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Nov
03
October Reading Wrap-Up
2009 at 8am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
While October wasn’t my slowest reading month ever, it was perhaps my slowest reviewing month. I got the flu, and I changed jobs, and life was just generally kind of crazy. So here’s what I read, with cover art linked to my reviews of the first four. The rest of the reviews are coming soon.
This was a month heavy on the nonfiction, and that was a nice balance to my almost all-fiction September. Given that the only two pieces of fiction I read this month were The Last Song and Gossip of the Starlings, it pretty much goes without saying that Gossip of the Starlings was the best. Most of the nonfiction was great, so rather than selecting a favorite, I’ll anti-recommend Vera and the Ambassador, which just didn’t do it for me.
What was the best book you read in October?
The best book I read this month was A HAPPY MARRIAGE by Raphael Yglesias. It came out earlier this year but I didn’t look at it until July and I finally did a deep read on it. It’s a heavily autobiographical story about a man helping his wife through the dying process. Until the end, the chapters alternate between the first days of their dating and, her final days. At first, it’s seems like an easy book to skim; but a closer read reveals how carefully crafted the book really is. Though it’s brutally honest which is no easy thing, the craftsmanship lies in the author’s ability to relate common events with care without falling into cliche. It’s my first Yglesias novel, and one that I don’t think I would have picked up on my own, except that it came strongly recommended by a highly literate friend. It got two raves in the New York TImes Book Review (one in the Sunday edition, and another in a weekday edition.)
I read a lot of good books in October. I can’t pick a favorite, but the three I liked the best are Tell Me Something True, Willow and The Unlikely Disciple.
Based on your review and someone else’s of The Good Good Pig, I ordered it from our library and just received it. It is next on my list to read, and I can’t wait. I raised pigs for 4H when I was a kid, so I know all about their crazy little hijinx!
My favorite read in October was The Grand Sophy for sure!! I loved every minute of it!
That’s a tough question, because I read a lot of very different books last month. Maybe A Moveable Feast and Gang Leader for a Day, even though that last one was on audio.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read any good non-fiction. I’m planning on picking up on a bit more of that soon. As for my favorite October read, I think I’ll go with My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent. It was absolutely captivating!
You read some interesting looking books in October!
Well, my favorite book from October was What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman. But what I really came over to say was that I heard Ayelet Waldman speak at a literary luncheon, and she was fanfreakingtastic. I can’t wait to hear what you thought of that book!