The books I have read in July, August and September of 2025
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All of these months were good reading months and I have changed a lot during these times. Both in my private and reading life. Not necessarily because of the books I’ve read, although there are 2 in there that I will carry within me probably forever, but because of other ‘life-happenings’ around me. These changes are not negative per-se. I find them liberating and gratifying for my wounded book-lover soul. Personal notes aside, I have managed to list here all the books I have read in reading order from the beginning of June until the end of September.
I might sprinkle some thoughts here and there where I think it is necessary or when I feel like I have something to say. But generally, I don’t rate books with stars at all if it is not a perfect read, and if I don’t like a book I simply won’t mention it. This being said, everything here is based on my personal preference. Please don’t take it factually or personally. You can find the full list on my UK bookshop* account, which you can access here, or on the right side of the main page under Bookshop.
July - The Month of Timeless Art
The mood was leaning towards the theme of art this month. Nell Stevens and Bora Chung are the writers that I absolutely cherish. I got to know Donna Tartt’s and Solvej Balle’s work as well. Donna Tartt has a talent for characters and Solvej Balle just gave me a new type of reading experience which I always appreciate.
The Original* by Nell Stevens
genre and other tags: historical fiction, gothic, queer, 1899, Oxfordshire, painter, art
I loved Briefly, a Delicious Life*, so I was really looking forward to this new book and by the end of it, I officially became a Nell Stevens fan. The book is intriguing and interesting, the characters are deep and complex. I can’t wait for her new novel: The Good Time*, which I didn’t know about before writing this post, so I’m super excited.
On The Calculation of Volume I* by Solvej Balle and translated from the Danish by Barbara J. Haveland
genre and other tags: translated, speculative and literary fiction, scifi-ish but not hardcore
Reads like a fever dream, feels like lightning in a bottle. I was mostly confused and I genuinely smelt, felt and tasted the character. Looking forward to On The Calculation of Volume II*. Actually, since then I’ve started to read it and I enjoy it a lot. Now it feels more like being a plastic bag in the wind. Which always made me emotional.
Red Sword* by Bora Chung and translated from the Korean by Anton Hur
genre and other tags: translated fiction, sci-fi, dystopian, elements of horror, surrealism & magical realism, military, enslavement
Definitely a hard read, I think. If you prefer to avoid certain subjects in a book, it is worth reading the trigger warnings or the blurb. I just like to go in blind, but once in a blue moon I get triggered to the stratosphere so… Bora Chung, absolute queen of writing the macabre, the weird with heavy social critique. I have read The Cursed Bunny and The Midnight Timetable* and both works are one of my favourite weird fiction reads. Love her style and her brain.
genre and other tags: literary fiction, coming of age, thriller (but not on a heist level), art, ‘Dickens-ish’ style, grief
Master of character-writing and slow build. There is no way the reader won’t get attached to the character/s. Reads like watching a movie, no wonder she is who she is in the literary world. I haven’t read The Secret History* yet, so that one I still owe it to her.
August - It’s hard to exist sometimes… most of the time
Emotionally heavy reading month. I carry books from this month in my heart ever since I’ve read them. Yiyun Li and Baek Se-hee are particularly close to my soul and Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq was also a profound read for me. Trigger warnings for most of these books are needed, please read the synopsis before you choose to read them.
Asa: The Girl Who Turned into a Pair of Chopsticks* by Natsuko Imamura and translated from the Japanese by Lucy North
genre and other tags: translated fiction, short stories, magical realism and surrealism
This book stayed with me way much longer than I thought. I think it touched some hidden, closed off trauma in me. Definitely, something lurking from my childhood in those pages. This is usually more than enough for me to read all the books the author has to offer. So down the rabbit hole I go…
I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbooki* by Baek Se-hee and translated from the Korean by Anton Hur
genre and other tags: translated non-fiction, memoir, self-help, mental health struggles
There are no words that I can use to express how utterly devastating it is that there will be no more books from Baek Se-hee. I admired her bravery and honesty and I know that her work will continue to help and provide support for readers in hard times. Anton Hur is one of my favourite translators, mostly, because I always feel closer to the writer through his words. I read her first book: I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki so I was following her journey from the very beginning. I am always going to treasure her raw honesty and her bravery to let us in.
The Hounding* by Xenobe Purvis
genre and other tags: Historical fiction, debut novel, gothic, mystery, mass histeria, 18th century, Oxfordshire
Very strong debut novel by Xenobe Purvis. Historical fiction for me is one of the hardest genres to write, so all my admiration goes out to authors who really manage to fly me back in time.
Heart Lamp: Selected Stories* by Banu Mushtaq and translated from the Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi
genre and other tags: Translated fiction, modern & contemporary fiction, lives of women/girls of Muslim communities located in Southern India
Very intense, but if you are a reader who wants to widen your horizons, getting to know other cultures or just leveling up your empathy, this is a must read. Voice for the voiceless is the fundamental value of books. Without authors like Banu Mushtaq, everything would be lost.
