Read:
The Cocktail Party – T.S. Eliot (Faber & Faber, 1954)
Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein – Anne Eekhout (HarperVia, 2023)
The Last – Hanna Jameson (Atria Books, 2019)
Early Morning Riser – Katherine Heiny (Random House Audio, 2021)
Away from the Dead – Dave Bergen (Goose Lane Editions, 2023)
Land of Milk and Honey – C. Pam Zhang (Riverhead Books, 2023)
Normal Rules Don’t Apply – Kate Atkinson (Bond Street Books, 2023)
Currently Reading:
Bangkok Wakes to Rain – Pitchaya Sudbanthad
Kingdom, Grace, Judgement – Robert Farrar Capon
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
Did Not Finish:
Gods of Jade and Shadow – Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Nothing wrong with this one but I found it slow going and gave up on it when it came time to return it to the library. I’ve read and enjoyed other books by Moreno-Garcia but I don’t know that I’ll seek her work out in the future.
2023 GOALS:
Books Read: 86/100 (7 in September)
Translated Works: 8/15 (1 in October – Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein translated from Dutch)
Books I Already Own: 22/30 (1 in October – The Cocktail Party)
Books From the TBR pre-2020: 14/20 (The Last from 2019)
Current TBR: 203 (previously 200) Look at me go!
Thoughts:
It’s been a busy month in our household so although I had hoped to reach 10 books in October, I’m happy with my total of 7. I’m also pretty close to finishing at least 2 of my current reads. I’m also pleased with the fact that I’ve been able to review most of what I’ve read this month. This month had a lot of good reads but not great. I was super excited for new books from C Pam Zhang and Kate Atkinson and then a little disappointed with each (at least partially because of my high expectations).
What’s Next:
Looking over my TBR and various lists, I’ve realized I have a few ARCs to catch up on. As more publishers move to digital ARCs, I’m finding it harder to keep track of the ones I’ve asked for and want to read. Without a physical pile flaunting itself at me, it’s easy to forget. A couple of release dates have passed but I definitely want to read the books so I’ll try and focus on those for November.
Karissa Reads Books 
I’m happy to see that you’re reading. Zora Neal Hurston. If you get stuck on the language, consider getting the audiobook from your library and listening as you read along.
I actually did listen to it on audio and that probably helped a lot. I didn’t have trouble with the language but I did struggle with some of the content, particularly the abusive nature of Janie and Teacake’s relationship being held up as love. I’m finished the book but I need to read some more about it, I think, to better understand it.
Yeah, the first time I read Janie and Teacake’s story, I was appalled. However, I read it again (and again) and realized that he was hitting her after she agreed to it, because if he didn’t posture like a “real man,” they would lose their jobs and have no where to live.
I know there’s a bigger context of time and place and culture. But I couldn’t help but feel it was sad that her great love was still a man who hit her and talked about her like that to other men. Maybe I’ll give it a re-read in a few years.
No, I totally agree with you. I found it bizarre that they agreed to the situation.