This post “June Books” contains affiliate links.
When July started I had high hopes to fly through all the epic novels with 500+ pages. Well I have not finished one. I started one from my Years Reading Goals but at around 30% I was so uninterested in the story, that I decided to quit. I love to check things of from my goals list but honestly if the story is not captivating and petty why bothers. There are so many exciting books out and I wo’t be able to read in my life time. So I snatched up books that were small, book that currently interested me more , book that let me dream of vacation. My July books: What I read last month.
VOX by Christina Dalcher | ★★★★☆
What it is about: A world in which women and girls are only allowed to speak 100 words. We follow along mother of 4 a former neurolinguistic researcher and how she sees the world, the society, the daily struggles and the thoughts on how it. came to be such a world.
What I thought: It was an interesting read and a book club pick. I found it thought provoking. The setting itself was something new. Something I haven’t come across yet. I enjoyed reading (as much as you can enjoy those kind of books) and it was easy to fly through the pages. I personally found the end a bit uproot and a bit too happy. I believe the book could have been stronger with a different wrap up.
Original Language and Title: English hardcover, paperback, eBook
Publications: German: hardcover, paperback, eBook
Recommend to: Everyone liking feminist dystopian fiction.
Über dem Meer tanzt das Licht by Meike Werkmeister | ★★★★☆
What it is about: Maria has been a world traveler and adventurist and landed on the small island of Norderney not intending to get settled. Life had other plans.
What I thought: I needed some light happy reading that too my brain away to summer vacation. For that it was a total win. Easy, fast good feel book. Only minor complaint I didn’t much care for the mother’s thoughts on raising kids. Just something I can’t identify with.
Original Language and Title: German paperback, eBook
Publications: not translated
Recommend to: Everyone loving a beach read, island setting and some northern German charm.
Myome selbst heilen by Prof. Dr. Ingrid Gerhard & Barbara Rias-Bucher | ★★★★☆
What it is about: More than two third of women between 35 and 55 will develop myoma. While hormone therapy and surgery are the most recommended therapy this book explores causes and possible treatments.
What I thought: It is more of a cookbook than I anticipated when buying. It was definitely worth my time reading and I did learn some things. However I would have loved to get a bit more (detailed) scientific insights. The recipes do sound good and I have already tried one. However for me they are not so very new and surprising. I guess when you are reading blogs for years and have Pinterest as a search engine there isn’t much new stuff out.
Original Language and Title: German paperback, eBook
Publications: not translated
Recommend to: Wanting to understand what causes myoma and how to regain hormonal balance in the female body.
The Castle in the Pyrenees by Jostein Gaarder | ★★★☆☆
What it is about: We explore the relationship of Solrunn and Steinn once lovers. An accident had them drift apart. They get reacquainted through a series of emails after meeting many years later. They reminiscence about their past relationship and debate about fundamental philosophical questions and differences between them.
What I thought: Not so sure. While Jostein Gaarder is one of my favorite authors this book didn’t do much for me. I haven’t quite figured out what it was a bout or what he wanted his readers to take away. It was still well written and kept me turning the pages. For me it wasn’t his best work.
Original Language and Title: English paperback, eBook
Publications: German title “Die Frau mit dem roten Tuch” hardcover, eBook
Recommend to: Reader who like philosophical discusses, mature relationship novels and love Jostein Gaarder.
The Road to the City by Natalia Ginzburg | ★★★☆☆
What it is about: Young woman dreams of living in the city and living an upper class life. She is courted by the son of villagess doc and happens to be pregnant. Her dreams shatter.
What I thought: Certainly an interesting story to follow and easy enough to read. It is more a documentation of society and life for a woman around the 40’s in Italy. The story itself may not be that unique but lives from the description of the characters. And even though I wasn’t liking any of them it still kept me flipping pages.
Original Language and Title: Italian “La Strada she va in città”
Publications: German title “Die Straße in die Stadt” || English paperback, eBook
Recommend to: Everyone liking to read about different lifestyles and classics.
Myome selbst behandeln by Elisabeth Cornelsen | ★★★☆☆
What it is about: Ways to treat myoma apart from western medical therapy at home.
What I thought: It was a good introduction into the topic, put a few things in perspective and made connections I had not yet made after reading through the internet. However the self helping part was a bit of a joke to me. Meditation and taking bath and stuff is not really what I was looking for and quite honestly I am not sure it will have the desired result. It was a bit too superficial and unscientific for me.
Original Language and Title: hardcover, paperback, eBook
Publications: not translated
Recommend to: Everyone needing the first overview of the topic and doesn’t want to travel the internet.
Just Folking Around by Penny Reid | ★★☆☆☆
What it is about: Rich girl goes to remote town. Looking down on the “rednecks” and happens to develop feelings for one.
What I thought: I didn’t read the synopsis. I wouldn’t have picked up. I am no fan of living the rich and elite life through novels. I don’t care about billionaires, celebrities and co and I most certainly roll my eyes when reading about it. This was the main character unfortunately. Otherwise the story was set in a little remote village and some romance which is always entertaining to me. And it was easy to read and a welcome break when I was close to a book slump.
Original Language and Title: English paperback, eBook
Publications: not translated
Recommend to: Lovers of small town romance and fans of Penny Reid.
And just like that I shared all the reads for July. Have any good suggestion for a perfect summer read. I’ll be heading for a 10 day vacation and we are planning on reading a lot. And I can always use some more books on my list. Leave a comment.
Happy reading
2 comments
Wow, so many books again. Good for you. I should really pick up a German book every once in while.
That first book sounds really interesting.
Are you suffering from myoma? I hope you can sort it out without having to have surgery!
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I can see you reading the first one. If you do let me know what you think. A German book every once in a while is not a bad pick. Unfortunately I do struggle with myoma and have been ignoring for the last two ir three years.