October Wrap Up

All the books I read in October.

Somewhat belatedly due to my recent holiday, I’m here today to share my October wrap up. During the previous month, I finished a total of 10 books (4 novels, a novella, a short story collection, a graphic novel, two non-fiction books and a poetry magazine).

The real highlight amongst them was Skim, a graphic novel by cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki. It explores big themes such as self-discovery, grief, friendship and first love without ever feeling angsty or melodramatic, as is often the case with such stories. I loved how understated and quietly affecting it was.

It was a strong reading month overall however, with other great reads including Bodies of Water by V.H. Leslie, a gothic, ghostly tale; Black Sheep by Susan Hill, a dark exploration of the vice-like grip that ensnares the lower classes despite their longing for escape; One by Sarah Crossan, a novel written in verse about conjoined twins; and Someone Like You, a collection of unsettling short stories for adults by Roald Dahl that feel a world away from his more famous children’s tales.

I also enjoyed reading my first edition of The Rialto, a tri-annual poetry anthology that publishes work from much loved and new poets alike, and found Animals as Teachers and Healers – real-life testimonies about the spiritual link between man and animal – very interesting (thanks for the recommendation, Gina).

I look forward to seeing what November has in store for me in terms of books.

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What was your favourite read in October?