This October, I managed to read eleven books. However, some of them weren’t on my TBR which means I missed a few that were on my TBR. But it was also a good reading month; my average rating was a 3.7!
And even though I managed to read so much this past month, October still was a bit crazy. I attempted two readathons, and it actually didn’t go as planned! Between other life events and the balance of both reading more in those times and interacting with other readers, I had a bit of a hard time. I’m fairly new to the concept of readathons, so I think next time I need to take them on at less overwhelming times and be able to get that balance in.
Anyway, here’s everything I read this month, and my thoughts on each of them!
Nobody Knows But You by Anica Mrose Rissi
Nobody Knows But You is a YA mystery about the events leading up to a murder at a summer camp. The book follows Kayla and her recollections of what happened at camp, becoming best friends with Lainie, and how Lainie became the prime suspect to the murder of her on-and-off boyfriend, Jackson. Kayla recounts everything that happened, and shares in the series of letters, text messages, and more what there secrets were – until we find out what really happened.
This was an interesting sci-fi/mystery mix! I do wish there was some more for us to learn about regarding the world, but regardless I really enjoyed the setting and the creepy atmosphere of this book. It’s definitely the kind of book where you want to go in knowing as little as possible!
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Transcendent Kingdom follows Gifty, a fifth-year candidate in neuroscience and a Ghanian immigrant. Her brother, Nana, passed away due to an overdose when drug addiction followed a sports injury. Gifty’s mother is suicidal and lives in her bed. Gifty is surrounded by pain and suffering – and hopes to find the scientific reasoning behind it.
This was a short, yet powerful read. I loved the way this book explored Gifty’s character and how her life influenced her current work and aspirations. There were also so many discussions around immigration, race, religion, and mental health that were fleshed out so well. I haven’t read Gyasi’s debut, Homegoing just yet, but I definitely want to after this.
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
Grown follows Enchanted Jones, an aspiring singer spotted by legendary R&B singer Korey Fields during an audition. Fields appears to be Enchanted’s ticket to stardom – but this changes overnight. One morning, Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands, and no memory of the previous night – and Korey Fields is dead.
I didn’t know how heavy this book would be going in, and instead saw it more as a mystery overall before reading. It was so hard for me to put this book down, but at the same time there were some strange twists and pacing which in my opinion undermined the messages of the book. Regardless, there’s a lot to unpack while reading this one.
Lie With Me by Philippe Besson, Translated by Molly Ringwald
Lie With Me follows Philippe, who encounters a man who looks strangely like his first love. The book continues into a recollection of his earlier years, and the hidden affair he’s had, and the relationship he will never forget.
I’m not a big contemporary romance person, but what made Now That I’ve Found You different for me was the plot around Evie finding her grandmother and her personal growth. While I had a hard time with her character at times, I loved Milo and this was a really fun read overall.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Radium Girls is a non-fiction book that follows the events shortly after the discovery of radium. While the popular new element can be found in products everywhere, the women working with it in factories are beginning to fall ill. The women’s cries for help and the fight for worker’s rights are ignored, leading to one of the biggest scandals of the early 20th century.
I regret that this book was on my TBR for two years – I should have read it sooner! It’s so hard to believe what these women went through and how hard they had to fight for their rights and their lives. I know this book is on a lot of people’s radars, so I’d definitely recommend it if that’s the case.
The Threat Below by J.S. Latshaw
Three hundred years ago, a terrifying event nearly devastated humanity; the survivors living in the mountains above the clouds. When their water supply is being poisoned, an expedition, including Icelyn Brathius, must face the monsters that destroyed most of civilization centuries ago.
This was an interesting start to a new fantasy! I really liked the world in this book and the themes that were explored regarding the world below. It took me some time to gain interest in the characters, but after that this book definitely retained my interest. I’m looking forward to reading the next book this month!
Fangs by Sarah Andersen
First featured as a webcomic, Fangs is a graphic novel that features Elsie, a 300-year-old vampire that has never met her match. But one day, she meets Jimmy, a werewolf, in a bar. This book explores their love story and the conflicting interests between vampires and werewolves.
