Here’s my reading list for the month of August. Twenty-seven books–and it would probably have been more, except my concentration has been on the television news this week, rather than on my reading.

1. GAME OF KINGS by Dorothy Dunnett (541 p)
2. QUEEN’S PLAY by Dorothy Dunnett (432 p)
3. DISORDERLY KNIGHTS by Dorothy Dunnett (503 p)
4. PAWN IN FRANKINCENSE by Dorothy Dunnett (486 p)
5. RINGED CASTLE by Dorothy Dunnett (521 p)
6. CHECKMATE by Dorothy Dunnett (581 p)—The Lymond Chronicles, a historical fiction series of 6 books. Amazingly good, complex, challenging, and just really, really good. It’s my third reading of the entire series in less than two years. It’s that good.
7. KNITTING OVER THE EDGE by Nicki Epstein (391 p)—more knitting edging patterns, one of which I’ve already used. Great collection.
8. IDIOT’S GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHY by Roger Woodson. The title pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
9. THE BIG OVER EASY by Jasper Fforde (383 p)—The latest from the man who’s imagination brought us Thursday Next. This—which was actually his first book, and so predates T.N.—tells the story of the murder of Humpty Dumpty, as investigated by Jack Spratt and Mary mary (who’s not as contrary as you might think). I admit I enjoy the T.N. books more, but this was amusing, though I feel like I should have studied up on some of my nursery rhymes beforehand.
10. THE TRUTH-TELLER’S TALE by Sharon Shinn (276 p)—a YA book to accompany last year’s “Secret Keeper.” What can I say? She’s a wonderful author, and I love her. I liked this one better than the last one, too.
11. THE HAWK’S GRAY FEATHER by Patricia Kennealy (381 p)
12. THE OAK ABOVE THE KINGS by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (388 p)
13. HEDGE OF MIST by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (460 p)—One of the most creative re-tellings of the story of King Arthur you’ll ever want to read. It takes place in her sci-fi world of Keltia (founded in Earth’s 6^th century by interstellar refugees from Ireland). (Yeah, I know, it sounds weird.) It’s sci-fi, but with a fantasy feel, and in one of the neatest sci-fi universes.
14. TEACH YOURSELF PHOTOGRAPHY by Lee Frost (146 p). Again, pretty self-explanatory.
15. THE TROLL’S GRINDSTONE by Elizabeth Boyer (342 p)
16. THE CURSE OF SLAGFID by Elizabeth Boyer (341 p)
17. THE DRAGON’S CARBUNCLE by Elizabeth Boyer (311)
18. THE LORD OF CHAOS by Elizabeth Boyer (312 p). A fantasy quartet I’ve had in the closet since college. She was one of my favorite authors when I was in high school—fantasy in a Skandinavian-type world, and a sense of fun. This is the only distinct series of hers (that I know of), the other books were stand-alones, but I always loved them. (“The Elves and the Otterskin” will always be my favorite.) It was good to revisit these.
19. THE HOUSE BETWEEN THE WORLDS by Marion Zimmer Bradley (244 p). This was actually the first book of MZB’s that I ever read, and while it’s not my favorite, I’m grateful for it’s springboarding me into her Darkover series. It’s a little to otherworldly-fairy for me—I’ve never really liked those alternate-world of fairies with changlings and such, but this was enjoyable enough. A college professor at Berkeley participates in a drug-trial for a street drug that is supposed to heighten psi-powers like E.S.P. An okay book.
20. AMERICAN GOTHIC by Steven Biel (172 p). The story of America’s most famous painting—the man, the woman, the pitchfork, all in front of a white house. An interesting enough story, I suppose, but the book wasn’t exactly gripping.
21. BELLWETHER by Connie Willis (247 p). What a hoot. Take a sociologist studing the origins of fads, put her at a company with a scientist studying chaos theory, a completely inept office assistant, and mix it all with Connie Willis’ unique way of looking at the world . . . thoroughly enjoyable.
22. THE MAGIC AND THE HEALING by Nick O’Donohoe (324 p)
23. UNDER THE HEALING SIGN by Nick O’Donohoe (337 p)
24. HEALING OF THE CROSSROADS by Nick O’Donohoe (321 p). Another series for the month. Fantasy that kicks off from a modern Virginia veterinary college, whose students suddenly find themselves practising medicine on unicorns, griffins, werewolves, centaurs . . . some delightful spots, but also some dark ones.
25. A BIG STORM KNOCKED IT OVER by Laurie Colwin (259 p). A delightful book from a wonderful author that I wish were still around. This is my second favorite of hers. It’s not an exciting book, but a happy, gentle, serene exploration of Jane Louise’s life as it changes as she gets married and has a child. Just . . . pleasant. Perfect for this last week.
26. FIFTY ACRES AND A POODLE by Jeanne Marie Laskas (252 p). An entirely enjoyable book about one woman’s desire to move to a farm—even though she’s lived in the city her entire life. Sweet and comforting.
27. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS by Rafe Esquith (210 p). A book about an extraordinary school teacher from LA. Not a normal book for me since I have neither children nor am I a teacher, but it was good. He sounds like an amazing man.

• Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading • Permalink:August Reading //