August 2025 Reading Wrap Up
Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
I cannot tell you how happy I am to officially be in the 'ber months. Of course, the summer heat doesn't really go away until around the middle of October here in Phoenix, but it's the thought that counts. Autumn is my favorite season and I have been deprived of it for far too long! One day I'll live in an area with all four seasons and I will evolve into my final form, mark my words.
Anyway, in the month of August I read a grand total of 11 books: 6 novels, 1 novella, 1 nonfiction/graphic novel, 2 poetry collection, and 1 play. 3 (technically 4) were classics, and 5 were translated from another language. 4 of the books I got from the library, 4 were from my physical TBR, and 3 were books that I had purchased earlier in the year.
Let's get into the wrap up!
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Novels
Translated from the Spanish by Gregory Rabassa
Genre: Classic, Magical Realism, Adult
Means of reading: Mixed Media
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/5.78 CAWPILE
Page count: 429 pages (14 hrs 4 mins audio)
Day(s) read: 8.01 - 8.17
Final thoughts: Yo, what the hell did I just read? First off, this was super confusing (though I'm pretty sure that was the point, creating a cyclical narrative and all that). With everyone named the same thing it gives the illusion of repetition, of everything just happening over and over again with no end in sight. It didn't help that the history I read 100 pages ago is actively being rewritten as I'm reading the book. The magical realism aspect was very cool. It seemed like it always showed up when one of the family (or someone connected to them) was about to die or be hurt in some way, like the gunpowder smell or the yellow butterflies. In my opinion, it was just too long and there were too many characters to keep track of. And there were a lot of uncomfortable, incestuous moments that were hard to swallow.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4.5 stars/8.28 CAWPILE
Page count: 416 pages
Day(s) read: 8.08 - 8.12
Final thoughts: This book was so good! I honestly can't believe I gave a WWII historical fiction this high of a rating. And to think I wasn't even going to purchase a copy because I was hesitant about the story. I should never have doubted Maggie Stiefvater. This was a serious exercise of trust in the author, and it paid off, big time. The best part of the book was, of course, the writing. The atmosphere Stiefvater created around the hotel was incredible as well. And Tucker's confession to June at the end of the novel? Well, that made me believe in romance and love all over again. Absolutely amazing, 10/10 would recommend.
Translated from the Swedish by Thomas Teal
Genre: Classic, Literary Fiction, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.70 CAWPILE
Page count: 172 pages
Day(s) read: 8.12 - 8.20
Final thoughts: Read for Carolyn's book club over on Fable. I'm kind of bummed that this was my first Tove Jansson book because this was very middle of the road. If I didn't have any prior knowledge or want to pick up her other works, I might've just left it at that. (I really want to read The True Deceiver.) The relationship between Sophia and Grandmother was interesting but it made me cringe at times. If I ever spoke to my own grandmother the way Sophia does to hers, six years old or not, I would've gotten an earful. I did love the descriptions of the Finnish archipelago and their little island. I could really picture everything so clearly.
Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 stars/7.01 CAWPILE
Page count: 560 pages
Day(s) read: 8.13 - 8.26
Final thoughts: I want the chance to talk to Tessa Gratton and pick her brain because how does she come up with concepts like this? Everything I've read from her has been completely original and unputdownable. I also appreciate how dense and informative her books are. It may take me a little longer than usual to get through them, but I have a thorough understanding of the world, magic, and politics by the end that I don't even care. She could totally write the next Game of Thrones, I'm sure of it. This book is super complicated I'm not sure I could explain it well enough to do it justice, but just know that it was fascinating and deliciously written. There was a little too much sex for my poor asexual heart, but I'm sure that there are a lot of people who would appreciate that part of the story. I can't wait for book two!
Genre: Horror, Historical Fiction, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 stars/7.64 CAWPILE
Page count: 357 pages
Day(s) read: 8.20 - 8.23
Final thoughts: I've done it, I've finally found another SMG book that I like! I've read four books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia so far, and right now she's tied 2-2 in terms of enjoyment. Mexican Gothic is still my favorite by her, but this definitely is a close second. (Unfortunately, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and Silver Nitrate just didn't do it for me.) The plot was a little too predictable for my taste, but I loved the atmosphere and the lore she explored. I'm also finding that I really enjoy multi-generational stories when there is a common thread uniting them, like in this book. I also really liked each of the characters. Alba was probably my favorite, in character and storyline both, aside from that whole thing with her uncle. That was unnecessary, to be honest.
