October is here, so that means it's time to post my September wrap-up. Our main event for September was our oldest daughter's wedding in central NY. We spent just over a week "back home" where we saw friends and family, made final preparations, and enjoyed every second of Wedding Weekend. Even with all of that, I managed to finish four books. They were all quite enjoyable, too.
SEPTEMBER BOOKS
September by Rosamunde Pilcher - a buddy read with Tina and Les, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The Safekeep by Yael Van der Wouden - Booker Prize shortlist, ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes - family drama, romance ⭐⭐⭐💫
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout - new novel from my favorite author, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OCTOBER READING POSSIBILITIES
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan - my current slow read
A Guest at the Feast: Essays by Colm TóibÃn - in progress
Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann - in progress
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Where the Forest Meets the River by Shannon Bowring
Also in October
We are in the midst of a bathroom remodel at our CT condo. It was past time to update the nearly 30-year-old cabinets, tile, and fixtures. That will probably continue for another week or two.
We plan to spend a few days in NYC mid-month. One of our daughters, her husband, and the grandpup are moving into a new apartment on the Upper West Side, so we will help with that . Our other NYC daughter (the newlywed) and I have tickets to attend two evening programs at Symphony Space - Power and Storytelling with Margaret Atwood and Min Jin Lee, and Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Meg Wolitzer. We're still working out the daytime activities.
And of course, topping my list of immediate concerns is yet another hurricane taking aim at Florida's gulf coast. Milton is predicted to be a Cat 3 at landfall and the latest "spaghetti models" have it trending south of Tampa. Our island still has standing water leftover from Helene; I just don't know how we're going to absorb any more! The storm surge is the scariest thing at this point. Here we go again... And there's still another month and a half left in hurricane season.
How was your September? What was your favorite book of the month?
Your reading and your reading possibilities all sound very intriguing.
ReplyDeletebest, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks, Mae. The ones I've started are all good so far.
DeleteI am glad that you are all up north while Milton is blowing in! And congrats to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteErin - I'm glad we're still up here, too! Some of our friends are already evacuating.
DeleteI was thinking of you with both Helene and now Milton. Hopefully Sanibel will be spared the worst of it.
ReplyDeleteD'Aulaire's book on Greek mythology was my introduction to it as a young reader, and I was immediately fascinated and couldn't wait to read more.
Lisa - This has been a tough hurricane season! Sure hope this will be the last of the big ones. Recently I've been wanting to read and become more familiar with Greek mythology, somehow missed it in high school and college. Then on last week's NYTimes Book Review podcast Jean Hanff Korelitz mentioned how D'Aulaire's book had shaped and influenced her as both a reader and writer/storyteller. I figured that was a pretty good recommendation!
DeleteI have been following the news about Milton. I saw that it was upgraded to a hurricane. I have family in South Carolina who were impacted by Helene, although fortunately not as bad as it was for many others affected. I am glad you are safe up north. We're still dealing with the heat here, but should see some relief the end of this week.
DeleteMy daughter's interest is Greek and Roman mythology has taken off more so recently and that's all she wants to talk about just about. I love her enthusiasm.
I hope you have a good October, JoAnn!
Wendy - Milton is now up to a Cat 5 hurricane... the rapid intensification has given many forecasters pause. Sanibel got the evacuation order this morning, with Fort Myers/Cape Coral evacuating all in zone A and B shortly after.
DeleteGreat to hear about your daughter's increasing interest in Greek and Roman mythology. I somehow missed it all when I was her age and would now like to go back and read some of the stories.
I do hope you are spared with Milton. Hurricanes are so stressful.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing about your NYC adventures with books. I am glad to see how much your enjoyed the new Elizabeth Strout book.
Deb - Things are looking grim for the FL Gulf Coast this morning. It's going to be a long few days ahead...
DeleteYikes! Here's hoping the hurricane swerves and misses!
ReplyDeleteAmy - Thanks. I'm afraid no matter where it makes landfall, we'll still be on the "dirty side" of the storm and get significant surge...
