Podcasts, Books, Photos, and Favorite Moments of July

Podcasts: I am so not up to date on podcasts so these are all older podcasts.  I am liking Off Shore's season 3 and older episodes of Pod Save America. Also enjoying older episodes of My Favorite Murder.

                    
Books:  I read 10 books in July! And 3 others I helped the kiddo read aloud.  So I rocked July! They were all pretty great reads too!

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 4 stars

This was a sad tale of a family who is changed by the actions of two bored parents one Sunday afternoon. Probably my favorite Patchett that I’ve read.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie 4 stars  I actually liked this one a bit better than Murder On the Orient Express.  I’m trying to occasionally read more of hers.  Any recommendations?

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes 5 stars 

This was probably my favorite book of the month.  It is a middle grade novel about a young black boy who is shot while he is playing with a toy gun by a police officer.  He becomes a ghost and meets other black boys who have been killed because they were black.  It is sooo good.  I cannot do this book justice.  I learned about it during an episode of The Longest Shortest Time  while the author was being interviewed and I’ve since started reading her other books!

The Girl who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz 5 stars

Loved this latest installment in the Lisbeth Salander series!

17th Suspect by James Patterson 4 stars

I also liked the latest in the Womens Murder Club series.  Some of these are just so so but this was a good one!

Princess in Black by Shannon and Dean Hale 3 stars

Isla and I were excited to finally start this series together but I was slightly disappointed in it.  It’s okay and the 7 year old likes it , but I think I hyped it up too much.

A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny 4 stars

Also enjoyed this one in the Three Pines series!

The Lost Saints of Tennessee by Amy Franklin-Willis 4 stars

I found this at the library randomly and gave it a whirl since it was a book set in the south.  It was a depressing tale of a family.  However, it still made for some good reading.

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes 5 stars

This book followed a 12 year old girl in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Loved it!

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick 4 stars 

This was our book club pick.  It was very unexpected.  The description basically gives nothing away which I feel is a good lure in, otherwise you may not start it because of how weird it gets.  But in a good discussion kind of weird!

Photos:  Here are some of my favorite photos this month!

Favorite Moments:

4^th of July we had people over for a day of pool, food and drinks.  So much fun!

We also had a random Sunday afternoon day of pool, friends, and drinks and that was fun.

A family wedding was a good time for all.

Finding a new local downtown store that has some cute locally made stuff.

Seeing cousins that live out of the country.

Camping with friends.

Lots of time with my girl.

Blueberries!!!

 What was your favorite book read in July? What podcast have you been loving? What was a highlight of your month?