Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Use this thread to tell us your plans or opinions on October reading.

I have some major catching up to do (5 books behind) to finish the challenge, but I think October will be a good month for me! I plan to finish:
Time Out of Joint (Alternate Timelines)
Lolly Willowes (Witches)
The Trial (Author I haven't read in a while)

Start:
Western Lane (Prompt that didn't make the list)
The Psychology of Gun Violence: How Smart Choices Can Save Lives (Reading for education not necessarily for the challenge.)

Hopefully, I can squeeze in 2 more reads:
Coal Black Horse (animal in title)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2 books with opposites in title)

I have just three prompts left to finish: cover with a building or city scape (easy enough), a mystery or true crime (my favorite genres), and a book posted in the ATY best books of the month threads.

I'm behind in challenges. This month I expect to finish:
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Mansfield Park

The Door-to-Door Bookstore – Carsten Henn – 3***
A small-town German bookseller has delivered books to his customers each evening after the store is closed. This is a lovely story of friendship, purpose, kindness and found family. It’s also about dealing with loss and grief, and about having the courage to make changes in one’s life.
LINK to my full review

I still have four books left for the year for my #20BooksBySEAsianWomen challenge. This month I am planning on reading Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See and The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan. I also plan on finishing Gold by Catherine Winters. I went to the bookstore this weekend to pick up a gift for a friend, and I found out that Dan Brown - FINALLY - has a new book out, so as soon as I finish Gold, I am reading The Secret of Secrets. For spooky season, I am going to read Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Zoraida Córdova.

I finished the ATY challenge during September's read-a-thon. Now I'm trying to read some of my 8 priority reads for this year that I haven't gotten too (I only read one for the challenge). Unfortunately, most of them are really long which is probably why I didn't read them earlier this year.

I’m planning to catch up on some classics I haven’t read yet, and I’m open to suggestions since my picks so far haven’t really hit the mark. I’m still figuring out what kind of “classic feel” actually suits me, but I do know I’m drawn to books that explore the female experience, political censorship, and social dysfunction. For example, I really enjoyed A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, but The Stepford Wives ended up feeling a bit tiring for me. I understood and appreciated its commentary on gender roles and conformity, but it felt a bit too heavy handed or predictable in how it delivered its message. I think I prefer stories that explore those same struggles in a more nuanced and introspective way.

I am waiting to get my last two books for this year's challenge from Libby. A two week wait for one and a six week wait for the other. Otherwise, I am reading a bookclub book and 5 others. I shall probably start trying to find books for the 2026 challenge, as well.

needabook 📚𓆑 wrote: "I’m planning to catch up on some classics I haven’t read yet, and I’m open to suggestions since my picks so far haven’t really hit the mark. I’m still figuring out what kind of “classic feel” actua..."

Room of One's Own and The Stepford Wives are very different from each other, though they are both about the roles of women. I don't know if you've looked at this list of fiction on GR:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

needabook 📚𓆑 wrote: "I’m planning to catch up on some classics I haven’t read yet, and I’m open to suggestions since my picks so far haven’t really hit the mark. I’m still figuring out what kind of “classic feel” actua..."

Have you tried Anne Brontë?

needabook 📚𓆑 wrote: "I’m planning to catch up on some classics I haven’t read yet, and I’m open to suggestions since my picks so far haven’t really hit the mark. I’m still figuring out what kind of “classic feel” actua..."

The Return of the Soldier
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
A Woman's Life
The Green Hat (it gets much better after the first 50 pages)
Antigone
Maybe The Bell Jar? I've never gotten around to reading it myself.

Continuing from September:

- Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp
-The River Why by David James Duncan
-Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
-Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus by Elaine Pagels

Beginning in October:

-The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas (audio)
-Total Power by Vince Flynn
-The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith (audio)
-Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
-Time and Time Again by Ben Elton
-Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Kendra wrote: "Have you tried Anne Brontë..."

I was thinking of her, too, either of her books. Or her sister Charlotte's Shirley.

The Dog Who Followed the Moon – James Norbury – 3.5***
In the deepest part of winter, a small pup, Amaya, gets separated from her parents. Wandering alone in the woods she comes upon a pack of wolves. And this begins the latest fable by James Norbury. Once again, he reminds us that life is about the journey, not the destination, and that all experiences are ones we can learn from. And I really love his illustrations.
LINK to my full review

needabook 📚𓆑 wrote: "I’m planning to catch up on some classics I haven’t read yet, and I’m open to suggestions since my picks so far haven’t reaJane Eyrelly hit the mark. I’m still figuring out what kind of “classic feel” actua..."

I'll second the Bronte suggestions! My personal favorite is Villette by Charlotte Brontë. Lately I have found myself gravitating to mid-century women writers as they often explore the topics you're looking for. Specifically I'm thinking along the lines of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark or Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (best read after Jane Eyre!)

