A selection of quotes and pictures to represent July’s reading:
commonplace book
noun
a book into which notable extracts from other works are copied for personal use.
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Nobody likes to feel a fool. We believe what we want to believe, which is whatever serves us best.
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (2025)
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Man’s immortality is not to live forever; for that wish is born of fear. Each moment free from fear makes a man immortal.
Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault (1969)
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Portrait traditionally identified as Beatrice Cenci, attributed to Ginevra Cantofoli
I learned later that this wasn’t quite the truth. I came eventually to see that what goes on between two people behind closed doors is hard to prove, that there is one law for the rich and another for the poor. There is an age at which one comes to an understanding of hypocrisy, and I hadn’t reached it then.
Sinners by Elizabeth Fremantle (2025)
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Power, without the consent of those over whom it is exercised, is a fraud that cannot long endure, a delicate balance between fear and rebellion, which may suddenly be overset when enough men become aware that they all think alike.
The Lily and the Lion by Maurice Druon (1959)
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One thing can safely be said about an archaeological packing. It consists mainly of books. What books to take, what books can be taken, what books there are room for, what books can (with agony!) be left behind. I am firmly convinced that all archaeologists pack in the following manner: They decide on the maximum number of suitcases that a long-suffering Wagon Lit Company will permit them to take. They then fill these suitcases to the brim with books. They then, reluctantly, take out a few books, and fill in the space thus obtained with shirt, pyjamas, socks, etc.
Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie (1946)
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West Kennet Long Barrow, Avebury
A long hump rose from the ground, which Jess knew to be one of numerous barrows that dotted the slopes and heights of these stark uplands. But while she had no fear of the stone circle where she lived, these particular stones formed the entrance to a mysterious long barrow which had a demonic reputation, and although the chamber behind them would provide essential shelter from the approaching storm, the whole structure filled her with deep apprehension.
The House of Seymour by Joanna Hickson (2025)
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Lydia shook her head to think of it. For far from Love at First Sight, for her, it had been Dislike at First Conversation.
How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin (2025)
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Not all people were the same. Life was like the river. How you perceived it depended upon you viewpoint. And what you saw, like the automaton wren, was not always the truth, because truth was not always absolute; it had its own nuances.
The Emerald Shawl by Louise Douglas (2025)
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A masquerade in the Pantheon, London, circa 1808.
History is rich and interesting exactly because humans are, and while our modern life loves a binary, especially between good and evil, the reality is we all have the capacity for exciting and mundane, moral and immoral, smart and stupid.
Masquerade Balls in Regency England by Anne Glover (2025)
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Perhaps all detectives were mildly unsettling. Perhaps they needed to be, to get the job done.
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby (2023)
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I have never been able to describe even my fictitious characters except by their actions. It has always seemed to me that in a novel the reader should be allowed to imagine a character in any way he chooses: I do not want to supply him with ready-made illustrations.
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (1951)
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Favourite books read in July:
Sinners, The Art of a Lie, Come, Tell Me How You Live, The Emerald Shawl, No Life for a Lady (yes, I found it difficult to choose this month!)
Authors read for the first time in July:
Anne Glover, Graham Greene, Hannah Dolby
Places visited in my July reading:
Italy, England, Macedonia, Greece, France, Syria
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Reading notes: Most of my reading in July was for the 20 Books of Summer challenge. I have now read 17 books for the challenge, which means I only have to read 3 more in August. I just need to find time to catch up with posting my reviews! I was pleased that I also managed to incorporate a French novel (The Lily and the Lion) into my July reading for Emma’s Paris in July event!
I have no plans for August other than finishing 20 Books of Summer. It’s Women in Translation month, which I do usually try to take part in, but I’m not sure if I have anything suitable on the TBR at the moment. I’ll see what happens!
What did you read in July? Do you have any plans for August?
She Reads Novels 
What a wonderful but mainly sobering selection of quotes! I think of “one law for the rich and another for the poor” – “Power, without the consent of those over whom it is exercised, is a fraud that cannot long endure” – “truth was not always absolute; it had its own nuances” – but I also agree with Graham Greene’s dictum that it’s best to describe fictional characters by their actions, not their appearances.
Well done on your summer reading progress: I’m around the 15/20 mark so rather sailing along nicely!
Yes, it turned out to be quite a serious selection of quotes this month, although I do always try to include a few humorous ones as well.
Good luck with finishing your 20 Books of Summer! You’re making great progress so far.
Interesting collection, I sat up straighter at the one about belief and the class laws that Chris above noted, but I also hunched over in giggles at the Dislike at First Conversation. I can relate to not being able to choose favourites; it’s something I’ve been thinking that maybe I should practice with…but then I think, well, there are worse things to fail at. My July was pretty packed with a bunch of newer loans from the library, placed over several months and all being processed at once; I think I”ll still be finishing up in August.
Yes, the Dislike at First Conversation line made me laugh too! Sophie Irwin’s books are always fun. I hope you enjoy your August reading and manage to finish those library loans!
Christie’s quote about archaeologists, books and packing is hilarious! I sometimes feel the same when I’m trying to figure out which books and how many I can take with me on vacation. ;D
Yes, it’s so difficult to decide which ones to take! Now that I do a lot of my reading on my Kindle, though, it makes things easier.
That was a good reading month! The Glover quote is spot on I think.
Yes, I thought the Glover quote was very insightful.
I love your collection of quotes as always. I’m glad you enjoyed No Life for a Lady. Violet is such a great character
I loved Violet! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
Ooh, I like having a collection of quotes to represent books read.
They were all interesting and evocative, but the one from Come, Tell Me How You Live is especially intriguing. It is now on my TBR list, but first I need to get my hands on a copy. Never heard of it, but I know I would love it.
Come, Tell Me How You Live is great! I wasn’t aware of it either until recently, but it’s a fascinating book and tells us a lot about what Christie was like as a person.
I’m not an archaeologist, but have exactly the same problem packing as Agatha Christie described!
Graham Greene allowing his readers to imagine his characters as they like is thoughtful, and I’m also quite taken by the first quote, about us all wanting to believe what serves us best.
I think a lot of us will identify with the archaeologist packing problem!
I’m torn this month between Agatha and the Masquerade Ball quote. I wonder how archaeologists get on now that they only have a plane luggage allowance. Kindles, I suppose!
Yes, that’s one of the good things about Kindles. No need for archaeologists to leave clothes behind now!
Hello Helen, it looks like your reading took you a summery journey in countries like Italy, Greece, Syria and Macedonia 😎 I also read The House of Seymour and sadly found it underwhelming, but I have just picked up The Emerald Shawl by Louise Douglas, which I hope I will enjoy more. Also well done on reading 17 of your 20 Books of Summer! 👏 I have only finished 3 of my 10 Books of Summer so far.
Blessings, Jessica 💌
I was underwhelmed by The House of Seymour too – I still need to write my review. I hope you enjoy The Emerald Shawl as much as I did. And good luck with the rest of your 10 Books of Summer list! 🙂