Last Month in Review: August 2014

Surprise read of the month

Though my reading in August was not extensive, at least not when compared with other months, it was a tad more diverse than my usual fare.  I had a fairly bad reading slump from the end of July to the beginning of August, which explains why there are two large pieces of fanfiction on the list, but on the bright side, I read more nonfiction, one work of translation, and a couple of new-to-me authors.  In chronological order:

1. The Mirror of Maybe by Midnight Blue.  This is a work of Harry Potter fan fiction featuring Harry/Snape. Harry is a War Mage in disguise, Severus is his usual unpleasant self, Miverva learns the horrors of Harry's childhood, and whoa, wizarding tattoos.  Those are pretty cool in the hands of this author.

2. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness.  I wouldn't normally leap in and start reading the last book of a trilogy without reading the first two, but that publisher comped me the audio book so I gave it a spin.  I may review it later.

3. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters.  Another new-to-me writer.  I picked this one up because of some raves I heard from booksellers as long ago as early June, but it turned out not to be my cup of tea. I may review that one, too.

4. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes.  I love this movie, and I briefly had the chance to meet Cary Elwes at BEA this year.  Gah, I hope to review this one, too.  Funny how time keeps slipping away from me...

5. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion.  Sequel to The Rosie Project, if that wasn't already apparent. Oh, I'll definitely review this one.

6. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriary. Another new-to-me author, and definitely the book that took me most by surprise this month.  Review is here. I think I liked this book best of the ones I read for the first time. (Obviously Bill Bryson is in his own category of Books-I-Practically-Know-By-Heart)

7. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami.  I'm glad I read this one, even though I can't pretend to really get this author.  I don't know about the book in any other country, but if you can get your hands on a US edition, it's worth checking out. Review here.

8. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson.  Though this one qualifies as my second piece of nonfiction, I've read/listened to this book so many times before that I can quote large passages from it.  I tend to put in a CD of this book on the way to work if I'm in between other audio books.

9. The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.  First book in a proposed quintet for middle grade/YA that was fun to read and clearly inspired by a wide variety of fantasy stories, notably Harry Potter and Star Wars. It was fun.

10. Roman Holiday by Anna.  This is one of the finest pieces of fanfiction around, this time starring our girl, Hermione. Well written, well plotted, good characterization--there are times when I forget which are elements of J K Rowling's story and which are elements of Anna's.  She's really quite peerless when it comes to writing Hermione. And while she may certainly take Hermione, Draco, and Snape places that J K Rowling would have taken them, Anna rarely takes them out of character.  Snape and Draco aren't cuddly and misunderstood, longing for the love of a good woman, for example. You can read it here, if you're interested.

What about you, dear reader? What delighted or disappointed you in your August reading?