Oh hey! What am I doing posting this more than a week into the beginning of the month, you ask? Well, maybe you’re not asking and don’t really care as much as I do that this post is late, but I’ll go ahead and tell you anyway.
My family and I went on a trip to Seattle! We went up into the rotating top of the space needle, rode the ferry to Bainbridge Island, visited Jakob Two Trees in Issaquah during Salmon Days weekend, visited Snoqualmie Falls, and more. It was really fun!
Anyway, let’s get back to the bookishness, shall we? Here’s what we read in September!
Cathy
The Witcher – The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, translated by Danusia Stok
I watched The Witcher on Netflix with my boyfriend at the end of 2023 and we were obsessed (me more than him) and it was such a good series. My local bookshop had the entire Witcher series on sale so I caved and bought the entire set so I could continue being in the world of the Witcher. The series is based on a computer game which is based on the book (I think this is right).
Geralt is a Witcher and hunts monsters for money. The Last Wish is the first book in the series and it’s basically setting the scene for the books to come. We meet Geralt, we get to know a bit about him (although I feel like he’ll always be somewhat of a mystery as a character), how he grew up, what his life is like now, what he’s been through that made him who he is today (which is essentially where the series on Netflix starts).
The book is good, there’s lots of dialogue, not as much description as other fantasy novels I’ve read, but a sturdy plot and narrative to keep your attention. I’m enjoying the story so far, but I’d warn any fans of the Netflix series: the events in the story happen in a different order in the book than they do in the series. As long as that doesn’t bother you (and it doesn’t me), I’d really recommend the book series.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Wintering – The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
Katherine May uses Wintering to show us how we can deal with the times in our lives when we need to rest and repair ourselves. She helps us deal with our “wintering” as she calls these periods with examples and illustrations of how different people and cultures deal with the fallow times of the year and of life.
Wintering is a very thoughtful book and I reread it each year around this time. The book follows the year in the northern hemisphere: September through to March, early autumn to early spring. I like this book because it gives you a sense of hope as you read it. May isn’t telling you to pull yourself together during the winter or the difficult times of life but rather experience them. The examples she gives of how others prepare for the winter give you some inspiration of what you can do to help yourself during life’s harder times. It sounds like it’s a really depressing book but it isn’t as depressing as it sounds, it does give you hope, it gives you something to help you weather the winter and make it through to spring.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Jess
The Wind That Sweeps the Stars by Greg Keyes
This is an ARC with my full review coming soon! As a teaser, this book has a unique and non-western fantasy world with action, a lot of lore, and fun characters. You might like this book if you enjoy getting deep into the mythical worldbuilding of a fantasy setting and/or if you like women being very cool with weapons.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
The Queen’s Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner
I read through The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, and A Conspiracy of Thieves in rapid succession, through a mix of audiobooks and hardcovers. This is a YA fantasy series that I enjoyed for the twists – there’s fantasy, there’s fun characters, there are swordfights, but that twist that makes everything fall into place near the end of each book was the main draw. The reading experience was similar to a whodunnit, though centered around politics and war tactics rather than murder. Each book has a segment where the story stops so that you can read a remixed Greek myth, which frustrated me, but these were overall light and entertaining reads, and I’m looking forward to finishing the series!
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Joli
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
The Secret Book of Flora Lea was one of those reads that could have really been spectacular, but suffered from some missteps that decreased my rating some. I thought the story itself was absolutely enchanting and, based on the plot line, this would be a 5-star read.
The execution, though, was a little bit clunky at times for me. It took quite a while to get started, cruised along in the middle, then slowed down a bit too much at the end. I was confused when I got to the resolution and still had so many pages left to read…turns out, the resolution is a little belabored. I also didn’t really understand why we had to have so much backstory about the author who wrote the children’s book, and couldn’t get over the overly perfect way it all has to come together to make sense.
Overall a book I enjoyed, but could have enjoyed more.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Please Come to Boston by Gary Goldstein
I’ve been reading Gary Goldstein’s books since I was sent his first (The Last Birthday Party) by a local publisher. Please Come to Boston is his third novel, and it’s a coming-of-age story about a guy who leaves home for college, moves into the dorms, and discovers he has more feelings for men than he really noticed (or let himself notice) before. I’ll write a full review of this one soon!
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (Audiobook)
What a perfect book to listen to as we enter spooky month! I’m usually not someone who likes this kind of book at all. Horror? No thanks. Dark and creepy? Ehhh not so much. Fantasy? Well, on occasion I guess.
