I’ve always considered August to be one of my favorite months. Not only does it bring a new school year and a promise of the coming autumn, but it also allows you to enjoy the last few weeks of summer without baking in July’s toasty heat. This August was no exception, from both a reading and personal standpoint.

In August I read a total of 9 books:

1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
2. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
3. The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
4. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
5. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne
6. The Mulligan Guard Ball by Edward Harrigan
7. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
8. Light in August by William Faulkner
9. A Little History of Literature by John Sutherland

Choosing a favorite book this month is a challenge because I read quite a few 5-star books, but I suppose that’s a good problem to have! I think it’s a tie between One Hundred Years of Solitude and As I Lay Dying. Both are brilliant in different ways, so it’s difficult for me to distinctly favor one over the other.

Reviews of these works will be posted in the near future, so stay tuned!

The majority of my August was spent preparing for college and tying up lose ends before move-in day. As always, there are many “lasts”: the last time soaking up the summer sun, the last time eating at your favorite local restaurant, the last time sleeping in your own bedroom, the last time seeing friends and family until the next break in several months. These lasts are bittersweet, for they are inevitably accompanied by numerous “firsts”: first time seeing old friends since the end of last semester, first time sleeping in a new dorm room, first night away from home in a while. It’s all new and different but still familiar in some way, reaffirming my belief that August is the most nostalgic month.

This month I completed my internship at a local Child Advocacy Center, an eye-opening experience for which I am incredibly grateful. The purpose of Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) is to provide a neutral, safe, comfortable environment in which to conduct forensic interviews of children who are alleged victims of abuse. Throughout my time working at the CAC I observed several of these interviews, and each time I couldn’t help but be heartbroken by how traumatic and awful their experiences were. It really puts things in perspective.

On a lighter note, I also got new glasses! My prescription changed and my other glasses were several years old, so it was finally time to purchase new ones. I’ve always wanted bolder glasses like these. I love them so much! ❤

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Do these new nerdy glasses make me an official English major now? 👓

A post shared by HOLLY (@nutfreenerd) on Aug 14, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT

As you read this I have already moved back to campus and have settled into my new dorm room for my first semester of sophomore year. It feels strange and exciting and nerve-racking to be back after nearly four months of glorious summer break, but I can’t wait to get the ball rolling at Wheaton again. Bring on the new adventures!

Here are some notable posts from my blog this past month:

• Camp NaNoWriMo 2016 | Wrap-Up
• On Writing and Inspiration | GUEST POST by Nadette Rae Rodgers
• Inside Out Book Tag
• Sunshine Blogger Award
• How Did I Do? | Bookish Goals for Summer 2016
• Sophomore Status Achieved | College

Here’s the thing: because school is now in session, I basically have negative time for blogging. I’ve scheduled posts like a fiend this summer, and I was actually able to schedule posts in advance for all of September and even much of October. However, this means that I won’t be as active reading and commenting on all of your lovely posts and it may take me a while to respond to any comments that you leave on mind. But don’t worry– I still read and greatly appreciate each and every one of them!! ❤

How was your August? What books did you read? What fun things did you do? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY