Monthly Roundup – August 2022

August has been a mostly good month for my little household. Husband booked a couple of weeks off work – the longest break he has had this year – and we drove down to Exmoor for a walking holiday. I wrote about the hotel we stayed in here and about my teddy bear, Edward’s adventures here. While we were away I left my blog in Robyn’s capable hands and she managed to post three reviews of recently read books. It’s good to have her back as a contributor even if this is likely to be sporadic given her demanding job.

Husband and I opted to return home in time to celebrate my birthday with the whole family. The day started with a Parkrun and finished with a meal at our local pub. In between much cake was consumed and a bottle of champagne imbibed. It was a lovely day.

After our vacation, we enjoyed a staycation. This included an epic walk locally, covering 26k across the beautiful Marlborough Downs. The family all came together again for a bank holiday weekend barbeque. We have been very lucky with the weather during our time off work – the heatwave broke and we managed to avoid being outside during the much needed rain showers.

My usual activities have continued – regular runs, strength training and swims. Our hens have been released from their coop to enjoy free ranging again, but only when someone is around to deter potential predators. I wrote an article on hen keeping for The Vixen magazine (September 2022 edition) which may be downloaded from here.

It has also been a good reading month. I posted reviews for seven books – an eclectic range that I am glad to have read.

As is customary in my monthly roundups, click on the title below to read the review and on the cover to learn more about the book.

Fiction

 
After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz, published by Galley Beggar
Operation Moonlight by Louise Moorish, published by Century

 
Constellations of Eve by Abbigail Nguyen Rosewood, published by Platypus Press
blue hour by Sarah Schmidt, published by Tinder Press

The Knock-Knock Man by Russell Mardell, published by RedDoor Press

Translated Fiction

Wild Horses by Jordi Cussà (translated by Tiago Miller), published by Fum d’Estampa

Non Fiction

Never Mind, Comrade by Claudia Bierschenk, published by Tangerine Press

Robyn Reviews

 
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers, published by TorDotCom
Gallant by V.E. Schwab, published by Titan Books

Book of Night by Holly Black, published by Del Rey

Sourcing the books

Robyn has cut down on the number of books she buys but couldn’t resist these beautiful editions.

My book post has been very special this month. The top three titles were birthday presents from my sister, the remainder are review copies.

As ever I wish to thank all the publishers who send me their books to review – the arrival of a book parcel remains a cheering event in my day.

My thanks also to those who share my words across their social media platforms – your continuing support is always much appreciated.

And to everyone reading this, I wish you and yours good health and the ability to pause and enjoy all that is still beautiful in our world and lives. May we strive, at all times, to be kind  xx

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Monthly Roundup – June 2022

June has been a busy month once again. On the upside we enjoyed two trips away and celebrated a family birthday. On the downside we lost almost half our flock of hens to a fox attack, and then younger son deflected a hockey ball with his face during a match resulting in a fractured orbital socket and worrying swelling. We can only hope his sight will not be affected longer term.

Husband and I escaped the proliferation of bunting that appeared in our village around the jubilee weekend by travelling to Wales for the long weekend. I reviewed the hotel we stayed at in Devil’s Bridge near Aberystwyth here and wrote of my teddy bear, Edward’s adventures on this trip here. Our second holiday was with the family at the Center Parcs Longleat Forest site. I reviewed our midweek break here – Edward’s adventures have still to be written of. Younger son’s birthday fell in the following week and, having eaten out each day while we were away, he opted for a takeaway. Several bottles of fizz were consumed along with a caterpillar cake. It proved an enjoyable evening.

On a much sadder note, as mentioned above, a fox gained access to my chicken run in a dawn raid and killed six of my feathered friends before a kind neighbour scared it away. I added an account of this distressing event to my hen keeping posts – it may be read here.

With all of this activity, along with my usual runs and visits to the gym, I haven’t managed to find so much reading time. I posted reviews for a mere five books in June, although all were worth perusing. The coming month is also likely to be quiet on the blog as I have a backlog of books to review for other sites and will be focusing on them initially. There may well be other posts, as they tend to be written on a whim, but I am keen not to put myself under additional pressure at a time when there are many conflicting demands on my attention. Books will be read and reviewed when I can fit this into my schedule. To my mind, blogging should remain fun, otherwise why do it?

As is customary in these monthly roundups, click on the title below to read the review and on the cover to learn more about the book.

Fiction

Seek the Singing Fish by Roma Wells, published by époque press

Translated fiction

Of Saints and Miracles by Manuel Astur (translated by Claire Wadie), published by Peirene

Translated short stories

Here Be Icebergs by Katya Adaui (translated by Rosalind Harvey), published by Charco Press

Non fiction

 
Multiple Joyce by David Collard, published by Sagging Meniscus
Neither Weak Nor Obtuse by Jake Goldsmith, published by Sagging Meniscus

Sourcing the books

Robyn received her usual selection of special edition hardbacks through her Goldsboro and Illumicrate subscriptions. One day she hopes to find time to read a book again.

I have cut back on accepting review copies due to my own reading slowdown but couldn’t resist these fine looking works

As ever I wish to thank all the publishers who send me their books to review – the arrival of a book parcel remains a cheering event in my day.

My thanks also to those who share my words across their social media platforms. I may not say it often enough but your continuing support is always much appreciated.

And to everyone reading this, I wish you and yours good health and the ability to pause and enjoy all that is still beautiful in our world and lives. May we strive, at all times, to be kind  xx