Talking About June, July & August Books

Hello again let’s be talking about books. I had some gems in the past three ones and a pile of average ones. June and July have been rather slow reading month and so I figured I. combine them all. August however took off. That is why I decided to make topmasts. one focusing on my books I reassuring the summer. The next post will be all the audio books that I listened to.

Let’s start with the best books for the beginning. Don’t forget to tell me if you read one of these.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss | ★★★★★

Goodreads says: ‘I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. 
What I thought: It has been a long time I solely dove into a fantasy and was not able to do much more. My days have been spend reading – in bed, on the balcony, while cooking…
I love the entire world building. I love the main character with his struggles after some fateful meeting and loosing all his. loved ones. I love how he his self driven and ambitious and has long term plan. I love that the love story is at eye level. I love the twists and turns. And I was truly sad when it enden. I am now waiting for the sequel to become available at the library. But maybe I go ahead and just buy it as I can see myself re-reading it.
Medium: self-bought paperback from library sale
Original Language and Title: English “”The Name of the Wind” part of “The Kingkiller Chronicle Series”
Publications: German title “Der Name des Windes”
Recommend to: Everyone loving good epic fantasy with strong layered characters.

The Magic Library by Jostein Gaarder | ★★★★✶

Goodreads says: An adventurous detective novel and at the same time a fantastic voyage of discovery into the world of literature.
After their vacations together, Nils and his cousin Berit decide to record their thoughts and experiences in letters. They want to write them in a book that will be sent back and forth between them. When Nils is about to buy the letter book, a strange woman appears whom the two have already met during a mountain tour. This woman pays for the book for him and disappears.
Then Berit suddenly meets the woman again in her hometown. Who is she? Is she following Nils and Berit?
What I thought: You can never be wrong picking up a book by this author. It is a wonderful tale again. I love how. he interweaves knowledge I his story. This one mainly about libraries and the sorting system. Did you know it is the same anywhere – more or less? The numbers on book spines? Also he explains tough words, some sort of literature and it is all wrapped up in a detective story that kept me entertained and reading. Of course it is targeted for. children so some things seem a bit over dramatic or “stupid” but I believe I would have devoured the book in my early teens.
Medium: hardcover book gifted to me
Original Language and Title: Norwegian “Bibbi Bokkens Magiske Bibliotek”
Publications: German title “Bibbi Bokkens Magische Bibliothek”, I am not completely sure this has been translated English.
Recommend to: Every child loving to read, detective stories and libraries. And every grown up a cild at heart or needing a good reading story for bed time.
Read Around the World: Norway

Britt-Marie was here by Fredrik Brackman | ★★★★☆

Goodreads says: Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention. But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes.
When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg—of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it—she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center.
What I thought: I am not one to laugh during books. Really, but Brakman has managed to get a squeal out of me. Again. After my first one (A man named Ove) I fell in love with his writing. Dry, sarcastic with an amazing gift of observation and describing. Without being too boring or detailed. It is just a joy to read. I flew through this book and had a wonderful reading time.
Medium: paper back from an instagram swap
Original Language and Title: Swedish “Britt-Marie var här”
Publications: German title “Britt-Marie war hier”
Recommend to: Everyone enjoying a character study, quirkiness and sharp writing while visiting another country.
Read Around the World: Sweden

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld | ★★★✶☆

Goodreads says: WHAT IF HILLARY RODHAM HAD TURNED DOWN BILL CLINTON’S PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE? ‘Awfully opinionated for a girl’ is what they call Hillary as she grows up in her Chicago suburb. Smart, diligent, and a bit plain, that’s the general consensus. Then Hillary goes to college, and her star rises. At Yale Law School, she continues to be a leader— and catches the eye of driven, handsome and charismatic Bill. But when he asks her to marry him, Hillary gives him a firm No. The rest, as they say, isn’t history. How might things have turned out for them, for America, for the world itself, if Hillary Rodham had really turned down Bill Clinton?
What I thought: It was an interesting take on contemporary historic people living among us. Hosthey felt about it? Not sure and has. I learned in podcast the. author doesn’t either. I liked the strong charismatic woman. I liked that she had her values but swoons when love get s in the way to make it back later. I loved the insights into her own struggles. It is well written and you could believe all of it is true too.It seems authentic. That itself is an accomplishment which gives this book the extra half star. The story however was okayish. It may be more exciting when Hillary is your countries politician. For me it was fine but didn’t get the hype that revolved around it.
Medium: paperback bought second hand
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Hillary”
Recommend to: Everyone loving politics, strong female characters and get a thrill out of alternate living.

