What's on my Nightstand: August 2011

It's been a bizarre August. It is the 23rd of the month and I truly feel as though just this past weekend it was the start of August. Where has the time gone?

I've not done much reading this month. That is to say, the reading I have done has been purely for fun and easy. Towards the end of July I read another Agatha Christie novel, A Murder is Announced (a relaxing puzzler for the mind). I also read a modern mystery novel, The Blue Rose: An English Garden Mystery (which I was very disappointed in), and a French book about books: A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse (which motivated me to sit right down and write up a review). Then in early August I finished two novels by Dorothy L. Sayers -- the first in the Lord Peter Wimsey series (Whose Body?) and the last (Busman's Honeymoon). Odd to read them in that order, but I had read Gaudy Night back in May for my book club and I was dying to read the "sequel," Busman's Honeymoon, so while I waited for it to arrive through ILL I read up on the first in the series. I plan to continue the rest of the series as time allows. I have been won over, I am truly a Lord Peter and Harriet Vane fan through and through.

The only other book I've started and nearly finished is biographical. I picked up the audio version of First Family: Abigail and John Adams by Joseph J. Ellis right before a road trip in early August. Since the road trip I've not had much time to listen to audio books, so I've lost speed on this read, but I know I only a few chapters from the end. I've enjoyed the book thus far and hope I can find time to review it here.

So that is what I've read since July, and here's what I have on my nightstand for the remainder of August and early September:

The Man of Property by John Galsworthy, which is the first in the Forsyte Saga. I've always been curious about this series and so decided to give the first novel a try. The story isn't quite what I imagined, but the copy I have through ILL was published in 1906 and it smells INCREDIBLE, so I don't mind pushing through the duller parts just to get a whiff of the pages. Silly, perhaps, but it's worked thus far, I'm about 1/4 of the way into the story.

Entwined by Heather Dixon. This novel I learned about via Carrie at Reading To Know. I love Robin McKinley and Shannon Hale, which Carrie likened this author's style to and I have always enjoyed the story of the twelve dancing princesses, so I definitely want to give this story a try.

And that is all I have right now. Short and simple. But then, I find my reading time is very limited these days and my blogging time even more so. Perhaps as the summer winds down I will find more time... at least until the baby comes later this year. We shall see.

What about you? What are you reading this month? What's on your nightstand? Leave a comment or head over to 5 Minutes for Books and link up your own nightstand post. And while you're there be sure to check out what other readers and bloggers are reading right now.