

      My personal favourite reading is The Great Gatsby and if you feel enchanted by Daisy, read Z by Therese Anne Fowler, about Zelda’s life. I’m always interested in women’s point of view, so this was a great reading.

      Most people will recommend you Hemingway as well, it is not favourite of mine, but his works are classics 🙂

  5. I’m jealous of all the reading you finished in July! Mine was busier than I had expected, so less time for reading. August seems to be off to a better start, though. It sounds like you had some good reads, too. I don’t really know much about the 1920s other than bits I learned in U.S. History class, and I think the only novel I’ve read from or about the era is The Great Gatsby. Actually, I have a big gap when it comes to most of the 20th century!

    Here’s to a happy reading August!

    1. Happy reading, Amanda! I hope you get more free time in August. I highly recommend you anything from the 1920’s, it is a very glamourous and rebellious decade.

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