Here are the October covers...
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (fiction)
A Cup of Light by Nicole Mones (fiction)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (fiction)
Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott (fiction)
The Thoughtful Dresser by Linda Grant (non-fiction/memoir)
Odd One Out by Monica McInerney (fiction)
Waiting Room by Gabrielle Carey (memoir)
The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toibin (fiction)
The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble (fiction)
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (fiction)
As you can see, it was heavy on the fiction this month, but my goodness there were some powerful reads...I think that books find you, in fact I'm convinced of it, and this month two of the books dealt with dementia (Still Alice and Waiting Room), and one with ageing (Water for Elephants). I'm sure these books found their way to me to help me understand and deal with my dad's dementia diagnosis. Still Alice was especially moving, and also very instructive. The author is a neuroscientist, or was...she's now a writer...which I think is why the book is so believable, and such a sympathetic portrayal of early onset Alzheimers. She has a blog here. This book was my favourite this month, closely followed by A Cup of Light (the author's previous book The Last Chinese Chef was also wonderful) and The Blackwater Lightship. Odd One Out was a bit of fluff and I really couldn't say to you rush out and read it (to be honest I can't even remember what it was about although it was pleasant enough at the time), but all the others...yes. They weren't all easy reads but they were worthwhile. Most definitely.
I hope your reading is going well. 10 books in the 10th month...I'll be trying for 11 in November :-)
Good morning Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to read those books on dementia and ageing based on your recommendation. Now I'm not studying, I have all this spare time on my hands. Ten books a month is a feat, I must say! What do you do with your books when you're finished? Do you keep them? I'm cleaning out my books and feel a bit guilty handing them on ... it's like I owe them something for me having read them.
Hello Kerry:
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed an impressive haul of reading material and to our surprise,and shame, we can recognise but a smattering of these novels and have read none of them.
What you say about books finding you rather than the other way around does strike a chord, particularly at significant times in life. Maybe one just 'tunes' in rather more with a heightened awareness when either oneself or a close friend or family member is involved. We are sorry to learn of your father's dementia diagnosis as this is such a pernicious illness which really does affect whole families rather than being contained to the individual. We do so hope that 'Still Alice' was able to give you comfort and support.
Wow Kerry, ten books, that quite an achievement. They sound like great books. I'm currently rereading my old books as my budget is too tight but it's not as good as a new, fresh story.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear the news of your Dad's diagnosis. I wish I had some wise words for you but I don't so I'll just send you a big hug x
Good for you....you put me to shame! I was looking forward to a quiet flight to Florida reading a book I picked up at the airport only to discover that I had already read it. they had changed the cover and the description was very different....I did feel a bit foolish but my seat mate was happy when I gave it to her.
ReplyDeleteI have read Secret Life of Bees and loved it. If you want a good Canadian author try Carol Shields or Anne Marie Macdonald.
Kerry, I think this is fantastic!! I plow through one book a month. By the time I am ready to read in the evening I am so tired, I make it through 3 pages!!
ReplyDeleteLoved Secret Life Of Bees but never got around to seeing the movie, I heard it was good!
Thanks for all the recommendations!
XO,
Jane
Oh Kerry. What an astounding effort! How I look forward to having the time to read again ☺. And so sorry to hear about your Dad's diagnosis. Sending you a huge Hobart ♥ J x
ReplyDeleteWell done Kerry. I am happy to say I have read a few of those. Water for Elephants, I enjoyed despite my rather phobic thing for carnivals and circus's. Good to A Fault was ok but I wanted to give her a good talking to at one point. The bee's I have read but erased from recent memory. My favourite was Still Alice. I would love to read more by this author, thanks for the link to her blog. Hope you get lots of reading time over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteIronically, I am off to school later to set up for a book fair. We are raising money to buy more readers for the students by selling old books. I just hope I don't bring too many home with me.
Ten books! I'm incredibly impressed. I've been wanting to read Still Alice for some time...I'll have to put it next on the list. So sorry to hear about your Dad's dementia diagnosis, what a worrying time you must be having. I'm going to go and check out your other months reading now and get inspired:) Meredy xo
ReplyDeleteOh Kerry, I am so sorry to hear about your Dad.
ReplyDeleteI loved Still Alice, read it about a year ago. Monica McInerney is more my pace at the moment! Will have to find Cup of Light though.
Rereading Mary Wesley at present which I am sort of enjoying more this time around and I loved them the first! Take care xx
Wow ! You read a lot. I think that I will try one or two of them.
ReplyDeleteXX
Anci