So I think June ended up being a bit over the top in the book purchasing department, there are definitely too many books and not enough time. But that doesn't seem to stop me! Let me know if you've read any of these as I cannot decide where to start!
First up are gifts from a friend, which means they already come with recommendations.
'Whit' by Iain Banks is about Morag who goes missing from a cult in Scotland and the woman who is sent to look for her. From what i've already heard about the book it is coming of age story of sorts as Isis Whit searches for Morag, meeting strange characters, searching for knowledge and questioning the values and rationale of the cult she has come from.
The same friend also gifted me 'The Night Watch' by Sarah Waters who I haven't read since university. The novel follows five characters through the second world war and I have tried not to read too much about the book in case I accidentally see a classic Waters twist!
I only got a few charity shop bargains this month (I think I need to to start scouting some new areas). I picked up Rainbow Rowell's 'Fangirl' for a little bit of YA, M. R Carey's 'The Girl With All The Gifts' for some sci-fi and Margaret Atwood's 'Oryx and Crake' for some speculative fiction.
But my bookish treat for June was a little budget for a trip to
Foyles whilst in London to see 'Harry Potter and The Cursed Child'. After a quick coffee in their cafe we slowly worked our way down each floor and because they had a half price offer on it meant I could afford two books.
I picked up Han Kang's 'The Vegetarian' after reading so much about it online and I have already finished it. The novella comes in three parts after Yeoung-Hye decides to stop eating meat, the sections following the mental and physical collapse of Yeoung-Hye and her family in extreme ways. I shall post a review soon hopefully!
On my way to the counter I also spotted an offer sticker on Olivia Laing's 'The Lonely City' a non-fiction collection in which Laing delves into what it means to be alone through art after finding herself isolated in New York City. So I had to treat myself.
Earlier this month I went to a garage sale in a village near my grandparents, I think it's something unusual for the UK but it was essentially a village wide car-boot sale. Yet I only managed to pick up one book, 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage' by Haruki Murakami as Tsukuru Tazaki attempts to find out why his life took a strange turn sixteen years prior to find his own truth and happiness.
I was also lucky enough to receive a couple of books from publishers throughout June for books that will be available later in the year and I cannot wait to get stuck into them.
Firstly I was sent 'Sweet Fruit, Sour Land' by Rebecca Lay published by
Sandstone Press and due for release on July 19th so you can pre-order it
here. The novel follows Mathilde holding on to the last circle of luxury in a barren and restricted London by attending glamorous parties that escape ration cards and child policies. But what price does she have to pay for it? (Review will be posted soon)
I was also lucky enough to be sent 'Now, Now, Louison' by Jean Fremon and translated by Cole Swensen. I was sent the short text from
Les Fugitives, an independent publisher dedicated to publishing francophone authors who have previously been unavailable in the UK.
'Now, Now, Louison' is the first of Jean Fremon's work to be published in the UK following the monologue of artist Louise Bourgeois, a woman who devoted her life to art. Louise comes to life through the pages of the work in a poem-in-prose style that give a closeness to his renowned friend through his masterful writing.
'Now, Now, Louison' will be published on September 24th but you can pre-order it
here.
Now where should I start?
