<img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/notacinephile/3VuPnd60-July20reads.jpg" alt="July reads.jpg">

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This month was a slow one for me. I’ve read only five books. But that is understandable since I signed up for hive at the beginning of the month and have been busy writing and socializing on the platform. 

Still I wanted to wrap up my July reads and here they are.

<h1>Assassin’s Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy #1) by Robin Hobbs </h1>

<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464570795l/77197._SY475_.jpg"></div> Farseer and Robin Hobbs are some of my last stops at the high-fantasy genre. I believe I’ve dipped my toes into most of the other series already. 

This book takes you to the world of Farseer, a fantasy kingdom with kings, queens, medieval politics and of course assassins, the usual. You follow around the protagonist Fitz, a royal bastard who’s aspiring to be a royal assassin, thus escaping throne politics and the risk of losing his life. This is his tale.  

There are some light fantasy elements but it’s not magic heavy like many other high-fantasy books. At least not in the first entry.

I didn’t find the book overwhelming but Robin Hobbs has a calm, soothing way of telling stories. Like bedside tales your mom used to tell you when you were a kid. 

My rating 3 / 5 

[Photo source](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77197.Assassin_s_Apprentice)
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<h1> Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely</h1>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://einsteinmarketer.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/em/uploads/2018/07/LunaTractor_Predictably_Irrational.png"> <a href="https://www.einsteinmarketer.com/must-read-marketing-books/lunatractor_predictably_irrational/">Photo Source</a> </div> 
This book deals with human behaviour regarding financial decisions. Mr. Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics and psychology shows that our actions when it comes to spending, acquiring and all things money related—are irrational but predictably so. 

<h3>I actually wrote a review of the book on hive a couple of weeks ago. You can find it here— [Book Review "Predictably Irrational"](https://peakd.com/hive-174578/@notacinephile/book-review-predictably-irrational-by-dan-ariely) 
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My rating 4 / 5 


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<h1> Toll the Hounds (Malazan book of the fallen #8) By  Steven Erikson</h1>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548497196l/938534._SY475_.jpg"></div>


Oh, the big bad Malazan series! I personally cherish the world Erikson created in very high regard. I also believe this is perhaps the greatest high fantasy series of all time. Yep, it tops Lord of the rings as well. 

Steven Erikson’s prose is complex (his peers compare him to writers like Conrad, Faulkner), his world building is complex, super bombastic magical system, has tons and tons of characters and POVs. IT IS MASSIVE! 

This eighth book ties a lot of loose knots. I will not go into the story as it will certainly spoil a lot of key-points for you. But if you can manage the time, you certainly should take a look into this. 10 books and about 11K pages. Brace yourself. ;)

My Rating 4.5 / 5

[Photo Source](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/938534.Toll_the_Hounds)
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<h1>Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck </h1>

<div class="pull-right">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Tortilla_Flat_%281935_1st_ed_dust_jacket%29.jpg/220px-Tortilla_Flat_%281935_1st_ed_dust_jacket%29.jpg</div>

Tortilla Flat was the book that brought fame to Steinbeck’s feet. It tells the tale of a few unlikable men who are dismissible in every way. Steinbeck makes their world alive with his elegant prose. 

<h3>A brilliant classic. I wrote a detailed review of this one on hive yesterday. You can read it here— [Book Review "Tortilla Flat"](https://peakd.com/hive-174578/@notacinephile/tortilla-flat-by-john-steinbeck-book-review)   </h3>

My rating - 4/5

[Photo Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortilla_Flat)
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<h1>The Accidental Death of an Anarchist By Dario Fo </h1>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386922947l/72957.jpg"></div>
This one is a play. A damned good one at that! 

Written in the 1970, the play satires police brutality, flawed judicial system, its cover up business and political corruption. 

A maniac impersonates a judge and investigates the death of a railway worker. Police says he was an anarchist and committed suicide. But that's what they say, eh? The maniac cleverly takes it upon himself to make a fool out of the police force and expose the real truth behind the death of that supposed anarchist. But that’s not all there is to it. 

Loved the book and all the linguistic nuances it uses to be comedic. I will remember this one with amused fondness for a long time. 

My rating - 4.5 / 5 

[Photo source](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/72957.Accidental_Death_of_an_Anarchist)

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That’s for this month. I hope to get back on my usual reading habit in august. 

<h1>Plans for the month of August</h1> 

I'm currently reading Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.
There's Walden by Thoreau and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. Both of these books I’ve been meaning to read for a while.

 I will probably also read Malazan Book #9. 

The Tunnel by Sabato Ernesto looks alluring too. 

<center><h2>Thanks for stopping by. :) </h2></center>






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