Books of September 2021
I had hoped for a slow transition into fall. I’m not sure that’s quite what I got, but September was definitely slower-paced than the summer, and for that, I am grateful.
Battling sickness, the launch of my podcast (check it out here!), and an ever-increasing number of other projects made the month an interesting balancing act. But in between all of it (and sometimes during), I was able to get through several books.
So far, my reading preferences don’t seem to be shifting, but I’m enjoying them too much to truly mind. I’m still not really enjoying the reading based on categories, however, even though I reduced the number so much from last year. So I’ll be sure to keep that in mind if I end up setting any reading-related goals for 2022.
This month though, I read the following books for my categories:
Classic: A Clockwork Orange - 2 Stars. Reading this book felt particularly apt after all of the other crime-centered literature lately. It is a disturbing look into human nature, depravity, and psychology. It raises as many questions about right and wrong as it answers, and leaves you shocked one minute and deeply contemplative the next. That being said, it is not a book I really enjoyed. Going into it I knew very little about the story, other than that I have often heard it talked about and occasionally recommended. I expected to enjoy the book, since I do have a penchant for darker literature, but this one didn’t click for me. The language used also threw me off at the beginning. At first, I thought the language might be just based on the most utter extreme British colloquialisms, but I quickly realized that much of it is the main character’s personal slang. Although it is jarring at points and takes a minute to adjust to, I was surprised to see how quickly many of the terms became integrated into my mental vocabulary and almost flew beneath the radar of my notice. So while I didn’t really enjoy this classic, the philosophical significance, story, and resonance make it clear why it has endured through the decades.
Re-Read: Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy - I haven’t read many books on grief and loss, because luckily I haven’t had much need to, but this is one of the best. I’m glad I took time to return to this book because even though the book centers much more on solely the loss of a spouse than I remember, many of the principles are applicable in so many situations. The story at the heart of this book is heartbreaking, but Sheryl Sandberg demonstrates the reality of post-traumatic growth so well. I also really appreciate Adam Grant’s ideas and research, so I loved the inclusion of all that he had to share. Although I hope that I won’t need the ideas presented here for a long time, I was glad to be reminded of them and since I bought this book a few months ago as part of my other reading-related goal of the year, I will have it for whenever I need to return to it.
In addition to my categories, I also read:
American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI - 3 Stars. After reading about all that he had done and accomplished, I was shocked that I was unfamiliar with Edward Oscar Heinrich, the American version of Sherlock Holmes, prior to reading this book. Even more so since he is from Tacoma - just a few miles from where I live and grew up. As with many books I have read recently, I was also surprised to see how much forensic science has evolved over just the last several decades - in no small part thanks to the contributions of Edward Oscar Heinrich. The cases he worked in were fascinating, and hearing the work that he did to attempt to solve them, and also the psychological profiles he did long before that was an accepted discipline, were just as compelling. However, I found the writing to be somewhat flat and I felt disengaged, even at some of the most interesting parts of his career. Even more so, I was surprised that the conclusion of the book seemed to approach forensic science with skepticism and even seasoned doubt - although I do believe a discerning mind is necessary, I felt that some of the points were taken a bit far.
How to Stop Time - 3 Stars. I appreciate both Matt Haig’s fiction and nonfiction. He writes both well, and both utilize a very similar style and consistent themes. The Midnight Library is my favorite book of his, and this one surprised me with some similarities. While the Midnight Library seems to contemplate what it would be like to live any number of lives laterally (during your lifetime, based on choices you made - or didn’t), this book seems to deal with that same question but with regards to what it would be like to live any number of lives over time and continuously. Lots of books deal with people living in different eras, but often in the sense that the entire story is based in that time period, or else in some alternate reality where time travel has been invented. But in this book, history is lived forward (although it is not depicted strictly chronologically in the story), and thus Shakespeare is a nice guy that the protagonist knows, but his importance and depth are really only realized later due to the understanding we have of him in the present. If that sounds confusing, don’t worry, the book is less so. It is also less intriguing and captivating than I would have expected, and I always seem to have a hard time connecting with the characters in Matt Haig’s books. Although stopping time is technically impossible, the book does give some ideas on how to do so.
Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion - 3 Stars. This book started out extremely promising. The overview, pointing out that we often perceive con-men (or in this case con-women) as the most interesting and intriguing criminals, even if they are the most dangerous, had me hooked from the beginning. I also appreciated the section headings - giving a glimpse of what was to come, while simultaneously reminding you of the hilarity and perverseness of much of the action taken. So while the beginning was good, it felt a bit short, and so I hoped that the conclusion would wrap everything up well and delve into a bit more analysis. It didn’t. In fact, it seemed almost to walk a fine line - almost glorifying con-women (as merely confident) and giving the impression that they are a vital part of society. While their confidence is surely admirable in some sense, it springs from narcissism and sociopathy much of the time (at least from my perspective, as someone who is not a psychologist). In between the beginning and end was an armload of stories of women across history who did what it took to get what they wanted - often leaving broken hearts and empty bank accounts in their wake (and sometimes even worse things). While each of the stories was fascinating, they were a bit disjointed (since some of them take place in such different areas and with regards to so many different aspects of life) and I actually found some of them hard to get through. Some of the women I definitely want to learn more about and all of them have made their mark on history, although not in the way I think most of us hope to.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals - 3 Stars. This is another book that started out really well. As a coach, I spend a lot of time working with people on goal-setting, time management, and productivity, but I know (and sometimes remind my clients) that these are not the most important things. This book helps to break those down and get at the deeper, more important things at the core of (or that merely get hidden by) those disciplines. Being reminded of the transcience of life isn’t something that most people would consider fun, but it is a valuable way to bring our priorities into focus. I did feel, however, that this book was almost constructed on a premise of hopelessness. Although it seems to purport pursuing the things that matter most to us, it seems also to say that none of those things truly matter in the end. Just as it points out that we’ll never complete our to-do list, so why even try? Maybe it’s because I am someone who does complete her to-do list, I disagree. Although it is more likely I disagree because I believe in greater purpose and meaning in the world, which goes give existential value to things. But regardless, if you’re looking for a reminder of your mortality, or a completely different way to look at the way you spend your time, this book is a great place to start.
When No One Is Watching - 3 Stars. It isn’t too often that a thriller attempts to take on the topic of social justice - at least, not in most of the ones I’ve read lately. But this book does exactly that. The messages shared are vitally important, but they do seem to slow the momentum of the story in parts. And although I don’t really like jumping between perspectives in books, this one handled it well. It took me a while to figure out where the “thrill” part of the story was going to come from, which kept me from sinking into the story at first, and some of the plot points felt obvious and predictable. But, in the end, I enjoyed the story, for the most part, even if the ending was a bit extreme and unsatisfactory.
People Like Her - 3 Stars. It seems like there is no fiction written these days from a fixed perspective. It seems we are constantly bouncing between narrators or focusing on different characters. I was intrigued by this story pretty much from the beginning and there was enough suspense to keep me interested until the end (although not quite enough I would really categorize it as a thriller). Although I think the day will (hopefully) come soon when novels won’t center so heavily on influencers, this one did it well - especially in going over a lot of the nuances behind the screen and that ran beneath this story. There were very few characters that I liked in this book, but the point certainly wasn’t to like them. For quite a while, I also feared I would hate this book (and was prepared to give it 2 stars) if the plot had gone in certain directions. Much like the movie Knives Out, this book was entertaining and engaging, but if the story was laid on a foundation that seems morally wrong, I would not be able to say I enjoyed it. The story managed to steer clear of most of my potential fears, and so I can just say that I “liked” the book and move on.
The Cave Dwellers - 2 Stars. It has always been said not to judge a book based on its cover. And for the most part, I don’t. But I often do read or pick up a book if I am intrigued by the cover - often without reading the synopsis. And on the flip side, there are probably great books that I haven’t read because the cover didn’t catch my eye. The cover of this book was interesting but not particularly intriguing, but it is one that I started without really having much background or knowledge on the story itself - although it is books like this that make me sometimes think that I should always at least read the back. This book har a particularly twisted story with way too many characters and numerous perspectives. I had a hard time keeping the different people straight, especially at the beginning when I wasn’t sure where the story was heading. Even at the end, I wasn’t really sure where we came from or where we were left since the story ended with basically no resolution. The book itself couldn’t seem to decide on a genre - social commentary, a very halfhearted (and unresolved) mystery, and straight fiction all swirling together in what just ended up feeling like a bit of a mess. I will admit, however, that I appreciated the setting and the aesthetics of the story as a whole - at least beneath all the debauchery portrayed.
