October, what a month. So much chaos in the world and the U.S. and none of it is positive. For your sakes, I’ll stick with books here. Suffice it to say, all the madness in the world in the last two weeks of the month left me with the attention span of a gnat so I have fewer low rated books and more I didn’t finish. But even with that, there were some real standouts this month.
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
Published by St. Martin's
Publication date: May 2, 2023
Bookshop
This novel falls squarely in the “it’s not you, it’s me” category. No Two Persons is a lovely story based around the premise of one novel and its impact on nine people whose lives it touches. From the aspect of how deeply important books are to our souls this is 4 stars, but the only throughline is the book and I needed a human connection, a link between the chapters. Read this if you love short stories or just want a novel you can set down and return to without losing your place.
Day by Michael Cunningham: Review to follow
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll: Outstanding fiction about the women left in the aftermath of a notorious serial killer. My review
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Published by Tor Books
Publication date: October 3, 2023
I tried this Southern Gothic tale of the supernatural, but realized Harrow is an author I can enjoy only in small doses. I love her retellings of fairy tales from a diverse perspective, but Starling House left me uninterested. It felt very YA in its level of drama.
One Woman Show by Christine Coulson: I adored this quick, clever novel. My review
Belgravia by Julian Fellowes: Review to follow
The Road To Dalton by Shannon Bowring
Published by Europa Editions
Publication date: June 6, 2023
Bookshop
In recent years New England and its inhabitants has become one of my favorite locations in fiction. The Road to Dalton is no exception, Dalton being a very small town in Maine where the lives of its citizens unfold on the page with humor and pathos. This is beautifully written, but there’s one character whose actions left me unable to sympathize or connect with them. This affected my overall rating of the novel, but I know numerous people who gave this 5-stars so feel free to ignore me.
That’s all for my October. How was your reading this month?
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*I received a free copies of these books from Tor and Europa Editions in exchange for an honest review.*
This month has been a slow book month for me. I finished The Many Lives Of Mama Love, and Strange Sally Diamond both of which I really enjoyed. I also read The Drowning Women, which was just alright, and I’ve mostly already forgotten. Currently working on Bright Young Women a little over half way through. I may stop reading this, I find I don’t care about the characters and my attention span is very short right now, sort of feels like it did in March of 2020. Just not a good time for reading.
I understand. Find what works for you and go for it. Maybe it’s not even books right now.
Attention span of a gnat – same here!
It’s exhausting, isn’t it? Somehow I’ve now found I need really long immersive books, like hooks for my brain, to keep me submerged from reality.
I disliked ‘the 10k doors of January’ but had thought about reading Starling House. Sounds like one to skip. I just don’t love fantasy and I think my experience would be similar to yours.
I DNFed January! This was my last shot at her as an author for me. There is just something overblown? YA? I don’t know, about her writing that I don’t enjoy.
I’m in the gnat category too. My reading took a plunge in October but I was in Italy for goodness sakes … then while leaving Covid hit. So October wasn’t great but there was still Italy in all its glory. I am wondering a bit about the Day novel and if it’s worthwhile or a pass? It’s best to move on to November! Happy reading
I want to feel bad about your October, but Italy?! How wonderful. Day is definitely worthwhile. His insight is deeply rewarding.