This post could alternatively have been titled ‘Where Did That Summer Go?’ or, if you live in Northern Ireland, ‘Summer? What Fecking Summer??’
The last three months have flashed by in a flurry of work, kids, work and more work and generally ended up much, much busier than I anticipated. One minute I was watching Wimbledon and the next my twins were starting school.
These kids……
Add to that the fact that the weather was just miserable and I feel like I didn’t really get much of a summer at all. (Word of advice to anyone thinking of holidaying in Donegal on three of the wettest days of the year – DON’T.)
Irish Café Life….
And yet, I managed to read 18 of my 20 Books of Summer. Two more than last year and two less than hoped for, but at least not an abject failure. I really enjoyed reading real books for a change and found that I made more time for reading than I normally would if I was just reading on my iPad or my phone.
Despite managing to read, I didn’t find a lot of time to blog and my posts have been sporadic and my reviews a bit piecemeal. In fact, I haven’t even managed to review my final two summer reads – The Tiger’s Wife and The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet – both of which I enjoyed very much but both of which I felt suffered at times from style over substance. I may write reviews of them over the coming days, but I have a bit of a new term feeling at the moment and am ready to move on with my reading.
Of my 20 Books, my favourite was definitely the weird, woozy and wonderful Hawthorn & Child by Keith Ridgway, closely followed by The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. My least favourite is probably pretty easy to guess and there were two I didn’t get to – Motel Chronicles & Hawk Moon by Sam Shepard and Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy, both of which I will try to read over the coming months. I also need to give special mention to Jon McGregor’s short story We Wave and Call which is one of the most beautifully formed short stories I have read and is still lingering in my mind weeks after reading it.
I’d like to thank all the fantastic bloggers who took part along with me this summer, I was delighted by the response and feel bad that I couldn’t keep up with all your reading as much as I would have liked to. You’ve all been brilliant and I have loved reading your posts.
I’ve never really been one for New Year resolutions, but the start of the school year always makes me re-evaluate and make plans. This year is no different.
If you are a regular reader, you may notice a few changes coming on 746 Books. The inaugural Reading Ireland Month held back in March has reignited my love of Irish literature, and has also brought about opportunities I could never have imagined when I started my wee blog. I am being offered books to preview and events to chair and it would be silly of me not to see where this leads.
However, I still want to stick to the spirit of 746 Books and my original plan not to buy any new books until the 746 are read. So, if you start to see reviews of old, new or forthcoming Irish books pop up on the blog, rest assured that the books have either been sent to me for review or have been borrowed from the library. The 746 will still be my main priority, my book buying ban will continue and I’ll keep counting down those hundreds of books still mocking me from my shelves!
Although this shelf is definitely a little more roomy……
I feel your summer (or the lack of it) pain here in the west of England. Dismal! Very enjoyable post, Cathy, and good luck with whatever the future brings for you.
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Thanks Susan, it really was a wash out wasn’t it??
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Indeed it was. Hoping for a dry winter…
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I love your little bookshelf video! Like you, I need to tackle the stacks of hard-copy books – they take up so much space (and gather dust) – electronic TBR stacks are much easier to manage!
Thanks again for hosting – I read some great books during this challenge. My round-up post here: https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/2015/09/04/finished-the-summer-reading-challenge-on-a-strong-note/
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Thanks Kate! I had intended to donate the 20 to the Little Free Library in my work, but of course, have ended up keeping about half of them because I enjoyed them so much!
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Yay Cathy, well done!
I think I read a total of 30 books for your challenge but not all were in my initial list.
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30 is brilliant Ana! Well done!
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Thanks, I did manage to read a lot last month. Lots of sleepless nights!
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I think the up-coming plans for your blog sound fantastic and exciting! It’s fun to see where our blogs take us, isn’t it?
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Thanks Naomi, I appreciate that. I’ve been worried that people might think I’m backing out of my original challenge. I’m a worrier 🙂
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Most of us bloggers , I’m sure, have started off one way, and then, when we get a feel for what goes on in the blogging world, have veered off in other directions. I know my own A-Z CanLit challenge has slowed right down, because of all the other fun books and challenges/readalongs that have distracted me. But, being distracted has been more fun than rigidly following my own plans. 🙂
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You’re right Naomi. I would be short sighted if I turned down some of these offers so I’m trying to get an in between ground and then see where that takes me!
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I should also do a end-of-summer post. I planned to read so much, especially on the beach, but I have a very active toddle and total relaxation is just not possible, even though my mom came with us on holiday!
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I know what that’s like Alex. The twins are 4 now and it is only just getting possible to read when they are in the vicinity!
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I know what you mean about not getting round to blogging about books! Sometimes they are not inspiring enough.
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There is that as well!
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Well done with your summer reading project, Cathy – 18 is a great achievement. I like the sound of your plans for the future, too. 🙂
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Thanks Jacqui 🙂
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Congrats on finishing 18 books for your challenge. Oh the exciting opportunities that seem to be coming your way! Fun stuff.
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Yes Bree, looking forward to autumn!
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Oh the summer weather was really rubbish wasn’t it?
I unbelievably failed at #20booksofsummer. I read 32 books in the time period but due to being so fickle didn’t get around to two of my list. One of them – a book group book is up next – but over all I am annoyed with myself. I knew making a list/pile wouldn’t work.
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I found I got a bit bored of mine Ali and kept wanting to read different things!
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Here in the UK I had a pleasant enough summer, but no phasing into autumn. The temperature has just plummeted! I am ready for some more autumnal reading now.
Thank you for hosting this event Cathy 🙂 This was my first year taking part, and I read 6 of the 10 books I set myself. I am pleased. Here is my wrap up post: https://thebookwormchronicles.wordpress.com/2015/09/04/challenge-10-books-of-summer-wrap-up/
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Thank you for taking part Jessica. It really has felt autumnal this week, but I don’t mind. I love the autumn.
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I didnt have have the time to take part in the summer challenge unfortunately. Roll on retirement…… Are you planning another reading Ireland month next year?
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I didn’t really have time either, which probably explains how little I posted! Yes, another Reading Ireland Month is planned for March, hope you can join in!
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Bravo Cathy! I would have joined in had I not already been doing so atrociously at my own Goodreads Challenge. Have loved reading your posts though. Wasn’t much of a fan of The Tiger’s Wife either tbh and definitely agree with the ‘all fur coat and no knickers’ thing. Adore The Housekeeper and the Professor; just Yoko Ogawa in general. So glad you did too 🙂
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Thank you so much! I seem to love everything Ogawa writes and luckily have 2 more in the 746.
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Here is my wrap-up post: http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.ca/2015/09/sunday-salon-20-books-of-summer-wrap-up.html
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Thanks so much for taking part!
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Thanks for hosting
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I really loved this challenge although due to sad circumstances I was unable to fully participate and only managed to read 7 of my list – next year I will do better (I do hope you are going to do it next year 🙂 )
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I understand Cleo, I’m sure I will do it next year, it gives me much needed focus. X
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I have not been visiting blogs as much as I used to, I guess. I thought summer ended on Sept. 22. I lost time with A Little LIfe, which is 720 pages long, but I’m in the high teens which is pretty good. I’m not going to make it to twenty, but challenges are all about having fun–not at all about completing the challenge.
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A Little Life is the equivalent of at least 3 books so I think you’ve done pretty well! I didn’t make it to 20 either but it was fun to try.
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