That Time It Took Me Two Weeks to Read One Book

I'm typically a pretty fast reader, finishing a book every three or four days or so (or faster, if it's summer). But I started reading Quiet by Susan Cain on July 5 and didn't finish it until July 17. This is certainly no reflection on the book - I enjoyed every minute of reading Quiet. So why did it take so long? Well, I was a little preoccupied. . .

Yup, the wonders of going on vacation! I'm not a tan-at-the-poolside-for-hours kind of vacationer. I'm more of a visit-7-major-sights-and-walk-12-miles-a-day sort of vacationer. This makes for amazing and wonderful vacations, but very little reading time. I've been in Paris and London for the past two weeks, and was surprised to get even one book completely read.

My Recent Posts

I did still post while on vacation, mostly book reviews. If you pay close attention, you'll notice the reviews I posted tended toward the Europe/travel theme. I must have been subconsciously travelling already when I planned out my posts for those two weeks. . .

Chateau of Echoes - Review
Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day - Review
A Corner of White - Review
My sign-up post for the Books About Books Challenge
The Vatican Diaries - Review

What I Read Over Vacation

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Have I mentioned how unusual it is that I only read one book in two weeks?? It's a good thing I'm back to my regular consumption of books or I'd be going into reading withdrawal!

What I'm Reading Now

Tuck by Stephen Lawhead (I started this one on the last day of my vacation, got about 50 pages in, and then came home to a stack of library books that need to be read by Thursday. One of these days I'll get back to it!)
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo (One of the above-mentioned library books)

What's Coming Up Next (before Thursday, when they're due at the library!)

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier
Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas

Paris and London on Smiling Shelves

Don't worry, this isn't the last you'll hear of my trip! I saw some great libraries and bookstores that I'll share pictures of, as well as my where-were-you-when story of the Great J.K. Rowling Reveal. And I just might share some of my favorite pictures (un-book-related), since my husband took more than 1,400 pictures with our fancy new camera. So keep an eye out for guest appearances of the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben!

I'm glad to be back in the book blog world again. How has everyone been this past few weeks? Which books did you most enjoy reading?