Summer Book Haul

I'm fully aware that we're halfway through September and summer is well and truly over. However, I'm back at college now and I've been super busy writing essays, sleeping, working weekends at stupid hours, eating lots and working out so trying to sit down and write a blog post has been hard. I can only apologize, it's only been 6 days since my last post but it feels like decades. 

Over the summer I read a decent amount of books and my goal for this year is to read 40 books, I'm currently on the 30th book as we speak. This post is a summary of the books I read this summer with a brief plot explanation (No spoilers this time!!!) 

Listed from my least favourite to my favourite.

1. Astonishing the Gods - Ben Okri

A tale of a man seeking invisibility on an island, full of fantasy and strange happenings. So surreal I felt like I was in some twisted unexpected fairytale. A quick, short, easy read that I would recommend if you're not a massive reader and have a short attention span.
Not a piece of fiction I enjoyed unfortunately, that doesn't make it a bad novel I simply just didn't like it. 

3/5.

2. Lolita - Vladmir Nabokov 

A well known, well acknowledged classic telling the story of Humbert who's deep fascination with underage girls ends him up in prison. Definitely not a light hearted read but an interesting piece of fiction. Considering its contents and forbidden nature I loved it, it was a slow read that demanded my full attention and I recommend reading it.
If you haven't already seen I've written a full review of this novel already, link here.
4/5.

3. A Gift to Remember - Melissa Hill
Set in New York at Christmas (Dreamy location) I absolutely loved this novel. Following Darcy, a woman living a mediocre life in New York City working at a bookstore when one morning she's involved in an accident. Although unharmed, the man she collided with ends up in hospital with memory loss. Darcy takes it upon herself to help the man remember who he is, Darcy has read many books where the protagonist goes on adventure and believes the naivety of fiction. She feels obliged to help the man because she feels so guilty about colliding with him.
A book of Christmas chaos, a large dog, books and strong wanderlust for NYC.
I connected with Darcy and her love of literature and bookstores.
5/5.

4.Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage - Haruki Murakami
My opinion is most certainly bias as I'm in love with Murakami's style of writing. This novel tells the story of protagonist Tsukuru and his friendship group and how they all suddenly dropped Tsukuru from their circle like he didn't even exist anymore. Tsukuru as an adult makes it his mission to discover why they abandoned him.
A tale of true friendship, growing up and unconditional love.
5/5.

5.Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
Another one of Murakami fabulously written novels that I adored. Although I think this story is one of Murakami's most praised novels, it's my favourite. The tale of Toru going through college education and being swooned by females. He's in love with a girl called Naoko and the book explores the person she is now in the present day, struggling with mental health after the deaths of her boyfriend Kizuki and her older sister. Toru takes a journey to visiting Naoko in the institution she's staying at, in the middle of pretty much nowhere it's a place of retreat and calm. He meets several very different personalities throughout the book, documenting his own mental health and his feelings and emotions towards the opposite gender.
I will most definitely read this again.
5/5.

I still have a good few books to get through in the last 3 months of 2015 to reach my goal but I'm determined to do it. Last year I read 27 and this year I'm on my 30th so I'm beating that record.

Do you have any book recommendations?