What books/comics/mangas etc. Did you read in June?
Kept it pretty lowkey in June, read only two books: Loop by Koji Suzuki (3rd book in the Ring series) and Osamu Dazai’s recently translated The Flowers of Buffoonery.
Hypatia: The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher - Edward J. Watts
As the title says. The author tries to stress the fact that the book is primarily about her life and work, which always gets overshadowed by her death. It was pretty good as both a book about her, and general Alexandrian life in her age, but quite short (around 150 pages)
Women Writers of Ancient Greece and Rome: An Anthology - Ian Michael Plant
Contains fragments from ancient women writers about various topics. It was good, but sadly not much was preserved through time, the fragments were often very short.
Oooh this is right up my alley. Was it also an entertaining read, or was it a little dry/difficult to get through? Non-fiction can be really hit or miss for me
Depends on how interested you are, I guess. The Hypatia book wasn’t dry at all, and it’s a pretty good showcase on how people actually used philosophy as a lifestyle. I just wish it had more, but you can only get so much from a limited source. Hypatia was mostly written about to discuss her violent death than how she lived.
The other book I honestly wouldn’t recommend if you’re not actually interested in the topic, because the contents will not entertain anyone by themselves. There are a couple of mostly complete poems and letters, but for the vast majority, the only thing that was preserved was a handful of lines. But to supplement that, the authors provide an introduction to every writer beforehand, so you can get a sense of what was accomplishable for women in that period. It’s a good book in that sense, but not very entertaining by itself.
Tte Hypatia one I recommend wholeheartedly to anyone who’s interested.
I read Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery cos I liked the tv series and wanted to see where it went. By the third book I was bored af so I totally changed to The First Law by Abercrombie. So far it’s really good,
I read The City & The City by China Mieville and some bits of Psychogeography by Will Self.
I would recommend the first one, especially if you like detective stories (and games like Disco Elysium).
I’m not sure about the second, it’s a collection of columns and the throughline isn’t as good as I’d hoped.
I have read Our Revolution by Bernie Sanders.
I can recommend it to anyone who are interested in the politics of US. Bernie talked about the main problems in the US. He talked about discrimination, the corruption, populism, wealth distribution and the negative effect of far capitalism overall.
The best bit of the book in my opinion, that you will understand why’s the society so against socialism’s ideas, even if it would significantly improve their life in many cases.
I’ve been working my way through the Sandman graphic novels 
I just finished No Longer Human last night. Haven’t breezed through a book like that in quite awhile!
-
Always Coming Home - Ursula K. LeGuin - I absolutely loved this book. I’m still keep thinking about the Kesh people that this book explores. Very strange read, absolutely recommended.
-
The Fifth Season - N K Jemisin - Really enjoyed this book. The way it uses perspective was really great. The ending felt okay. I’m definitely going to be picking up the next one sometime soon.
Currently reading Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer, which has been a fascinating read thus far, but I’m only halfway through.
After that I’m planning on reading Among Others by Jo Walton (I loved her Thessaly series)
-
Technically I finished the last few pages of this yesterday but whatever - Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens was an adorable rivals-to-lovers story with some excellent magical worldbuilding. It also has so much in common with The Owl House I refuse to believe the author isn’t a fan.
•The Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson - 3.5. The book examines class consciousness through the lens of technology, interesting read
• Kiln People - David Brin. - 3.5 Disposable clay doubles and a private investigator’s attempt to get to the bottom of a mystery. Engaging and fun read
• Memory’s Legion - James S.A. Corey - 3. The novellas, and digital extras for The Expanse series. The Expanse is one of my favorite series. Most of the book’s material was included in the television series.
• Clans of the Alphane Moon - Philip K Dick - 3.5. PKD is always a wild ride!
• City - Clifford D Simak - 4 - A collection of stories about humanity and man’s best friend from present to thousands of years into the future. Really enjoyed this one
• Life - Keith Richards - 4 - “It’s Only Rock and Roll, but I like It!” Life of a rock and roll icon from early days to adulthood. The guy has lived an interesting life.
I have City on my (endless) TBR, good to hear it’s worth it.
I just finished No Longer Human last night. Haven’t breezed through a book like that in quite awhile!
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch - I really enjoyed this storytelling and plot about multiple dimensions and timelines and murder. Thrilling and exciting.
Elantris, Warbreaker and started The Way of Kings, all by Brandon Sanderson. Read Mistborn Era 1 a couple years ago and loved it, finally decided to jump head in into the Cosmere.
Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell. They both describe, in a very creative way, the totalitarian regimes of the '40s, especially the soviet one. They give you an insight of what freedom should be, and what are the systems used by dictators to control the popultation: poverty, ignorance, fear, etc.
Worth reading!
I’ve read both but Animal Farm was for school so naturally I didn’t like it. 1984 was great not just as an interesting read but to understand all of the cultural (and culture war) references to it.
A few Animorphs and the Well of Ascension. I have a few active challenges on Storygraph.
I love Storygraph. Way better than Goodreads imo.
