What I Read and Loved | October 2024

Eight books + a playlist

Photo by Elora Allen on Unsplash

Have you heard of people participating in Nonfiction November? Well, I did Nonfiction October. I finished eight books last month, and all the fiction titles I read were duds. Thankfully, nonfiction was the loyal friend there to save the day. This pattern wasn't intentional, but most of the nonfiction I read was about American history in some way.

Since the presidential election is in a few days, I've been thinking about history more than usual, and diving into these books reminded me why I love the subject so much. Not only do I enjoy reading about history, but I remember how important it is to be aware of our past each time I do. If you're hesitant to read nonfiction, especially books that delve into history, I hope these short reviews inspire you to try it.

Here's what I read in October!

What I Read

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson: Martha is a librarian who meets and falls in love with Alan, an unassuming man who might not be her dream partner, but he's close enough. They marry, and Martha ends up spending a lot of time at home alone since Alan, a salesman, travels a lot for work. When he returns home one night, Martha spots Alan in the driveway. He pauses and puts a smile on his face as if he has to prepare himself to re-enter life with his wife. Martha finds this odd and grows even more suspicious when she finds one of his dress shirts with a blood stain on it. Wanting to know what her husband has been up to on his trips, Martha reaches out to an old college friend, Lily, a recurring character in Swanson's books. Lily starts following Alan and is chilled by what she uncovers.

I've enjoyed many Peter Swanson books, but this one fell flat. It’s more violent than his typical books, and I quickly tired of reading the graphic scenes. I was intrigued by the story's beginning, but the plot lost its way about halfway through due to some disappointing twists. The second half of the book seemed too contrived and unbelievable. Swanson is a solid mystery writer and I'll still pick up his books in the future, but A Talent for Murder isn't one I’d recommend.

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatahil: This collection of essays explores various foods that are meaningful to the author, such as mango and shave ice (Nezhukumatathil points out that it should be "shave" ice instead of "shaved.") Accompanying each essay is a beautiful illustration of the food it's about. The book mixes food writing and memoir since readers learn much about Nezhukumatathil's life, history, and family. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted, well-written read.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: This sci-fi tale follows an older woman named Grace. Her son died when he was just a boy, and now her husband has passed, too. Mired in grief, Grace is feeling depressed and lost, wondering if life is worth living. When she's at her lowest, Grace learns she's been given a house in Ibiza by a former acquaintance she helped many years ago. Confused about why the house has been left to her, Grace decides to go to Ibiza for answers and to deal with the property. Magical things start happening, and she meets people who insist there's a grand reason why Grace was chosen. Ultimately, this story is about second chances and coming alive again in the face of despair.

I like so much about Matt Haig and appreciate how outspoken he is about mental health and his struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. That said, I didn't enjoy this book. I admit I'm not the target audience for a sci-fi/fantasy story, but the plot is so convoluted that I don't even know how to explain it. I'm okay with mystical elements in stories, but they have to make sense in the world that's been built, and I don't think that happened in The Life Impossible. The book’s message is important and valid, but the way that message is conveyed to readers is more didactic than artful.

The Truants by Kate Weinberg: Jess is off to her first year at university, where she'll be studying literature. She chose her school because she wanted to study under Dr. Lorna Clay, a magnetic woman with a brilliant mind who teaches a popular class about Agatha Christie. Jess meets fellow student Georgie, and the two girls quickly become best friends. They both enter into romantic relationships, and Jess begins to fall for Georgie's boyfriend, a mysterious journalist named Alec. As her infatuation deepens with both Dr. Clay and Alec, Jess's life soon becomes intertwined with the others in her circle in ways that have dire consequences.