Things in Nature Merely Grow* by Yiyun Li
genre and other tags: memoir, non-fiction, philosophy, literary essays, grief, coping with child loss, radical acceptance
Hard book on grief but extremely close to my soul for this exact same reason. Became one of the building blocks of my DNA I should say. ‘Radical acceptance’ is something I’ve learnt in my own way since I was very very young. So seeing that part of me written down on a page, although, in a different shape and form and colour, did something to me. Acknowledged a part of me that was living in a corner under the piano. Yiyun Li became one of my favourite authors, there is no question about it.
The Devils* by Joe Abercrombie (The Devils #1)
genre and other tags: Conjuring & Magic, Dark Fantasy, Magical and mystical beings, adventure & action, humour, somewhere between adult and YA
Oh Dear… The Devils was just trying to exist in this month even though, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the dialogues. This was my first book by Joe Abercrombie and it made me curious about his writing. Especially the ones that are more oriented towards adult readers.
September - The Month of Suspension
Seemingly completely different genres but there was chilling suspension in all of these books with flavours of satire, mystery, high fantasy and sapphic romance. Depending on which book you choose to taste. It was definitely needed after the emotionally charged and heavy reading month of August.
A Clash of Kings* by George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #2)
genre and other tags: epic fantasy, high fantasy, adult, adventure, action, intrigue, war, political, kingdoms, prophecies, mythology
I’m slowly eating my way through the series of The Song of Ice and Fire, the second book was quite enjoyable as well. I really like the POV character/chapter style of writing, it’s absolutely my favourite way of devouring fantasy, sci-fi (see The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey) or any speculative fiction.
Strange Pictures* by Uketsu translated from the Japanese by Jim Rion
genre and other tags: translated fiction, mystery & thriller, crime, adult, psychological, horror elements, family secrets
I especially enjoyed Uketsu’s way of making my frontal lobes and cerebral cortex work overtime and turning this novel into an interactive reading experience. The fact that the author’s appearance is hidden just adds to the eerie atmosphere.
genre and other tags: horror, satire, action, thriller,adventure, grimoire, social criticism, drama,
It was an experience. It reads like watching Fight Club* which is based on the book he wrote so it wasn’t hard for me to imagine the colours, the scenes and even the music. Chuck Palahniuk puts the most polished mirror in front of society’s face, without flinching or caring what anyone would think or comment about it.
genre and other tags: historical fiction, gothic, lgbtq, sapphic romance, Carmilla reimagining, vampire
I devoured this book with great taste and haste and I didn’t even get a tummy ache. I apologise… Brilliant book full with feminine rage and sapphic romance, which I love to read about. Thanks to growing up watching Xena. Kat Dunn’s prose is very satisfying and always leaves you longing for more.
This would be the list of books I have read and enjoyed on a spectrum. Have a look at them, read the synopsis and see if you are interested. Can’t wait to jump back with another three months when it’s time.
To Be Sleeved Or Not To Be Sleeved…
I also started to look for book protector sleeves (in the UK) for my cherished and signed books. There are bookshops that are already providing this service to their customers, like Toppings & Company or Goldsboro Books, but I do buy signed or special copies from other bookshops as well. Where the books don’t necessarily come with extra protection. I do appreciate the sellers who do think about this and offer a protective sleeve for these beloved items.
I was looking for ages for protective sleeves at craft shops and stationary shops, big and small, online and in person. In the end I have decided to go with bookprotectors.co.uk and I’m so far quite happy with their product. I will probably write more about this particular topic when I have bought more different styles of protectors from them and I can say without a doubt that it works for me. But have a look if you are interested. I’m not affiliated with them in any way. Edit: This is 6 months later me editing this, I still love bookprotectors but oh boy do I sweat and get into a crimson rage when I’m trying to squeeze the second flip of the dustcover into the sleeve. I’ve tried all the positions, leaving it longer, re-calculating the sizes etc… I genuinely think it’s me who is the problem here but I went from being excited to wrap a book to being absolutely terrified I have to do it.
My Libby TBR tags Hysteria
At the very end of October, Libby users were collectively dryheaving (including myself) over the fact that the app showed it couldn’t synchronise. Generally, the tags were reduced to a mere 12 or so numbers from (my) original whopping of 712. By the 2nd of November it got fixed and all my tags were back and safe. I thought this was the perfect time to do a back up with a passkey which can be done very easily from the app. So when the God of Glitch decides to take away my hundreds of to be read and notify me tags I will be standing there proudly in my shining armor while I reinstall my libby app without losing anything. If you are still here and you use libby and you haven’t made a back up yet, this is your sign. Who would’ve thought that losing a collection of digital tbr tags could throw me into an existential crisis.
Next Time Around
All the books I’ve read in October, November and December of 2025. Sci-fi, horror, manga and many more. Trying to find the joy in writing with fun exercises, and stationary holds me in a chokehold. Especially fountain pens. New posts coming every Saturday!
ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN
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