October Overview
October 31, 2012 11 Comments
I read an average amount of books in October. Some were great, some a bit less. I wonder if I’m getting a bit easier annoyed with books that aren’t quite to my liking? Because I’ve read so many books, I now only want the best of the best? It’s possible. When choosing books, for review, from the library, from the book shop, I already try to be very discerning. For a while, I would only accept/borrow/buy books that I’d expect to be a 4 or 5 star read. I think I have to be even more strict and only go for books that seem a resounding 5 stars (pre-reading, of course, any book can be disappointing).
Books that stood out:
I really enjoyed Strangers on the 16:02 by Priya Basil. It’s ony a short novel, 100 pages. I loved her previous The Obscure Logic of the Heart. Forgotten and Charlotte Street are chick-lit and lad-lit, respectively, which I also enjoyed. I also read a Dutch thriller, Tweestrijd that was really good.
This is what I read
Click on the blue links to go to the review
Strangers on the 16:02 by Priya Basil. Contemporary fiction. 5 stars
Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie. Contemporary fiction. 4.5 stars
Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace. Contemporary fiction.4.5 stars
Round House by Louise Erdrich. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Historical fiction. 4 stars
Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars
Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars
The Heart Broke In by James Meek. Contemporary fiction. 3.5 stars
The River King by Alice Hoffman. Contemporary fiction. 3.5 stars
***
Dutch blog:
Tweestrijd [Duel] by Linda Jansma. Thriller. 4.5 stars
The Mystery of Mercy Close [Ben je gek] by Marian Keyes. Contemporary fiction. 4 stars
The Housemaid’s Daughter [De kleur van haar hart] by Barbara Mutch. Historical fiction. 4 stars
The Information Diet [Infominderen] by Clay A. Johnson. Non-fiction. 3.5 stars
Corpus Delicti by Julia Zeh (did not finish)
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Reviews of books I read before October
A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers. 5 stars
My Legendary Girlfriend by Mike Gayle. 5 stars
The Treatment by Mo Hayder. 5 stars
The Miracle Inspector by Helen Smith. 4.5 stars
Ghostwritten by David Mitchell (DNF)
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What was YOUR favorite book in October?
We spend so much time reading at the expense of other things that although we enjoy it we’re going to get annoyed sooner. It’s good to be discerning from the outset
My favourite book, that I finished, was Exactly Where They’d Fall by Laura Rae Amos.
I saw your review on that, Charlie. Sounds good!
I don’t get annoyed if the book is less than outstanding, I can generally find something to appreciate in the story–but I’m not a very discerning reader. I used to finish even the baaaaaad books, but now there are too many good books waiting! If my attention isn’t captured by page 50-I’m done with it!
The last two books that I read that were fantastic were The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society and The Night Circus.
June, I used to finish books that I didn’t really like, but these days I have an abundance of books on my to-read shelves, and I think *Why bother?* So, I give up on books sometimes these days.
I very much enjoyed the *(Blabla) Potato Peel Pie Society* and I LOVED *The Night Circus*!
I’m getting harder to please. The more books I read, the harder it is to find something original/captivating. I can’t even finish 80% of the books I start now. It is quite annoying so I feel your pain!
Jackie, yes, I’ve noticed you abandon a lot of books. Do you think we’re spoiled (ruined, corrupted) by all the reading? It’s such a shame! Maybe we’ll have to read 25 romance novels before we appreciate something other than that again?
I was only able to read a couple books in October, but far and above the rest I read was “A Fine Balance” by Rohinton Mistry. I know it’s not a new book, but I hadn’t read it before. Beautiful and heartbreaking.
Kristin, I’ve heard such good things about *A Fine Balance*. It’s definitely a book I want to read. Good to get another confirmation that it’s so good.
Oh, you must! It is grim, no doubt—not a feel-good story. But worth every moment, finds light in the bleakest darkness, unlikely friendship, courage, persistence. I’m going to write up my review on my blog this week.
I’ll look out for it, Kristin. I expected something a little more uplifting, indeed!
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