TBR Updates - June Review and July Challenges

Hellooo!!

June was indeed a busy month as I feared (a bad time to try and read a Neal Stephenson book)- way busier than I was expecting. I do not need to see format of letters and data fields ever again. I also had a tricky exam to revise for (I passed yesterday); many Subjective Chaos nominees to read and the hay fever was not kind either. Hence reviews were a bit quieter than normal but now things are settling and my reading speed is getting back to its usual levels. I truly apologise for any booktempting that soon causes you a larger TBR.

Not too much culturally – I had a lovely few hours dipping into the BFS’ Summer online event and saw a great interview online with Saara El-Arifi about their new book The Final Strife (review to come soon). I thoroughly enjoyed watching Obi-Wan and am loving Ms Marvel – hopefully more to do in the next few weeks before my summer week away! I did go to the Worlds of Wonder Doctor Who exhibition in Liverpool and having a nice picture of me by the TARDIS is a dream finally achieved!

Later this week I’ll be looking back at my top reads so far this year to help anyone looking for a book to read while they relax (I am kind I know) but I’m also thinking about the future of the blog. I’ve started a new short story feature to try out; I’ve got enough brain space to re-start the readalongs so expect me tackling the last four Octavia E Butler boos this summer and also Men At Arms for the resumption of Discworld reads. Also, I can get back to Advance Booktempting as to all the cool stuff coming out soon! A few other things are percolating but you know what? I think I can do this! Usually I end up having a summer hiatus unplanned but this year I’ve tried to keep a schedule and it does make a difference and if work does get me then that’s ok I’ll be back soon!

Now let’s hold myself to the mark and how is my Tidy The TBR challenge going?

Tidy the TBR for the Month

I’m now at 131 books (111 last month) Subjective Chaos has meant me being brutal going through a lot of nominees and making calls to continue or not!

ARCS – 70 (63)

TBR - 61 (48)

July Challenges

I’m a bit behind on my books in schedule but have a cunning plan (and beach holiday) that should assist but for this month its pick a challenging read. Stretch that mind of yours in a different way though the power of fiction or non-fiction. I’m going to go with a collection of essays by one of my favourite non-speculative writers – Feel Free by Zadie Smith whose work I want to catch up on. I really enjoyed their small collection about life in the pandemic so intrigued what this collection has in store for me.

As a stretch goal and with a nod to this month being about old Julius I say look for a tale with Royalty in it. Keeping my non fiction theme its Four Princes – Henry VIII, Francis !, Charles V, Sulieman The Magnificent and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe by John Julius Norwich.  I don’t know much about these people and it’s a short book too so let’s hope my brain can still stretch!

Let me know your choices in the comments!