October Reading Recap
Can you believe we are in the 11th month of the year? It feels like it was just February. October was a great month of books. I read several spooky, Halloween books and also the latest books from Richard Powers and Sally Rooney (spoiler: The Playground is my favorite book of the year). Hope you’re all easing yourself into cozy, winter reading and can find a book or two from this list to read under a warm blanket while drinking hot cocoa. Until next time, happy reading!
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Quick Synopsis: A group of young filmmakers shot a horror movie in 1993. Only three shots survived and were uploaded on YouTube. A movie producer sets out to recreate the film and wants the only surviving member to reprise his role as “The Thin Kid”.
Strong Points: Tremblay has been described as a cinematic writer. After reading this book, I completely agree. He sets up the book as if the reader is experiencing a movie. But he does it in the most non-screenplay-type way. It doesn’t feel like it’s begging for his book to be made into a film, but to be read like you’re in one. He did a wonderful job of setting up this eerie story and sucking the reader in.
To me, one of the scariest settings for a horror story is an old, abandoned school. There’s something about the number of kids who have passed through those doors, sat at the desks, and spent 40 hours a week of their childhood there - so much history.
I also liked the commentary on the process of adapting books into films. His book, The Cabin at the End of the World was adapted into a movie Knock at the Cabin. Tremblay went on record saying it was a frustrating process. He went on set for a few days and drew from that experience. However, that’s not where the inspiration came from, instead, it came from the dangers on the set of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. If you're like me and have no idea about the dangers on the set, this article is worth a read.
Weak Points: Some of the character’s motives weren’t explained. This left me frustrated and unable to become completely engrossed in some of the storylines. Also, the narrator wasn’t likable. I’m not sure if this was done on purpose or if I didn’t connect with his arrogant personality. How he treated and interacted with the people around him came off as immature and insecure. He had to have a comeback or a joke to everything someone said and when it wasn’t met with a laugh, he would become offensive, commenting on how stupid they were in his head. I wasn’t invested in his feelings or care about what happened to him.
Overall, a spooky fun read.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 2/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend
For Fans of: I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, and How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie
A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enríquez
Quick Synopsis: 12 stories set in Argentina about peoples’ lives being turned upside down when they encounter terrifying entities.
Strong/Weak Points: I’m not usually the biggest short story fan, but I adored Our Share of Night and now will pretty much read anything Enríquez publishes for the writing and storytelling alone. However, this is no fault of the authors but I was quickly reminded why I don’t read short story collections more often; as soon as I get into the story, it ends. I wanted a 200+ page book on 80% of the stories (20% of the stories I was eh about). Again, this is a me problem and is not the fault of the author.
The majority of the stories are unique and creepy and all so different from the others. I kept thinking about how creative and sometimes dark Enríquez’s imagination must be to write this. Super, super fun but I’m ready for her to write another novel.
If you’re looking for a spooky short story collection, look no further.
Writing Style: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommend
For Fans of: Graveyard Shift by M. L. Rio, Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy, and My Family and Other Suspects by Kate Emery
Playground by Richard Powers
Booker Prize Nominee
Quick Synopsis: Rafi and Todd come from two very different backgrounds, but they come together over their love of chess. Growing up, they are inseparable, following each other to college. Eventually, Todd goes on to develop a successful AI company and Rafi falls in love and moves to the island of Makatea. Many years later, Todd and Rafi meet up again, now they are no longer the same people they were when they were younger.
Strong Points: Richard Powers is by far one of the greatest writers. The Overstory and Bewilderment are two of my all-time favorite books. Well, now I can add Playground to the list.
Powers’ writing is beautiful and powerful (no pun intended). He’s able to present his themes in a way that doesn't hit the reader on the head, while also making sure they are rich and developed. He taps into the human emotion in a way that feels authentic and raw. Powers’ stories usually involve climate change and the environment, this one is no different, only add AI in the mix.
