The Sunday Salon: May and June in review (and a look at July/August)

May and June were probably my slowest reading months this year, which I expected them to be. There were a lot of things to take care of these past few months plus a book wasn't always the respite I was looking forward to at the end of the day. Luckily, I enjoyed all the books I did read these past two months, which doesn't happen often.

My favorite read was Lean In, which had never been on my radar until I picked it up impulsively and decided to give it a try. A Visit from the Goon Squad comes a close second - another book I may not have read this year if not for a readalong.

Even though my reading was somewhat patchy, I did blog quite a bit. All the reading I did during the first half of the year built up a huge review backlog that I wanted to take care of. I still have three reviews pending, so the hope is to write them this week and schedule them.


Blog highlights from March and April

• Two readalongs in May
• On early morning reading in bed
• On true equality and perceived equality
• Interviewed by Delia at Postcards from Asia

• Expecting Better by Emily Oster (review)
• The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag (review)
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (review, halfway thoughts)
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (review)
• From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot (review)
• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (review)
• The Magicians by Lev Grossman (review)
• Anatomy of a Disappearance by Hisham Matar and Family by J. California Cooper (reviews)
• The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows (review)
• Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani (review)

Plans for July and August
One commitment I know I am going to have for sure the next couple of months is baby care. So, reading is probably (definitely?) going to take a hit. Besides, lately, I have been less inclined to read and have been knitting most of the time, so I'm taking advantage of the break. Still, I do have some books on my nightstand that I plan to read when I'm looking for a read. They are mostly books I believe will be quick reads or easy listens. Whether I will actually get to them remains to be seen.

• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: This one has a pretty good beginning, so I feel reasonably hopeful that it is way better than Dark Places, which was just meh.
• A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan: A review book. This isn't my usual kind of book but it sounds super appealing now.
• Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie: I have been looking forward to reading this one ever since I first heard about it months ago.
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: Probably not a light read so I won't be reading it when I'm looking for only a couple of minutes of reading time, but I love Mandel's writing and want to read this one as soon as possible.
• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: I have read only two Agatha Christie books to date, so this is me wanting to change that... if this one works in my favor.
• The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua: Ooh, some geeky love to read about!! Plus, it's a graphic book!
• Armada by Ernest Cline: Yay for a new book by the Ready Player One author.
• Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella: I've always loved Kinsella's books in the past but lately, her trite formulaic novels about a silly girl who gets rescued or rescues herself in the end has been wearing me thin, so I'm not very sure this one will work out.

And then for audiobooks,

• Missoula by Jon Krakauer: Love Krakauer's books - must-listens for any day.
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: I'm not decided yet whether I want to listen to or read this book but it's on the list.
• Dead Wake by Erik Larson: This is yet another author that I always have success with.