I’m already late for putting out my August reads. This year really is flying by! I’m pleased to announce that I was very fond of everything I finished this month and I’m even more optimistic about September as there will be so many new releases I’ve been looking forward to.
But lest I get too far ahead of myself, here are the books I finished in August 2019:
The Smell of Other Peoples’ Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
Goodreads rating: 3.96
My rating:★★★★ (4.5)
Okay, I’m going to tell you right away that this was 100% a cover buy. It also helped that the paperback was so cheap on Amazon. Contemporary is not my go-to genre but I’m really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this one.
The story follows four teens living in Alaska in the 1970’s as they struggle through their situations at home in addition to the usual tribulations that come with growing up. I loved the atmosphere of this book. I’ve never been to Alaska and yet I could see it so vividly through the eyes of the characters. It’s a very short story, less than 300 pages, but by the end I’d become emotionally invested. So much so that I surprised myself!
Other Peoples’ Houses gets my recommendation.
The Spirit in the Crypt by Alexander Lound
Goodreads rating: 4.13
My rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review that you can read here! I really liked it, and I think it’s a great choice for younger readers interested in paranormal mysteries!
Welcome to the Writer’s Life by Paulette Perhach
Goodreads rating: 4.40
My rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
This book was highly recommended by someone on Tumblr and I was so moved by their praise of it that I went out and grabbed myself a copy. I’ve been wanting to get back into writing more seriously lately (blog posts in addition to more creative fiction) but it’s so hard to get started! This book was really inspirational. There’s so much valuable advice and encouragement in here that I would absolutely suggest you read it if writing is an interest of yours. Perhach will help you get started with some great exercises, then teach you how to edit your drafts and seek professional outlets if publishing is a goal of yours!
It’s pretty awesome that you don’t even need to buy the book to make use of some of the resources! You can visit the website here, and sign up for a daily email that will give you a writing prompt for the next 365 days! The site also has things like character sheets and plot planners to help you structure your writing!
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Goodreads rating: 3.67
My rating: ★★★★ (4/5)
You can read my thoughts on Lord of the Flies here! The tl;dr is that I thought it was incredible and I’m so happy I finally gave it a shot!
Claymore (Volumes 10-14) by Norihiro Yagi
Vol. 10 The Battle of the North
Vol. 12 The Souls of the Fallen
I’ve been following this series since I watched the anime for the first time, about ten years ago! I’m even more invested in the story now since the manga goes so much further than the TV show ever did. I love all the new and original characters, and it’s been a blast to see how they develop and overcome new challenges. The art style is such a pleasure to behold as well. I just purchased the rest of the volumes as an early birthday gift to myself and I’m both anxious and excited to see how it all ends!
What did you finish in August? Which book was your favorite? Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments!
.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*.
-Liv
A Professional Bookdragon 