bookworms / reading community / writers life

This Writer’s Reading Round-up, June 2021

Chris Hall44 Comments

It’s half the way through the year already, can you believe it? Almost the end of June and it’s wet and wintry here, and while many of you are enjoying your ‘summer reading’ and I thought I’d share what I’ve been reading this year. I love to read almost as much as I love to write, and I firmly believe that the more good writing I read, the more my own writing improves.

Last year I did the ArmedWithABingo year-long reading challenge hosted by Kriti Khare & Ariel Joy which was great fun, and which encouraged my to read a few books that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise picked up. But this year I’m on a ‘free choice’ foray, guided mostly by some great reviews I’ve read by some great reviewers here in our WordPress family, who’ve wickedly tempted me to augment my already tottering ‘TBR’ pile way beyond normal safety parameters.

I’ve also over-stuffed my book shelves with piles of pre-loved books from our local indie book stores.

However, I must confess to my shame that I haven’t been to our lovely local library for ages. I really should, even though under lockdown regulations you can only spend half an hour at a time there. Before Covid, I used to go to write there sometimes since being surrounded by all those books was rather inspiring (and it’s lovely and warm in winter).

Anyway, enough rambling. Here’s what I’ve read so far this year.

  • My books on Goodreads

I’ve had a most enjoyable half-year’s reading: a mixture of old books and new, prose and poetry, even a cookery book. I’ve continued to honour my resolve to read more books from the southern hemisphere, especially by African writers, as I feel authors down here don’t get the exposure they should.

As a writer I know how exciting it is to receive a review from a reader, and I offer a big, big thank you to all of my readers who’ve taken the time and trouble to rate/review my books, although to know someone has read one of my books is even enough.

I faithfully post a review of the books I’ve read on Goodreads and usually on Bookbub, so long as the book comes up in a search. You can find all of my reviews here on Goodreads.

As for the next half of the year, I did promise myself not to buy any more books until I’d made a proper dent in the tottering TBR pile, but there’s a sale at Bookworms tomorrow, and I have to support the store which carries copies of my own books, don’t I?

Bookworms, Somerset West, South Africa

Happy reading folks!

44 thoughts on “This Writer’s Reading Round-up, June 2021”

  2. I recognize some of those books, Chris. What great reads. I do the Goodreads challenge every year just so I can go back and gaze at all those covers and remember their wonderful stories. Here’s to another 6 months of reading adventure!

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  6. Hi Chris, thank you for reading and reviewing A Ghost and His Gold. I enjoyed Jude’s poetry book very much and have read a number of Stevie Turner’s books, but not this particular one. I have it on my TBR. I also enjoyed Telling Sonny and Born in a Treacherous Time.

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  7. Only a pleasure, Robbie. It seems we have similar tastes and similar friends. I’m looking forward to reading ‘While the Bombs Fell’ in my next tranche. 🙂

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  8. Thank you so much, dear Chris, for such an attractive collection for the hungry eyes and minds. For me, I am not a seasons reader. If I had the appropriate possibilities, I would read whole the year! Still, it’s nice to know that there are so many good books out there. 🤗🙏

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  9. I enjoy reading but most of my reading is on my Kindle, which is becoming rather crowded with my favorite books. I still need to add a few, as well. I need more hours in a day and all will be fine!❤️

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