I was traveling for most of July, which I thought would be excellent for my reading life but ended up fracturing my attention. In the best kind of way, mind you. I was fortunate to see two wonderful humans get married, spend time with immediate and extended family, meet up with friends I see too rarely, and see some excellent sights. It was a wonderful trip. And even though I didn't do as much reading as I thought I would, I did manage to read a few engrossing and enchanting books along the way.
Overall in July, I read the fewest number of books but again not the fewest number of pages (that record still belongs to March). My trend toward longer books is holding steady. Only one of seven books I read in July was under 300 hundred pages (Neil Gaiman’s Stardust), and three of seven were over 500 pages. Though I should add that Anne Carson’s translation of Sappho had lots of pages but very little text per page.
Number of books read: 7
Number of pages read: 3,109
Books over 500 pages read: 3
Number of formats read: 3
Paperback (4)
Hardcover (1)
Ebooks (2)
Number of genres read:
YA fantasy (2)
Adult fantasy (3)
Adult historical thriller (1)
Ancient Greek literature (1)
Full list of books read:
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
My reading life the last few months has been so fantasy oriented that I bypassed this World War II-focused psychological thriller multiple times before finally picking it up. But when I’m not obsessing over classical and fantasy literature, I’m quite drawn to WWII novels. It’s a war that directly impacted my grandparents and parents, and it feels like a tribute, especially to my grandmother and father, to learn about that time not only historically but in a felt sense.
The Huntress features three narrators and multiple timelines. Soviet Nina Markova finds meaning and connection by joining the Night Witches, an all-female bomber unit (check out the fascinating history behind them here). British journalist-turned-Nazi-hunter Ian Graham is determined to find a brutal Nazi killer known only as the Huntress. In post-war Boston, 17-year-old Jordan McBride, who longs to be a photographer, finds her life up-ended when her father gets remarried to a German widow.
The fun of reading this novel for me was leaping back and forth through time and from different perspectives. The plot was immersive and engrossing, though at times predictable. Ultimately, I was too fond of the characters and the setting to care that I could see the ending coming a mile away. I got the ending I wanted, leaving me satisfied in the way I feel at the end of Pride and Prejudice: Yes, I knew that would happen; the fun was in getting there.
Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang
If I bulldozed through The Huntress (540 pages in two days), I took a leisurely stroll through these stories over the course of more than a week. Partly because I was traveling and partly because I wanted to linger over them.
These are science fiction stories that vary in length and subject matter. One story (the first in the collection and my favorite) involves time travel. Another looks at what it would mean to “raise” a virtual pet for years. Another explores the implications of being able to communicate with your self who lives in a parallel timeline. Each of the stories examines what it means to be human in a gentle, soulful way. I never knew science fiction could be so enchanting.
If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho translated by Anne Carson
I’m obsessed with this translation of Sappho. Carson includes brackets to indicate where words are missing. This foregrounds for readers that what we are experiencing is a fragment. What we know is partial. The missing words are as important as the words that have survived. It makes for a surprisingly intense reading experience suffused with loss and longing, an aching reminder of the limits of human knowledge.
A Winter’s Promise, the first book in this fantasy series, so enchanted me (see more of my thoughts on it here) that I could not wait to read this second book. In retrospect, I probably should have waited to read it when I was not so distracted. Dabos’ world-building is so intricate and whimsical that it demands attention, in a good way. The Missing of Clairedelune ratchets up the tension and ends on quite the cliffhanger. Fortunately (I suppose), the translation of the third book doesn’t come to the States until next spring. Which leaves me plenty of time for a reread.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The centerpiece of this novel is a quest by a young chap called Tristran Thorn to fetch a fallen star for the object of his affection, Victoria Forester. What Tristran doesn’t know is that his real mother is a fairy, and the star he seeks ... wait, that should be a surprise.
I enjoyed reading this sweet story about (mostly) endearing characters in a magical setting. That said, it’s a story to be enjoyed for the whimsy of the circumstances and the banter between the characters. I cannot say I found it philosophically deep or existentially weighty, but it’s charming and light.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
This was a project-based reread for me, and I may have enjoyed it even more than I did the first time, most likely because I’ve become immersed in Homer since my first dip.
The Song of Achilles is an ancient Greek myth retelling centered around the relationship between Greek hero Achilles and his companion Patroclus, narrated in the first person by Patroclus. As with her latest, Circe, Miller also fills out Patroclus’ backstory, beginning with his birth, disappointing early childhood, and his exile to Phthia, where he meets and eventually falls in love with Achilles. The second half of the book picks up the plot as told in Homer's The Iliad, though through the lens of a love story (the Homeric text is ambiguous about the specific nature of Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship).
As with Circe, Miller has a tendency to somewhat victimize her central characters (Circe and Patroclus), which can feel like a too-easy way to make readers care about them. I miss, in her novels, Homeric ambiguity concerning character. She gets closest to it with her characterization of Odysseus, who can be an opportunistic tool but also caring. Patroclus’ father and Achilles’ mother tend toward cartoon villain-ish-ness, and the scene between Achilles and Priam—gut-wrenching in Homer—falls curiously flat in her retelling.
These quibbles aside, I found the story as mesmerizing as I did the first time I read it. Miller’s prose sings in this text. It is the novel’s highpoint. She cleverly incorporates Homeric similes and creates a sense of rhythm with her language and successfully evokes the strangeness of the ancient world while still creating emotional resonance for modern readers.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J. K. Rowling
I read this on my 10-hour transatlantic flight from Athens to Newark on Tuesday. It was in my Nook library, and I was in the mood. I think book six might be my favorite in the series. But I should probably reread all seven before committing to that.
How was your July in books? Standouts? Recommendations? Reflections?