October has flown by – and I have today arrived home from a week’s self-catering in Devon with my mum – we’re in a bubble. It was wonderful to get out of Birmingham for a little while and to see the sea. Though it is also nice to get home and be on my own again, and I am looking forward to my own bed tonight. My reading continues to be a little slow, though I sped up a little last week, just eight books read this month. While the numbers might not be huge – what I read was very good indeed.
I began the month reading The Last Resort by Pamela Hansford Johnson for Simon and Karen’s 1956 club. She is definitely an underrated writer – and I really enjoyed this complex, subtle novel. I have just bought another of her books to read soon.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid was my book group’s choice for October – and it proved a really good book to discuss. A thought provoking, compelling read into the bargain.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman a much anticipated debut – and it is such an enjoyable witty novel – quite deserving of all the hype. I loved the fact that the main characters are mainly older people.
From the British Library Women Writers series Tea is so Intoxicating by Mary Essex was a novel that was right up my reading alley. When David Tompkins decides to open a tea garden in his village not everyone is happy – including his wife.
I finally got around to reading The Finishing School by Muriel Spark, her final novel, which I bought for my Muriel Spark year of reading in 2018. It is sharp, witty and brings us full circle – showing her still at the height of her powers.
Clash by Ellen Wilkinson is a novel I have been wanting to read for ages – and when I plucked it from the shelf I knew instantly I would love it. Review still to come. A novel about the General Strike of 1926, trade union activism and the labour movement – I found it enthralling.
Barn 8 by Deb Olin Unferth is my book group’s November read which I decided to get on with before November’s reading challenges got in the way. I found it a really good, often unusual read about chickens, animal rights activists and their attempted audacious heist.
As I am writing I am finishing off Rhododendron Pie by Margaery Sharp, Margery Sharp’s first novel famously difficult and expensive to find is being re-issued by the lovely Dean Street Press in January. They kindly sent me two e-books for review – and I’m afraid I just couldn’t wait to read this one – and I have to say I have enjoyed it very much.
So that was October – and now I am looking ahead to November. In November there are all kinds of reading challenges that can help distract us from everything else that is going on. November is MARM (Margaret Atwood reading month), Novellas in November, Non-fiction November and German Lit month. Phew!!
I am hoping to join in some if not all of these – not sure if I have anything German. However, I do have some Margaret Atwood set aside – and loads of novellas. So, Novellas in November is the challenge I am concentrating on – it is hosted by Bookish Beck and Cathy at 746 books. I may just manage to read more physical books if they are small. Looking through the pile I hastily got together I can see a few non-fiction titles of novella size too – ticking off two challenges. Similarly, I think I have decided to re-read Surfacing by Margaret Atwood – I can barely remember a thing about it – and its size make it perfect for Novellas in November. I am nothing though, if not a fickle reader, so I may not just read novellas – though I do have a fabulous selection to choose from.
What did you read in October? Are you joining in with any of these reading events?
heavenali 
Novella lovers are spoilt for choice these days with Madame Bibi’s novella-a-day in May and Novella November. I’m expecting to be making lots of additions to my list.
I will have a hard time deciding which one to start with.
I really enjoyed Rhododendron Pie so great to hear you like it too! How lovely it will be to own a copy when it’s released in the new year (I was able to read it because miraculously, my library had a copy).
My reading is so sluggish at the moment, I’m impressed with your eight books, even if it’s much less than you’d normally read 🙂
Yes, I am trying to focus on quality rather than quantity though novellas I’m November could help with that too.
What excellent reads you’ve had – and I’m very glad you enjoyed Clash, too, after I loved it!
I don’t appear to have anything novella length apart from a little book by June Sarpong about how to be an ally – not sure if that counts. But I’m doing AusLitMonth with my one Australia book from the last few years and also non-fiction November – I’ve been prewriting the themed posts for it today in a shock organised move! Happy reading in November!
Clash was brilliant. I don’t think I realised that AusLitMonth was now as well. What a lot of challenges.
So glad you had a lovely break, Ali and very pleased you loved Clash – I thought it was marvellous too! You’ve had a good month’s reading and lots of those lovely novellas look very appealing. Whatever you read, I’m sure it will be marvellous!
It was good to get away. Mainly rested and watched the sea. Looking forward to reading some novellas.
Enjoy Ali! I loved Surfacing too but could probably do with rereading it!
I started re-reading Surfacing this morning, not got far but love it already. Sunday is blog post writing day so might not get back to it for a few hours.
My, what a busy reading month you’ve had (even if it’s below your usual numbers) and what great books you’ve enjoyed. Atwood is one of my lont-time favorites but, like you, I read Surfacing so long ago I barely remember any of the details. Time for some Atwood re-reads, perhaps? Despite some initial misgivings, this is also a year where I’m really starting to enjoy shorter works, like novellas and short stories. Last summer I was almost unable to read any thing longer than 100 pages or so and novellas pulled me through; the novella challenge sounds like something that’s just right for these times.
Definitely, novellas and short stories are perfect for these times, I’m surprised I haven’t read more of them during the last few months.
So fortunate you were able to get away for that week – it will help sustain you through the lockdown weeks coming up. I know you’ll be working but everything around you will feel strained
Oh yes it was wonderful to get away. I think the next few weeks at work will be tough, so glad I have some good books to distract me.
You know there will always be plenty of sympathy in the book blogosphere when you need it 🙂
I know, thank you.
I’m so glad you were able to get away with your mum for a week. It sounds like you had a really lovely break before the latest round of restrictions begin to kick in. Lots of great reading too. You’ve certainly put that Muriel Spark on my radar, for which I am very grateful!
It was good to see the sea everyday for a week. So glad you like the sound of the Muriel Spark, I would be interested in your thoughts on it.
Rhododendron Pie is such a happy title it’s got to be good!
It was really good, and a nice easy read. I am holding back my review for a few weeks.
I hope you had a lovely time away with your mum in Devon and eight books still sounds pretty impressive to me, as I only finished two books! You have a stack of novellas to choose from there, so happy novella reading! I am also looking forward to taking part in Novellas in November and Nonfiction November. 👋📚😃
Thank you, we did. It was just what I needed. I have so many great looking novellas, I want to read them all, but clearly won’t manage that. Happy reading to you too.
Thank you 😊
Your reading month sounds lovely. And it must have been just wonderful to see the sea again. (Suddenly feeling like I’m caught in a spelling tutorial!) It’s a two-hour walk to see the lake for us; that could be shortened by taking public transit but the provincial government is not covering costs that would enable travellers to socially distance themselves while travelling, (by having more vehicles running) so the lake will likely have to wait. On the right day, a walk would be fine, if long, but there are a couple of places between here and there that one can’t socially distance through either. Then again, we do have a park nearby and can enjoy that, whereas so many living in highrises and tighter quarters have much more to concern themselves with.
I sympathise over the difficulties with public transport, so hard these days to know what is safe. The lake will still be there next year. I was so grateful to see the sea though.