October Books

I read a crazy amount of books for how busy this month is.  But, three of my favorite author's came out with new books, so what was I supposed to do???

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

Listen, please trust me and just skip this book.  It was not very good and it was more than slightly graphic.  I kept reading it, hoping there would be something amazing about it.  But no.  There wasn't. I think the author means it to be a coming of age story.  I guess she does accomplish that one.  Just skip it.

That's all I have to say on that one.

A Great Reckoning

Oh, Louise Penny, you've done it again!  This is the newest book in the Inspector Gamache series, and it did NOT disappoint.  It may be my new favorite!

I don't want to give anything away.  But, I will say, if you like mysteries, you should really give this series a try.  They take place in Quebec, right over the Vermont border.  The mysteries are good, but what really makes this series is the character development.  I love the main character, Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete de Quebec, and I think you will love him too!

Also, this is a series that you really need to start at the beginning (or at least in the first four books) to understand it all.

I've Got You Under My Skin

Listen, I love me some Mary Higgins Clark.  I know she isn't an amazing author, but I enjoy her.  My grandmother first introduced me to Clark as a teenager, and I still like to keep up with her latest.

This was a fun read.  I like Clark because her mysteries are somewhat predictable but they aren't gory and there isn't sex or language...a nice cozy mystery!

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler

I had to read this for class.  It's on the DCF list, and it's a non fiction account of how teenage boys in Denmark stood up to Hitler.  

The actual story is good.  It's just told in a pretty boring way.  To be fair, I am also not a huge non- fiction fan, so that probably plays into my feelings about this book.  If you have a middle school kid who enjoys reading non fiction about wars and weapons, then hand them this book.

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd

Oh, Flavia, how I have missed you!  Flavia de Luce is a 12 year old chemistry protege living in the country side of England.  She is quirky and witty and just delightful.

This newest book is wonderful.  Flavia is back home after a one book stint in Canada, and she, of course, is immediately wrapped up in a murder.  As she says, "It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits."  Heads up, this is perhaps the saddest of Bradley's books so far.

The Trespasser

This is another book I have been anxiously awaiting!  I started reading Tana French right when her first one, In the Woods, came out in .  This is the sixth book in the series, all murder mysteries and all set in Ireland.  One fun thing is that the books all connect, but they aren't dependent on each other.  So if you wanted to pick up this novel and read it, you totally could.  I read a couple of the books out of order and it didn't affect the reading at all.

I really enjoyed the main detective in this book.  I love all of French's books, but this one is near the top of the list.  It was really good!

The Wonder

I believe this was on What Should I Read Next's fall reading list.  I haven't been able to read most of the other ones on the list, but this was at my local library.  The Wonder is by the author of Room.  I haven't read that one yet, but I did get to watch the movie and loved it.  

This book is pretty incredible.  It's about a girl in Ireland who has survived for 4 months without eating anything.  Many in her Catholic community think she is a miracle, so a committee is formed to investigate.  The committee hires two nurses to watch the girl.  The story is told by one of the nurses.  I thought it was really well written and definitely a page turner.  You should check it out!

So overall, a really great month for books!   Any suggestions for Thanksgiving and Christmas break reads?