Ah, the spooky month. All done now! And we look towards the festive season of Christmas. I’m so excited. But before I get too excited, I suppose I should take a lot back at how October went!
Last month was actually a very good month of reading. I had an awful lot on my plate and a lot of things happened that really threw a spanner in my works for about a week – which meant there was a whole week I didn’t read. Gulp. So I’m pretty impressed with everything I did get around to! It was an even 50/50 split this month between reading review copies and reading my own choices, so go me!
October was also my fourth – FOURTH – blogoversary on the 30th October. Time swept passed me, however, and I didn’t get around to celebrating (truth be told I had forgotten until someone else wished my blog a happy birthday #lol). Seeing as next October will mark 5 years, I think I will have to plan something to celebrate!
Salvation
by Peter F. Hamilton
Genre: Science Fiction
Author: Peter F. Hamilton
Published: September 2018
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Pages: 532 {paperback}
Will I continue the series? YES
The reason I was sent and read this book is actually because the sequel has JUST come out and I’ve agreed to read and review that one. It’s actually my current read right now. Macmillan was kind enough to offer me the first book as well if I hadn’t read that so I accepted the offer and dove into a world of hardcore sci-fi! I did enjoy this book although it wasn’t my favourite hard sci-fi out of all the ones I’ve read this year. Nonetheless, the plot was super intriguing and I’m excited about book two!
Circe
by Madeline Miller
Genre: Mythology [Greek]
Author: Madeline Miller
Published: April 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 336 {hardback}
I am so pleased that I LOVED this. I’ve been meaning to read a Miller book for the longest of time and everyone has been telling me how much I would love The Song of Achilles. So I thought I’d get myself the audiobook of Circe, which was performed brilliantly, to test the waters. I’m pleased to report that this was bloody brilliant and I can’t stop recommending it to people.
The Ventriloquists
by E. R. Ramzipoor
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: E. R. Ramzipoor
Published: August 2019
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 544 {paperback}
This was brilliant. Big, BIG thank you to Harlequin Australia for indulging me and sending me a copy of this. I do so love historical fiction and I have my review up both on this blog and over on YouTube. This is a great tale based on a true story, set in Nazi-occupied Belgium.
The Storyteller’s Daughter
by Cameron Dokey
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Cameron Dokey
Published: September 1997
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 218 {paperback}
This might have a hideous trade paperback cover going for it and seem like a trashy novel, but I can promise you this: this book was actually seriously good. If you like Renée Ahdieh’s retelling of 1001 Nights then I can PROMISE you that you’ll also love this. Being such a small book this was honestly such a perfect little read to just pick up and power through and enjoy!
Predator’s Gold
by Philip Reeve
Genre: Sci-Fi, Steampunk
Author: Philip Reeve
Published: September 2003
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 352 {paperback}
Will I continue the series? YES
After spending about thrity minutes confirming what genre this book actually is, I can now confidently proceed in writing this wrap-up. Whew. Steampunk always throws a spanner in the works. This is the sequel to Mortal Engines if you weren’t aware and I read it via audiobook, just as I had for the first one. I really enjoyed it too! So glad that the sequel lived up to my expectations.
Review to come
The Warehouse
Rob Hart
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Author: Rob Hart
Published: August 2019
Publisher: Bantam Press
Pages: 368 {paperback}
Ehhh, this book really didn’t do it for me. It still gave it three stars because I did enjoy the concept of the story, but the more time that passes since I finished it the less enthusiastic I am about the book. Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy for review and a what a bugger that this was the spandangled dystopian I’d been hoping for!
- I reviewed some books:
- I did my September wrap-up
- I participated in Top Ten Tuesday:
- I did my August wrap-up
- I talked about October new releases
Genres Read:
Pages Read:
Total: 2,350
Progress Towards Goodreads Challenge:
%, or, /50 books
OKAY PEOPLE: several of you have been asking in previous wrap-ups what my big news is that’s happening in my life. I can finally tell you!! I’ve been keeping it under wraps because I hadn’t yet talked to my workplace about it but now it’s alll settled.
