August, What The Hell?

August has been rough.

Yumleima, our last female cat, passed away on Aug 10th. ′⌒` At one time, we used to have 7 to 9 cats. Now we just have 3 male cats.

Rex, the rottweiler, is also gone. So unexpectedly.

This is also the month we cut down all our bamboo. New stuff coming up. Our home used to be surrounded by bamboo on two, almost three, sides. Most of it was cleared. For a long time, we had a small bamboo grove in one corner. Now it's also gone. No more bamboo shades. Hotter now. I am sad. I like having plants, trees, and bamboo around the house.

Time to buy some pots and flowers and plant some trees. Please.

Anyway, I read/listened to these books in August.

Five are books I got from an Instagram giveaway. One is an audiobook.

The No‑Show by Beth O’Leary

Genre: Romance

Three very different women discover they’ve all been ghosted by the same man and uncover unexpected emotional truths.

I liked the twist towards the end. Fun read.

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund‑Broka

Genre: Romance

Former writing partners turned estranged friends reunite to craft one final novel and confront lingering personal hurt, jealousy, and love.

Boring, sorry.

Saint Death by Mark Dawson

Genre: Action-thriller / crime

Ex‑British assassin John Milton surfaces in Ciudad Juárez to smuggle a targeted journalist into Texas while battling narco‑gangs and deadly assassins.

I'm not into thrillers.

Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie

Genre: Literary fiction/friendship drama

Spanning over three decades from 1980s Karachi to modern London, this novel explores the endurance and strain of Zahra and Maryam’s lifelong friendship amid class divides, political clashes, and past secrets.

Interesting read.

The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam

Genre: Nonfiction memoir/biography

Through her grandmother Yetemegnu’s life, Edemariam paints a sweeping portrait of Ethiopia’s turbulent 20th century from feudal monarchy through revolution and exile.

Hard to read. Some parts felt like reading about my mother's story.

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.

Epistolary memoir

Letters from the twenty-year correspondence between the author and Frank Doel, chief buyer for Marks & Co antiquarian booksellers, located at the eponymous address in London.

Was in the mood for some kind, caring, well-intentioned words, stuff like that. This was exactly what I was looking for. I listened to the audiobook. It was perfect comfort.

Comments

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