DeleteI am looking forward to The Safekeep but I expect my reading will slow this month. We are going to Nebraska in a week and half to see our son and granddaughter. Then home a bit before heading to Tennessee for a week. I always take my Kndle but rarely get a chance to read.
ReplyDeleteThese storms are terrible and i can't wait for the winter!! I hope your Sanibel home will be safe. Also, the remodel on your bathroom in CT will be an amazing difference! When we had our tow bathrooms and the kitchen remodeled it was wonderful. The house is old and like yours, dated fixtures, cabinets, etc.
Tina - The Safekeep is a slow burn and pretty explicit, but it's such a good read. Glad you'll be getting a break from this ridiculous hurricane season... hope we're not in for a long winter of clean-up and repairs again.
DeleteWe did one of our CT bathrooms last fall and love the result. Looks like this one is going to be just as nice. I don't dare bring up the kitchen ... yet ;-)
The kitchen remodel was hardest for us because you can't cook. Still, we are so glad we did it. Will make the house easier for a sale. I do believe we are getting there. I hope you won't have lots of cleanup in Sanibel, Ugh.
DeleteTina - Another bad storm and I may be ready to sell our place, too! Hoping for the best this week.
DeleteI'm worrying about Milton -- ugh its path is not good. I will hope the best for Sanibel. I am glad you are away. And the author events in NYC will be amazing. Great to hear the new Strout is another 5 star read. I will get to it. Sept was great for the wedding ... congrats to your daughter. What a happy event for you all.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I'm really glad we're not there now, too... hope we don't get called back right away to deal with clean up. This is going to be a mess, I'm afraid. Really looking forward to the NYC events though!
DeleteI just read that they retired the hurricane name Michael after the all the destruction in 2018. They replaced it with the name Milton. Damn....
ReplyDeleteTina - Let's hope Milton is not the new Michael!! Sanibel issued mandatory evacuation orders this morning... hope my elderly neighbors heed them.
DeleteI sincerely hope your neighbors take heed, this is a crazy strong storm. I just read the winds are up to 175.
DeleteTina - At least one is suffering from PTSD and I know they will not stay put again. We'll see about the two other couples...
DeleteYou had a great September. I hope October is a good month too. Looks like you have a good reading line up.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvonne.
DeleteI hope everyone in Florida (and your house) are safe! What a season it has been.
ReplyDeleteYour NY plans sound fabulous, I hope you have a wonderful time.
Helen - This has been such a tough hurricane season for so many! I'm nervous about what the week will bring. NYC will be great though!
DeleteI think I just read that Milton did come in as a Cat 3. I hope your home is ok!
ReplyDeleteJinjer - Our house is okay... so relieved!
DeleteThinking of you as we watched the havoc from Milton.
ReplyDeleteThe two evening programs with your daughter sound wonderful. Enjoy and report back, please :)
Love the pumpkin photo!
JaneGS - Many of our neighbors flooded during Milton, but we are just a few feet higher in elevation and it made a difference this time - what a relief. This has been an awful hurricane season!!
DeleteI'm so far behind reading my favorite blogs! We got home on Wednesday and it's been a whirlwind getting the RV cleaned out, groceries bought, laundry washed, etc., etc. I'm hoping to get caught up in the blogosphere before we head out again for a short trip to California in two weeks. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see that you gave the new Strout book 5 stars! I am planning to read all of her books (many will be re-reads) in early 2025. I think it will be fun to read them back-to-back and see how the characters evolve and overlap in each book.
Like Tina, I rarely get a chance to read while on a trip. I managed to finish Billy Summers while we were traveling, and LOVED it! I'm looking forward to another by Stephen Kind (Holly) later this month.
I hope your home on Sanibel survived Milton. You've been in my thoughts these past few days!
Les - Welcome home! It looks like you had an excellent trip, but I'm sure your mom is happy to have you home again. Great idea to read the Elizabeth Strout novels in a row... I just love them all! We did not have any flooding in our house with Milton, which was a huge relief. Unfortunately not everyone on the island was as lucky. The water is gradually receding and everyone will have vegetative debris to deal with. Hoping for power and water soon.
DeletePhew! Glad your house didn't have any problems with flooding.
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