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October Reading

October 31, 2023

October

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.

 

octoberNo Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
Published by St. Martin's
Publication date: May 2, 2023
DNF
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

 

october

 

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Published by Tor Books
Publication date: October 3, 2023
two-stars

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

 

dalton

The Road To Dalton by Shannon Bowring
Published by Europa Editions
Publication date: June 6, 2023
three-half-stars
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? 

 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase of any kind, I get a small commission (at no cost to you).

 

*I received a free copies of these books from Tor and Europa Editions in exchange for an honest review.*

 

DNF

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8 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature Tagged: fantasy, literary, mini-reviews

Comments

  1. Susan says

    October 31, 2023 at 5:55 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 4, 2023 at 4:46 pm

      I understand. Find what works for you and go for it. Maybe it’s not even books right now.

      Reply
  2. Laila says

    October 31, 2023 at 11:42 am

    Attention span of a gnat – same here!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 4, 2023 at 4:48 pm

      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.

      Reply
  3. Lisa’s Yarns says

    October 31, 2023 at 12:28 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 4, 2023 at 4:49 pm

      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.

      Reply
  4. Susan says

    November 1, 2023 at 3:31 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      November 4, 2023 at 4:50 pm

      I want to feel bad about your October, but Italy?! How wonderful. Day is definitely worthwhile. His insight is deeply rewarding.

      Reply

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