For some reason, though, I was thoroughly entertained by Starling House. The narrator was great, I’d definitely choose a book she’s narrated again. It wasn’t the most amazing piece of fiction I’ve ever listened to, but it was really entertaining and got pretty climactic at the end.
I was surprised when I looked at the reviews after I finished it and found that it was under 4 stars total on Goodreads. I do also think there were a few pacing issues (many of the reviews mentioned it), but nothing too detrimental. Some people were also disappointed by the relative tameness of the gothic/horror elements. Which is…probably why I actually liked it! Hahaha.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Molly
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Blending time travel, romantic comedy, and spy thriller elements sounds ridiculous, but it totally worked in this unique and unexpected story about a translator who becomes the cultural guide to a nineteenth-century arctic explorer. Endearing and morally ambiguous characters bring the tale to life — I couldn’t put it down!
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
This modern classic of a dystopian follows a young woman as she comes of age in a society on the brink of collapse. Ravaged by climate change, Lauren navigates thieves, murderers, and cannibals as she gathers a community of migrants around her and travels North in search of a better life.
This book has been held up with the likes of 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, and I had very high expectations for it. Overall, it was good, but very bleak.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Delightfully mind-bending in its structure, this novel is an exploration of power dynamics, memory, consent, and all kinds of relationships. Centered around the theater program at a performing arts high school, the plot spans more than three decades as the repercussions of one teacher’s interference in his students’ summer love affair shape the lives of not only Sarah and David, but those around them.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Renee
Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
Hazel is back in the town where she grew up, Mirror Lake, for her father’s funeral. Abandoned by her mom at the age of 14, Hazel has no one left now except her brothers, with whom she has a somewhat strained relationship.
A drought is scorching the town and the disappearing lake starts to give up its secrets. Suddenly, everything Hazel thought she knew about her family is turned upside down. She doesn’t know who to trust. Tensions only mount as her father’s will leaves them with more questions than answers.
This was an engaging read about family and the secrets they keep to protect each other — even when protecting one means hurting another, and that a shared house and upbringing isn’t always the same as shared blood.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
Once Upon a Tome is a memoir about the author’s life as an antique and rare book dealer at Sotheran’s in London.
The narrative voice is wonderful as the author humorously describes the kinds of customers they see, the state of their (now former) building (they moved in April), and how he came to be an apprentice to the antiquarian book trade. It’s often funny, but you need to get through the long sentences. Those often reminded me of reading an old book, but not in a completely unwelcome way.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
A husband and wife go away for a weekend to a remote converted chapel for their anniversary to rekindle their relationship. A blizzard leaves them stranded and strange things start to happen. They’re certain they aren’t alone. Someone is watching them, knows them, and is playing right to their weaknesses.
Alice Feeney is so good with an unreliable narrator. I’m usually good at predicting a twist but I never saw this one coming. I had to rewind the audiobook and listen to the same part again to be sure I heard it correctly. It definitely made being stuck in traffic more fun.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Green Grow the Tresses-o by Stanley Hyland
My friends gave me this book as a gift, which is how I came to read this detective fiction novel (that was never published in the USA) from 1965.
It’s the mid-60s in Great Britain and Gina Mazzoni’s body has been found in a vat of green dye at the textile mill where she worked spinning wool. The book takes place over the span of a few days in which the detectives and police are working to solve her murder.
The investigation went a bit over my head at times, but not to the point where I couldn’t understand what was going on. It was a fun change of pace.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (Translated by Shanna Tan)
Yeongju opens the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop as a way to make ends meet and to do a hard reset on her life. In the beginning, we only hear about her. Then we meet Minchun, whom she hires to work at the cafe in her bookshop.
One by one, we meet new characters as they layer into the story of her bookshop, which grows increasingly more popular as the book goes on.
All of the characters add something to the story, but at its core, it’s really about places that are special to us and the kind of community we find there. The bookstore thrives because so many people find something there that they’re missing elsewhere. They become invested in it.
This was such a sweet, cozy read. Translations can be tough because sometimes the story gets lost, but Shanna Tan knocked it out of the park with this one. It’s very character-driven and so it can be a little slow at times, but it leaves you feeling like you’re among friends.
Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
That’s our list! What did you read in September?
1 comment
Seattle is on my bucket list! Great reason to move around your schedule. Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop Sounds like something I might put on my TBR if I kept such a thing.