Thursday 14 July 2022

July Reading

 I finished Under the Banner of Heaven (rereading to watch the series, which so far seems to have deviated substantially from the book). Under the Banner of heaven seems more even-handed than Prophet's Prey - where the author seems to have got more personally involved and determined to save the children (he has gone on to produce Keep Sweet and Obey on Netflix. Having read Prophet's Prey, I'm not sure I could watch it. Too much child sex abuse and abuse).

I am finishing Disgrace, which is even more magnificent than I remember, but disturbing and uncomfortable. But for avid readers, with no history of sexual assault, I can't recommend it enough.

(They were all in last month's round-up so you can click back if you want to read more)

I have forgotten what I read that recommended this book, but I'm midway through Playground - A childhood lost inside the playboy mansion. It's a junk beach read but entertaining for all the wrong reasons (in that incomprehensible, gossipy reasons).






For book club I have to read After Darkness by Christine Piper, which is okay. I feel for the subject matter it should be more interesting and engaging than it is. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but it's big issues in history and could be more meaty but I feel I'm sort of meandering through it (but still only halfway so that may change). Very interesting idea though.




I'm trying to track down this book by Gregory Dick because it came up in the Jon Ronson Podcast 'Things fell apart' and it sounds so interesting. A very well-read American friend said he read it at school and was amazed by it (but he added that was 47 years ago and his standards were lower then, so we shall see). I will admit I'm uncomfortable with the thought or reading that book in public, and I may have to find it a dust jacket (which given why I know why he used that word, it's not the right thing to do...but...)



I did finish How to Lose Friends and Influence White People by Antoinette Lattouf, who I saw at the Writers Festival. I found this interesting and I learned a bit but I'd already read Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race* and it covered similar ground but with an Australian bent. Note neither of these books are bashing white people, but we say things without thinking due to what we've heard all our lives. It's good to get that pointed out so you are aware and think a little more about things. I really enjoyed her Writers Festival Session so am keen to see her at Antidote if I can make it. The book is entertaining and amusing, though at times quite eye openning.






I did mention I got a friend the Big Life Journal for adults - they also have one for teens and 7-10 year olds.  I did have a quick read before sending it off and I think it's quite a good way to start challenging negative thoughts. I'm in no way connected, I just liked it. Their description reads: 

NEW guided journal to help you manage your self-sabotaging inner voice and start living fully and joyfully. This motivational, gender-neutral journal is packed with short, practical lessons and easy, thoughtful writing prompts that will help you transform your mindset.

This journal is for you, if you…

  • feel trapped in constant cycles of negative thoughts
  • self-sabotage your efforts and ask yourself 'who am I to do this?'
  • put yourself down and don't follow through with your goals 

(And it continues on here)

As you can see, my time off has slowed my reading as well as my writing. Hopefully, I'm back into things next month.

*Interestingly I read it in 2019 so it must have made quite an impression on me as it seemed to have stuck with me since then.

Linking with #WhatsonMyBookshelfChallenge #WeekendCoffeeShare #FriendshipFriday





bookworms monthly linky
loopyloulaura
My Random Musings

27 comments:

  1. ...a very diverse reading list.

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  2. I'll add the Dick Gregory book to my reading list. I understand about reading it in public--you could always read it on Kindle. I remember him from my childhood. It'll be interesting to hear what he had to say and how much of the awfulness he had to deal with is still happening.

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  3. Nice reads and I really like the Dick Gregory book

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    1. That's good to hear. I'm really excited about it. But it's not turned up yet...

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  4. I've not read any of these books but I do keep promising myself that I'll read something more diverse. Some of the first books you mentioned are really not what I would read though for personal reasons.

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  5. I like to try and mix up the kinds of things that I read as well. I have to admit that I think I would also be a bit uncomfortable with that title in public. I'm not familiar with the book but I'd bet that's the idea. #dreamteam

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    1. I suspect it will be elaborated upon in the book, but yes, I think creating discomfort as it caused him discomfort) would be part of it.

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  6. Amy and Joanne, I can read your comments in the back of house but not here. No idea why - just wanted to say I didn't delete them and there was nothing wrong with them (but you know that). My blog is just being super weird it seems. Thank you for commenting. And Amy, all the emails about the book to shops, we keep saying 'this book' with a link or 'we don't have that title' - none of us are prepared to say it...Ha!

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    1. LOL! Yeah, Google is getting real weird with comments lately!

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  7. Hi Lydia, an interesting selection this month so thank you for joining in and sharing. I've looked at the Big Life Journal for my grandson so I may purchase now, after reading your post. We watched Under the Banner of Heaven, so not sure I'm ready for the book. I look forward to see what you have been reading at next months #WOYBS link up. Enjoy your weekend.x

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    1. I think I would have been confused by the historic flashbacks if I'd not read the book. It seemed a bit chaotic viewing to me, but as I know the book I could understand. For want of a better word, I thought it seemed a bit clunky...

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  8. Thank you for joining us at WOYBS. I love the diversity of your recent reads!

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  9. Thanks for joining us Lydia, your books and reviews are always so interesting and diverse! I really like the sound of the Big Life Diary so am off to check it out :)

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  10. I am loving these book reviews! Thanks! #Weekendcoffeeshare

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  11. I had to google the book - and yeah, I couldn't write or say the word either. Another eclectic and diverse mix from you - which is what I look forward to each month. Thanks for linking up...

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  12. I love that your books cover so many different topics. I haven't read any of them but will add Big Life Diary to my tbr pile.

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  13. All these books sound good. The journal of course in particular interests me, as I'm a sucker for journaling books. #DreamTeam

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  14. I've been stuck in a dystopian fantasy binge reading stint for the last couple of months. Nothing deep on my reading list like you have on yours, but I'm kind of enjoying just meandering through an alternative universe with people who use swords and good triumphs over evil (with many casualties along the way)....

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    1. Dystopian fantasy sounds very heavy tho....

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  15. That is quite a range of genres. I hadn't come across Antoinette Lattouf, so adding her book to my TBR list #BookWormsMonthly

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    1. I enjoyed it - it didn't cover that much new ground but just a different lens (more local examples)

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  16. The "Big Life Journal" is something I would be interested in. I've been on a burnout-rest cycle lately and I recently had an epiphany that I should say out loud that my situation is terrible and I should tell people what I want. It's been a therapeutic and liberating feeling. Usually -- maybe it's a culture -- to just keep things to yourself or just accept that things are the way they are. But I decided bottling it up has been bad for my health.

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    1. People like to gloss over that stuff with positivity but I think that's quite bad for you. It's good to release it, and let it go. I think. Then you can focus on the good stuff, no matter how small.

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  17. That sounds like an interesting selection of books, all read for different reasons. I haven't heard of or read any of them, but I did read Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race a couple of years ago.
    Popping over from At Home a Lot.

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  18. I would be interested in "Playground." I live in LA and I'm always curious to learn more about that house a few minutes from my work.

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    1. It's quite depressing. As a mother, I couldn't believe the decisions her father made. Just shocking. By her accounts Heff was always nice to her. I really felt for the mother. What a situation to deal with.

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