This was such a fun book to read, so much so that I wanted to read it in two sittings to spread out my enjoyment of it. I own a copy of this book and I know it’s one I’ll revisit when I’m looking for a laugh or a smile.
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez
Things We Lost in the Fire is set in Argentina where three girls turn to drugs and pain amidst a government-enforced blackout. Their responses and protests demonstrate a haunting, yet familiar reality for many and demonstrate what happens in a world where inequality, corruption, and violence prevail.
I don’t read short story collections often, but this one definitely has a lasting impact on me. This book has a unique mix of the real world and unreality as it explores contemporary Argentina and a plethora of real-world issues. The stories are so unique and independent as well, while also tying together as a whole.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca follows an unnamed and orphaned narrator who is proposed to by widower Maxim de Winter. The narrator cannot believe her luck until she arrives at the estate, realizing that her new husband’s late wife will cast a shadow over their lives and threaten to destroy their marriage.
This classic has been recommended to me so much and I’m happy to have finally read it. It definitely contains so many of the elements of gothic literature that I love, along with some other surprises. I had some issues with the pacing towards the end (and wanted more for the ending), but I really enjoyed this story overall.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
This book follows Immanuelle Moore, raised by her grandparents in a town where the prophet’s word of law, and her very existence being born out of wedlock is blasphemy. In a turn of events she discovers the truth about her mother and therefore herself, and how her destiny could change Bethel once and for all.
This world was so incredibly engrossing and atmospheric, while also exploring so many issues, such as race and religion, with modern-day parallels. I absolutely devoured this book, at at the same time, I also had some pacing issues towards the end with this one, and wanted more regarding some of the worldbuilding elements. But overall this was a very unique dark fantasy and I’d love to pick up books similar to this one in the future.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
After a carriage crashes in front of their home, Laura and her father agree to take in Carmilla, the passenger. Laura appreciates the company from someone her age until Carmilla becomes increasingly volatile. Soon Laura becomes increasingly ill, and her and her father set out to find out more about the mysterious guest in their home.
I was so excited to learn that this book not only inspired Dracula, but is also known as an earlier exploration of homosexuality in gothic literature. Going into it I knew of its length, but I think after so many incredible novellas and researching this book’s impacts on gothic literature, I was a little let down. However, I’d love to re-read this one again in the future after exploring similar books and see if my opinion changes at all.
How did your reading month go this October? Did you come across any new favorites? Let me know! I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these as well and what your thoughts were!
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December 2020 TBR
It’s the final month of the year! And, per usual, I have a ton I want to read this December.
On the surface, ten books does seem like a lot to read in one month. And my following sentences were originally going to prove why this TBR is feasible, but as it turns out, it might not be as feasible as I thought. 😬 It is fewer pages than what I read in November, but it is still technically a lot. I won’t try to push it if it’s not doable, but for some reason I’m thinking this will be okay!
This month features five books from my physical TBR, the FBC pick for the month, three books I wanted to read soon from the library, and one NetGalley ARC.
Without further ado, here’s what’s on the list!
December 2020 Reading Journal Setup
Today I’m sharing my December 2020 Reading Journal setup in my Archer & Olive Neapolitan journal. These are the last of the black pages before they go back to white ones.
This is one of those months where I had one idea in my mind, then it evolved into something else. I still like the end result though!
Again, since my supplies for pens and markers on the blackout pages are a bit more limited, I used some other materials to help dress up the pages. I used some scrapbook paper that reminded me a bit of a Christmas wallpaper, and used some Tombow markers and washi tape to add color. It wasn’t my original vision, but I’m okay with it. Here’s how I set it up:
November 2020 TBR
Now that spooky season is over, my TBR is looking like what I would call a “catch-up” month. There’s a few books on my TBR for November that have just been on my physical TBR for way too long. Some of which I’ve even promised to get to earlier in the year. Although October meant getting lots of books for my birthday (and a few I bought for myself), one of my biggest goals is to get my TBR down as much as possible. While TBR 0 is likely to never be a possibility, I feel so much better about choosing books to read when I know there’s a minimal amount of books on my TBR.
