September has been a bit of a strain in one way and another – so much so that my reading and blogging has taken a bit of hit. The other day I was having a moan on Twitter (like we all seem to do these days) convinced that I had hardly written any blog posts this month – well things haven’t been that bad. I think the month felt so long – endlessly long and exhausting – that it made me feel as if I had read and blogged even less than I have. A perusal over the weekend showed me I really hadn’t done too badly. I’m hoping to do better in October – but we’ll see.
I read eight books in September – I’ve started another but that can go into next month’s pile. A nice collection of books in the end – most of which have gone toward taking me to seventy-seven years done in my A Century of Books.
Summer’s Day by Mary Bell – really got the month off to a great start, a much better novel than I had expected, Summer’s Day is a school story for adults. Bell’s characters are so well drawn, and the stories she weaves around the staff and pupils, compelling.
Loitering with intent by Muriel Spark is now firmly placed in my list of top five Spark novels. Published at a time when Muriel Spark’s writing career was already well established, Loitering with Intent is a novel about writing. It is a wonderful novel, reminding me somehow of Momento Mori maybe as it’s packed with eccentric characters.
Told by an Idiot by Rose Macaulay is the second novel by Rose Macaulay I have read this year, and the third overall. It prompted me to buy two more from ebay (quite good for second hand books). The novel charts the ever changing social, political and religious fortunes of England from the 1870s to the 1920s through the eyes of one family.
Dear Austen by Nina Bawden is a poignant work of memoir. A letter to her beloved late husband, Austen Kark, who was killed in the Potter’s Bar rail crash in 2002.
A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif – is an entertaining dark satire of Pakistani militarism and religious piety, it is a reimagining of the events surrounding the plane crash which killed dictator General Zia in 1988.
The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer was a stunning novel I thought. Only the second Mortimer novel I’ve read, The Pumpkin Eater is novel about the pitfalls of marriage and motherhood, Mortimer’s simple prose is wonderfully immersive, dreamy and intimate.
Pirates at Play by Violet Trefusis – the only Trefusis I have read aside from her letters to Vita. While I didn’t fully engage with the author’s voice in this one, it is a well written, entertaining romantic comedy with a good sense of place.
The Cheltenham Square Murder by John Bude was my last full read of September chosen simply because I needed a vintage mystery fix – my go to genre when I over tired and struggling. I enjoyed the mystery – not too demanding but just puzzling enough to keep the reader guessing – having changed my mind once or twice I did settle on the correct culprit in the end.
So now it’s October, and I am looking forward to reading more titles for my A Century of Books, but apart from that I have no specific reading plans. My book group will be reading Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie – but I read it last year, so I might move straight on to our November read soon instead, Vox by Christina Dalcher, which certainly sounds interesting.
Those of you who love old books and books by women might be interested in The Second Shelf – they are launching soon, and I have pre-ordered their first quarterly. Follow them on Twitter if you’re not already.
This weekend is the annual UK bookcrossing convention in sunny Ipswich, never actually been there before. I shall have the temptation of lots of books I can take away for free. Not to mention catching up with bookish friends, and two nights (with brekkie) in a Premier Inn, that’s a good weekend. Knowing what my tbr is like – I have every intention of being good when it comes to picking up books. 😊 I have seen a few people on Twitter talking about a book called The Lingering – not sure if it’s a me book or not – but the author S J I Holliday is one of the speakers at the event, so I shall make sure I catch her talk.
So, there we are – October is proper autumn isn’t it? – time to light candles and get the slippers out. Happy reading to you all. Tell me, what brilliant things did you read in September?
heavenali 
I’ve heard good things about The Lingering Ali, sounds interesting. I hope to read Loitering with Intent this month – I loved Memento Mori!
Oh excellent so glad you’re going to read Loitering with Intent. Hope you love it too.
