September Reading Recap
My month in reading was a happy mix of fantasy and non-fiction. As always, I try to let my reading interests take me where they wish to in the moment. My goal is never to read based on an aesthetic or a strict theme; I find that the way I absorb what I'm reading is much more thoughtful and intimate when I choose books based on how I feel and what my tastes are. Some days this takes me to intricate fantasy novels featuring potion makers, witches, and dragons, and on other occasions I find myself reading scientific non-fiction about black holes. No matter what anyone has to say, there is no genre that is the ultimate indicator of a well-read individual. Your reading experience is for you, and you alone.
With that said, I'm excited to share with you my September reading recap. I hope you happen upon a book you'll love, or that you'll simply enjoy comparing our September reads.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
RATING: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Cozy Fantasy, Romance
PLATFORMS: Kindle, Audible, Libby, Hardcover, Paperback, & more
AGE WARNING: This book does contain one open-door sex scene, and though it's not exceptionally explicit, it may not be appropriate for all ages.
This was, by far, my favorite read of the month. I'd read Mandanna's other trending novel, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, back in August, and instantly fell in love with her writing style and story crafting. This book was everything a book should be: entertaining, emotionally touching, thought provoking, humorous, and magical. Mandanna excels in rich story telling with a descriptive writing style and excellent world-building. I appreciated the coziness and humor that lingered throughout the book and cushioned some of the more emotional parts of the story. When a book succeeds in making me both laugh and cry in one sitting, it's automatically 5/5 stars for me. I look forward to reading more of Mandanna's work in the future, and highly recommend this book to anyone looking for their next cozy fantasy read.
A Great Book with Barack Obama by Barack Obama and Higher Ground
RATING: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Politics & Activism, Presidents & Head of State, Entertainment & Celebrities
PLATFORMS: Audible exclusive only (free to listen to on their platform!)
This was the most recent book I listened to and was freshly released on September 24th of this year. This audio book is a 6 episode podcast series where President Obama discusses a few of his favorite and most life changing reads with featured guests, including Tom Hanks, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jill Lepore, Ben Rhodes, Percival L. Everett, and Lauren Groff [1, 2]. Obama and his guests explore the themes and messages of each book, what they meant to each person both in the past and present, and underlying messages that reflect today's political and racial atmosphere. Each book is well summarized and explored in ways that implore the listener to dive right in to each piece themselves. This podcast wasn't simply a well structured review, though. It also touched deeply on the racial issues we still face in America today, as well as themes of poverty, coming-of-age, greed, self-esteem, the need for activism, and more. This podcast was exceptional and insightful, and I look forward to reading the books that Obama and his guests spoke so highly about.
Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson
RATING: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Physics, Astronomy, Philosophy, Correspondence/Essay Collection
PLATFORMS: Kindle, Audible, Libby, Hardcover, Paperback, & more
Neil deGrasse Tyson never fails to impress me with his ability to explain more intricate concepts in an easy-to-follow, entertaining way. He touches on scientifically important ideas and applies them to humanity, while still maintaining just the right amount of humor to make his writings incredibly enjoyable to read. This book follows Tyson's responses to letters he has received from individuals of all age ranges and locations. These letters feature opinions, questions, and more, and Tyson uses his scientific background to respond in tactful and insightful ways. This book is more than an account of astrophysics itself; it's an exploration into humanity, politics, climate change, and more. I highly recommend this book to all individuals, as you'll find it touches on crucial ideas we could all benefit from understanding better.
A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney
RATING: 4/4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Paranormal Fantasy, Romance, Witchcraft
PLATFORMS: Kindle, Audible, Libby, Hardcover, Paperback, & more
AGE WARNING: While this book does feature only closed-door romance, there are other themes of death and spirits that may not be appropriate for all ages.
This book has been highly recommended to me by lovers of paranormal romance, especially now that Halloween is on its way. Noted as a Persephone-Hades retelling, the story itself follows 31-year-old Hecate "Kate" Goodwin, who lives alone in a small cottage nestled on her family's estate. She defines herself as a hedge witch and practices herbalism, magical cooking, and healing magic. She discovers a dark family secret that changes her life forever, and with the help of her new love interest and two magically gifted sisters, fights against a force that seeks to enslave her. Without giving too much away, this book was deliciously spooky with such a unique take on witches and magic. The pacing did feel slightly unbalanced, which is why I gave it 4 stars, but don't let that deter you from this wonderful Autumn read.
Quantum Physics for Beginners, Into the Light
RATING: 4/4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Physics, Astronomy
PLATFORMS: Kindle, Audible, Libby (very limited availability), Hardcover, Paperback
After reading Neil deGrasse Tyson's Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, I was looking for something else to satisfy that astronomy sweet tooth I'd started to develop. Growing up, we are often placed into categories based on our interests and what we seem to excel at. For a long time I saw myself strictly as a writer and artist because that's what I was good at. As an almost thirty-year-old woman, I now find myself deeply attracted to topics that were always labeled as 'not for me.' This book was insightful and engaging, and while I didn't find myself drawn to it in the way I am to Neil deGrasse Tyson's writing, it was a wonderful foundation for concepts that usually seem beyond the everyday person's ability.
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