As the heatwave scorches continental Europe, the UK finally enjoys a few days of decent weather with the sun. I’m writing this post on my balcony basking in the sun like a cat and finally making use of the reclining chairs I bought in the winter.
The second quarter of this year was surprisingly long. I know, I know it was the same as always, but compared to the first that just whizzed by, when I reflect on the second quarter so many things have happened. I traveled quite a lot, given that I took almost no days off. I went to New York in April, my second time and this time I managed to see a tiny bit more, despite working all the time. Then lovely seaside retreat with my mum for Easter, it was really peaceful and beautiful, four days of only walking on the beach.
At the end of May and beginning of June I spent two weeks in my family home, which was great, it allowed me to find some distance from my work. It is amazing how purely geographical distance gives you a different perspective, I was still working in Poland, but things affected me differently. And then a lovely few days in Cracow, super hot, a reminder that in continental Europe summer is not just a two days heatwave of 25 degrees.
I read only 15 books this quarter, which is not great, but I am trying not to rush. I want to give myself space to think, rather than rushing madly from one book to the next. I had some rereads and it was nice to go back to the old friends. I also tackled one of the scary books, the ones over 380 pages. And it was delightful, so my fear of those is getting smaller.
All in all a good quarter, where I finally emerged from winter gloom (mind you this only happened in June, as May felt like February), started thinking and consciously enjoying things. Now, as I sip on my delicious homemade lemonade take a look at what I’ve been reading.
How was your second quarter? Are you happy with the first half of your year?
33. The Mother of All Questions: Further Feminisms – Rebecca Solnit (r)
32. Everything I Never Told You – Celeste Ng (r)
31. Balzakiana – Jacek Dehnel (r)
30. Lady Oracle – Margaret Atwood (r)
29. Little Altars Everywhere – Rebecca Wells (r)
28. Emigracja – Malcolm XD (r)
27. Eureka Street – Robert McLiam Wilson (r)
26. Reporting the Troubles: Journalists tell their stories of the Northern Ireland conflict – Deric Henderson, Ivan Little (r)
25. Milkman – Anna Burns (r)
24. Art Objects: Essays on Ecstasy and Effrontery – Jeanette Winterson (r)
23. Nie Ma – Mariusz Szczygieł (r)
22. Eileen – Ottessa Moshfegh (r)
21. A Room of One’s Own – Virginia Woolf
20. The Abominable Man – Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö (r)
19. The Hearing Trumpet – Leonora Carrington (r)
Photo by Violetta Kaszubowska @vkphotospace.com
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