My Big Autumn Bookstack
“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”— Victor Hugo
For authors, "every syllable that is spelled out" is a spark to their writer's imagination.
Every year I read a mix of books, from fantasy to biography, both traditionally published and self-published, in hardcover, paperback, on Kindle, and via audiobook.
Autumn has proved to be a good time of year for reading. Since the beginning of October, I’ve added nine books to my “Read” shelf on Goodreads. Part of the reason is because I published my own book (Staked) early in the month so my reading list had been put on hold for several weeks. After that, I was eager to replenish the creative well.
My mini reviews follow. If you’re on Goodreads, please Follow or Friend me.
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Paperback. Published in 1968, this is a true fantasy classic. I wasn’t planning to read it, but I was wandering BN when I came across a copy someone had dropped where it didn’t belong. I picked it up and remembered reading about it the day before. Sometimes it’s like the book you’re meant to read next finds you instead of the other way around. I have to say that there is something truly magical about this book. The unicorn, specifically—and not only because she’s a unicorn. She’s magical in that for much of the plot, she doesn’t say or do a lot, and yet her presence is deeply felt. I liked that about the book. I also found myself worrying about her most of the time, no matter what she was doing. That’s all I’ll say, lest I ruin the magic for you. This is a nice bit of magic to start the new year with.
There There by Tommy Orange. Audiobook. November is Native American Heritage Month, and I came across several stellar reviews for this book, including the following: “A wondrous and shattering portrait of an America few of us have ever seen.” There There is a novel made up of many stories. Modern-day urban Native American stories. Twelve different characters head to the Big Oakland Powwow, and each narrates their part. A quote from the novel: “When we go to tell our stories, people think we want it to have gone different. People want to say things like ‘sore losers’ and ‘move on already,’ ‘quit playing the blame game.’ But is it a game? Only those who have lost as much as we have seen the particularly nasty slice of smile on someone who thinks they're winning when they say ‘Get over it.’” Truly eye-opening.
A Recipe from Rome by Laura Botten. E-book. A wonderful, charming debut. It was so much fun to read this story about protagonist April Appleby and the men in her life. Not only the men, but her pursuit of good food, secret ingredients, and carbohydrates in general! It was very refreshing to have a protagonist who loves pizza and all other carb-heavy indulgences. And what better place to indulge than Italy?
The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott. Audiobook. This is a complex story that takes place at the height of the Cold War and is told from several different perspectives: The women in the typing pool. The young spy in training. The older, wiser spy. The mistress of the author of Doctor Zhivago, and others. At the center lies the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world. It’s a fast-paced plot—a spy thriller, historical fiction, and romance all in one.
The Favor by Adele Griffin. Hardcover. I’ve read this book twice now, and all I can say is that it is pure reading pleasure. Adele Griffin’s writing is sprinkled with gems in the form of details, descriptions, metaphors, similes, and clever turns of phrases. When the main character and her husband have a tiff, she says, “We sit in a hard, spiky silence for the rest of the ride.” Later, she describes infant clothes as “Soft, pristine baby colors like a roll of Necco Wafers.” Amazing little nuggets like these are spread throughout the pages, and the story itself—about two friends living in two very different worlds come together—is unique and funny and very real. I loved the ending.
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison. Audiobook. Because this book is in the horror genre, I probably would not have picked it up if it weren’t for my book club (join here). I listened to the Audiobook, which was very well done. Early in my listening I found myself debating whether I could go along with this premise, but the writing itself kept me going. Harrison has a way with words, and for that reason alone I stuck with her. I liked the protagonist's sarcasm and humor, and the way she's a decent human. The more I read, the more deeply involved I became, and the more I was able to buy into what was happening.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells. Audiobook. This was my first Martha Wells book, and I enjoyed it immensely. Great writing and excellent storytelling. The narrator is a very interesting protagonist who calls himself Murderbot, a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module. Though he’s scornful of humans, Murderbot is also quite protective of them and loyal to his job. He also enjoys binge-watching a television series, something most of us can relate to. Highly entertaining.
Terra Blanca by Zoe Routh. Audiobook. This is a prequel in Routh’s Gaia series. The author is so good at creating intense situations and following through with equally tough consequences. Set in a climate-ravaged world, the plot centers on an existence where it's not only mother nature who must be feared but also the humans who struggle to survive her wrath. Terra Blanca is a man-made island community for climate refugees, where food is scarce and tempers run hot. Everyone who lives there is lucky to be its citizen, and yet that doesn't make it any easier for the people in power to make the crucial decisions that will keep the Terra Blancans safe and moving in a peaceful direction. It's a test of leadership, loyalty, and legacy.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Audiobook performed by Meryl Streep. I am a huge fan of both Patchett and Streep, so this one is a dream come true. I expected it to be wonderful, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s literary, beautiful, a book I will put on my best-ever list. Here’s the summary from Goodreads: It's spring and Lara's three grown daughters have returned to the family orchard. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the one story they've always longed to hear – of the film star with whom she shared a stage, and a romance, years before. Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.
Last, a review from Erika Hoffman, frequent guest writer for this blog:
Death by Podcasting by Landis Wade and Sarah Archer. E-book. do a podcast together called Charlotte Readers’ Podcast, where they interview authors about their publications and writerly practices. Now, Landis and Sarah have conspired to co-write a mystery, a tongue-in-cheek one, called Death by Podcasting. Cute, clever, fun, and drenched in double-entendres and stereotypical tropes regarding the practitioners of mystery writing, romance composing, and poetry musings. The reader is taken on a rollercoaster romp to figure out who murders writerly podcasters. Meet the cast: Raspy Fuse, Salty Remarks, Stacy Story, Dan the IT man, and more. Get a copy and find out whodunit at An Earful Studio.
What books did you read and love this year? Comment below!
