October Wrap-Up

October turned out to be a wonderful reading month: I read so much, and loved a lot of what I read!!! I LOVED The Book of Magic, The Love Songs of W.E.B du Bois, and Beautiful World, Where Are You.

Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney - 4⭐️ - I think this is my favourite Rooney yet! Her characters felt the most vivid, and the least insufferable characters compared to Conversations with Friends and Normal People.

Hooked by Sutton Foster - 4⭐️ - Hooked is a memoir by Broadway + Younger star Sutton Foster. Crafting is her favourite hobby and pastime that keeps her sane, so the book is shaped around key moments of her life and what she crafted during that time. Such an interesting way to tell a story!! I only knew Sutton as Liza from Younger, but really glad I picked this up and learned more about her career killing it on Broadway, and her vulnerability about her home life and her relationship with her mom. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loved younger, musical theatre, and memoirs.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - 3.5⭐ - I picked this book up at a thrift store last year and I needed this ridiculous, laugh out loud story of a woman who truly cannot control her spending. It has that unique humour that only British authors seem to get away with. I have the sequel cued up on my Kobo!

Autumn by Ali Smith - 3⭐️ - Last year I bought Smith's seasonal quartet: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. I read Autumn (making the mistake of picking it up, reading half of it, then the latter half a month later). I know this time around I needed to read it in one go. While I definitely appreciated Smith's lyrical writing (this book and series is dubbed the first big post-Brexit novel), I found the subject matter may not stick with me.

Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder - 3.5⭐️ - This book was weird and I love weird. I find myself drawn to books about motherhood (Baby Teeth, The Push) and how truly bizarre it must be to question your identity, or have others totally shift their view of you after having a kid. This book is about a woman who's the mother of a toddler, who thinks she's slowly turning into a dog. I really loved this character study into the character who is never named, only referred to as 'the mother', her inner dialogue as she tried to grasp what was going on, and how she was (or wasn't?) able to pull through. I'm not sure if I loved the ending of this one but I liked what I read up until that point.

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson - 2⭐️- My Monticello is a collection of short stories, with the title story around 140ish pages. The first story was my favourite and one that stuck with me the most (a university professor studying racism by conducting a secret social experiment on his own son), but I found the title story draagggeedddd on and was too slow for my liking. My Monticello is about a community that is run out of town by a white militia and seeks refuge in Thomas Jefferson's plantation Monticello. The main character is a descendent of Jefferson and Sally Hemings, and is in a unique setting and situation where she has the time to come to terms with her history and identity. I think given the subject matter, I was anticipating more of an apocalyptic action story vs. slow burn character story.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel - 3.5⭐️- This type of book is my go-to: fiction & family. I absolutely loved Frankel's 'This is How it Always Is' so was really excited to pick this one up. Alternating perspectives between three interesting and lovable triplets, One Two Three follows three siblings trying to stop the rebuild of a chemical company in town that had devastating results the last time they were operating. Think Erin Brokovich. I did enjoy this one, but felt that it was far too long.

Wordslut by Amanda Montell - 4.5⭐️- An interesting and insightful book about the language used against women. Felt like I learned so much I could use in my every day and help inform me in shutting misogynists down.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover - 4.5⭐️ - Okay, THIS is the classic Colleen Hoover book I've been longing for her past few new releases!! This one was mature (I find I don't love her books that have overdramatic, angsty teens), heartfelt and so well written. Such a great story of a woman who works her hardest to reintegrate back into society after time in prison, trying to get some time with her young daughter.

Unbound by Tarana Burke - 5⭐️- This memoir/origins of #metoo was a reminder of what the movement is actually about: that Black women and girls (who have suffered in silence for so long) could find resources, a support network, and feel less alone in their trauma. I read this book within 24 hours (on a weekday!). Once I started, I couldn’t stop. It’s wonderfully written and Tarana has such a warmth about her that leaps off the pages. Thank you to Tarana, and women like Tarana, who are vulnerable, courageous, and honest in sharing their story and dedicating their lives to make sure other girls and women are supported.

The Love Songs of W.E.B du Bois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers -4.5⭐️- How does one sum up an incredible 800 page epic novel about family and where we come from? Let's just say I'm forever grateful for audiobooks that I can take any book I want with me (during walks, errands, housework). Because of the audio version, I was able to finish this book within a few weeks.

An epic story covering the heritage of a Black American family through the centuries of troubling, turbulent, and all too real American history. It was very reminiscent of one of my favourite books ever, Homegoing.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman -4.5⭐️- This was such an exquisite finale to one of my all time favourite book series. This one felt so similar to my favourite of the series, Rules of Magic. The whole gang was back together, all three generations of Owens' challenging the curse that prevents them from being happily in love.

One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose - 3⭐️- An 'ok' thriller taking place in a Southern salon where only the richest can get in. It started off with far too many characters (worried I wouldn't be able to keep all their perspectives straight) but wasn't too bad! Ended up having a little twist at the end that surprised me, but I'm not sure this is one I'd go out of my way to recommend.