Friday, August 4, 2017

BOOK CHAT: July 2017 in Review


Time to wrap up another month!  July was a great month for reading, though I didn't post a lot here on the blog or on social media.  A lot of my absence was because of my recent surgery that I addressed in a bit more details here.  Another reason is because I am in the midst of organizing an Out of the Darkness Walk for my city and surrounding communities.  Life is definitely not slowing down these days!  Let's get to the books before I share more of the personal details . . .

The TOP POST for the month was actually BOTH of the posts that I was able to get up during the month of July!  Ha!  BOOK CHAT:  High Summer Readathon & #24in48 Readathon had the most hits, but BOOK CHAT:  June 2017 in Review received the most comments.

The TOP PIC was a stack of books!  No surprise there, right?!  This stack was the stack that I was tackling for the month and for the readathons.  I still haven't gotten through the whole stack, but I'm slowly working on it and hope to finish the whole thing before the end of this month.


My list of BOOKS READ definitely increased in July compared to previous months.  Check out this list!
  1. Bite Somebody Else by Sara Dobie Bauer
  2. Dork Diaries #3:  Tales From a Not-So-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russell
  3. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
  4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
  5. Fostering Resilient Learners by Kristen Souers
  6. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #10:  Old School by Jeff Kinney
  8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #11:  Double Down by Jeff Kinney
  9. Bear Witness by Melissa Clark

Having to choose a FAVORITE READ this month was a hard decision, but I must say that The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas has to take this title.  It was an emotional and relevant read, and one that I recommend everyone read.  This was also the book that I hosted a readalong for over at Book Bloggers International this last month, and it is a story that is very much one that needs to be discussed as you read it.

What's on the agenda for AUGUST?  So, so much!  I hope to get in as much reading as possible, of course.  But, I also have a lot of work to do on this Out of the Darkness Walk that I am organizing.  This walk is one that helps promote awareness of suicide and ways that we can all work to prevent it and provide hope to those struggling.  It is the largest fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization that I serve on the state board of.  I am also taking a self-study course on QPR (a suicide prevention training), and am working to also run or participate in a multitude of other events in September for suicide prevention awareness month.  Oh, and of course, school is starting, which means that I will be returning to work.  I will be moving offices this year, so I need to get in there and get it all moved and set up for the new school year. Whew!  I hope I have time to get everything done this month!!


Last, but not least, I have not shared an update in a while on my annual one word:  WRITE.  I have been writing.  I have had three articles published over the last few months in a local magazine discussing suicide and how people can make a difference.  I am in the midst of writing another article for a small-town newspaper about the upcoming Out of the Darkness Walk.  I wrote my grandmother's obituary.  And, I have read through and provided feedback on a friend's story.  As for working on my own stories, I have not really touched them, and I'm not sure when I will have the chance to before this big walk that I am organizing.  So, I will be focusing on getting back to blogging on a regular basis, and working on a few pieces here and there.  I will still be writing, but I have to put the novel on the back burner for a bit.  

How was your July?  What do you have on your agenda for August?

9 comments:

  1. Wow! With how much you have had going on personally I'm so impressed you've been involved in such a noble, selfless cause. You're awesome!

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    1. Jenny ... Thank you! It's probably not the best timing, but I'm still going for it!

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  2. Wonderful wrap-up! Congratulations on a great reading month!

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  3. Just sending lots of strength your way to keep the healing going and to get through the next month or two!

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    1. Kristen M. ... Thank you! I appreciate the strength vibes. I'm probably going to need them.

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  4. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Happy August!

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    1. fredamans ... Thank you! Happy August to you too!

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  5. Looks like you've been busy! Nine books read in one month is awesome! And congrats on getting published. That's so cool! Good luck with the Out of the Darkness Walk! My July stunk, but I have high hopes for August!

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