Check out my newsletter!

Life, the Universe, and Lani

,

July + Aug 2023 Reading Roundup

Published by

Lani

on

July + Aug 2023 Reading Roundup

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? But I am back, and with lots of news. But first — the reads!

While traveling, I continued with Megan Whalen Turner’s The Thief series, specifically, The King of Attolia. I thought this would be a great travel read since I was well into the story line, but it took on a strange distant quality.

It was like I was watching myself read. I also picked it up sporadically while visiting family, out of my regular routine, etc, so it took me some time to get back into the story, too.

I can’t remember having an experience like this, and it made finishing the novel a bit of a chore. Perhaps because I was having my own adventure, reading about another’s wasn’t the right fit. I might have been better off switching to nonfiction.

Have you ever had this happen to you before?

So, I decided to go with another series that hasn’t failed me The Thursday Murder Club mysteries by British comedian Richard Osman. And it was alright.

The Bullet that Missed wasn’t my favorite, but Osman is churning these out like butter. I still like the characters. They’ve become comfortable companions. He’s consistent, and I’m totally up for the next one. Yay!

I’m currently halfway in The 7-1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton — and wow, what a dark and twisty mystery. If you’re looking for a highly unusual book with a plot that goes out of order, then you should enjoy the creative mind of Turton. Looking forward to reporting about this one when I’m finished.

Part of the reason why I haven’t been here is because I went back to the US for a month. And then when I returned to Thailand, the unfinished business of where are we going to live, and should I continue working in a dysfunctional environment — came to a SPLAT.

And sometimes, often, SPLATS are good. Another more popular way of looking at it is, “turning a curse into a blessing.” So, we’re moving back to Siem Reap, Cambodia! The details are in my latest newsletter.

So I’m not sure how consistent these posts will be for the next month or two. But since my readership has tanked as everyone has either moved to social media or offline, I’m not sure who else is here to care. But I still believe in blogging. I’ve got 13 years of expat living wrapped into this cannoli and it’s MY space, no one else’s adverts, and I am so grateful. xo

How was your summer?

14 responses to “July + Aug 2023 Reading Roundup”

  1. Jolandi Steven Avatar
    Jolandi Steven

    Your summer has clearly been very busy, Lani. I hope you had a good time with your family. Good luck with this unexpected move. Sounds like you needed that push to make up your mind to leave the disfunctional teaching environment. Wishing you luck with relocating. It will be interesting to hear how things have changed in Siem Reap.
    Like you, I will stick to the old fashioned way of blogging about life. Definitely a great way to document life for us who do so to look back on. I just posted an update of all the summer news. It has been a busy time on the quinta too.
    On the reading front I indulged in travel writing, and read River of No Reprieve: Descending Siberia´s Waterway of Exile, Death, and Destiny by Jeffrey Tayler, Walking with Nomads by Alice Morrison, The Half Known Life by Pico Iyer, and am busy with his A Beginner´s Guide to Japan.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Lani Avatar
      Lani

      Yes to it all! It sounds like you have been doing some pretty good reading. I’m drooling to finally visit Japan.

      The move was unexpected, but in many ways, it was what we’ve been wanting to happen, but as you noticed, we needed that push. And I’m so grateful!

      SR apparently has changed A LOT. Based on what I’ve heard it’s more paved and pretty. 😛

      Also, looking forward to catching up with you, too, on the quinta. I have no doubt it is a very busy place in the summer! xo

      Like

      Reply
      1. Jolandi Steven Avatar
        Jolandi Steven

        Japan is definitely also on my radar, although I´m not sure I will ever get there. Reading about places, although it often fuels my desire to travel there, sometimes also quench that thirst for me. I like the idea of SR being more paved and pretty. Enjoy the new adventure there.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Lani Avatar
        Lani

        Yeah, me too. Thanks so much! xxoo

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Yeah, Another Blogger Avatar
    Yeah, Another Blogger

    I hope that your move to Cambodia will be a fruitful one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Lani Avatar
      Lani

