The second month of this year’s 20 Books of Summer challenge is over and one of our hosts – Emma of Words and Peace – has compiled another questionnaire to help us recap our July reading. My answers aren’t as imaginative as the questions, but I’ve done my best!
I read eight books for the challenge this month, which means as I read nine in June I only have three more left to read in August (I’m halfway through one of them now). I’m behind with the reviews as usual, but the outstanding ones should be coming soon.
1. Which book surprised you the most this month?
Describe what made it stand out — was it a plot twist, unique character, or something unexpected?
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson had plenty of plot twists, but what really surprised me was the way it ended! It wasn’t what I expected at all – and not what I would personally have liked, although other readers may disagree.
2. If your July reading experience was a weather forecast, what would it be and why?
Did your reads feel like sunny days, thunderstorms, gentle breezes, or heatwaves?
A real mixture of weather, just like a typical British summer! There were some hot, stormy days (Elizabeth Fremantle’s Sinners), some bleak, rainy ones (The End of the Affair by Graham Greene) and also a few brighter, breezier days (Sophie Irwin’s How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days and Hannah Dolby’s No Life For a Lady).
3. Name a setting from your July books where you’d love (or hate) to take a summer vacation.
What drew you to (or repelled you from) the place?
The Syria of the 1930s, as described by Agatha Christie in Come, Tell Me How You Live, sounds like a fascinating place to visit in many ways – and a glimpse into a world and a way of life now gone forever. However, her first night in the town of Amuda, in a house infested by rats and cockroaches sounded horrific!
4. If you could turn one book into a summer festival, what would the main event be?
Describe the vibe, activities, or the bookish highlight of your imagined festival.
I would turn The Art of a Lie into an 18th century food festival. The highlight would be a sample of Hannah Cole’s delicious homemade ice cream, a delicacy most of the guests will never have seen or tasted before! As additional entertainment, the author Henry Fielding will give readings from his recently published novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling.
5. Choose your own adventure — recap July in the style of your choice:
You might write a diary entry, poem, comic panel, or even a simple list. Be as creative as you like!
I’m not feeling very creative at the moment, I’m afraid, so here are some very simple one-word reviews for the books I read this month:
Sinners by Elizabeth Fremantle – Tragic
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Twisty
The Lily and the Lion by Maurice Druon – Informative
Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie – Funny
How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin – Amusing
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene – Sad
Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault – Powerful
No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby – Entertaining
~
Are you taking part in 20 Books of Summer? How did your July reading go?
She Reads Novels 
The 18th-century food festival with readings by Henry Fielding is a GREAT idea—sign me right up!
You’ll be first on the guest list!
who knew a typical British summer could be so much fun in books!!ooh, an 18th century food festival!!And I do enjoy your 1 word review!
Thanks for playing along, great answers
Thanks, Emma – I enjoyed answering your questions!
Sounds like you’ve had a good month of reading. I loved your one-word descriptions of those books.
Thanks, Lark! I was pleased to make so much progress with the challenge in July.
One word reviews – great idea! This could finally be the solution to the age-old problem of Book Bloggers’ Backlog!
It would certainly save a lot of time!
The Syria of the 1930s would also be an ideal summer break for me, digging archaeological sites during the day, cleaning the finds in the evening, and – er – wondering which dead body would turn up on the morrow! (Only kidding…)
I’m sure Syria wouldn’t be high on anyone’s list for a summer holiday destination today, but the way Christie describes it in the 1930s it sounds like a fascinating place to visit – with or without dead bodies!
I bet the food festival would go down a treat. It’s awesome that the book mentioned a real author within it too – I love when actual people get referenced. It sounds like you had quite a mix of reads too given your weather comparisons. I look forward to seeing what books you get to in August.
I’m glad you like the sound of the food festival! It was the first thing that came to mind as The Art of a Lie features a sweet shop and details of ice cream making (as well as using the author Henry Fielding as a character). And yes, I think I read a good mixture of light books and darker ones in July!
It sounds like you have read some great books this July Helen! I am planning on reading “How to Lose a Lord Ten Days” soon too. How did you find it? 😊 Happy reading to you! 📚
I thought How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days was fun, although I liked Sophie Irwin’s first book, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting, the best. And thank you – happy reading to you too!