Here we go! And don't forget to leave your responses in the comments, or head over to Twitter to take part in the original project...
July 1st: A book that made you laugh out loud
I think I'd have to go with a book I read just last month: Boys Don't Knit by T.S. Easton. It was everything I love about British humour: honest, dry, a bit mad... It's basically about a boy, Ben, who ends up joining a knitting class as part of his parole after an unfortunate accident involving a lollipop lady, a bike and a bottle of Martini Rosso. Part Skins, part Shameless, part Adrian Mole, only with more wool!
July 2nd: Favourite SF/Fantasy novel for World UFO Day!
Ohhhhh hell. I've got four to pick from and I can't choose! If you held a weapon of your choice up to somewhere vital upon my person and threatened to do me grave harm if I didn't settle on one, I'd probably have to go with... ummmm *pained expression* *much wringing of hands*... The Princess Bride by William Goldman. Just because it's more unique than Good Omens, less icky than Warm Bodies (which is amazing, but has a couple of non-dinnertime-friendly moments) and more concise than Lord of the Rings. And it gave me that happy 'awesome book' feeling all the way through. BUT I LOVE THEM ALL. (My review)
July 3rd: Favourite novel in translation
Hmmmm. My number one choice will actually fit perfectly as a recommendation for a later prompt, so I'm going to have to go for Perfume by Patrick Süskind, originally written and published in German. At the time I wasn't 100% sure how I felt about it, but as the years have gone by (I read it in 2011) it's turned out to have stayed with me more profoundly than many novels I loved in the moment but have barely thought about since. It's dark and twisted and deeply enmeshed in the olfactory world, and Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is one of the most memorable characters I've ever come across; I'm very much looking forward to reading it again sometime! (My review)
July 4th: All-time favourite American novel for 4 July/ Independence Day
Having finally read it this year and been absolutely blown away, it's got to be To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It's moving and amusing and thought-provoking and deeply rooted in its southern heritage, and I don't know whether to be annoyed with myself for not reading it sooner, or glad I read it when I did because the timing was obviously just right for me and this book to bond! (My double review)
July 5th: Most delicious novel about food
I think my favourite novel about food (so far - I have more on Mount TBR!) is probably Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements. It was a surprise hit last year - I thought it'd just be a fun frothy summer read, and I ended up absolutely loving it! Two sisters inherit an ice cream shop on the Brighton coast, and one of them also flies to Florence to attend a course for the business, so between the two locations it has so many delicious descriptions of ice cream, gelato and sorbets, in all kinds of wonderful flavours... It made my mouth water! (My review)
July 6th: Which book will you put down today to watch the Wimbledon final?
I was pretty sure I'd barely end up reading a thing today, because not only was it the Federer-Djokovic Wimbledon final (I really thought Federer was going to triumph for a while there!) but I also discovered that Waddington Air Show was being streamed live on Planes TV. My entire family set off there at about 6am this morning and had a wonderful day - but I got to enjoy the planes with multi-angle cameras, official commentary (which they couldn't hear, the nearest speaker was too far away), funny internet commentary, full WiFi access for dull moments, my own toilet, plenty of drinks and a Domino's pizza. All that was missing was the smell of aeroplane fuel and the full roar of the displays (which was particularly noticeable when the Lancaster flew in, I LOVE THOSE MERLIN ENGINES)... Anyway, the book I set aside to enjoy all of this was The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey. I've been reading it for waaaaay too long now, I really should settle down and finish it soon. Maybe tomorrow!
That's everything so far! I'll be back in the week with more!