      Thank you ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Rebecca Moon Ruark Avatar
    Rebecca Moon Ruark

    I’m here–you know I’ll never give up on blogging. The rest of social media, maybe! I loved following your U.S. travels through photos on FB and I’m glad you got to spend so much time with your mom and other fam. Now back to Cambodia–wow! I agree, sometimes splats are just what we need. As you know, my summer was also filled with travel–to France, Spain, and Portugal (visiting with my sister and brother) and then to Ohio to see my dad. Now, school has started for my boys–a new, public school with bussing (hallelujah) after so many years of me driving to and from everyday. So, my life feels a more freed up, which is good because I took a contract writing position with the Univ. of Maryland. I hardly read over the summer. Reading a Nathan Englander novel right now, and it’s OK. I loved his breakout short story collection from many years ago. I’m querying agents for my novel but not very aggressively (because it’s hella depressing). Best of luck with your move and work and life in general. I’ll try to keep up with your newsletter!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Lani Avatar
      Lani

      OMG. You were much more busy than I thought! So wonderful that you also got to travel and see family, I hear that plane tickets have gotten expensive again.

      Please keep us updated on the job! So curious what it would be like to work in academia…maybe you have posted recently. I need to take a look 😛

      Yeah, querying is an exercise in letting go. It helps that you are busy. I often forgot about my letters afterwards. I mean, I kept track, etc, but I didn’t have time or energy to dwell… In any case, good luck to you too! We’ll be in touch, xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Anne-Julia Price Avatar
    Anne-Julia Price

    I absotively love this. And yes, some books just don’t fit when we’re traveling. I’ve had books that I kept picking up but couldn’t connect with until that one day, when BOOM! Then I couldn’t put it down and found myself connecting with the characters as if they were my best friends. Bizarro how that works sometimes. Congrats on the new decision and adventure! I’ve also been contemplating getting out of a job that is so completely opposite from who I am and doesn’t seem to help my mood(s) one bit. Life is short. So if we have the option of releasing ourselves from a toxic space, why not do it, immediately?! Also, I’m stiill here, and look forward to your posts. Speaking of, I also need to get my act together and write more on my own blog. Oh lodi dodi, this surreality of life. Keep on keepin’ on, my fellow blogging/nomadic friend! xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Lani Avatar
      Lani

      Awww, thanks. I do enjoy your posts, too. I love how your humor comes out. I get the feeling that we’d get along just fine 😀

      Yeah, reading a book is like starting a relationship. Expectations vs reality vs setting 😛

      This job though has taught me a lot about myself because I had to do all the changing in order to make it work. I also feel like a better human having endured it, too.

      Yes, some jobs just don’t align with who we are, but it’s really up to you when you can say ENOUGH. So, I feel ya. I really do.

      But the good news is you’ll be fine 😉 oh, just fine, fine, fine. Nothing to see. Stuff it down. Bwahahahahaha ~

      Big hugs! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. 2summers Avatar
    2summers

    My traffic has also gone down a lot lately, and yet I soldier on. But just letting you know I’m still here — good luck with the move!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Lani Avatar
      Lani

      Thank you. Yes, algorithms be damned. Ta! xo

      Like

      Reply
  6. Bespoke Traveler Avatar
    Bespoke Traveler

    I still believe in blogging too! And I’m always so happy when I get a chance to read your posts. Hoping this finds you well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Lani Avatar
      Lani

      Thank you, dear! I loved your latest post. I’ll get back to blogging soon ^^ xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a reply to 2summers Cancel reply

Hello,

I’m Lani

Welcome to Life, the Universe, and Lani. I’ve been blogging about my experiences living abroad since 2009.

At this point, this site serves as an archive as I’m mostly active at No Girl is an Island 👉https://lanivcox.substack.com/ 🏝️where I have been both newslettering and continuing to craft personal essays on finding freedom in the fringes.

Thanks for stopping by, have a look around, and hope to see you over at No Girl is an Island.

Recent posts