Bryanna’s October Reading Wrap- Up
As some of you know, at the end of October, I left on a very special trip.
I travelled to Peru with my mom for a 10 day yoga retreat, during which I had a lot of rest and relaxation, but I also became totally immersed in the Peruvian culture. We traveled around a lot visiting various cities, towns and villages. And of course we went to Machu Picchu. I had an amazing, life- changing time and came back with a lot of experiences that I will never forget. The Peruvians are really like nobody else, and I will always be grateful to them.
That being said, I think we can all look forward to me branching out and reading some Peruvian authors. I got a lot of recommendations!
So, without further ado, here is my reading list from October. Because of Victober, is quite Victorian heavy, but there’s a little something for everyone if you’re looking for a new read!
Top Three: (These were really hard to pick this month as I had a lot of 5 star reads, but gun to my head, here you go…)
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville- This is a bit of a cheat as I have not finished the book yet, but I can already tell you it will be in my Top 10. What a book. I was truly not expecting to like it this much, but holy crap. The writing is impeccable. So poetic, so philosophical. It’s making me look at my place in the world in a new way, and there is one particular paragraph on death that is probably the most beautiful paragraph in the English language. I highly recommend it. But read it slowly. A couple chapters here and there. It can be a bit much. And don’t listen when people complain about the infamous whale chapters. They’re a different type of fun.
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury- This was our October read for the Horror Book Club and my God did it deliver. This was a reread for me, but I hadn’t read it since high school, so I was hoping it held up. And it does. Ray Bradbury is the master of capturing the beauty and fears of childhood. Stephen King definitely took a lot from him, but as much as I love King, Bradbury’s writing is a class of its own. It feels like reading a fever dream and I love it. A perfect spooky season read for the cold months ahead.
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton- This was another book club pick, for the general fiction club, and it also did not disappoint. I love Edith Wharton in general, and this was such a detour from her usual subject matter. She takes you away from the upper class parlours of New York and drops you in New England in the winter. A bleak story for a bleak time of year. I really recommend this if you need a short read for the winter months.
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens- The journey continues. Still love it. 5/5. In stock!
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James- A classic ghost story by the master of long winded sentences and eerie atmospheres. 5/5 stars. In stock!
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood- If you have not read Caroline Blackwood, do yourself a favour and grab anything she’s written. I’ve only read this one so far but loved it. For fans of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith. 5/5 stars. In stock!
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- Another classic Gothic tale by one of the greats. My dad just recently started getting into him, and likened his writing to jazz. I love that. 5/5 stars. In stock!
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens- This was a contender for Top 3. Don’t be fooled by the musical- this is a dark, dark story and the ending will stay with me forever. 5/5 stars. In stock!
The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi- If The Thursday Murder Club wasn’t dark enough for you, try this one. I love this man’s writing. If you love horror that’s actually well written and thought provoking, read him. He also wrote The Boys in the Valley, and I will always recommend that one. 4/5 stars.
Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë- I didn’t like this as much as The Tenant of Wildfell Hall but it’s a good, solid Victorian read. And it’s short. If you’re ever worked as an au pair or nanny to a horrible family though, be warned. This will bring up your PTSD. 4/5 stars. In stock!
Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim- Really enjoyed this one. Her writing is really witty and I laughed out loud quite a few times. Her observations on life and what it means to be a mother during this time are really interesting, even to someone who doesn’t have children. However, I still understand the innate need for a room of one’s own, or in this case a garden, and I understand the “wolves of duty” knocking at my door (loosely paraphrasing). 4/5 stars.
Found in the Street by Patricia Highsmith- This was my first Highsmith, and don’t come at me, but not super motivated to read more. Maybe I just picked up a bad one? Highsmith experts, help! It was fine. I wanted to read it through the end, and the writing is good. Just not for me I guess. 3/5 stars.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson- I picked this up based on a customer’s recommendation and had no regrets. I think he says some things that are a bit outdated, and his characterisation of women is not always… great. But, he still made me laugh and I appreciate hiking in a new whole sense now. Not to mention, I went and bought about 4 more of his books. He’s great if you need a light, funny read, but also want to learn something. 4/5 stars. In stock!
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton- Yes, I just read this now, and to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t think I’ve seen the movie all the way through. There. Now you all know my deepest, darkest secret. That being said, I freaking loved this book. Even if you’ve seen the movie, read the book. It’s too much fun. 5/5 stars. In stock!