Thank you, October, for your beautiful leaves, cooler temperatures, and insightful reading!
I read a total of five books in October – one fiction, four nonfiction – bringing my total for the year so far to 82 books.
Three of my five books this month were ok. I gain something from everything I read, so even though they weren’t ‘the books for me,’ I learned from them and am glad I read them.
Two others, however, really resonated with me – The Overstory by Richard Powers (fiction) and World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil (nonfiction) – so those are the ones I’ll shine a light on today!
The Overstory by Richard Powers
This is my second book by Powers and I can definitely see why he’s won so many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Beautiful and devastating, The Overstory shines a light on the amazing properties of trees and their importance in our world. A compelling narrative, a unique cast of characters, and a blend of optimism / concern all make this a worthwhile read. I like this book even more as time passes and will continue to seek out Powers’ backlist.
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
One of my favorite bookish moments is when a random pick off the library shelf turns into a surprise hit! That’s how World of Wonders worked for me. Each essay in this collection highlights a particular plant or animal and includes a bit of memoir along the way as well. Nezhukumatathil’s beautiful prose, rich descriptions, and knowledge of and appreciation for nature had me spellbound. Toward the end of my reading experience, I discovered that she is also a poet, and her word choices and rhythms really demonstrate this. Beautiful book!
My recent nature- and science-writing kick continues this month with The Soul Of An Octopus – I am about halfway through and predict I’ll be raving about this one in my next reading wrap-up!
What have you read recently that made an impact on you? Share your title(s) below!