August Reading

First of all, sorry for the not-complying-with-my.own-format-format of the comic in the last post, but I really wanted to post it as it was, not just a link. Important stuff.

Anyway, books. I know this blog, for the past few weeks, has seen nothing but "what I've been reading" posts, but somehow that's all I manage right now. Also, I'm so happy about reading stuff! Maybe soon I'll get back into the swing of things, get back my writing mojo, whatever.

August has been interesting. I packed lots of tiny little books from my reading list for my one-week holiday, thinking I would spend enough time lying in bed or sitting on balconies reading. Instead I mostly flopped into bed dead-tired at the end of the day and watched TV with my boyfriend, because it seemed easiest. But I managed two of the books, at least. ;)
Thus, all in all, August looks pretty impressive! Let's just ignore that half of these were really REALLY short...

Elaine St. James - Living the simple life (for the xth time)
Whenever there is some disorder/disruption in my life, I turn to my simple living books. I could just as well add the Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs, because I spent many late hours in its pages during July and August as well, but I'm only putting books in the list which I've read front to back, and this is much easier with the Elaine St. James book. So...for the xth time, yes. Calming. 

Know Alls Facts of Life 
This is a tiny, tiny book, which a friend of mine rescued from the closeout sale of a local bookstore, about things kids/teens might ask about where babies come from/what's happening to them during puberty etc. I must admit, it was better than expected.

Dr. Seuss - Oh, the places you'll go
I ordered this as a gift for the baptism of my nephew. I hadn't even realised my sister asked for a present of books. I just read a nice story online about how a father gave this book to his daughter at high-school graduation and had collected comments from all her teachers etc in the book throughout her school career. Then I checked out the book. I hardly know any Dr. Seuss books, and I really need to change that. Anyway, I found the complete text online, really liked it and thought it appropriate. So what if he probably won't understand a thing until in about 12-14 years. Maybe I'll try to translate. Not that translating Dr. Seuss is particularly easy, but I can try.

Alina Pete - Weregeek Volume 1 - The Geek Within
Webcomic in book form. Need to read more webcomic. Liked it more the second time around, actually. Now, need to read more webcomic.

One Piece #63
< 3 forever

Roald Dahl - Kuschelmuschel (engl. title: Switch Bitch, 4 short stories)
I might have read this before, but I really couldn't remember properly. Four sort of macabre stories, as expected, with the set-up being more on the 'adult' side, but the whole storie, in the end, really more on the macabre side. Well.

Truman Capote - Frühstück bei Tiffany (tiny book collecting Breakfast at Tiffany's with four other short stories and some comments on the movie)
Yay, I finally managed to read it. In German, but better than nothing. Quite different than I expected. And I don't even know the film. But still. Maybe I'll need to read it in English and watch the movie and thus complete my education about this.
What I really liked was the description of Holly's hair. For reasons apparent to anyone who knows mine.

Michelle Goodman - My so-called freelance life
Makes me jump out of bed full of ideas and shake with fear (of ever going back to an office job) in turns. Very helpful. I also have her first book, which I read some time ago and am just reading again, just for the heck of it. The good thing: I'm not really afraid of what I'm planning anymore. It has worked out for others, it will work out for me. And the book really teaches to be smart about your situation, and if you need extra work, take it. OK.

Audiobooks (in German)

Jim Dodge - Fup (read by Harry Rowohlt)
This was fun. It was very different to what I expected, but one of the funniest things I've 'read' in the past few months. As well as that, I had heard about the peculiarities of Harry Rowohlt reading, but...wow...the 'sipping coffee' was probably my favourite thing.

Banana Yoshimoto - Kitchen (read by Jessica Schwarz)
Maybe one day I will read a Japanese book that is different, but then again, I really like the dreamy, slow pace of the ones I've read so far. This is a prime example. I really need to remember, next time, to get out of the mindset that big things need to happen, or waiting for the big plot etc. This is 'just' a slice of life, a very beautifully written one. Tender, delicate, calming.

Giovanni Boccaccio - Decamerone (novella 5, 16, 18, 20 and 28)
Sadly, I have no idea who read these stories. Highly enjoyable, anyway. :)

So, I count 8 books and 3 audiobooks. Yay! :D