My reading this year has been a roller coaster; from not completing a single book in the first two months of the year (courtesy of moving continents) to occasionally devouring 2 books in a day this month. October is my favorite month of the year (and not just because it hosts my birthday) and so it is fitting that it has been my best reading month this year (thus far). There were some misses, but mostly hits; here are all the books I read in October.
This was just okay. I found it hard to get into at first but this was one of the only two books I brought with me on my trip to Italy so it had to do. I started out the month of October already in thick of my trip because it was a solo birthday trip and my birthday is on the first of the month. I chose this because I was in Florence for most of the trip and I thought it would fit the vibe but even though the vibes were indeed immaculate, the actual book itself was just okay. The dialogue was clunky. Specifically the expository dialogue and I was just not that invested in the story. Not bad, but just a mid read.
5 stars. Not much to say. It was short and sweet. The key was going into this with the right expectations, and I don’t know that I trust any other author to have gotten me on board with a story like this. It was an incredibly fast read and the only unpleasant part was having to pay Amazon for the ebook.
My review for this upon completing it was verbatim, “All of you are liars for the way you talk about this book”. And I stand by it. I wasn’t invested in the beginning but I won’t say I wasn’t having a decent enough time. I would have been inclined to give this at least 3 stars if it didn’t just start going downhill midway through. It was insta-lovey and there are very few things in books that I hate more. I felt zero chemistry between the characters and the conflicts were just meh. I guess I can see why so many people liked this and recommend it to a reader like me but it’s a no from me.
I wanted to love this book. In fact, I was so certain I would. This was the other book I had brought with me to Italy. The audiobook became available on Libby hours before my flight and it felt fortuitous because I really wanted to read it on this trip specifically.
You see, I love trains. I didn’t realize this about myself until moving to the UK and now I’m also discovering just how much I love books centered around trains. My favorite part of my travels now has been experiencing trains in other countries. For Italy specifically, I knew I would be traveling between cities via rail, and what better atmosphere for a book about trains and what lies beyond than the hours sitting by a train window watching the Italian Alps and beautiful countryside go by?
Not only is this a book almost written for my tastes specifically–very atmospheric and eery historical fantasy/magical realism set on a train–but the reading atmosphere were so promising.
I spent an entire quiet rainy afternoon (on my birthday!) with this book walking the streets and (incredible!) gardens of Florence. Serendipitously, it was particularly the sections with the heavier presence of the wastelands and so my surroundings and the voice in my head were particularly harmonious. Essentially, the vibes were immaculate. And yet…still just meh. So much so that I read 92% of this book in Italy but it took me an entire week after getting home to get through the remaining 8%. Even almost an entire month after finishing it, my disappointment is still palpable. If anyone has any recommendations for books like this, but better, I would most appreciate it.
This is another read with not much to talk about. It was middle of the road, hence 3 stars. I enjoyed that the characters felt their age but I wasn’t so invested in any of them one way or the other. It deals with quite a heavy theme–loss of a sibling– and I think it is well written but I didn’t connect with the story in any big way.
I can’t say that I followed entirely but I can say that it was as good of a time as I was expecting. It had the signature De Castell humor, a cast of likable characters along a wide spectrum of good to evil, interesting magic system and world-building lore, and all around adventurous vibes. This is another book that I am upset that I had to purchase from Amazon because my library simply couldn’t acquire this book, audio, ebook, or physical.
Somehow, I don’t think I ever really realized just how short this book is. Being a classic, it is one I had obviously heard so much about and had on my “someday” TBR but there were always newer shinier books to get to first. I received a 6-month audible subscription as a birthday present and found an unabridged version of Animal Farm for free on there. This was a fast read; I started and finished it over the course of making dinner (Sushi). It was eery, well-written, and an easy 5-stars, it is one that I think I can see myself rereading often enough.
This was another quick read that I listened to for “free” on audible (essentially without using my 1 allocated monthly credit). I’ve been learning Spanish for the past year and half. I am bilingual from birth and while I knew that learning a new language as an adult is not a walk in the park, I had assumed that being bilingual would give me an edge. While I wouldn’t say it has been an entirely useless skill, this has definitely not been the case. I appreciated the scientific approach to this and I learnt quite a bit. Overall, a pretty decent read.
I would not have even come across or read this had it not been for scrolling through the audible app so while I still don’t fully get audible as a service, I appreciate the random selection of free audiobooks available without credit and will continue to enjoy them for the next 6 months of my free subscription.
This was a very unique audiobook listening experience.
As per her own admission, Leslie went almost entirely off script to the point where I feel like it’s probably an entirely different book from the print version. And it worked really well! If you can, I would advise the audiobook over the print. It feels less like an audiobook and more like you’re hanging out with her while she tells you stories about her life. I particularly enjoyed the moments when she addressed us directly like “omg you guys…” and the parts where she allowed herself to cry and get emotional.
I’m also especially glad that she read the credits at the end; it was a nice touch. Overall, it was also just funny, whether or not you’re into her type of comedy. I listened to most of this at the office and I genuinely chuckled out loud in certain moments.
