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October 2017 Book Report (And a Look to My Nonfiction November TBR)

Whew, October. It was a big, busy month that seemed like it flew past me with great speed. Thinking about Nonfiction November must have gotten me excited, because a good chunk of my reading this month was already nonfiction. I kicked off October with three great true stories, and managed to finish plenty during the Readathon as well. Here’s what I read last month:

  1. Nomadland by Jessica Bruder (nonfiction)
  2. The Family Gene by Joselin Linder (memoir)
  3. Reset by Ellen Pao (memoir)
  4. What It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky by Lesley Nneka Ariman (short stories)
  5. A Moonless, Starless Sky by Alexis Okeowo (nonfiction)
  6. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer (nonfiction)
  7. Lumberjanes, Volume 3: A Terrible Plan by Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Brooke Allen (comics)
  8. Lumberjanes, Volume 4: Out of Time by Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, and Brooke Allen (comics)
  9. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (fiction)
  10. After the Eclipse by Sarah Perry (memoir)

I am hard-pressed to pick a favorite — they were all great reads. The only book that felt disappointing was The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu, but that was mostly because I was expecting a sort of rompy heist book, and it was instead a pretty serious look at the rise of Islamic extremism in Africa. Important, but just not quite what I was expecting. Someday I will get back in the practice of writing book reviews… this is just not that day.

A Look to November

Just as November was kicking off, two fiction books I’ve been on hold for at the library FOREVER came in… so I’ll probably be making time to read Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid this month. But other than that, my entire TBR is nonfiction! Here’s what’s in the queue:

  • The Return by Hisham Matar — I need to finish this one up before my book club meeting this weekend, so it’s top of the list.
  • Reading With Patrick by Michelle Kuo — I just got a notification this memoir about “a teacher, a student, and a life-changing friendship” came in for me at the library, so it’s top of the list too.
  • Code Girls by Liza Mundy — There no excuse for the fact that I stalled out half way through this book… it’s really good, I just stopped. So, I’m going to finish!
  • Bunk by Kevin Young — Graywolf Press nonfiction is so great. I am all in for a book on the history of hoaxes, alternative facts, and fake news.
  • Spineless by Juli Berwald — This is a book about jellyfish!
  • Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud by Anne Helen Petersen — How many times do I have to say I am going to read this book about unruly women before I actually finish it. Only time will tell…

There you have it, a peek back at my October reading and a peek ahead to what I’m hoping to finish in November. If I can keep myself from wasting time on social media on my phone, I think it will be a great month of reading.

What books are you excited about in November?

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Sarah's Book Shelves November 3, 2017, 6:12 am

    I just read 7 Husbands and loved it! It’s light reading, but has depth and is very well done.

    I also just started After the Eclipse…sounds like you liked it?

  • bermudaonion (Kathy) November 3, 2017, 8:26 am

    Reading with Patrick is at the top of my wish list. The last time I checked it was on order at our library.

  • iliana November 3, 2017, 3:54 pm

    Oh you had a great reading month! And, your new book stack looks very promising. I hope these turn out to be great reads. I’m really curious about Code Girls!

  • Vasilly November 3, 2017, 9:07 pm

    Reading with Patrick is such a good book! I read it a few months ago and it’s definitely a book that I’ll reread in the future. Happy reading.

  • Jenny @ Reading the End November 5, 2017, 2:21 pm

    I’m really excited for Bluebird Bluebird! I love Attica Locke, and I was a little worried that she’d be too busy writing for television to do any book writing going forward. But hooray, that is not the case! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it. I have it checked out too and am excited to read it.

  • Julie @ Smiling Shelves November 5, 2017, 3:00 pm

    Code Girls and Reading with Patrick both sound really good. I’m not officially participating in Nonfiction November this year, but I am kicking off the month with a nonfiction read. Hopefully I can sneak a couple more in there, too!

  • BuriedInPrint November 7, 2017, 1:33 pm

    Ooo, a new Attica Locke: awesome! In November I’ve got a few books gathered from the library as temptations for #nonficnov but I’m also finishing a Ruth Rendell mystery which has been on my stack for ages and Thomas King’s latest novel, The Back of the Turtle (which isn’t very new anymore – you know how that goes)!