I only finished four books this month – well, only four that I’m logging on Goodreads. Julian has been reading a lot to me – first we finished the Cat Kid Comics series and now we are onto the Cat Ninja graphic novel series. So I guess we are obsessed with comic cats? Ooh, I should introduce him to Garfield!

I’m also reading A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the Hunger Games prequel, out loud to Pippa. But since I read that when it first came out, I’m not counting it toward my goal of reading a 100 books in 2023.

These are the four books that do count toward my goal:

I love Liane Moriarty’s work, and this book was no exception. It’s about a family of tennis players and the drama that enfolds when mom disappears. I played tennis as a kid but stopped in my early twenties, and this novel inspired me to sign up for tennis lessons. Lots of satisfying twists and turns and interesting perspectives from a multitude of characters.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and it opened my eyes to the sensation of awe, and I’m already scheming ways to incorporate “awe” into my life with my 24 in ’24 project. It’s a well-written and entertaining read. Or listen. I might need the hardcover so I can study it and take some notes.

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites, and I have a soft spot for books that continue the story. This one is the Mary Bennet redemption story that I did not know I needed. I read the paperback, and it was a slow read, taking about three weeks from start to finish. The first 100 pages felt a bit like a homework assignment for an English class, but then I fell in love with Mary and now I’m afraid to reread Pride and Prejudice. Will I be angry at Jane Austen for treating Mary so cruelly? Or will this novel deepen my experience with the original text? I highly recommend this one to all Jane Austen fans.

Last but not least, I read The Lady From the Black Lagoon for my book club. We take turns picking the monthly selection, and this book would never have been on my radar. I’m not a horror fan, and I’ve never seen the Creature from the Black Lagoon, but I LOVED this book. It’s a biography that beautifully blends history, feminism and the author’s own experiences as a producer of horror movies. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, and really enjoyed it.

That’s it for August reading! I’ve read 68 books so far this year, and I’m 2 books ahead of schedule for my 100 book goal. I didn’t devour as many books this month as I usually do, but I loved the ones I did read and that’s what really matters.