Here are the books that I read in July:

1. Tomorrow Log by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (342 p.) A stand-alone sci fi book. Gem is a thief being threatened by a crime organization to do a job for them…

2. Sword of Orion by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (276 p.) Another stand-alone sci fi book–at least for now. It was going to be the first of a series, but the publisher went out of business and I don’t know that there are any plans for the next book–which considering the cliff-hanger ending is particularly annoying (grin).

3. Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (296 p.) Ah, a love story. Almost a sci-fi regency one, telling how Shan yos’Galan’s parents got together… Lovely.

4. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell (245 p.) Iris gets a phone call telling her that she is responsible for Esme Lennox, her grandmother’s sister, who has been in a mental institution for 60 years … except she never knew her grandmother had a sister….Good.

5. Wrapt in Crystal by Sharon Shinn (324 p.) Another sci-fi book. Drake is an investigator called in to find a serial killer of members of a religious sect.

6. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (221 p.) Catherine Morland goes to Bath to try to find a husband. A classic, gothic-inspired love story.

7. The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen Donaldson (627 p.)
8. A Man Rides Through by Stephen Donaldson (661 p.) A fantasy duo, Terisa Morgan travels through a mirror to Mordant, which is under attack by Imagers–men who can bring monsters through mirrors…

9. Rowan by Anne McCaffrey (335 p.)
10. Damia by Anne McCaffrey (336 p.)
11. Damia’s Children by Anne McCaffrey (272 p.)
12. Lyon’s Pride by Anne McCaffrey (272 p.) Sci-fi series of a future where teleporting and telepathy are common. Darn it, *I* want to be able to travel by teleporting!

13. Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon by Sheila Weller (529 p.) Biography of three singers and of their era … good book, but a little too “fan-girl” gushing about how wonderful all three of them were as people and as musicians, while skimming over their bad points. But, still, it was interesting, well researched, and reasonably entertaining.

14. Stoner by John William (278 p.) A calm book about William Stoner, who went off to college to study agriculture and found himself entranced by the required course in English Literature and allowed himself to be sidetracked. He becomes an English professor, marries, has a daughter, but finds himself in a loveless marriage and unappreciated by his boss … and yet, lives a good life. Quiet, wonderfully written, a bit sad. Good book.

15. One Skein by Leigh Radford (121 p.) Pattern book for knitting/crochet patterns that can be made from one skein of yarn.

16. Knit So Fine by Myers, Grutzeck, and Sulcoski (140 p.) Knitting patterns for fine-weight yarn.

17. Wrap Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd (155 p.) Knitting patterns for shawls, wraps, capelets.

18. Compendium of Finishing Techniques: Crochet, Embroidery, Knitting, Knotting, Weaving by Naomi McEneely (146 p.) Exactly what it sounds like–a book of techniques for doing finishing detail for a variety of crafts.

19. The Safe-Keeper’s Secret by Sharon Shinn (222 p.)
20. The Truth-Teller’s Tale by Sharon Shinn (276 p.)
21. The Dream-Maker’s Magic by Sharon Shinn (261 p.)

22. Another Fine Myth gy Robert Lynn Asprin (160 p.)
23. Myth Conceptions by Robert Lynn Asprin (156 p.)
24. Myth Directions by Robert Lynn Asprin (162 p.)
25. Hit or Myth by Robert Lynn Asprin (121 p.)
26. Myth-ing Persons by Robert Lynn Asprin (127 p.)
27. Little Myth Marker by Robert Lynn Asprin (131 p.)

28. Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America by Jonathan Gould (606 p.) More than just a biography of the Beatles (though it would have been good as that, too), this book explores their social impact. Actually, it starts with the factors that impacted the Beatles themselves, and then goes on examine their influence, both musically and socially. Not to mention analyzing their music, too. This author did a fabulous job describing the songs–I could actually hear them in my head as he talked about them, and made me notice things I had missed (despite having been a huge Beatles fan since high school). Really, I loved this book. It was well-written, well-researched, interesting, and it explored their story from an angle I hadn’t seen before. I still hate reading about the group falling apart, but … good book. Highly enjoyable.

29. Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (295 p.) The story of how Daav yos’Phelium and Aelliana Caylon–parents of main character Val Con yos’Phelium–met. Again, I love the Liaden books by these two authors–science fiction mixed with Regency manners mixed with excitement, adventure, and oh yes, a love story. Wonderful, as always. In this story, we see Daav, who has finally settled on a suitable “contract wife” just at the time that Aelliana wins a ship in a card game and decides to become a pilot so she can get off-world and away from her abusive brother. Sweet story, really, and purely fun.

30. In Sheep’s Clothing: A Handspinner’s Guide to Wool by Nola Fournier and Jane Fournier (218 p.) Exactly what it sounds like–a guide to all the different kinds of wool (who knew there were so many breeds of sheep?), their traits and qualities, and what to do with them. Excellent reference for a hand-spinner, and a book I’ve wanted for about three years now.

• Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading • Permalink:Books from July //