October 2016 Wrap-Up + Book Haul

Goodbye October, hello November!

If I could sum up my October in one word it would be CHAOTIC.  My calendar was packed full of birthdays, parties, school events, football practices/games, dance classes, preschool starting, etc etc.  Needless to say, my poor little blog was put on the backburner for the majority of the month.  Not to worry my friends, I’ll catch up sooner or later, so you won’t have to hear me bitch complain forever.

On the other hand, October was a fantastic month in the reading department!  I read a total of 8 books in October, which I am super stoked about.

Let’s see what I DID get accomplished in October…

What I read in October:

» The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

Summary of feelings: This is the YA book I’ve been waiting for!  A YA book that tackles rape culture?  Yes!  This book side swiped me, but in a very good way.

» Fractured by Catherine McKenzie

Summary of feelings: Really enjoyed how the author laid the book out.  Alternating from past to present & alternating POV at the same time enhanced the suspense.  Ending wasn’t as shocking as I hoped it would be, but still an enjoyable thriller.

» Stardust by Neil Gaiman

 *Actually 4.5 stars

Summary of feelings:  My second NG book.  Lovely fairytale!  Tristran Thorn is now my book boyfriend.

» Since She Went Away by David Bell

Summary of feelings: Solid thriller.  Enjoyed how the two separate stories came together.  A little predictable.

» Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

*3.5 Stars

Summary of feelings:  It took me a while to get into this one.  I think this book is timeless, as many of the themes within Fahrenheit 451 are still very relevant today.  I can’t believe it was written in the 1950s.

» A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

*4.5 stars

Summary of feelings: Not what I was expecting.  I had a pit in my stomach the entire time I was reading.  What a beautiful book about grief.

» The Lion, the Witch, and the wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Summary of feelings:  First timer.  I would have loved this book as a kid.  I really enjoyed how this book felt like I was being told a story by an old friend.  Now that I’ve read it, I can appreciate how well done the 2005 movie adaptation is.

»Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Summary of feelings: Picture Alice in Wonderland gone dark. Not exactly scary, but definitely creepy.  I felt uneasy while reading it. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

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Other Book Reviews:

Book Review: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Book Review: Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Book Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert

Other Posts:

Book Tag: The Halloween Book Tag

Top Ten Tuesdays

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Pet Names

Top Ten Tuesday: Not-So-Scary Halloween Reads

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October Book Haul:

I ONLY managed to acquire 13 books in October 🙂 In my defense, I only bought 9 of them AND they all were purchased at the Books by the Banks book festival, so they are all signed by the authors… so my purchasing 9 books is justified right? Right!  The other 4 books I won in a giveaway.

» The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride*

» In the Context of Love by Linda Sienkiewicz*

» Let’s Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson*

» Saving Phoebe Murrow by Herta Feely*

» The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater*

» The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis*

» The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin by Stephanie Knipper*

» Fractured by Catherine McKenzie*

» The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel*

» Whispers in the Night by Brandon Massey

» Bay of Fires by Poppy Gee

» Ghostly Encounters: Terrifying Tales of Paranormal Encounters by Jeff Bahr

» Legacy by Molly Cochran

*Books purchased at the BBTB book festival

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How was your October?

Which books did you read?

Did you buy any books?