September Wrap Up (I am Book Dragon Hear me Roar)
Hello, my lovely dragons!
It is the last day of September as I write this and so it is time to do a wrap up once again. I do not know where the month has gone. I am once again behind on everything because that is just my state of being now. It’s fine. I’ll catch up when I die.
The month of September was a good reading month for me. I read pretty much everything I set out to read. I did not finish Winds of War by Herman Wouk. I honestly did not think I would finish it. I put it off until the end of September and that book is 900 pages. It is also… not very good so far. I’m hoping I get pulled in eventually and that the misogyny stops. Well, at least it lessens. Or something.
I also started school (yay) and learning over zoom (boo) is the worst thing but I am dealing with it because so is everyone else. I shouldn’t complain when I am not special. But it feels so good to whine about my frustrations. I submitted my first piece for the workshop yesterday so hopefully, I will have feedback for that soon. I can’t wait.
Now let’s move into what I read in September.
Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin- I started the month off with a bang. I just love this series so much. I don’t know what it is about it that speaks to me but it does. It was torture waiting for the release of this book, but waiting for the release of the final book in the trilogy will be even worse. I don’t know how I will survive until next September.
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab- This was so much fun. I already did a review for this one in one of my mini book review posts. It was great to go back to Scotland and explore more of its creepy history. Edinburgh just holds so much history that it’s asking for books to be set there.
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer- well I read it. I got very angry. I had pages upon pages of angry notes. I have a mini-review up. Go check that out. But either way, the book was read.
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager- This was good. There were some definite creepy moments. I had a lot of questions about human nature when reading this one. I did not like the narrator. I liked the sections of a book within a book much better. Again the mini-review is up for this one.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown- this was a reread. I read it two years ago, and never picked up the rest of the series. Because I like to do stupid things. I am trying to remedy my mistakes this year. This was good. The complexities of the characters are fantastic. I was not sure what was going to happen next from page to page. It’s a science fiction book, that reads a lot like fantasy. It is honestly so good.
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson- I needed that laugh in my life. I am so glad I picked this one again. The humor was very much my speed. I forgot how good this was. I want to be that old man when I get to that age. The mini= review is up for this one as well.
The Whisper Man by Alex North- talk about creepy. I have imaginary children singing creepy songs to me in my sleep now. I was not expecting that side effect. I couldn’t put this book down. It was a great fall read that I highly recommend if you want to have imaginary children signing creepy nursery rhymes to you.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas- I forgot how good these books were. Whatever critique Sarah J Maas gets there is no denying that she is an amazing storyteller. I also think a good chunk of that critique is undeserved. But that’s just my opinion. I am officially in full swing of this series again and plan on continuing with it.
Eldest by Christopher Paolini- okay but dragons. I need dragons in my life. This series holds me off while I wait for my real life dragon to show up. So much happens in this book. A review is to come but as I said, I am very behind.
Frostbite by Richelle Mead- The covers of these books do not showcase how good they are inside. This series deserves new epic covers. I am putting this out into the universe with the hope that someone hears me and does this little thing for me. Please do it for me.
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa- I wanted to love this but instead I just liked it. The story was fast-paced, and the world was expended. But if you read my mini-review you know what gripe I had with this book. And you know I just couldn’t let it go. I still plan on reading more books by the author as she is a great writer, this book is just very… the early 2010s. The previous ones in the series were better in my opinion.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab- This is another one I need to do a review for. I am going to blame the migraines I got over September for putting me behind. I am sticking to that story. This was another great read for September. For the most part, we are hitting it out of the park so far.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo- This one was read for school. My professor is harsh and twisted my arm so far out of my comfort zone. By which I mean she picked great books for us to read for class and it doesn’t feel like an assignment to discuss them. If you are looking for a great novel in verse I recommend this one.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- the book has been read, ladies and gentlemen, and assorted others. I have been meaning to read it for so long it almost feels unreal now that I have read it. This I another one I want to do a full review for. you know even if I loved it that does not mean I don’t have a critique to share.
Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray- Oh my god this series is so good. Why are people not reading this series? Go read it. It is amazing. Everything about it speaks to my soul. And it’s perfect for fall. Another one waiting for a full review.
Obsidio by Kaufman and Kristoff- I am too lazy to type their first names as well. This is a lot to type. This book made me cry. I mean I don’t know what else to tell you without spoiling you. I will do a full review with spoilers. Hopefully soon.
Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee- Another creepy one for the records. I was pleasantly surprised just how scary this was. It confirmed many of my irrational fears. I will do a full review for this one too I think. I liked it a lot, but have not yet tipped into love. I do love that cover.
The Night Swim by Megan Goldin- this was such a pleasant surprise. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would love it but in the end, I loved it. This I a heavy book. But it does so many great things. It was scary in a far more insidious real-life way. This book is so relevant that it is terrifying to think about.
Okay Dragons, this is it. These are all the books I have read in September. I feel so accomplished looking back over the list. I feel so stressed seeing how many I want to write full reviews for. How do some people write a book review a day? Someone explain to me this mystery. Either way, I will do my best to write reviews for all of them as soon as I possibly can. I have resorted to doing a spreadsheet. I have not made a spreadsheet before. I always used my planner. Here’s hoping the spreadsheet scares me more. I am also banned from Netflix, except for The Great British Baking Show on Fridays. I and my friend have a ritual. This Friday we plan to make lemon cupcakes. I deserve cupcakes.
Thank you for sticking with me, and see you next time.
Anna
