October: in with some sunshine, out with a snowstorm. It’s been a beautiful and wildly busy month, and my reading time feels like it’s been diminished. (Real life, you seriously can get in the way of my reading.)
This month has felt fiction-rich, which is somewhat unusual. Also strange: I read a true crime book. This only happens about once a decade, so: notable.
There also was a grim tone to several of the books I read in October, which maybe could be seen as seasonally appropriate.
Favorite of the month: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. Her ability to weave a complex and believable story stuns me every time.
Here’s a look at October’s books…
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
3 words: lyrical, moving, quietly suspenseful
Give this book a whirl if you like… stories of difficult childhoods, evocative swampy settings, solitude, mysteries that unfold slowly
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
3 words: haunting, investigative, deep dive
Give this book a whirl if you like… true crime blended with memoir, stories of obsessive research, scary true crime stories, author as part of the narrative
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
3 words: lyrical, impressionistic, nuanced
Give this book a whirl if you like… stories told through vignettes, African American family, #ownvoices, subtle character portraits, multiple generations of family dynamics, books that are short but powerful, teenage pregnancy
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
3 words: character-driven, engaging, family
Give this book a whirl if you like… stories of family drama, house as a character, supportive siblings, evil stepmother, layers of meaning
The Lost Girls by Heather Young
3 words: forboding, atmospheric, suspenseful
Give this book a whirl if you like… novels that alternate between past and present, family mysteries, sisterhood, small towns, northern Minnesota, family cabins, secrets from the past
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when the Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson et al
3 words: practical, encouraging, actionable
Give this book a whirl if you like… specific tactics for discussing difficult topics, ways to reframe stressful conversations
The Boron Letters by Gary C. Halbert
3 words: practical, insightful, straightforward
Give this book a whirl if you like… learning about copywriting, the psychology of marketing
Cozy White Cottage: 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home by Liz Marie Galvan
3 words: beautiful, practical, inspiring
Give this book a whirl if you like… the rustic farmhouse look, tips for flea market buys, beautiful photos and a warm tone
What were your favorite books in October? And what are you looking forward to reading in November?
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