I also love Powers’ love and passion for the natural world around him. He is keen on observing wildlife and nature and writes about it in a beautiful and thought-provoking way. He pushes back on the notion that we, human beings, have the only stories that matter and should be told. We aren’t the main animal on this Earth and shouldn’t act like we are. In his CBS Sunday Morning interview (highly recommend his interview if you are interested or have a few minutes to spare), he reflects on how his time growing up in Thailand influenced his love of the ocean and inspired this book. He’s such a precious human being and we are lucky to have him.
Oh, and he knows how to nail endings. You know those magical moments when you read the last paragraph and you close the book and you have to take a second to sit in silence? That’s what happens when I finish a Powers book. I mourn that the book is over while simultaneously feeling lucky to have read it.
Applause, applause, applause.
Weak Points: No notes
Writing Style: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Flow/Pacing: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Highly Recommend
For Fans of: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout, and Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Quick Synopsis: After the death of their father, Ivan and Peter struggle to maintain a relationship when they feel like they couldn’t be any different.
Strong/Weak Points: It seems like Sally Rooney’s name has been everywhere these last few years. I’ve only read Conversations with Friends and I thought it was good but forgettable. I couldn’t even tell you what it was about. I won’t feel the same about this Rooney book though.
While there wasn’t much of a plot or detailed setting, the interpersonal relationships really made up for it. It was more centered around the characters and their relationship with each other and the things around them.
I enjoyed their inner dialogue. It felt specific and unique to each character. For example, it’s not said specifically that Ivan has social problems, but it was implied. He overthinks and over-explains everything. That was reflected in his inner dialogue. On the other hand, Peter is a fast-thinking lawyer and his inner dialogue is small, choppy, and quick-thinking sentences. The dialog felt genuine and like I was eavesdropping on a conversation at the time with how well it flowed. Loved it! These little nuanced things made the story work for me. I was eager to pick it back up as soon as I put it down.
Come for the author’s buzz, stay for her characters.
Writing Style: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommend
For Fans of: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna, and All Fours by Miranda July
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
Quick Synopsis: One stormy night, Eve hears a knock at the door and opens it up to a family claiming they used to live there. All they want is a quick tour of the place to see what has changed and they will be out of her hair. But will they be?
Strong Points: For those of you who know a lot about what this book is, let me give you a little bit of background. It started as a Reddit sub called “NoSleep” where it got so much buzz that it was then acquired by Simon and Schuster as a complete novel and then it was bought by Netflix to be turned into a movie. Kliewer is well-known on this subreddit as being a legendary storyteller.
It’s an engrossing read. Once you start, you won’t be able to put it down. Its twists and turns will leave you wonder what the hell you are reading. The ending left me with lots of questions, which isn’t something I hate. I like a book that challenges me and somewhat leaves the meaning up for interpretation. I know some readers don’t like that, and if you’re one of those, this isn’t the book for you.
The author did an incredible job of creating an eerie tone throughout the book. Was I a little afraid to read it at night? Yes. Could I put it down? No. Haunted house troupes are probably the scariest for me. A house is supposed to be your safe place where you can walk to the kitchen in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and not be scared. When that security is taken away, then psychologically, that's scary on so many different levels.
Weak Points: Sure, there were a few things that I didn’t love about the book and a few parts that were cheesy and felt unnecessary but also, you know what kind of book it is when you start it. Just take it for what it is.
Fun, light, scary book about a haunted house. What more could you want?
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommend
For Fans of: Middle of the Night by Riley Sager, Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay, The September House by Carissa Orlando
The Poet and the Vampyre: The Curse of Byron and the Birth of Literature’s Greatest Monsters by Andrew McConnell Scott
Quick Synopsis: Lord Byron, London’s most infamous poet, fled to Geneva after his life fell apart, taking his doctor, John Polidori, with him. Arriving in Geneva, Lord Byron met up with another literary star, Percy Bysshe Shelley, along with his lover Mary Shelley and her step-sister Claire Clairmont. They spent three months in a creative paradise.