The Truants started off okay, if slow. I liked the academic setting and enjoyed seeing Jess and Georgie's friendship blossom. Around the novel's halfway point, the plot started to pick up pace and went in several directions by the story's end. Most of the significant plot points felt melodramatic and underdeveloped, meaning that I didn't care much about what was happening to the characters. I kept on with the book, hoping the story would find its way, but I ended up disappointed with this novel. It tries to be a dark academic tale, a novel of suspense, a love story, and a tragedy. I listened to The Truants, and I noticed the same descriptions used repeatedly, something I'm surprised an editor didn't catch. Maybe the repeats were more obvious in the audio format, but even if not, this book would have been stronger had it been edited to focus on one or two plot points instead of the many crammed into the book's second half.

The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon: I've been a longtime follower of Sharon McMahon's fantastic Instagram, the platform on which she's been called America's government teacher. I can count on McMahon to provide thorough information about anything and everything related to history and the American government. In her first book, she profiles several heroes of history who you might not know. She explains how their actions impacted areas such as education, business, and human rights.

McMahon admits that not all of these people were perfect and reflects on the good/bad binary that seems ever-present in today's society, especially on social media. She acknowledges the flaws of her subjects while reminding readers that we're all flawed but can still make a difference.

McMahon's writing is clear, concise, and lively, making for a quick and enjoyable reading experience. I finished this book inspired. I walked away thinking about how even in the worst moments of American history, like slavery and Jim Crow laws, there were still people fighting for justice and equality. Even when times are dark, there are people working hard and sacrificing to bring light to the world.

The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis by George Stephanopoulos: Covering Kennedy through Biden, this book looks at pivotal moments in American history in which the White House Situation Room played a role. Stephanopoulos explores the Vietnam War, Watergate, Ronald Reagan’s attempted assassination, 9/11, and many more moments that tested and changed presidents and those who worked for them. As a lover of presidential history, I loved this book and the lens through which the presidency and its powers were explored. I read part of it on my Kindle and then switched to the audiobook, and I’m glad I did since the audiobook contains clips where listeners hear directly from the White House and government staffers Stephanopoulos interviewed.

The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians by David M. Rubenstein: A friend recommended this book to me, saying, "This is a must for you." He was right. Each chapter is a conversation between interviewer David Rubenstein and acclaimed historians such as David McCullough, H. W. Brands, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. They discuss subjects including Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Lindbergh, and Martin Luther King, Jr. I loved learning more about people I thought I knew. It was a joy to discover how exciting people were, like Lindbergh, who I hadn't ever considered before. I highly recommend the audio version of this book since you'll get to hear the live conversations between Rubenstein and his guests. Each talk took place in front of Congress, and I enjoy the idea of public servants hearing stories of those who preceded them and have things to teach about sacrifice and service.

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates: The Message is a collection of three essays written as letters to Coates's students at Howard University. In each essay, Coates goes on a journey and reflects on ideas such as home, belonging, the power of writing, segregation, and American journalism. Coates travels to Africa for the first time and reflects on the beauty and pain he sees in his homeland. He goes to South Carolina, where his book Between the World and Me might get banned in a public high school. Lastly, Coates visits Israel and several Palestinian sites. This is the section of the book that's been causing a stir since Coates likens what's happening there to segregation in the South.

Even though this book is about heavy topics, the prose is a pleasure to read thanks to its lyricism. Coates writes with such control, concisely making his points and packing more punch because of it. At only 232 pages, The Message is slim but powerful. I know I could reread it several times and pick up something new with each reading. (This is an excellent interview between Coates and Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, discussing the book and focusing on the Israel/Palestine part.)

What I Loved

MUSIC: Hello, Autumn Playlist

I’ve been enjoying this autumnal playlist I made a year or two ago. In colder months, I gravitate toward folksy, slower music.

Photo by Julia Kicova on Unsplash

FOOD: Soup

I enjoy soup all year, but it’s extra exciting in the fall. I’ve recently made chili, taco soup, and beef vegetable soup. I love pairing soup with hot, crusty bread. What an iconic duo.

What I Wrote

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I’d love to hear what you read and loved in October. Did your fiction reading go better than mine? Did you discover any gems? Leave a comment and let me know.