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10/6: Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews (library ebook, 2015) - This series is joy. Now, in addition to the dog, there's a cat! This one dragged a little in the middle - it turns out I don't much care about intergalactic politics - but I did like it a lot. 4/5 stars
10/12: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (library, 2021) - I didn't love it, but it was a great book club discussion. 3/5
10/13: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (library audiobook, 1999) - I read this in 2010 and liked it a lot then. I like it less now, but that's because I want to shake every adult in the story and make them pay attention. I think Just Listen handles these themes better, but both books have their place in YA books about rape. 3.5/5 stars
10/21: The Hallmarked Man (Cormoran Strike #8) by Robert Galbraith (library, 2025) - This book was really boring. 2.5/5 stars
10/25: Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke (library, 2025) - Good, fast-paced thriller. I enjoyed this one a lot. 4.5/5 stars
10/26: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami translated by Phillip Gabriel (library audiobook narrated by Ray Porter, 2007) - Memoir about running and writing. Fine, I guess, but there's a lot of talk about body image and running. What did I expect? This one might be on me. 3/5 stars
10/31: Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #1) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (library audiobook narrated by Em Eldridge, 2023) - Girl stumbles into a new job, only to find out that The Villain is maybe not the bad guy. Fine, fine. Not earthshattering, but absolutely fine. 3/5 stars
Average star rating: 3.36/5 stars
DNF
Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes - We'll never know if this book was actually boring or if I kept falling asleep because I was exhausted. The library took it back before I made it to the halfway point. DNF at 41%.
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What's the best book you read in October?
Hmmm. The Correspondent. It took me a hot minute to get sucked in, but then I was IN! Book review coming tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteIt is SUCH a good book. I loved every second of it.
DeleteI had two five star books in October and they were both rereads! Songs at the River's Edge and The Joy Luck Club (I know, I know, this is not a five star read for you!)
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy other people enjoyed The Joy Luck Club. I don't have to love a book to have a good discussion about it.
DeleteMy favorite October reads were The Names and The Joy Luck Club.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I should take credit for all the people with their Joy Luck Club love!
DeleteI'm putting my fingers in my ears and singing loudly, LALALALALALA! I'm not listening when you say The Hallmarked Man was boring- I refuse to believe it! I should probably just read it already so I can start our argument properly.
ReplyDeleteI had a few good books in October- Ninth House, and the first Nevermoor book and Prophet come to mind.
We don't have to have an argument about it! If you like it, that's GREAT for you. I think that what I found charming character development about Cormoran and Robin in the first couple of books feels recycled and boring now. I mean, this isn't a spoiler, but there's only so much of Cormoran vaping and drinking that I can take.
DeleteI can't remember any great book right now, but the Louise Penny 'The Black Wolf' was a solid read. Some good twists. The Joy Luck Club was a compelling read, but not good. I've got the newest Mary Roach from the library, so I'm hoping November has better reads
ReplyDeleteMary Roach is always a good read! I hope it's good.
DeleteI loved The Correspondent, Wave, James, and The Road to Tender Hearts. I really liked The Joy Luck Club. I’m currently in the middle of Her Many Faces, thank you for the rec.
ReplyDeleteSo many good books for you. Yay!
DeleteI think Heartwood is the best book I read in October. (might even be the only book I read in October - but maybe I read Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, but I think that was Sept). One book is often about all I manage in a month. I need to start listening to books -multitasking is the answer to reading more for me. I doubt I would care much about intergalactic politics either. I laughed when you asked, What did I expect? About the running memoir. Haa haa.
ReplyDeleteHeartwood was so good. I feel like I sometimes just want a book to suck me in and make me figure out the answers.
DeleteIt sounds like you had a couple good ones in there. Thank so much for popping over to visit! :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome to our little blogging community!
DeleteI read Speak years ago and I'm glad it still prompts reactions like yours.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it is out there for the people who need to read it.
DeleteOh no! I was so excited because your photo illustration showed that there was a new Robert Galbraith, which I didn't realize. But 2.5 stars/5. Yikes! I will still read at some point but it's being added to a very long TBR. Best book I read this month is Bug Hollow by Huneven. She develops characters that are complex and beautifully written!
ReplyDeleteHa. I have not enjoyed the last two Galbraith books. I think it might be a me problem. If you enjoy them, keep reading them!
DeleteI think Blue Sisters was my favorite book of October. It took me a long time to get into it, but once I did, I was HOOKED.
ReplyDeleteI've never even heard of this one. I just read the description and I think it's a hard no for me, at least until I'm a little less emotional fragile. LOL.
DeleteI had 2 5-star reads in October. Homeseeking was a great historical fiction novel about post-WWII China. It paired really well with The Joy Luck Club! I didn't plan to read them so close - I read Homeseeking since it became available in Libby. I also gave 5 stars to Melinda French Gates' "The Next Day" which is a short collection of essays about transitions that I really appreciated. It was a great, gentle book for me to read when I was in kind of peak PTSD.
ReplyDeleteGillian McAllister's "Famous Last Words." Full disclosure: this was the ONLY book I read in October, so it wins by default.
ReplyDelete