Brief weekend catch up

[dolorosa_12]

This was going to be a reading log post, but I've realised that I've read very little during the second half of June — just two books. The first was Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers by Sady Doyle, a collection of interlinked essays on themes of motherhood, marriage, feminism, and real-life and fictional horror. I've read and liked some of Doyle's essays and criticism in the past, but I felt this book was a little slight. It might have made more of an impression if I was more of a fan of horror in general, or interested in true crime, but generally I can only take those things in small doses. The second book is something I'm rereading for the first time since 2009 or so: British author Rumer Godden's memoir A House with Four Walls. I remember enjoying this when I read it for the first time (I really enjoyed Godden's books as a child, and she has a talent for making small moments of domesticity come to life), and it's certainly the relaxing, undemanding kind of nonfiction that I can dip into whenever I want that I need right now.

Other than reading, I've done a couple of yoga classes, cooked a lot, done various bits of housework, and watched a film and a documentary (which I will write about in my monthly viewing log post later). Yesterday was freezing and pouring with rain, but today has been nice and sunny, although I haven't been outside much.

I'm hoping next month's reading will be a bit more inspiring. I'm most looking forward to three novellas (one which has just been published, the others which will be out in July): The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho, The Dawn Chorus by Samantha Shannon, and Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders by Aliette de Bodard.

Are there any books that you're particularly looking forward to reading?

Comments

[kore]

Ooh, those sound like good books to order. //goes to Amazon

[dolorosa_12]

Glad to have helped — I'm looking forward to all three novellas a lot.

[goodbyebird]

There's been a lot of chatter about The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, curious about that one myself.

My next book is probably going to be the Murderbot novel. Excited to see what a longer plot and a more drawn out relationship-building looks like :)

[dolorosa_12]

I've loved everything that Zen Cho has ever written, so I'm certain I'll like her next book too.

The only Murderbot book I've read is the one that was nominated for the Best Novella Hugo award last year, but I really enjoyed that and will probably get to the whole series at some point. I hope you enjoy the novel!

[aimedatthestars]

Oooh, I too am waiting for the new Cho and de Bodard novellas.

[dolorosa_12]

The Cho one is published already, and the de Bodard one comes out later this month!

[merit]

I've had The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water on hold for a while (still on or-order, alas) because paying $15AUD for an ebook novella is... testing the friendship, Tor.com.

I have a few books I'm looking forward to that have yet to be published such as The First Sister by Linden A Lewis!

[dolorosa_12]

I've held off buying Pure Moon for that reason as well. Tor's ebook novellas really are extortionately priced!

Glad to hear you've got some good forthcoming books to look forward to!

[lokifan]

I liked the Sady Doyle too, but I felt I learnt more from Trainwrecks - less of things I've seen before, though her writing's always wonderful. (Going through old tabs, sorry to show up so late, haha.)

[dolorosa_12]

I feel like I would enjoy Trainwrecks more as well. I'll have to read it at some point.

And no worries about the late comments!