Books I read in September

plus don't miss the upcoming annular eclipse!

Author

Swapna Krishna
October 05, 2023

I AM BACK, BABY!!!

No, I’m not talking about writing this newsletter — I’ve actually gotten in a pretty good pattern with that. I’m referring to…..READING BOOKS.

I’m so thrilled that this newsletter is actually centered around the books I read in September. Specifically, I’m so thrilled to have read enough books in September to be able to write this!! If you didn’t know me when I first started writing online, I came up by writing book reviews on my blog. I was known as a book person, and someone who read incredibly fast — I read 450 books a year for three or four years in a row. Then I got what I thought was a dream job that completely ruined my love of reading because how I was treated and exploited (and I transitioned into science writing after that and haven’t looked back).

I’ve worked for a very, very long time to get my love of reading back, and it’s been a painful process. I was just getting back into reading regularly when the pandemic hit, and any attention span I had disappeared as I found myself at home with a 15 month old, with no local support (as so many parents did.) I’ve been painstakingly working on nurturing and cultivating that love of reading again for the past few years, trying not to pressure myself and to just let it come naturally.

And finally, I’m here. After months of ramping up my reading, I think I can confidently say I’m a reader again. There are things I’d like to change — more diverse books, more genres, more non-fiction — but right now I’m happy to just be reading, and I am not putting any pressure on myself to be “better” because where I am now is good enough.

But before we get to the book reviews, a video!

How to watch the annular eclipse on October 14, 2023

A partial eclipse will be visible across North and most of South America!

September Book Reviews

The Impossible Imposter - Deanna Raybourn (Berkley)

One of the few series I actually kept reading during my slow reading years, I really love this historical mystery series featuring the scientist Veronica Speedwell. If you’re interested in reading this, start with the first book A Curious Beginning. I think this one is the seventh in the series, and trust me you’ll speed right through them.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin (Random House Audio)

I listened to this book on audio during long solo drives along the south coast of Iceland, and it kept me hooked the entire time. It’s about two young people whose lives intersect and revolve around each other as they grow close and apart while designing video games. Usually I can only read mysteries, thrillers, YA, and nonfiction in audio but for some reason listening to this book worked for my brain. HIGHLY recommend even if video games aren’t your thing. (Narrators: Jennifer Kim and Julian Cihi)

The Boy Who Cried Bear - Kelley Armstrong (Minotaur Books)

This doesn’t come out until 2024, but I am obsessed with Kelley Armstrong. Her Rockton series (starting with City of the Lost) is one of my favorites of all time, and one I’m recommending constantly, especially for people who are having trouble finding a book to hold their attention. This is the second in the spin-off series (about a kid who’s abducted from their settlement), and she still has the magic. It’s great, and I’m so sad I have to wait another year to read the next one.

Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell (Dreamscape Media)

This was another audiobook, and I liked it a lot. I am very specific about the books I listen to on audio. Mysteries and thrillers work pretty well, as long as they’re relatively straightforward. This book is about a teenager who disappears, and years later, her mother meets a young girl who reminds her so much of her missing daughter. The audio production was very good, but I think it would be fantastic in print too. (Narrated by Helen Duff)

The Night She Disappeared - Lisa Jewell (Simon and Schuster Audio)

Clearly Lisa Jewell just works for me on audio. This was another Iceland road trip book and it was PERFECT. I’m not entirely sure I bought the ending but the journey getting there kept me so hooked that I don’t think it really mattered. This is another teenager-who-disappeared book, but it feels wholly separate from Then She Was Gone. I really liked this audio production, the narrator was WONDERFUL and I think she made me love the book, versus just like it. (Narrated by Joanne Froggatt)

Sidenote: Young children in peril is usually a no-go for me with a four year old, but these three books didn’t really bother me. That being said, I wish more people wrote thrillers that weren’t about kids in peril! But also, please don’t recommend books to me, my list of books to read is already like three miles long.

The September House - Carissa Orlando (Berkley)

I will read almost anything with a gothic atmosphere, but I was absolutely delighted by the premise of this book. It wasn’t “person moves into house, turns out it’s haunted” it’s what comes after. What happens after you move into the house, accept it’s haunted, and refuse to leave? It was creepy, but not really scary, with excellent atmosphere. There were some grisly descriptions, so be warned, but I really enjoyed this one.

I mean, this was wonderful. Loren’s a friend, so keep that in mind, but anyone who knows me knows that I will inhale any book about the U.S. space program. This is written expertly and really paints a picture for the reader. You get a sense of who these women were, what their lives were like, what challenges they faced. It starts with their applications to the program and ends with the Challenger explosion, which is a really good (if emotionally difficult) time frame to cover. I can’t say enough good things about this book!

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music - Dave Grohl (Harper Audio)

I don’t really know what to say about this one except that Dave Grohl is one of the good ones. Even if you aren’t a fan of the Foo Fighters, I think this book is worth a listen. It’s just so incredibly good. Dave Grohl narrates it himself, and it feels like listening to a friend tell you stories about his wondrously cool life (to be clear, he is also in disbelief about how cool his life is, which is so refreshing). I loved this book so, so much. (Narrated by Dave Grohl)

The Dark Angel - Elly Griffiths (Mariner Books)

Yet another mystery book in a series (seeing a trend here?) The Ruth Galloway series is another of my favorites, featuring a forensic archaeologist who solves mysteries. When I’m making a concerted effort to get back into reading (which has happened a few times over the years, but none of them have stuck like it is right now) I always start with series I’ve loved because I don’t have to get to know characters from scratch. I can definitely say this book wasn’t my favorite in the series for sure, but it kept me reading which is what counts. The book was solidly fine, but the rest of the series is great.

The Mimicking of Known Successes - Malka Older (Tor.com Publishing)

WOW this book!!!!!! If I had to pick a single highlight of the month, this would be it because it was just so creative and unexpected. It’s a Sherlock Holmes style murder mystery with two former female lovers, set in a sci fi future in which Earth has been abandoned and people are Iiving on platforms above Jupiter. It’s….incredible, honestly. The second book is out soon, but I can’t say enough good things about this one.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: A Stitch in Time - Andrew Robinson (Simon & Schuster Audio)

Okay, if you don’t care about Star Trek, then you can decidedly skip this one. But if you love Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as much as I do, then keep reading. This is Garak’s memoir, as written by Andy Robinson (the actor who played him), and it is amazing. It starts out slow, for sure—there were a few times in the first hour or two where I wondered if I should keep going. But I am so glad I stuck with it because I really loved it. (Narrated by Andrew Robinson)

Order Stargazing wherever you buy books!

As always, a plug for my book: