We’re into July and this year feels weird! So far it’s really felt like summer has come early here, and as someone who doesn’t do well in heat, I don’t like it. Can we turn it down just a touch please?
Did you enjoy June? Did you take part in any Pride activities? I’ve loved seeing people’s different book lists and recommendations! There’s so much excellent queer content out there, and I love seeing it boosted. And as of 1st July, my anthology Sand, Salt, Blood is out in the world! You can buy it on Amazon UK or US, direct from the publisher Sliced Up Press or have a look at their website for various other places you can pick up a copy. I’m so proud of this – it’s raising money for RNLI, and although I didn’t set out to make a specifically queer anthology, it has ended up kind of queer!
And anyway, enough rambling. Time to see how I’m doing with my various reading challenges…
Reading Challenges / Update #1 / Update #2 / Update #3 / Update #4 / Update #5
Goal – 49/70 (+7)
Disney Reading Challenge
10/40 (0) Prompts Completed
Currently Reading
The Little Mermaid – a book with a kiss in the title
I’m almost at the end of the audiobook for Six Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did), and I’m absolutely loving this YA Romance. Penny and Tate are such lovely characters, and the pair of them have been through so, so much. I’m really looking forward to seeing them get their happy ending!
Books to Read: A Terrible Kindness, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, The Rose Daughter
2023 Tarot Reading Challenge
7/164 (+1) Prompts Completed
Read
The Magician Reversed – a book told from a villain’s POV
I wasn’t hugely impressed with The Harrowing of Doom, but it was an okay read and I find the Marvel novels to be fairly interesting looks at the Marvel world, even if I don’t always like them.
Currently Reading
The High Priestess – a book featuring religion, spirituality, or intuition
I had Rebel Witch for this one, and I’m slowly making my way through it. It’s a guide on how to be a witch, and I’m finding it interesting, though I’m not totally sure ‘witch’ is the path for me? But I’m intrigued by this book and I like that it’s a contemporary take on the craft.
The Hermit – a book that caused you to contemplate something in your reality
I knew Not That Bad wouldn’t be an easy read, and I knew it would fit this prompt pretty well. I’m only a little way into it, and though it’s hard going, the essays so far are excellent. Hard going because of the subject matter, by the way, as this essay anthology contains essays about rape culture, including those about sexual assault. But I am glad I’m reading it.
Books to Read: Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend, No Ordinary Thursday, Hel’s Eight
Netflix Movies & TV Shows
7/24 (+2) Prompts Completed
DNF
Anne with an “E” – Historical Romance
I didn’t get far into The Rake at all before realising it really, really wasn’t for me. Unfortunately I couldn’t get on with it, so I DNF’d and will use a different book for this prompt.
Currently Reading
Don’t Look Up – Involves current issues
I’m using Not That Bad for this one, too. Felt like the book on my shelf that fit this best!
Read
Stranger Things – Popular Book
I didn’t love They Both Died at the End, but it’s a good book and I can definitely see why it’s so popular, especially among the target audience. As a sidenote, there seems to be a lot of YA at the moment focusing on death? But in a “the characters know they’re going to die and have to come to terms with it” kind of way. This isn’t a post-pandemic thing, either – these are books that came out a few years back or likely written pre-covid? Just an observation!
Books to Read: A Duke of a Time, Made in Manhattan, My Own Worst Enemy
Although 3 challenge books read isn’t bad, for July I’m going to focus only on challenge books, as I definitely think compared to May I seemed to have read a fair bit less. So, we’ll see where we are at the start of August, and if I’ve managed to complete more of the challenges.
Unwrapping Words 