The Lost Boys of Montauk: The True Story of the Wind Blown, Four Men Who Vanished at Sea, and the Survivors They Left Behind - 2 Stars. Everyone deserves to have their story told. I firmly believe that. And this book tells the life stories of some men who lost their lives way too young at the hands of the great deep. While the story of the Wind Blown and the men who perished on it is definitely interesting, I was still left wondering a bit why and how it related to me, the author, or anything else. Especially as I slogged through hundreds of pages on people who were in some way distantly related, connected, or had just met the men who died. Human motivation and nature are such fascinating things, especially whenever it is examined in a microcosm - like this one. But I found it hard to appreciate that, as well as the true story at the heart of all the writing, due to the sheer amount of matieral and nuances of the writing itself. I’m glad that the story of these men has been told, however, and as the book shares, in that way, they will never die.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - 3 Stars. I really love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I find that book to be hilarious and nuanced and just philosophical enough to make it more than mere fiction. This sequel definitely had moments that mirrored that same genius, as well as some that did not. There were sections where I felt lost and confused (and not just because of the nonsensical nature of the literature) and others when I felt less than engaged. I think it also just lacked that added depth which is part of why I enjoy the original book so much. I do think that the core idea of the story and all the discussions of time travel to be totally entrancing and there were several sections that reminded me of Slaughterhouse-Five, which is one of my all-time favorite books - so that was definitely a plus. I’m glad I read this book, but I don’t plan to make a reservation at the restaurant for the end of the universe.
Chasing the Boogeyman - 3 Stars. This book had me pretty confused from the first page. It is a novel, but written with so much detail that it definitely feels like it was based on fact. And at the end, the author does note that parts of it were, while also being an homage to his childhood, but leaving the story itself primarily a work of fiction. I was also a bit hesitant to read this one, particularly because it was categorized as falling into the “horror” genre, which I actively try to avoid when it comes to films and am pretty inexperienced with when comes to literature. I tend to prefer books that fall into the “thriller” category, and so I was apprehensive about what would take this one, in my mind, that one step further. So I was surprised to find that the answer was nothing - there was really nothing about the story (other than the crimes depicted) that I would consider to really fall into that category, and it was considerably less suspenseful than many of the thrillers even that I have read. The beginning of the story was particularly slow, especially as I tried to figure out what kind of a book I was reading. There were a few good jaw-dropping moments, however, and I was kept interested and excited to get to the end.
In addition to all the reading I got through this month, I also caught up on a bunch of podcasts. I had a ton to get through because I didn’t really listen to any episodes at all during August (maybe because I was working so much on my own podcast - although I did a bunch of that this month too). I also unsubscribed to a lot of podcasts too since I realized I was really dreading having to catch up on the episodes I missed, and several were ones I’d considered giving up on for a while. I know for many people that would be an easy choice or decision, but for me, it takes a lot of thought and effort. So I’m glad it’s done.
This month I bought The Wellness Project: How I Learned to Do Right by My Body, Without Giving Up My Life and Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, two books that I love. Looking back, I can clearly see how reading each of those books influenced the path that I have followed with my life, and if that doesn’t earn a book a spot in my library, I’m not sure what would.
It is shocking to see Q3 coming to an end. I’m not sure how we got almost back to the holidays - but we have. The leaves are coming down. I have a couple of adventures planned for October, then there is Halloween, daylight savings, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and then we are into a whole new year. I’m excited though. I have some great books planned for the next several months, and there are some 2022 releases I’m super excited about too (2022 feels unbelievable to say - but it really is right around the corner).
For now though, I’m just going to try to slow down and enjoy cuddling up with the books on my nightstand and enjoying the shortening days as much as possible.
Until next time,