How was your October? Are you happy it's over? I feel like I've been wishing my life away this past year given all we have been through (not us personally, but, our country in general.)
October was a very good month for me reading-wise. My reading numbers were up as I just couldn't stand to watch the news in recent weeks, many of you feel the same I am sure. We voted early, by mail, as our virus numbers are beginning to creep up as there are everywhere else it seems.
I started watching a new series last week, The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant & Donald Sutherland. It's on HBO and I'm hooked - psych thriller feel. It's based on the book: You Should Have Known ; Jean Hanff Korelitz (I just purchased the eBook for $2.99 so hope to read it soon).
Book Group
Wednesday was my library book group meeting. We hoped to meet in the park one last time before it was too cold but, it was pouring out so it was a Zoom meeting instead. There were (8) of us and our read was Two-Family House (2016); Lynda Cohen-Loigman - St. Martin's Press. I actually read the book when it was released in 2016 and I liked it a lot. The group enjoyed the story, a debut novel, but, we agreed it was not fine literature. It did make for a good discussion. What was surprising was all of us, except for one person grew up in Two-Family houses as children. Who knew it was that common?In my case, my family lived on the first floor and my grandfather, an unmarried uncle and an unmarried aunt lived on the second floor. (Built in baby-sitters, I guess)
Our next meeting isn't until January as we don't meet over the holidays and, this year we won't be having a Holiday luncheon due to the virus.
Here's a snapshot of what I read in October:
Favorite Fiction
- The Death October of Vivek Oji; Akwaeke Emezi - (5/5 (audio/Oct.)
- Hieroglyphics; Jill McCorkle - 4.5/5 - (print/library/Oct)
- The Mothers; Brit Bennett - 3.5/5 - (eGalley/audio combo/Oct)
- Ghostology; Curtle & Steel - 5/5 (print/October)
- Where's Waldo? Spooky Spotlight Search; Martin Handford (print/October)
- Love is Powerful; Heather Dean Brewer - 5/5 (print/October)
- Fresh Water for Flowers; Valerie Perrin - 4.5/5 (print/library/Oct)
- Dear Edward; Ann Napolitano - 4/5 - (audio/October)
- His & Hers; Alice Feeney - 4/5 - (print/audio/October)
- Confessions on the 7:45; Lisa Unger - 2.5/5 (audio/October)
- His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis & the Power of Hope; Jon Meacham - NF-5/5 (eGalley/Oct)
- Channel Kindness; Born This Way Foundation Reporters & Lady Gaga - 5/5 NF (print/library/Oct)
- Goodnight, Beautiful; Aimee Molloy - 3.5/5 (audio/October)
- White Ivy; Susie Yang - 4.5/5 - (eGalley/October)
RIPXV
- Big Kibble; Buckley (The Hidden Dangers in the Pet Food Industry)
- Greenlights; Matthew McConaughey
- Good Morning Monster; Gildiner (I meant to read this last month but time ran out)
- The Talented Miss Farewell; Emily Gray Tedrowe
- Mexican Gothic; Silvia Morena-Garcia
- The Pull of the Stars; Emma Donoghue
- Don't Look For Me; Wendy Walker
- The Christmas Table; Donna VanLiere
- Snow, John Banville
- Summer Longing; Jamie Brenner
Snow, yikes! We're glad October is over, we're ready for Turkey Season!
ReplyDeleteYes, first comes pumpkins then comes turkeys.
DeleteIt all sounds very good, considering. I am so glad October is over, but I agree with " I feel like I've been wishing my life away this past year." Perhaps we will get a chance to be more present in the coming days. Or perhaps we should be no matter what?
ReplyDeleteI agree Judy.
DeleteI'm interested in Matthew McConaughey's book. He's such an interesting character.
ReplyDeleteHe is interesting, I saw an interview about the book on some show. His parents seemed quite unconventional.
DeleteThis has certainly felt like the longest, fastest year, hasn't it?! It sounds like your granddaughters had a fun Halloween. I'm all for switching up traditions and if my daughter was still little, I would have had fun planning something other than the usual trick-or-treating. Great picture of those snow-covered pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteWe've been camping for the past 11 days, so my October was pretty nice. It's been good to step away from all the political news, while staying safe from COVID in our little home on wheels. Now to see what comes in the next couple of days, weeks, months...
My reading numbers were down, which is typical when we're traveling. Plus, my audiobook is super long! I'll be surprised if I finish it before 2021! You had lots of great reads this month. I always find several of your recommends to add to my TBR list. :)
The Undoing sounds great, but we don't have HBO. Maybe another platform will carry it later on. How was The Art of Racing in the Rain? I loved the book, but have been hesitant to see the movie. The Green Mile is such a great film!