I think you did pretty well in September, Ali! I found it a swine of a month and although there were a good few posts on my blog, they were very much scheduled in advance because I knew it would be a hard one. I’m hoping that October will be less manic (don’t hold your breath..) – although we do have the 1944 Club coming up! 🙂
Hope October is better for us both. I had forgotten all about the 1944 club, a year I have done, but I might be able to squeeze one in.
I felt September just whizzed by, but the results are the same: Not enough reading and reviewing.
I think that’s always the problem, we are never happy we always want more reading and blogging time.
If it makes you feel better, I didn’t post once in September! I’ve had a terrible reading/blogging slump since mid-August so I think you’re doing well – wishing you a much easier October 🙂
Oh gosh, yes I hadn’t seen any of your posts for a while. Really hope October is good for you too.
The beginning of a new school year is always stressful. I always got to the end of the first week and had hysterics because I was convinced I could no longer do the job. It happened with such regularity that the first couple of years after I retired I almost missed it. Remember, it’s only a few weeks now until half term.
Yes, thank you. I can’t wait for half term.😊
I had the same sort of month (and only six books read) but I’m hoping October will be better. I’m glad you liked Loitering With Intent and I agree it’s one of Spark’s best. I’m interested in the Bawden and the Macaulay titles, based on your reviews. I discovered a wonderful new-to-me author this month, Thea Astley, and loved her A Descant of Gossips. I’m currently reading her Coda. You might like her, too, Ali. The other great book I read this month was a volume of William Trevor short stories, After Rain.
Thanks Grier, I am looking up Thea Astley thanks for the recommendation. I would also be interested the William Trevor stories. I hope October is better for both of us. Happy reading.
I only read six books in September although I’m near the end of two more. Not sure how that happened, really, to be honest! Some were quite tough non-fiction which is a slower kind of read, isn’t it. Hope you enjoy the Uncon and I’ll look forward to hearing all about it!
Thank you looking forward to Uncon and catching up with people. I think Non fiction always takes longer to read I think.
I hope October will be easier on you, Ali. I’ve noticed The Lingering popping up on Twitter, too. I’ll be interested to see if you decide to read it.
Thank you. Yes I will have to have a look at that one and decide if it’s a me book or not.
Hope it wasn’t your medical problem flaring up again.
I read the Bude last year and it was fine, not hung too demanding but I wasn’t as clever as you so only guessed the culprit about 20 pages before the revelation…..
No no major flare ups, little niggles but that’s normal. Just busy and exhausted. I didn’t guess the culprit that early, and I kept changing my mind.
well thats good to hear Ali, seems like the medication has it under control for you
Sounds like a decent month overall, but September is always a challenge. It seems such a quick, stark return to the race, coming directly after sleepy August as it does. My September was filled partly with backlisted reading and the beginning of my Giller Prize longlist reading, a good combo but, like you, I have bigger hopes for October! (Thanks for mentioning Second Shelf: it sounds great!)
I think you’re right about that stark return to normality as summer ends. It feels brutal.
Summer, Loitering and Pumpkin–going straight to my to-read list! Thank you!
Ooh excellent glad to hear I have been able to influence you.
🙂
Ali, I had a really busy September, especially as I started my new job. So much so my reading and blogging did take a hit. Now I am all settled in at work, hopefully my reading numbers will go back up. Happy October reading to you too! 🙂
Thank you. Glad to hear you’re settled into your new job. I hope October is good for you as well.
Thank you 🙂
Sorry to be so late posting.Interesting to read all your comments about finding the time to read. My September started with a sort -of – walking holiday in the Lakes which reduced time for reading but I finished the delightful and often rich in social commentary Solitary Summer and embarked on the Persephone Readathon: Miss Ranskill Comes Home, Diary of A Provincial Lady and The Far Cry. Loved them all for their literary strengths and the joy of turning pages of such lovely paper. Ordered some more titles from the library.October shaping up well so far! More next month.
Oh wow, your September reading sounds amazing. Persephone books are such a treat to read. When I finish ACOB I might just decide to read two or three in a row.
[…] you to HeavenAli for making me search for the author’s novel, Pumpkin Eater, which led me to taking this book […]