Truth be told, I was never much of a reader when I was younger (CliffsNotes were my best friend when it came to books), but recently I fell in love. Although I may not read at the same speed as I previously did when I first caught the reading bug, I still want to keep the hobby going (and what better form of accountability than to post a list of the books I finished at the end of the month?!). I don't have any set number of books I am shooting to read this year, but hopefully a lack of goal doesn't mean a lack of books completed. So, without further ado, let's jump into everything I read in September!
- A Serial Killer's Daughter by Kerri Rawson - I grabbed this audiobook from my Hoopla app. I'm not sure how I came across it, but it was written by the daughter of serial killer BTK. I found it super interesting. It doesn't necessarily go into the gory details of the killings (so if that's what you're looking for, this isn't the book for you), but is from her perspective and how they had NO IDEA that he was a serial killer. I guess I never really think about the family of a serial killer, but it was definitely an interesting perspective. She talks about how not only did he ruin seven families (the families of his victims), but he ruined eight because he also ruined theirs. Again, something I never really thought of before. Kerri does find God during the story, so there is some religion sprinkled in here and there, but I wouldn't say it is necessarily a Christian read. I would give it an 8 out of 10.
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - I grabbed this book from our neighborhood community library. I didn't know anything about it, but ended up really enjoying it. It is a story about the coming of age of a Native American teenager. Junior, who is a budding cartoonist, is determined to take his future into his own hands and decides to leave the reservation to attend an all white high school. The author pulled from his own experiences to write this book. The art that accompanies the story is awesome and totally adds to it. I flew through this one. Apparently is has been banned from school curriculum due to the discussion of alcohol, poverty, bullying, violence, sexualty, profanity, etc. Even so (maybe it isn't acceptable for a 10-12 year old), I think it was an inspiring, funny and heartwarming story. I would give it an 8 out of 10.
- Thirst by Heather Anderson - The hubby and I needed an audiobook to listen to on our recent birthday weekend road trip. A friend of ours suggested this one, so we downloaded it. Heather, the author, is attempting to tackle the FKT (fastest known time) on the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail). The book is like a diary about the journey. Let me start off by saying that I don't know if I'd ever be able to tackle 2,600 MILES in one push, but man is it intriguing. I loved listening to this book because it wasn't just the highs, but it included the lows as well. There were points where she wanted to throw in the towel, where she was on the verge of dehydration, where she questioned why she was doing it... but she kept putting one foot in front of the other and continued on. I won't spoil the story and tell you if she breaks the record of not, but I will say I am proud of anyone who attempts to tackle the PCT (whether it takes them two years or two months). I would give it an 8 out of 10.
- This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell - A few weeks back, our library was able to start doing home deliveries for some Oceanside residents (you were required to fill out a form and they would have approve your address). At that point I put a handful of books on my waitlist and periodically they show up on my doorstep (they have a 96 hour quarantine for returned books, so the turnover is slower than pre-COVID days, but I appreciate the safety measures and their concern for their patrons). Anywho, all that to say this was one of my recently checked out books. It's technically considered a book for young adults, but I think it's great for everyone to read. It's broken into 20 easy to digest chapters, falling into 5 overarching themes. I think it's a great resource for not only students but for educators and community members too. The book not only goes into what it means to be anti-racist, but also has writing prompts to get you thinking about how the different topics daily impact you. The author does a great job at balancing hard truths with actionable steps, leaving you empowered to act. The illustrations throughout the book are also amazing! I would give it a 9 out of 10.
With that, September has come to a close. My reading may not be going gang-busters like it has in the past, but I hope it never completely stops. If you have any suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my library wait list!
PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read and would recommend to others. Check it out!
What was the best book you read this year?
PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read and would recommend to others. Check it out!
What was the best book you read this year?
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