Strong Points: I’ve always been fascinated by this legendary time in Geneva, which gave us two beloved Halloween characters, Dracula and Frankenstein. The book was only $5 at The Strand, so why not learn more about it? While the writing wasn’t all that great, the story was fascinating enough to keep me wanting to read more.
Weak Points: At times this read a little textbooky. I also didn’t love that 1/3 of the book was about each person’s journey to Geneva and the sightseeing they did along the way. It felt like boring filler that I could've done without.
However, in these ramblings, I did learn that condoms were already in common use in the early 1800s. This is shocking to me! I had to look this up and ended up going down a rabbit hole. Skip to the next section if you’re not interested in the history of condoms. Apparently in 1564, an Italian gentleman by the name of Gabriello Fallopio described the first condom as a linen sheath and ribbon. The name "condom" was given in the 1660s by a man named Dr. Condom (if he only knew we’d still be using his last name as contraception 360 years later!) when he gifted Charles II an oiled sheep intestine. Rubber condoms didn’t appear on the market until 1855. So, there you have it folks, a quick history of the condom!
You never know what you’re going to learn when reading.
Writing Style: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Eh, Recommend
For Fans of: The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, Making the Monster by Kathryn Harkup, and The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Quick Synopsis: It’s a tale as old as time. A scientist creates a monster who then stalks him.
Strong Points: I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read this one before. After picking up The Poet and the Vampyre, I felt like now was as good of a time as ever. What a fun ride! I liked the layers of stories being told; the person on the ship who rescues Victor Frankenstein is writing to her sister and tells his story of creating “the monster”. It was a creative way of telling the story. It’s crazy that this book is so old yet is still so relevant today.
Weak Points: I feel like I can’t really say anything negative about this old classic.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 3/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend
For Fans of: Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
What I Are in One Year by Stanley Tucci
Quick Synopsis: The synopsis is in the name. It’s everything Tucci ate in one year. Really.
Strong Points: I have a soft spot for Tucci. He’s adorable, loveable, and leads such an interesting life. This man knows how to live. He takes the time to cook and appreciate food in a luxurious way that many of us scarfing down food have forgotten how to do. For being as busy as he is, he certainly knows how to make the most of each day and appreciate all that life has given him whether that be through food, art, or spending time with friends. He knows how to slow down and take in the world around him. It’s nice to read a book like this one and be reminded how food can really connect us to friends, family, and our community. We could all be more like Tucci.
Weak Points: Nothing of note
If you’re interested in reading the many ways in which Stanley Tucci incorporates pasta into every meal, I highly recommend this book.
Writing Style: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommend
For Fans of: Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten, From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley, The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
Quick Synopsis: A wedding between the high school quarterback, Gary, and a Native American, former goth girl, Kismet, takes place in a small farming community. Gary believes Kismet is there to save him. Meanwhile, Kismet is torn between a comfortable life with Gary and her true love, Hugo.
Strong Points: The character development and the writing are superb. I didn’t want to put this down.
Erdrich won the Pulitzer Prize for her other novel The Night Watchman in 2021 and although I haven’t read that one, I would say her follow-up novel is pretty outstanding. Erdrich is a North Dakota Native American from the Red River Valley where this novel takes place. And the reader can tell that she drew from personal experience. Her first job was hoeing sugar beets, just like the large sugar beets farm that is at the center of the book. She also said that it took her over a decade to write this. Again, the reader can tell that she took her time to develop the characters and plot. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it.
Weak Points: There’s a lot that is going on in this book. I don’t want to give too much away, but the bank-robbing scenes sprinkled throughout the book were hilarious but it took too long for them to tie in anywhere. I wish they would have been introduced a little later on in the book, closer to the connection of what was actually going on.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommend
For Fans of: Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout, Playground by Richard Powers, and Colored Television by Danzy Senna
“The world was bigger, stranger, richer, and wilder than I had a right to ask for.” - Playground by Richard Powers
