What I Read in October 2021

This month I managed to read not one, but TWO non-fiction books. This may not sound significant but it’s an achievement for me as at the beginning fo the year I set myself a challenge to read one non-fiction or memoir per month, but it hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

Basically, I’ve gone many a month reading only fiction, so I’m glad to have redressed the balance slightly in October. And they were excellent memoirs too, more below…

My October Book Reviews:

(Click on book title for my full review.)

/ Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

/ Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernardine Evaristo

/ The Hiding Place by Amanda Mason

/ Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

/ The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

/ Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

/ No Shame by Tom Allen

/ The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom

/ Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin

Yes, so my two great aforementioned non-fiction reads were Manifesto by Bernardine Evaristo and No Shame by Tom Allen. Both brilliantly-written, emotive memoirs with a message. Both, randomly, by fellow South-East Londoners, a fact I enjoyed.

Fiction-wise, I had a little old-school horror (in honour of Halloween) with Rosemary’s Baby, which was highly enjoyable, if a little nuts. I read a great classic Agatha Christie too – Towards Zero is a perfectly plotted standalone from her (as in, not Poirot or Marple). Speaking of classics, I re-read an old favourite, Rebecca. The Gothic gem was just as good this time round, defintiely one I recommend to everyone.

Special shoutout to the most random yet satisfying read I had this month, Piranesi won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, which is the reason I read it and I’m so glad I did. Part fantasy, fully immersive and totally amazing. Loved it! A lesson in pushing yourself out of your reading comfort zone.

What have you been reading this month? Let me know below!