The month that was… July 2024

I’ve really struggled to write this post.  I didn’t know whether to share this or not, but my father passed away in July.  He’d been ill and living in a care home for some time, but his decline at the end was rapid – the only consolation I have is that he didn’t suffer at the end.  Everything else pales into significance after that, but in the spirit of a monthly round up:

The month started off ok with a camping trip in Yorkshire.  The weather wasn’t great, and so my other half and I ended up exploring Knaresborough, the lovely Castlegate Books, and Old Mother Shipton’s Cave.  It was a lovely day out despite the slightly damp weather.

I should have had a trip to Nice for a long weekend at the end of the month, but that turned into a disaster.  I didn’t really feel like going after losing my dad, but thought the change of scene and a little Mediterranean sun might do me good.  We set off to the airport and got through security, only to find out that our flight had been cancelled.  With no alternative flight available, we returned home. 

I’ve used books as an escape mechanism over the last couple of weeks, almost literally losing myself in one book after another.  I read 11 books as a result, and even managed to review some of them.  20 Books of Summer still feels like a stretch, but I’m a little more optimistic than I was this time last month.

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Read in June, reviewed in July:

• The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
• West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer

Read in July:

• Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
• You Are Here by David Nicholls
• Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith
• She Who Became the Sun Shelley Parker-Chan
• Eden by Tim Lebbon
• The Course of Love by Alain de Botton
• The Puppet Show by M. W. Craven
• Table for Two by Amor Towles
• Queen B by Juno Dawson
• Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch
• We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Favourite books from the last month

Other Blog Posts

I also shared a short list of titles that I’m particularly looking forward to from the coming quarter and my Spell the Month in Books post for July.

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Books acquired

Books purchased or otherwise acquired throughout the month.

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Onwards and upards for August. Go give your loved ones a hug.