Other suggestions off the top of my head:
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
The Lottery and Other Stories (or anything really) by Shirley Jackson
The Door by Magda Szabó

As I finally finished the great Don Quixote project in September, I'm free to take on some atmospheric October reads! For me this is often mysteries and gothic classics. I paired up An Unsuitable Job for a Woman with A Suitable Vengeance for the "opposites in titles" category, and those have been my audio-commute reads. Meanwhile, I've returned to Frankenstein: The 1818 Text for the first time since college, and it's a completely different experience now in my 40s. For one, I forgot that the "Dr. Frankenstein" isn't a doctor at all, he's a college student in his late teens, and now also a "creator of life" (aka dad?). Also, having traveled in the Lake Geneva region in my mid-20s, I can picture the setting with richer detail than whatever "generic Euro-backdrop" college-me had in mind. Really enjoying it so far, and I may have to read up on Mary Shelley next year, much as I read up on the Brontes last year.

Wendy wrote: "I may have to read up on Mary Shelley next year, much as I read up on the Brontes last year..."

I loved and highly recommend the book Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley.

Dixie, thank you for the recommendation! I will add it to my TBR....and likely slot it into "related to something you read in 2025" for next year 😊

Wendy wrote: "Dixie, thank you for the recommendation! I will add it to my TBR....and likely slot it into "related to something you read in 2025" for next year 😊"

Yay! Also, I just realized this morning that it's one of the books that Mod Robin included in her list of "lesser known women from history" that she speaks about.

Do we have a Best Books of October thread that I'm not seeing? I have a couple of books I would like to add. Thanks!

Dixie wrote: "Do we have a Best Books of October thread that I'm not seeing? I have a couple of books I would like to add. Thanks!"

We still have 2 weeks of October left. They usually don't start the BotM threads until closer to the end of the month.

Kendra wrote: "Dixie wrote: "Do we have a Best Books of October thread that I'm not seeing? I have a couple of books I would like to add. Thanks!"

We still have 2 weeks of October left. They usually don't start ..."

Ah, okay. Thanks!

Dixie wrote: "Wendy wrote: "I may have to read up on Mary Shelley next year, much as I read up on the Brontes last year..."

I loved and highly recommend the book [book:Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives ..."

I really liked it too.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V E Schwab – 4****
In 1714, a young woman flees from the planned / arranged marriage and begs the gods for her freedom. Luc grants her wish but … What a wonderful, engaging story. I was completely captivated. And while I’ve grown to hate the ubiquitous dual timeline, in this case it was necessary, for how else to tell the story of “invisible” Addie LaRue, and her Faustian bargain? What a cunning, clever woman!
LINK to my full review

I’ve been slowing down, but I finally finished my two rounds of this challenge, plus the Anniversary challenge. It required a lot of juggling at the end, so I don't think I’ll try it again next year, but I’m very happy with the books I read for the challenges. I read less this year than last year, but I enjoyed it more.

This month my favorite books so far were The Kaiju Preservation Society, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Mountain in the Sea, and Monstrilio.

If anyone is looking for a horror book for Halloween, I recommend Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. I don’t normally like horror, but it’s amazing. It also fits Hispanic Heritage month If you’re reading for that.

After this I need a feel good book, and I just downloaded The Sideways Life of Denny Voss based on a glowing recommendation from a friend. I also have Sisters in the Wind coming up.

I didn’t even know about this book at the beginning of the month but I made the rare decision to buy a new release - Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon. Instead of putting on my bookshelf, I started reading it!

Dixie wrote: "Wendy wrote: "I may have to read up on Mary Shelley next year, much as I read up on the Brontes last year..."

I loved and highly recommend the book [book:Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives ..."

I really need to read that. Every year it's on my plan, every year it gets moved off. Maybe I should read it when I finish this year-- 6 more books!

NancyJ wrote: "I’ve been slowing down, but I finally finished my two rounds of this challenge, plus the Anniversary challenge. It required a lot of juggling at the end, so I don't think I’ll try it again next yea..."

Good to hear- my book group is doing Kaiju in December and it's not my normal speed!

I'm currently in the eternal shuffle to fill the last couple slots I have, finding I don't really feel like what I have listed for them so need better options.

I started The Jane Austen Book Club today because I've got to the point of being tired of horror.

I'm reading:
Kingdom of the Wicked - where mortals have powers and they are kicking Skullduggery and Valkyrie Cain's butts

Find You In The Dark - about a guy who buys old police files and finds victims of long executed serial killers, except now (view spoiler)[ a current serial killer is after him and is trying to pin current murders on him (hide spoiler)]

The Pit and the Pendulum - classic Poe horror

And I finished a horror book earlier that was more disgusting than scary.

I think I attempted too much horror this month, plus with all the movies I'm watching with the kids. I need to pace myself better next year.

Kept – Y. Euny Hong – 3***
Judith Lee is descended from a Korean royal family and is used to the privileges of her status. But when her family cuts her off after she graduates, she is at a loss for how to pay off her many debts. Then she’s introduced to the madame of a house of high-society girls who are in-demand courtesans. Social satire is not my favorite genre, but there were some episodes I found quite entertaining. Not sure Jude learned anything from the experience; she still relied on men to save her from troubles of her own making.
LINK to my full review