July marked an all-time high point in the Book Project. I read 46 books, and a total of 14,393 pages. That works out to almost a book and a half a day, and a 465 page/day average. I more than doubled the January low point, and somehow I doubt that I will be topping July in the coming months. Maybe I’m wrong and I will, but this was a pretty book-heavy month. At this point, my total books read for the year exceeds the number of days so far this year, which is a pretty neat trick, if you ask me.

Anyway, the book of the month prize goes to War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, a recommendation from Vicki. I also really enjoyed The Power of the Dog, and The Physics of the Buffyverse.

I struggled with First Into Nagasaki, because I disagreed with the positions in the first part of the book, but I tried to remember that the book is a series of largely unedited dispatches, not an assessment in retrospect, so I tried to give it a break. In the middle of the month, my feminist values were severely strained. First I read Madam, Will You Talk?, a book which featured a simpering, obnoxious, apologist female character whom I wanted to smack. Then, because I am a glutton for punishment, I read Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, featuring another totally weak, powerless female character who relies on the precious manpire in her life to save her from a horrible fate. Get ready for the Breaking Dawn review, which will be posted as soon as I read it.

At any rate, my head didn’t explode, and I read a lot of really good books last month, so I’d say it was a pretty good month. As always, I heartily encourage book recommendations from readers; I will do my best to get ahold of every book recommended (unless I have already read it, in which case I may abstain). If it’s really important to you that I read something, you can mail it to me:

s.e. smith

po box 2764

fort bragg, ca 95437

I’m also happy to accept loans of books; you can lend me books through the mail (include a slip to let me know it’s a loan!) or in person, if you’re local. I can’t guarantee that I’ll like the books sent/recommended, but I still appreciate it, because not liking something still requires critical thinking!