I read 11 books in October, and overall the quality was outstanding. My major achievement this month was finally finishing 2666 by Roberto Bolaño, over 6 months after starting it. It felt like hard work at times, but now I have finished it I can appreciate how amazing this book is. I highly recommend it to anyone who can dedicate many hours to studying a lengthy piece of literary fiction.
My favourites this month
I also finished one audio book. Child 44 is the best audio book I have ever listened to, so I highly recommend you try to find a copy.
Books reviewed during October
Legend of a Suicide – David Vann 
The Island at the End of the World – Sam Taylor
Her Fearful Symmetry – Audrey Niffenegger 
I Served the King of England – Bohumil Hrabal 
The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness 
Labyrinth – Kate Mosse 
(DNF)
Audio Book
Child 44 – Tom Rob Smith (Audio Book) 
Plans for November
The great thing about November is that I have no real plans – I am just going to read whatever takes my fancy!
Have a fantasic November!
27 replies on “October Summary and Plans for November”
Looks like you have had a very good month Jackie, and I like the idea of seeing where the fancy takes you – sometimes one can make too many plans!
Verity, It is so nice to have no plans! I might do the same in December too!
Eleven books sounds really fine to me!
I read nine, and some of them were re-reads.
Dorte, I think 11 is my fewest this year, but I have read a few long ones. 9 is a good number though – it is all about the quality not the quantity though and I have had a great month quality wise – I hope you have too!
You read some great books in October. Glad to see that you really enjoyed Stone’s Fall.
Diane, I hope that you enjoy Stone’s Fall. You have added to my wishlist recently – your month was great too!
I share your feelings about Dracula. Reading never puts me to sleep but every time I picked up the book, I began to nod off. As you suggest, I think this is for vampire genre lovers. Can’t wait to get to Stone’ Fall. Enjoy that November freedom!
Frances, It is good to know I am not alone in my feelings for Dracula – at least you now have a cure for any insomnia you might have!
I hope that you enjoy Stone’s Fall if you get round to reading it! Have a great November!
A good reading month, Jackie. Can’t wait to hear about your November choices. I didn’t like Dracula either, in fact, didn’t even finish it, perhaps you do have to be into that sort of thing to enjoy it.
Kim, It is good to hear that you share my views on Dracula. I’m looking forward to random reading too. I hope you have a great November!
Ah, a free month! Bliss. That’s what I’ve sought for November and December; I have a couple of commitments (mainly library deadlines) but the freedom mainly to read at will.
Claire, I hope that you enjoy the freedom of choice too! I look forward to seeing what you decide to read.
What a phenomenal month! It is not every month when you get such great books. I am basically of the same attitude towards November and December…make a dent on the Random Reading Challenge, and read whatever draws my attention! I only have one ARC this month, and it really intrigued me because it was a true crime story. We will see how productive I’ll be with the holidays coming on!
Sandy, It is a shame that the amazing books were all in the same month – it would have been nice to spread them out a bit. Hopefully I’ll be able to find some great books in November too.
What a great month, and what a strong recommendation for Child 44 – will head over to audible and listen to a sample. I’m finally starting on the Japanese Lit Challenge this month.
JoAnn, I hope that you like the Child 44 audio clip and decide to listen to it. I’ll be readin one or two Japanese books in the next month too!
OK I think I may even tackle 2666 sometime in the future!
Samantha, It takes a lot of effort, but it is worth it in the end – good luck!
Child 44 is on my TBR pile. I will get around it this month!
Sunday Salon: October Wrap Up
gautami tripathy, I hope that you enjoy it.
I’m almost done with my reading challenges for the year so hopefully I will be doing the same as you.. being without anything planned (except for a few readalongs)!
I really am so happy you finally loved 2666 in the end! 😀
Claire – Yes, I do plan to read KL, but I don’t have much else planned.
I like your plans for November!! I just checked out the Ness book from the library, so I’ll have to read that soon. The summary of Child 44 did not click with me, but I may have to listen just because I hate to miss an excellent audio.
Beth, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Ness book and I am sure you’ll love Child 44, so I hope that you decide to listen to it.
It is good when you can read what takes your fancy. I see you have Nineteen Eighty-Four on your list, which is a fantastic book, though I do prefer Down and Out in Paris and London, there is something romantic about the life and poverty he describes or maybe it was a reflection of the place I was in at the time.
On other books I think I’ll be adding to my pile of books Her Fearful Symmetry (I loved The Time Travellers Wife) and Legend of a Suicide. I see you didn’t enjoy Labyrinth and whilst I finished it, it left me with a few questions and wasn’t the book I expected. Oh well not all books can be!
Andy, 1984 is actually my first ever re-read. I’ve just finished it and although I enjoyed it, I think it was better first time round.
Books often are, though I enjoyed and took a lot more from His Dark Materials the second time and the same with Lord of the Rings. I am reluctant to read Nineteen Eighty-Four again at the present in case it impacts and bias Deception which I am currently writing and is already influenced by it amongst other things.