Books I Read in October

Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley
I read Relish over the summer and really enjoyed it, but this book made me absolutely fall in love with Lucy Knisley! There were many parallels to my first birth story (preeclampsia and emergency cesarean), yet there is so much beyond birth and parenthood to identify with in this memoir. It may look like a book for expectant parents, but it is about so much more, namely the history of women’s sexual health and gender discrimination. I think it is recommended reading for EVERYONE - my husband would agree it's a great book, after I shoved it in his hands when I was finished. 

The Ten Thousand Doors of January of January by Alix Harrow
Well, this was a delightful book! A fun and unexpectedly romantic novel that is unlike any YA fantasy I’ve read before. In fact, I didn’t realize it was YA even while I was reading- I just happened to realize Book of the Month categorized it as such? Regardless, if you are looking for a refreshing fantasy to cozy up with this fall, I’d definitely recommend this one. 

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This alternative version of American and British politics was as fabulous as everyone said it would be - a sweet, funny, and HOPEFUL contemporary romance. I loved the ridiculously fun banter between all of the characters. It does have a strong millennial vibe, but I could appreciate all of the references. And though the general outcome is predictable, there were some satisfying payoffs in the side plots. This was a breath of fresh air kind of read!

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
Listening to this audiobook was like drinking from a fire hose of information about the troubles in Ireland and the IRA, making it difficult to focus. But, these are my ancestors and I’ve heard stories about the times, so I may be biased in my fascination and love of the Irish brogue in which it is read. The horrors of that time and the level of secrecy was astounding. It's a harrowing account, as are most recollections of how humans find ways to end up in a quagmire of hate. It also makes me want to go back and watch some of the amazing films that came out in the 90s that center around the Irish: The Crying Game (mentioned in this book), Patriot Games and In the Name of the Father - a MUST WATCH, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. 

French Milk by Lucy Knisley
After enjoying Relish and adoring Kid Gloves, I decided I should start from the beginning and work my way through all of Knisley's books. French Milk is an illustrated travelogue of her weeks long sojourn in Paris with her mother and it was very evocative of being a young twenty-something, with all of her worries about jobs and relationships while away from home. I also related to this as someone who has traveled abroad quite a few times with her mother, and I could definitely see my surly post collegiate self in Lucy!

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
This was a compulsively readable thriller! Full review here.

Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow
This one might be a little under the radar, right? Ha! Well, I finally listened to the audiobook and it's as nuts as everyone says. The lengths that Weinstein (and powerful men in general) went through to ruin all of these women's lives is unconscionable. Given that this book is getting so much buzz, and that Farrow is giving so many interviews, I felt as if I'd heard the meat of the story before I even started the book. That took away from some of the shock value, but it's such an important read, nonetheless. I also have a soft spot, as most everyone I know does, for his relationship with one of my favorite podcasters - and the epilogue is the cherry on the cake of this book. Now I must go read Kantor and Twohey's book, She Said!

The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
It's always lovely to be back in Three Pines with Inspector Gamache, though this was not my absolute favorite. There were a lot of extraneous characters that I got jumbled in my mind, and this story didn't seem as infused with emotion as the previous books. I will say that I had zero clue as to how this murder went down, and that definitely kept me going, as well as all of the dry wit of our recurring characters.