I had my qualms while reading this; it was all over the place sometimes, her recounts were at times very inconsistent, and I just genuinely did not agree with her on how she viewed quite a few things but I still really enjoyed my time listening to this. All in all, her comedy and her energy is not necessarily always for me and while I might not agree entirely with everything Leslie says or some of her attitude to certain things in life, she’s undoubtedly a force of nature and I wish the best for her. Truly. No rating for this because I feel weird rating memoirs and autobiographies.
Nick Offerman seems like a cool guy to have an enjoyable sit-and-chat with for hours about whatever random topic tickles our fancy. Maybe about trails; we both share an intense love for trails.
This was an engaging and particularly fitting read for Fall. I primarily listened to this on my bike rides to and from work and it honestly made them all the more enjoyable. While I don’t relate or agree with 100% of everything Nick posits in this book, it was quite nice to hangout with someone with as much passion for nature as me, and enjoy the backdrop of this absolutely beautiful country I get to live in while doing so. Also, his voice sounds high and different when listening on 3x speed; it delighted me.
This would have to be my favorite read of the month. It just felt like going back to the base; it is so quintessentially what I love to listen to on audio while I go about my randomly-pieced-together-nuggets-of-activity I call a day.
I really enjoyed this. It so perfectly scratched my perpetual little curiosity brain itch. It is very well-written, well-structured, and was such an enjoyable listening experience that I blew right through it in the course of one work afternoon (+ dinner).
I went into it with a grim outlook and I expected to come out the other side even grimmer than I went in but I’m pleasantly surprised that this is not the case. I wouldn’t say I’m moved very much in the opposite direction (most certainly nowhere near as to be excited. I continue to maintain: just because we can doesn’t mean we should) but I feel better enlightened and at the very least positively intrigued about what’s to come.
Bretman is a good writer but as he would tell you: that shouldn’t surprise you.
I didn’t know much about him before reading this book, as I don’t have a social media presence. Except that I watch an inhuman amount of YouTube and even still, his type of content never blew across to my side of the feed. Either way, from what I’d seen of him, my impression boiled down to that he seemed confident yet down-to-earth—an intoxicating yet seemingly elusive mix—and overall just funny. I decided that I liked him despite knowing little of him (which is probably as unwise as deciding to dislike someone after barely 5 cumulative minutes of online encounter but whatever).
I’m glad my initial gut feeling about him remains true. Most surprising of all was is that he’s much younger than I thought he was! I loved reading this book and I love Bretman. I love his love for women and I appreciate him sharing his interesting story.
He’s been through a lot yet positivity still radiates from him like crazy. He’s got a new fan in me and I wish him the very best. He’s got, as the old folks would say, a good head on his shoulders. And even though he won’t like me saying this, I want to be more like her when I grow up. No rating for this because I feel weird rating memoirs and autobiographies.
Middle of the road read. It didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know but I am more enlightened on the how-we got-here and better equipped on the how-we-get-out so overall decent read. I think it is worth picking up by everyone but it is unfortunate that those more in need of its content are not likely to ever do so.
I know I just completed this but I already have a strong urge to reread it. I think this is one of those books that will not only stay with me for a while, but also have a stronger and stronger impact the more I reread. It was everything I thought it would be but it feels to me like a sponge that I haven’t wrung out quite enough yet. Overall, cool read. I had chilling and introspective moments and as a language fiend, I particularly enjoyed the deep. dive into the principles of Newspeak in the appendix.
This is not a good book and I despise that it has been pushed down my throat so much as though it is.
It’s not cute to not be able to regulate your emotions and treat people decently as a grown man.
Want to read something like this but better? Read Just a Heartbeat Away by Cara Bastone.
I purchased a used copy of this after completing the audiobook because it is something I would love to be able to make notes on. I really enjoyed it but like 1984, it is one that I need to get my hands on and be able to sink my teeth into more. It was a good book to round of the month with. I think it is worth a read for everyone.
This month, I also DNF’d a few books. Some forever, some just for now.
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein – I didn’t care in the beginning, and then I got slightly into it, and then not again all by the 12% mark. I just don’t really care for Naomi, or at least how she recounts her story. I don’t know how likely I am to return to this one but never say never, right?
Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter – I really enjoyed the first book but like everyone else is saying, I don’t think a second book was necessary. I was already worried going into it because I read the Novella’s published from Wes’ POV following the first book and they just didn’t work for me; no hate to the man. I like him as a character, just not being in his head. I DNF’d this at 18% and I honestly just don’t see myself coming back to it. I just liked the story better with them as high schoolers. Somehow the writing has lost its charm.
How You Say It by Katherine D. Kinzler– DNF for now, I still see this as something I would enjoy but it wasn’t clicking in the moment.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield – I actually was having a decent enough time reading this. I just didn’t find myself reaching for it often and I feel like it wasn’t holding my attention as much as I needed; this is one of the many plights of being such a mood reader. It’s just one of those right-book-wrong-time situations. I plan to return to this another time and fully experience and appreciate it to it’s fullest.
Whew, that was a lot of books. This has to be the most amount of books I have ever read in one month but I assure you, we will be back to regularly scheduled 4 to 5 books next month.
I would say my favorite reads this month are You’re That Bitch by Bretman Rock and The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian. But overall, I had a very enjoyable–and saturated!–reading month. Looking forward to what November has to offer.
Do you read any books this month? Any new favorites?
Haliyah 
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