August 2020 TBR

TL;DR

Olive shares her reading list for August 2020, which includes a mix of classic, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, and nature books.

Transcript

hi guys olive here here today to talk to you about what books I'm planning on reading in August 2020 getting straight into it my classic pick for the month is going to be the picnic at hanging rock by Joan Lindsay this is an Australian modern classic set in 1903 school girls and one teacher go missing during a Valentine's Day picnic and the rest of... Read More

Key Insights

• 📔 Olive's August TBR includes a mix of fiction and nonfiction books across various genres.
• 🫠 She plans to read classic literature, such as "The Picnic at Hanging Rock" and "The Odyssey," as well as modern retellings like "Circe" and "The Penelopiad."
• 🫠 Olive is excited about her romance reading project and intends to read "The Boyfriend Project."
• 🦉 She focuses on nature and nonfiction with books like "The Dragon Behind the Glass" and "Owls of the Eastern Ice."
• 🫒 Olive highlights upcoming releases she is eagerly anticipating, including "Migrations," "The Smallest Lights in the Universe," and "Vesper Flights."

Questions & Answers

Q: What is "The Picnic at Hanging Rock" about?

"The Picnic at Hanging Rock" is a modern Australian classic set in 1903, where school girls and a teacher go missing during a Valentine's Day picnic, and the book explores the mystery of what happened to them.

Q: What is "In Gratitude" by Jenny Diski about?

"In Gratitude" is a memoir by Jenny Diski, written during her battle with cancer. It reflects on her life, including the struggles she faced, and explores her complicated relationship with writer Doris Lessing.

Q: How are "Circe" by Madeline Miller and "The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood related to "The Odyssey"?

Both "Circe" and "The Penelopiad" provide different perspectives on characters from "The Odyssey." "Circe" focuses on the enchantress Circe's story, while "The Penelopiad" portrays the life of Penelope, wife of Odysseus, during his absence.

Q: What is "The Boyfriend Project" by Farah Rochon about?

"The Boyfriend Project" tells the story of three women who bond after being catfished by the same man. They make a pact to focus on self-improvement, but complications arise when one of them meets someone special.

Q: What is "The Dragon Behind the Glass" by Emily Voigt about?

"The Dragon Behind the Glass" is a book about the coveted arowana fish, a status symbol in Asia. It explores captivating stories about this fish in captivity and in the wild.

Q: What is "Owls of the Eastern Ice" by Jonathan C. Slaght about?

"Owls of the Eastern Ice" is a nature non-fiction book where the author, Jonathan C. Slaght, searches for the world's largest owl species in Russia. It promises to be similar in tone to "The Snow Leopard" by Peter Matheson.

Q: What is "Migrations" by Charlotte McConaughey about?

"Migrations" follows a woman's journey to remote Greenland to find the world's last remaining flock of Arctic Terns and follow them during their final migration south.

Q: What is "Vesper Flights" by Helen MacDonald about?

"Vesper Flights" is a nature essay collection by Helen MacDonald, author of "H is for Hawk." It promises to offer unique insights and observations on the natural world.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Olive plans to read "The Picnic at Hanging Rock" by Joan Lindsay, a modern Australian classic about school girls and a teacher who go missing during a picnic.

• She also plans to read "In Gratitude" by Jenny Diski, a nonfiction book about the author's reflection on her life and her relationship with writer Doris Lessing.

• Olive intends to reread "The Odyssey" by Homer and then read "Circe" by Madeline Miller and "The Penelopiad" by Margaret Atwood, both related to the Odyssey.

• She is excited to continue her romance reading project and will be reading "The Boyfriend Project" by Farah Rochon.

• Olive also mentions "The Dragon Behind the Glass" by Emily Voigt, a book about the coveted arowana fish, and "Owl and the Electric Samurai" by Kristi Charish, an urban fantasy book.

• She plans to read "Owls of the Eastern Ice" by Jonathan C. Slaght, a nature non-fiction book about the author's search for the world's largest owl in Russia.

• Olive mentions upcoming releases she is excited about, including "Migrations" by Charlotte McConaughey, "The Smallest Lights in the Universe" by Sara Seager, and "Vesper Flights" by Helen MacDonald.