Reading Wrap-Up: September 2023

Hello readers!

Here’s my monthly review for everything I read in September. I’ll be back again on October 15th with the TBR Pile Challenge checkpoint! In the meantime, our first contemplative read has begun. You’re welcome to join us as we read Ed Yong’s fascinating book, An Immense World this month.

P.S. According to Goodreads, I finished reading my 1500th book this month. Ain’t that something!?

Fiction

• We Are Totally Normal by Naomi (Rahul) Kanakia. A young adult novel about a teenage boy discovering his sexuality and beginning to date, etc. I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. There are a lot of complaints about the main character, which are fair, but I don’t usually dislike books just because the characters are unlikable (sometimes they’re supposed to be.) In this case, though, it’s a case of unsuccessful storytelling, in my opinion. The MC, for example, is apparently highly beloved by everyone, but readers find him completely unlikable. That means there’s a disconnect somewhere between what the author wanted to accomplish and what actually happened. Gave this one two out of five on Goodreads.
• Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King. Readers Imbibing Peril book number one. I enjoyed this one, though not what I expected. I haven’t read a lot of King’s realistic thrillers/crime stories, which this one is. I really want to read his latest, Holly, having met her in The Outsider, but I didn’t know until recently that she’s part of the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, which came before The Outsider. So, I’m reading these first. Anyway, despite not being a horror novel, like I anticipated, it’s definitely a good thriller and I enjoyed it Bill Hodges is definitely a King-type hero, very human and flawed, which I like. Four out of five on Goodreads.
• Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin. This collection of short stories is stunning, from start to finish. I’m not the kind of person to update my Goodreads progress with reading notes, but I did for this one, after every story, because it was so very good. Here was my final note: Absolute masterpiece of collected short fiction. I tend to avoid short stories and short story collections, for whatever reason (they’re too disjointed? Leave too much to be desired? Seem unfinished? Too often some are strong, and some are weak?). I have read a couple collections where every story was a gem, though, and this one joins that elite club. I’m not surprised, because Baldwin is one of my favorite writers for a reason. Still, he knocks me out. I doubt, and he comes back at me. “You’re going to doubt me again? Really? Take this….” I thought I’d always prefer Baldwin’s essays to his fiction, but now I’m sure that can’t be true. He’s just a master. And to end the collection with that story… “Going to Meet the Man.” Good god. How did he do it? How could he do what he did? Every time. Emotionally… creatively… he leaves me in awe. Five out of five.
• Finders Keepers by Stephen King. Readers Imbibing Peril book number two. I think I liked this one a bit better than Mr. Mercedes, possibly because the supernatural elements I love from King start to rear their ugly little heads in this one. It makes me eager to read the next in the trilogy, End of Watch. The premise of this one, too, about two people (one good, one evil) who both fall into a deep infatuation with the same writer, and how they respond to a great windfall treasure from that writer, is so interesting. King writes amazing stories about stories/writers. Four out of five.
• Percy Jackson & The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan. Yes! Riordan is back! This book picks up just after where the fifth book in the original series left off, so one doesn’t have to read all the other series to dive back in (though I recommend those). The main trio is back, and the quests are fun (and purposeful this time). I loved being back in this universe. So much nostalgia. Five out of five.
• Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney. Readers Imbibing Peril book number three. My last book read in the month of September, preparing me for October and spooky seasons. This is a short and beautiful coming of age story. It’s an eldritch terror tale, which is not really my thing, but I appreciated it for what it is. A boy’s grandfather comes to town, carrying a dark secret and darker agenda. Sometimes our own family is the thing to fear the most. Three out of five on Goodreads.

Non-Fiction

• Atomic Habits by James Clear. I find that self-help/personal growth books can be really hit or miss, usually trending toward the miss side, but I thought Atomic Habits was very well done. Practical advice, good breadth of topics and examples, and mostly easy to read and understand. I liked this one so much that I’m thinking of making it the required read in my Composition classes next semester. The chapters are ripe for discussion and the whole thing can be used, I think, to help students craft thoughtful and personal projects. Five out of Five on Goodreads.
• Christopher and His Kind by Christopher Isherwood. I enjoyed this one for its history and social commentary as much for its autobiography. Isherwood clears up a lot about his fiction, all of which was based on his real life, but he also provides insight into a turbulent and important time in world history. In addition, there’s frank discussion of homosexuality and prominent homosexual scientists, writers, artists, and others of the time, which is valuable information because the myth still persists that homosexuality/gay relationships are some new phenomena. Four out of Five on Goodreads.
• The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. I’m slowly working my way through Thay’s entire library. Then I’ll re-read all of it. This is one of his stronger works, and more accessible/useful to the average or lay person. Mindfulness is a buzzword that is used and misused by gurus and self-help folks, to the point that people don’t take it seriously anymore. Thich Nhat Hanh’s book is authentic and people interested in the practice of true mindfulness will get much out of this one. Five out of five on Goodreads.
• Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More than Ever by Gavin Edwards. Absolutely adored and devoured this book. Rogers is a personal hero and reminds me so much of my late Grandfather that this was a delight to read if a little bittersweet sometimes. I appreciated that the entire book is biography, but the first half is straight biography, and the second half is made up of practical steps one can take to be more like Mr. Rogers, with biographical examples given as evidence and insight. Five out of Five on Goodreads.

Poetry

• The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy, edited by John Brehm. An eclectic, holistic anthology of poems from across time and space, organized into three parts: impermanence, mindfulness, and joy. This collection knocked me out, and I think it’s got to be my new favorite anthology. I found so many new favorite poems in here, revisited many old favorites, and delighted in the beauty of thought and word repeatedly while reading this one. It’s sumptuous. Emotional. Motivating. Five out of five on Goodreads.
• frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss. Absolutely genius invention. A collection of sonnets that stand individually and that tell the story of a life. It’s an autobiographical poem of poems. Seuss has, I think, created some new sonnet forms and/or adapted the sonnet form somewhat to fit her scheme, which one might take as refreshing or blasphemous, depending on who you ask. I found it powerful and moving. Craft like this reinvigorates the entire genre. Five out of five on Goodreads.
• A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver. I think I mostly love Mary Oliver because of the way she sees the world (and her ability to express that in a way that allows us to see it her way, too.) Her poetry is philosophy. Coincidentally (or not), Mary Oliver’s Long Life is the November read for The Contemplative Reading Project.

Manga & Graphic Novels

• Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden. I read this one in August, but I don’t think it ended up in my reading wrap-up for that month. A beautifully illustrated and moving story, somewhat fantastical, but dealing with serious issues of growing up/coming of age as a victim of abuse. I gave this one three out of five on Goodreads, but I know a lot of people love it.