I’m calling August the month of young adult fantasy. With one noted exception, all the fiction on my list this month is in that genre. As for July… Well, suffice to say you’ll see a few familiar titles on this list. However, I did finish Sherlock Holmes and The Lady Most Likely. Mansfield Park is likely to stay on my “never finished” list forever, and instead of reading Twelfth Night, I’m going to see it this weekend. I guess that’s not a bad bit of progress, is it?

Without further ado, I give you the August List:

Artemis Rising by Cheri Lasota

I am about 50% of the way through this novel and absolutely loving it. I now have a paperback copy checked out from my library, so I should be able to zoom through to the end with relative ease. (One thing I’ve discovered about reading ebooks is I tend to get distracted and wander away from a book mid-chapter. That never happens with a physical book.)

Endlessly by Kiersten White

This is the final book in her trilogy following Evie, a frankly awesome heroine. I loved both Paranormalcy and Supernaturally, so I can’t wait to pick this one up. With a bit of luck, I’ll be able to read it this weekend.

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

I love Maureen Johnson’s books, so I awaited this paranormal twist on Jack the Ripper with eager anticipation. A friend loaned it to me… um, a while back (*cough*) and I really need to return it to her this month, whether I finish or not. If I love Maureen, why am I dragging my feet? I’ve heard the “paranormal” verges on “horror,” and I can’t handle horror. But I’m going to give it one chance before I give it back to my friend, and if it’s not for me, at least I’ll know for sure.

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

This tour of England is both hilarious and insightful. (Actually, it’s hilarious because it’s insightful.) After 20 years in England, Bryson and his wife decided to move their family to the States for a time. Before leaving, he took one last trip around the country, visiting spots of particular importance to him–usually ones you wouldn’t find mentioned in a guide book. I bought this book on Friday at Powell’s, and I’m already about 1/4 of the way through.

And the non-YA Fantasy Novel?

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Misty at The Book Rat is hosting an Austen in August event this month, and part of it is a group read of Persuasion. This is my second favorite Austen novel, so I don’t anticipate re-reading will be any hardship. I’m looking forward to answering the questions she poses–look for those later this month on the blog. I am also writing a guest post for her on the superlative quality of Captain Wentworth over every hero in Western literature. Okay, yeah–it’s basically going to be a bunch of gushing, but it’s going to be awesome. I’ll be sure to post a link when it goes up.

In Honorable Mention:

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

No! I still haven’t finished this book. I’ve just been so busy this summer trying to write the conclusion to Loving Miss Darcy that I haven’t really had time to read. I know I won’t want to put this down once I start, so I need a dedicated block of time. Right now, I’m anticipating I won’t get that time until the end of September when I’m on an airplane to London, but should the Fates see fit to grant me a free day, I will read Insurgent.

There are other books I’d like to read, but I’m trying to be more realistic. I’m not going to list 10 books, or 20 books, just because I can and they all strike my fancy. Alas, there are other things that demand my time, and I can’t read every book I’d like.