Books I’ve Read Lately October

November 7, 2018

October has been a crazy reading month; I got through so many books I don’t know what came over me! I think part of it is that we’ve got back on track with taking the boys to the library regularly which means that I am constantly picking up books that I fancy reading and that I need to try to return fairly quickly. Also reading is, quite clearly, an Autumn sport; it’s the time of year for curling up with a book so I think that has helped me along. Here is what I’ve enjoyed reading in October:

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris

My friend Vicki recommended this book to me earlier in the year and it is an incredible read. It tells the true story of Lale and Gita who were sent to Auschwitz during WW2; they both worked there, they met, they fell in love and Lale vowed they would survive and he would marry her. The author originally intended to write a screenplay but as she was interviewing Lale she became friends with him and was convinced to turn his story into a book. There is absolutely no getting around the horrors of Auschwitz, the sheer scale of it is harrowing and it gives me chills to read about it but the fact that two people could come together through all of that is amazing. The book is written in quite a simple, distant style which I think is probably deliberate so as not to embellish Lale’s original words. Considering the subject it’s very readable and shows extraordinary humanity. 

Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi

This has been on my reading list forever, in fact I think it was on my new books to read way on back in January. I’ve heard so many good things about it which often isn’t a good thing as you go in with too high expectations. Luckily this book was just as good as I’d hoped. It’s face paced and a vivid story, there are so many details that immerse you in the world and I fell in love with the two lead female characters. It ends on one of the most brutal cliffhangers I’ve come across in YA fantasy so I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.

P.S. I Still Love You / Always and Forever – Jenny Han

I read To All The Boys I’ve Loved before right at the end of last month (You can see more on my September reading post) and followed it up straight away with the next two. They make me so happy, easy reading for sure but just lovely feel-good teen books. I read them all in just a few days and could happily read them all over again!

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret – Judy Blume

I feel like I missed some kind of teenage rite of passage but I have never read this book, or any Judy Blume; I spotted it in the library so decided to fix that! I have to say though I feel it’s one of those books where the nostalgia element is why people love it as it is fairly dated now. I enjoyed it but wouldn’t say I loved it and I do wonder if young teens nowadays would relate to it, maybe, maybe not?

Flat Stanley – Jeff Brown

I read this with my eldest son who is finally switching over to fiction. We read this at bedtime and then he went ahead and finished it without me! I definitely read this in primary school but I could hardly remember anything about it but it’s one of those children’s classics. It is a really strange concept when you think about it, a child gets flattened and just goes about his daily life! I also didn’t realise it was set in America but still a good read and my son loved it. 

The Truth Pixie – Matt Haig

If you spend any amount of time online I’m sure you’ll have heard of this book by now. The Truth Pixie is something of a mental health book for children, it’s a fictional story but I think it would really help children come to terms with difficult feelings and emotions and maybe help those around them understand too. All three of my boys loved it and we read it together in one sitting – it did make me start sobbing about half way through, something about it really got to me but my boys patiently waited for me to collect myself so I could continue! It’s a lovely read and brilliant for both children and grown ups.

The Assassin’s Blade –  Sarah J Maas

This was another library find and if you’ve read my book posts before you’ll know that I love the Sarah J Maas books. This is a collection of short stories as a prequel to the Throne of Glass Series, it’s pads out the background a little but definitely isn’t essential reading. They were good to read but I wouldn’t have been any worse off if I hadn’t read them. 

Kingdom of Ash – Sarah J Mass

The book I have been waiting for! I also reread Tower of Dawn this month as it’s the last book she released. Kingdom of Ash is the final book in the seven book Throne of Glass series and I loved every second of it. I’m a little nervous to write too much about it as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. It must be so difficult to finish off a massive fantasy series like that though and Sarah J Mass did a great job, it was emotional and epic.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something from my link I will receive a small commission but it won’t cost you any extra.

Previous Post Next Post

6 Comments

  • Kerry

    Some great books! The tattooist of Auschwitz sounds really good. I might pop that on my tbr! To all the boys I’ve loved before is waiting for me on my bookshelf to read still. Wouldn’t it be great if we could read all day every day!

    November 7, 2018 at 6:57 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Oh yes, I would love nothing more! I’d really recommend Tattooist of Auschwitz, it’s an incredible story. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is just brilliant, all three of the books are so much fun, I’ll warn you now that you’ll want to next two once you’ve read the first!

      November 7, 2018 at 9:06 pm Reply
  • welliesontheschoolrun

    Wow, what a fab month for reading, Hayley! I’ve put The Tattooist of Auschwitz on my library list after seeing it on your Instagram the other day. The Truth Pixie sounds fantastic, I’ve been reading lots about that on social media. I’m like you, never read a Judy Blume book when I was a teen. Maybe I should fix that too. xx

    November 8, 2018 at 11:01 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I do think that maybe the moment has passed for me now as regards Judy Blume but I’m glad I can finally say I’ve read one, I wonder why they were never on my radar as a child? You are one of the few people I know who haven’t read any! I’m sure your boys would love The Truth Pixie and I think The Tattoist of Auschwitz is one of those books that everyone should read – just amazing. I’m popping over to your blog now to see what you’ve been reading! xx

      November 8, 2018 at 11:20 am Reply
  • thereadingresidence

    I’ve seen several people recommend The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and from what you’ve said, I think it’s one to add to my list. My kids like Flat Stanley, though i admit I haven’t read them myself – sounds odd! I think you’re right about Judy Blume. For me her books are childhood memories, and I’ve never gone back to any of them as I can’t imagine they’d feel the same to me.

    November 8, 2018 at 12:29 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I can imagine if I’d read Judy Blume when I was younger I’d have probably loved it, but my teenage years were a while ago now and the world has moved on so much since then! Yes, I do think The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of those books everyone could read despite what genres you enjoy – it isn’t as hard going as you might expect. Fat Stanley – it’s very odd, I don’t think it’s designed for our grown up brains 😉

      November 9, 2018 at 9:45 am Reply

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.