I have not read many books in the past month. I had a bit of a lupus flare, and then politics sent the world doolally, which between them led me to abandon a couple of reads. I’m currently halfway through three different books and I’m not sure I’ll finish all of them. I am still reading a lot of John Allison webcomics, but mostly I’m obsessively reading news and politics articles in case someone has figured out how to fix this mess.

Right back at the start of the month, I went with a big group of friends to see Buzz Aldrin speak about his new book No Dream is Too High. And last week, Tim and I took my Mum and brother to the theatre in Bath to watch Noel Coward’s Present Laughter, which was a welcome funny distraction as well as, like all Theatre Royal shows, boasting an excellent cast.

I also, possibly overambitiously, joined a new book club at work. It seemed like a nice idea at the time, but the first meeting is next week and I haven’t picked up the book yet. Hmm. Maybe it will be a good idea to just put aside all the false starts and start July with a fresh new read. Maybe.

Books read

Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera
Beautifully written (and translated) novel about a young Mexican woman illegally crossing the border to the US in search of her brother. Gorgeously written but ultimately depressing subject matter.

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
Historical drama about a lifeboat-full of survivors of a shipwreck, and how fear, hunger and desperation lead to in-fighting that potentially threatens their lives more than the shortage of food and water.

In Certain Circles by Elizabeth Harrower
This lyrical Australian novel about how we change over the course of our lives was written in 1971, but just before publication the author pulled it, so it didn’t see the light of day until 2014. It’s a sad, arguably pessimistic tale, but a beautiful one.

Short stories read

“The prospectors” by Karen Russell (New Yorker, June 8 & 15, 2015)

Here’s to a better and brighter July!