So, ahem: I’m going back to university to do my masters in 2020. YIPPEE! This is very exciting and I cannot wait. If you’re new around here, I graduated from university in 2017 with a BA in History. Now, I’m going back to do a Masters in Professional Writing & Publishing and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
I’ve decided to take my fate by the horns and direct it back on course! This particular masters just seemed so right and fitting and it’s what I want to do. So that’ll be me tied happily back up with study for the next two years.
I shouldn’t think it will have much of an impact on blogging, truthfully. I’ve slowly been carving a routine back into my life since moving out of home as that has been highly disruptive. But I started blogging back during my first degree so the whole study/blogging gig is like a comfy sofa for me. BRING IT ON.
Honestly, that’s all I’m going to say about October. It was, in all honesty, a rough month. STUFF happened. Ya know? So let’s focus on the positives of heading back to uni next year and putting all the shit behind me. I’m happy, I’m healthy and everything is on track. So let’s move on to the obscene number of movies I watched last month:
Pretty Woman, 1990: 8/10 stars
A classic, no? This was obviously a rewatch for me and just as good as the previous times! There’s just something so lighthearted about this film that makes it so fun to watch. And the chemistry between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere is to die for. If you somehow haven’t seen this yet, then you need to add this into your life!
Miss Congeniality, 2000: 8/10 stars
Woah, boy. This is one heck of a good laugh. Another rewatch for me and one that you just can’t pass up on for a good night in. Sandra Bullock is amazing (duh) and the hilarity of the character she plays is beautiful. Honestly, this film is the perfect fix to any bad mood.
Florence Foster Jenkins, 2016: 5/10 stars
Well . . . not every film can be great. This was okay and nothing more: really just not my cup of tea. Hats off to Meryl Streep for an amazing performance though: you have to give her that. But otherwise this was honestly just a bit boring and weird.
August Rush, 2007: 8/10 stars
Another rewatch! I was full of rewatches in October. I love August Rush – and I’ve not heard of heaps of people who’ve seen it. This is a Robin Williams film too! So good! This is all about music and I can’t recommend it enough as an inspiring, feel-good film.
Brave, 2012: 9/10 stars
One of my favourites Disneys and not something I could ever pass up watching. I love Brave just about more than life and always enjoy watching it. This is such an underrated Disney – I would DIE for Merida.
Mortal Engines, 2018: 4/10 stars
This was a real stinker . . . I think 4 stars might be a bit generous. Considering this is a Peter Jackson film too?!? Did they even read the book?! And I’m not even just rating this poorly because it was SO different from the book: as a movie it was confusing, rushed and didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Also I thought the actors for Hester and Tom were . . . subpar. Would not recommend: stick with the books.
Judy, 2019: 7/10 stars
Ah! But this was good! Though not as good as something like Bohemian Rhapsody (a tall order to live up to that one) I still really enjoyed the tragedy of this look into Judy Garland’s life. This is about the actress who played Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, if you don’t recognise the name. Renée Zelweger did a fantastic job here.
The Addams Family, 1991: 6/10 stars
And a little bit of fun for Halloween. Dad and I camped down on the sofa on the 31st in a last-ditch attempt at some Halloween spirit. Believe it or not, I’ve never seen any version of the Addams Family before so this was my first time! It was fun and a good laugh but you couldn’t say by any stretch of the imagination that this is a masterpiece. It is simply a wonderful movie to watch in October.
Tick! done!
What was your favourite book that you read in October?
~~ Kirstie ~~
Upside-Down Books 
Circe was so good! It’s a beautiful book and I really liked to learn more about Greek mythology.
I enjoyed reading Mortal Engines, but I haven’t read the sequel (yet). I also haven’t seen the movie and I didn’t know it was so different from the book. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but kind of a turnoff. I usually prefer book to movie adaptations to stay close to the original.
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It sure is! If you haven’t read Mythos and Heroes yet (Stephen Fry), I would highly recommend them!
Same! But even so, my boyfriend who hadn’t read the books also thought the movie was a bit of a stinker 😬
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Congrats on going back to school!!! Thats an awesome thing to look forward to next year!!!
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Thanks! I can’t wait!
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