Here's to great outcome on Tuesday night! Or, whenever we find out who will lead this country of ours!
Les, you need to watch the movie The Art of Racing in the Rain if you loved the book; movie was well done.
DeleteI like October--the weather is great, I always have lots of energy and usually feel like cooking, and it's the beginning of our family's birthday season, which stretches from Oct 1 to Nov 26--5 birthdays in 2 months, plus Halloween and Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteTrying not to wish time away as there is still so much to enjoy and experience now that our wanderlust is curtailed.
I love Jon Meacham and would like to read his book on John Lewis. I also read The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I'm actually considering an Agatha Christie reading project involving reading her mysteries in order, but that is a very tall order.
I'll have to look for The Undoing - I like psycho-thrillers.
Happy November!
My son's birthday is in Nov as is my husband's grandsons. I love Jon Meacham as well; so intelligent and interesting to listen to and, he is so easy on the eyes as well...LOL
DeleteI feel the same way about wishing this year away. Between politics and needing to get to the point where we can start getting vaccines, we need this year to be over. What a crazy Halloween you had! We've had the snowy ones but it was about 60 degrees here this year; even so, we only had about 20 trick-or-treaters.
ReplyDeleteIt's suppose to be in the low 60s for 5 days this week so so much for our snow (almost gone already).
DeleteYou had a good reading month! I know exactly what you mean about wishing your life away. I normally quite like winter but with all that it might bring I can't wait for it to be over. Somehow I'm holding out for things to get much better in the spring.
ReplyDeleteCath, I know what you mean, I love watching the snow fall from indoors, but, I also like going out places and this year it just isn't safe to take chances at our ages.
DeleteI remember reading Racing in the Rain and wanting to watch the movie so I'll have to find that one on my streaming choices. You had excellent reading in October! Funny how not watching the news ups our reading.
ReplyDeleteHelen, you should definitely see the the movie: Art of Racing in the rain; so well done.
DeleteR: Greenlights - have not listened to it yet but I know that his parents seemed quite unconventional.
ReplyDeleteI like your pumpkin's carving, kitty cat! Our snow has mostly melted here -- so we sent it to you, ha! You had a good book month .... and didn't get too distracted by the nutty news. stay well.
ReplyDeleteI'm on new overload.
DeleteSnow! At any rate, I love the idea of the scavenger hunt--I bet that was fun. I'm wondering how to make things cozy this November. After months of so little contact and knowing there will be less as cold weather sets in, I'm going to have to work at keeping my spirits up.
ReplyDeleteI love soft cozy comforters, throws and high quality sheets - that is heavenly for me. I'm also a nut about new pretty coffee, tea mugs and of course good books :)
DeleteA productive month, to say the least! Happy November!
ReplyDeleteThank you and same to you Freda
DeleteI am not really wishing 2020 away because for the most part, although we have been affected in irritating ways (the college audition process, school, etc.) no one in my immediate circle has gotten sick yet and I am still employed and we are doing fairly well. If I could lose this weight I would be really happy.
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't complain either as we are all well as is the family but, I miss getaways and restaurant dining during the pandemic - sick of cooking, but eating healthier most of the time too.
DeleteYou read some great books in October! I've got Vivek Oji on my list and remember enjoying The Two-Family House. Glad you enjoyed the modified Halloween... not much celebration here this year. Moving will be our primary focus in November - it's finally happening!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Vivek Oji - audio is very good too.
DeleteI really enjoyed Vivek Oji - audio is very good too.
ReplyDeleteDiane, October was a fantastic reading month for you! Impressive list! I hope November will be a good month reading-wise and otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIt's still in the 90's here in the Phoenix area, so it's hard to believe it's been snowing elsewhere! Brrrr ...
ReplyDeleteYou had an awesome October in reading! Such a great list of books! I missed your review of White Ivy so I just checked it out - glad to read your thoughts on it. I want to read it but worried about how damaged the protagonist is and if I really wanted to read it. I may give it a try.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reading month you had in October, Diane. It sounds like the book club pick was well chosen, with much discussion to come from it. I hope you're able to enjoy both your fiction & nonfiction titles in November. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI hope your granddaughters enjoyed their Halloween scavenger hunt. :-) I am glad you had a good reading month in October. I haven't had an easy time of it getting into books for myself. At least I am enjoying what I've been reading. I hope you have a great week and month of November, Diane!
ReplyDelete