Last post here was September 3, book 121) The Starless Sea. Now (November 1), I’m at 133. Most of these were in October (I don’t remember what happened in September, probably Netflix.) But here’s what happened since then.
122) Sea of Tranquility, Emily St. John Mandel. Definitely 5 stars, but, like her others, I need to reread it because the web of connections (thinking George Eliot) gets confusing.
123) The Woman Who Died A Lot, Jasper Fforde. I picked this up because I loved the series but hadn’t finished it. Enjoyed this.
124) One of Our Thursdays is Missing, Jasper Fforde. Same as above. I read them in order– they might be out of order here.
125) A Deadly Education, Naomi Novik, reread, enjoyed
126) Cackle, Rachel Harrison. I was a little turned off by the first chapter of this, so put it away for a few months. And then I loved it. So happy with the conclusion, and didn’t think it was going to go that way.
127) Payback’s a Witch, Lana Harper. So good. Queer romance, warring witch families. All the stars.
128) The Orphan Witch, Paige Crutcher. Also, so so good. More witches, doomed romance, so much loneliness and all the feels. Reminded me of Erin Morgenstern in the best possible way.
129) How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind, LaMarr Jurelle Bruce. Holy crap was this amazing. Read it for my crip/queer book club, got to hear him lecture as I was reading. I need to integrate more indepth responses to academic work– something to think about as I reconceptualize this space.
130) The Wisteria Society for Lady Scoundrels, India Holton
131) The League of Gentlewomen Witches, India Holton– eh. These should be my favorite things. I love that kind of slapstick ahistorical comedy with a little steampunk (Pirates! Gideon Defoe; The Gentleman, Forrest Leo) that is so drenched in knowledge of the period– and her sentences absolutely echo Austen, which I should love…. but I kind of felt smirky, less than overwhelmed, by it. Liked Gentlewomen Witches more than Lady Scoundrels. Maybe it was the cast of aunts/witches– I don’t know. I’ll probably keep reading this series. Romances reminded me of Evie Dunmore.
132) The Uninvited Guests, Sadie Jones. This was a reread, but I did not remember it. In teaching my haunted houses class this October, a bunch of students had Mother! on their mind. This was available through Libby, so I listened to a bit, and was caught by the way the intrusive guests relate to the intrusions of that movie. Very drawing room comedy, reminded me of my Georgette Heyer mystery marathon at the beginning of the year, but with some really chilling moments. Hounds and hinds. Yikes. The facade of sanity, the slip to out of control and the threat that offers.
133) Dracula, Bram Stoker. I’ve been reading this since May, following along (mostly) with the day the events happen in the novel. Got a little ahead this morning– it ends on November 6 or 7, but I couldn’t possibly stop in the middle of the final chase. Was focused (this time through) on the New Woman of it all– Mina’s traits: her typing, her train timetables, all the things.
134) Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… and Maybe The World, William H. McRaven. Super short, self-help-y, audible from library. Definitely not my usual, but enjoyed although I was/am resistant to military complex type thinking.
Bookish Bedlam 
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