October book wrap up!! 🍁🎃🕯️
This was a difficult month - getting used to being back in university, having to sit through 10 hours of class on Thursdays, walking from one campus to the other in pouring rain… but I still found time to read!
My main goal this month was to read as many spooky and atmospheric books as possible, and I believe that I did just that. Besides, autumn is not over yet, so I still have time to read some more autumn-themed books and maybe I’ll manage to finish my seasonal TBR. Speaking of which - out of the 8 books I’d decided to read this fall, I’ve finished 5 so far, and I’m currently reading one more; not that bad for a mood reader, I dare say.
Anyways, onto my reviews!
Book no. 1 One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Okey, pleeeease don’t kill me, but I found this book to be extremely boring, banal and, honestly, even badly written. I know this novel gets lots of praise (an average rating of 4,27 on Goodreads speaks for itself), but in my opinion, it’s wholly undeserved. If anything, I’ve found it worthy of my criticism, so much so that I wrote the longest book review in my career on both StoryGraph and Goodreads. Please note that this is not an objective review, I’m expressing my opinion and you’re are free to disagree.
I find this novel to be very much not to my liking. The world-building is very poor (we only get to see like three places and we have no idea what the rest of the kingdom looks like; also, the whole business with reporting your own children doesn’t make sense and is even shown not to work in the book itself). The main character is extremely incompetent, always having to be saved either by the love interest or the Nightmare inside her head; I dare you to point out to me one single scene in which Elspeth is in a dangerous situation and is able to make it out on her own. The romantic relationship, which is probably the most important part of this book (I mean, it’s a romantasy), is also really bland, not an ounce of chemistry, just constant mentions of how beautiful and handsome the main characters are; I don’t know, it just seems there is something more to falling in love, than just finding someone attractive.
The book was also insanely predictable. I had a prediction that I’d made at the beginning of chapter two, that turned out to be right in the end of the book. I am also certain, that I know what the plot twist in the sequel is going to be, but I’m not going to be staying to find out.
I have more to say, but this is a monthly wrap up, not review.
Book no. 2 I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Once again I’m here with an unpopular opinion. After hearing so much praise for this book, I’d been expecting something absolutely remarkable, but I couldn’t help but feel let down by the end of my read. Don’t get me wrong, this is nowhere near bad and it definitely has some absolutely beautiful and thoughtful fragments, but that’s basically it. This could’ve, and maybe should’ve, been a much shorter book.
Book no. 3 Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews
After a pretty disappointing beginning of the month, this book felt exceptionally good, maybe better than it actually is. But I have to admit, I loved the atmosphere and the dark, sinister and haunting story. This was, in my opinion, a much better execution of the botanical horror genre, than The House of Hollow, which I’ve read earlier this year. The only downside to this overall really good book is the predictable plot twist. I had it all figured out by the middle of the book.
Book no. 4 The Forest of Ghosts and Bones by Lisa Lueddecke
This book had been sitting on my shelf for almost four years before I started reading it, and, honestly, I didn’t really think I’d like it, but I still had some small hope (don’t ask me why I bought a book, I didn’t think I was going to like; it’s a long story). Unfortunately, my initial prediction was correct and this book turned out to be boring, predictable and a bit of a mess. But, hey, there was at least a bit more world-building than in One Dark Window.
Book no. 5 The Case of Speluncean Explorers by Lon L. Fuller
Yeah, it’s a thought experiment about the morality of law, but it almost reads like a novella. In some alternative reality Fuller is a sci-fi writer and I - one of his biggest fans. But seriously, if he had ever written a science fiction novel with themes of law and morality, I would’ve read it.
Book no. 6 Rocannon’s World by Ursula K. Le Guin
I love you, Ursula Le Guin, but this was such a wasted potential. A story set on a different planet, written from the perspective of an anthropologist? Absolutely genius. Unfortunately, this just reads like a typical sci-fi adventure novel from the 60’s. It’s a good thing, that this is one of Le Guin’s first novels and her later works are muuuuuch better.
Book no. 7 The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
 Do you know how, when you read some bad and mid books you slowly start to doubt your previous experiences with literature? You begin to wonder was it ever really that good? And then you read an actually good book and you think to yourself: this is why I’m reading. Yeah, that’s what happened to me with The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. It’s been a long time since I’ve read something so well written. I’m so glad I got to listen to the english audiobook and could experience this novel in its original language. Another reason I’m glad to have listened to the audio version is because I had less difficulty understanding it (English is not my first language and this had some flowery prose) and because I could hear the correct pronunciation of the Piegan words.
This book totally lived up to the hype and is haunting me to this day.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,75 /5
Book no. 8 Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Once again, a book that is just as good, as everyone says it is! It captures you in the very first chapter and doesn’t let go until the very end (although I’d say, it does loosen its grip from time to time). The atmosphere is exquisite, the stakes are high and the characters are complex and diverse. I definitely will be reading the rest of the series.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️,25 /5
Book no. 9 The Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
Ever since I’ve read a collection of selected stories by Edgar Allan Poe, I’ve had a very high opinion of him. Having read more of his work (as the polish title states „almost all” of his short stories), I can say that I still find some of his writing to be excellent. Unfortunately, I’ve also found some of his worse tales. Nevertheless, I’ll try to remember Poe for his best works. My favourites: Berenice, the Fall of House of Usher, the Pit and the Pendulum, the Oval Portrait, the Cask of Amontillado, Thou Art the Man, The Purloined Letter.
Book no. 10 The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Oh dear, what a great book. I’m so glad I read it in English. The language and imagery are just so wonderful. I loved the atmosphere and how the unreliable narrative voice made me feel. I only had some minor issues towards the end of the book, but overall, I think this was fantastic.
Okey, phew. That was a long wrap up. I have to admit, I’m quite proud of myself; ten books during the school year is difficult to accomplish. I’m also really happy, that I managed to stay in the October mood, with most of my reads either being horror or at least having a dark atmosphere. The beginning of this month was a bit low when it comes to literature, but we finished it off with some wonderful reads, so I have no reason to complain. Not all the books you pick up can be masterpieces, you know.
That’s all for now. Have a lovely November!