History of Bees by Maja Lund | ★★★☆☆

Goodreads says: Three generations of beekeepers from the past, present, and future, weaving a spellbinding story of their relationship to the bees, to their children, and to one another against the backdrop of an urgent, global crisis.
England, 1852. William is a biologist and seed merchant who sets out to build a new type of beehive, one that will give both him and his children honor and fame.
United States, 2007. George is a beekeeper fighting an uphill battle against modern farming, but he hopes that his son can be their salvation.
China, 2098. Tao hand paints pollen onto the fruit trees now that the bees have long since disappeared. When Tao’s young son is taken away by the authorities after a tragic accident, she sets out on a grueling journey to find out what happened to him.
What I thought: I was a bit let down by this book. I had heard so much and really liked the blurb. It started out interesting but lost a bit of momentum on the way.
Unfortunately I didn’t like any of the characters which made it tough to enjoy. 
William – so whiny and so much self-pity | George – a heartless a** | Tao – overambitious and bitter
Also I didnt really like the writing. Not sure if it is due to the translation though. However, I think I will give the second book in this series a try and hope it’s better.
Medium: paper back swapped through Instagram
Original Language and Title: “Bienes Historie” and part of the climate quartet
Publications: German title “Die Geschichte der Bienen”
Recommend to: Everyone loving books that span generations and are somewhat connected, lovers of bees and in general like critical thought fully contemporary literature.
Read Around the World: Norway

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld | ★★★☆☆

Goodreads says: Quiet, bookish Alice Blackwell never dreamed of being First Lady. Much less to a President whose politics she doesn’t believe in. On perhaps the most important day of her husband’s presidency, Alice looks back on the strange and unlikely path that led her to the White House, and to a decision – both treacherous and long overdue – that could jeopardise everything.
Taking inspiration from real life, American Wife is a remarkable portrait of a woman caught between her feelings for her husband, her country, and herself.
What I thought: Ahh, well I struggled through this. First I wasn’t really convinced I like tis book. I still am not sure. But talking about it in our bookclub I came to appreciate it more. Had no idea we were talking about Laura Bush when I started reading the book. Some time in I clued together the pieces and figured that was the person who stood in for the character. Only after finishing did I fully knew. That said, it shows how much detail went into research and setting. It was at times long winded. I. could have been sharper at times. Overall I liked the. character and had some respect for Alice. Even though her circumstances changed and put her in a position she didn’t like she kept her values. Being married to the person she loves as well as not giving up her own string of thoughts and keeping the final democratic straw of not voting for him.. That does take courage.
Medium: ebook from library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Die Frau des Präsidenten”
Recommend to: Everyone liking political settings, strong woman, struggles of integrity and fiction.

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld | ★★☆☆☆

Goodreads says: From an early age, Kate and her identical twin sister, Violet, knew that they were unlike everyone else. Kate and Vi were born with peculiar “senses”—innate psychic abilities concerning future events and other people’s secrets. Though Vi embraced her visions, Kate did her best to hide them. Now, years later, their different paths have led them both back to their hometown of St. Louis. Vi has pursued an eccentric career as a psychic medium, while Kate, a devoted wife and mother, has settled down in the suburbs to raise her two young children. But when a minor earthquake hits in the middle of the night, the normal life Kate has always wished for begins to shift.
What I thought: Mehhh. I had hopes. “Senses” and “Psychic abilities”. Well I was disappointed.The whole book is not really about those things and. focuses more on Kate an obnoxious, boring and self-sabotaging human being too scared for this world. Her sister may have more flair but was also. rather unbearable. I would have DNFed this book wasn’t it for our book club that foxes on the author.
Medium: hardcover bought second hand (very bad condition too)
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: not sure it’s been translated
Recommend to: I am not sure I want to recommend.I can not seeing one person enjoying it. Maybe if you live in St. Louis and know the area you can enjoy it a bit.

New books on the shelves

I decided in 2023 I will also share how many books make it to my TBR list (only books I own otherwise we would sit here in years) and occupy my shelves right above the reading chair and also on my digital home on the kindle. Feel free to ask me in a few weeks if I have read it yet. HA

• Maame by Jessica George – a 0,99€ kindle deal
• Once more with feeling by Elissa Sussmann – a 0,99€ kindle deal
• To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini – a 1,89 kindle deal
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – a book I’ve been wanting for so long and no-one is gifting it to me so I just bought it myself. And it was on sale.
• The winter of the witch by Kathrine Arden – a book I bought myself because it looks like this version will be discontinued and I hate when the books in a series don’t match. And it was on sale.
• Crossing by Anna Seghers – a book I found in a free little library
• Am Horizont wartet die Sonne by Meike Werkmeister – Instagram bookswap
• Sterne glitzern auch im Schnee by Meike Werkmeister – Instagram bookshop

Alright so much for the books I actually read this summer.

Your turn: What books did you read over the summer? What book captures the summer feeling the best for you? Do you read differently in summer?