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Translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden
Genre: Mythology, Historical Fiction, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.16 CAWPILE
Page count: 212 pages
Day(s) read: 8.24 - 8.31
Final thoughts: Very poetic and well written. It felt almost fever-dreamish, like one long hallucination of the beginning of time. The general plot of the story was rather simple, I mean there's only so much you can do with one of the most well-known myths in the Western world. And since I've read so many creation myth books this year, I didn't find anything particularly different or moving. The one change that I noticed (and enjoyed) was the Serpent. She was actually my favorite character. She wasn't evil, she wasn't Lucifer in disguise, instead she was Elokim's eternal companion, the one who helped him not lose himself in creation or destruction. I like that she became a sort of friend to Eve, helping her in times of need and passing Elokim's word and knowledge to her when He himself wouldn't speak to her.
Novellas
Genre: Classic, Dystopian, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 3.5 stars/6.84 CAWPILE
Page count: 144 pages
Day(s) read: 8.04 - 8.07
Final thoughts: Well, that wasn't subtle at all. Of course I knew the story of Animal Farm well before I actually read it, because it's a part of the cultural zeitgeist at this point but I was still surprised by what actually happens. I think my favorite character was Benjamin, the old donkey. He was the definition of "keep your head down." It's sad that the one time he tries to use his obvious intelligence to change things, it's because he's about to lose his best friend. He's the example of why staying silent is ultimately to the detriment of the whole, because those in power bet on those silent few to stay silent.
Nonfiction
Translated from the French by Mattias Ripa and Blake Ferris
Genre: History, Memoir, Graphic Novel, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 4 stars/7.92 CAWPILE
Page count: 341 pages
Day(s) read: 8.05 - 8.09
Final thoughts: I don't usually rate memoirs, but this one felt different. I've read it before, a few years ago, but I didn't remember much other than the stark art style and some of what it followed. I thought that this had more of the history of the Islamic Revolution and Iranian War, but obviously since this is a memoir it's more about Marjane's personal experiences. Of course, this was emotionally devastating. I can't imagine going through what Marjane had gone through. The stark contrast between the Iranian chapters and the Austrian chapters gave me a kind of mental whiplash, I can't even begin to think of it must have impacted Marjane herself.
Poetry
Genre: Nature, Nonfiction, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 86 pages
Day(s) read: 8.18 (ONE DAY READ)
Final thoughts: N/A
Genre: Nature, Nonfiction, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: N/A
Page count: 92 pages
Day(s) read: 8.18 (ONE DAY READ)
Final thoughts: N/A
Plays
Translated from the Greek by Anne Carson
Genre: Tragedy, Classic, Adult
Means of reading: Physical
Star rating/CAWPILE: 5 stars/9.07 CAWPILE
Page count: 272 pages
Day(s) read: 8.27 - 8.29
Final thoughts: This is a compilation of three plays from three different playwrights: Agamemnon by Aeschylus, Elektra by Sophocles, and Orestes by Euripdes. Anne Carson translated all of these wonderful plays and created a new Oresteia (the original being Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides, all by Aeschylus). Anne Carson truly had a mastery over the Greek language to be able to take these separate plays from different writers and still create a cohesive narrative while maintaining the original writing styles of each work. Aeschylus was dramatic and ironic, Sophocles poetic and philosophical, and Euripides was humorous and outlandish. I think Elektra was my favorite overall, but I cannot stress enough how funny Orestes was.
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Total page count: 3,081 pages (14 hrs 4 mins total audio)
Favorite book of August: The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
No DNFs this month
No unfinished books this month
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And that's all I have for August! I think it was a good mix. There were a couple of anticipated releases in there, as well as some serious backlist titles that have been on my physical TBR for a hot minute (I'm looking at you, One Hundred Years of Solitude). And now that the 'ber months are upon us, it's time for my fall reading to start up!
I'd love to know, what was the best book you read in the month of August? Let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram (link in sidebar under the heading "More Media").
Until next time, friends!
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