Anyone reading or following this blog will have noticed that the posts going up lately are not really current. The last several months of 2019 got busy for me and I just didn’t have much time or energy to devote to this blog but I was still coming up with ideas and things to post. So at the start of 2020, my goal for the blog is to catch up on these older posts and then get to a point where I can post more current things.

In October I read a total of eight books, three which were graphic novels and one audio book.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann is a historical nonfiction book about the murders in the Osage Indian Nation in the 1920s and the creation of the FBI. During this time multiple members of the Osage tribe where being killed without many people noticing or caring. When the death toll reached a certain point the newly created FBI got involved in the case that became their first major homicide investigation. These murders where carried out many people of the community in an attempt to gain access to the oil head rights owned by the tribe. The book contains information both on the events happening in Oklahoma with the tribes and the general creation of the FBI but puts more focus on what was happening in Oklahoma and the investigation here. A fairly quick read but is probably more interesting to those who already study this history or want to know more. 

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll is a graphic novel of creepy and scary short stories. None of the stories are incredibly scary but are very atmospheric and its a great read for October around Halloween. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories stick with you as they invoke images and stories from childhood.

 

 

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller is a young adult historical fiction novel following the life of the Russian royal family the Romanov’s. The book is written from the perspective of the four daughters of the Tsar: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. The book starts when their lives are great during their childhoods and progresses through World War I and the Russian Revolution. Though it is written for a young adult audience the book does not shy away from the tragedy that befell this family. Well written and researched for the right audience.. As an adult there where parts that felt a little too young and bored me at times.

Sadie by Courtney Summer is a young adult mystery novel about a girl named Sadie who disappeared after her sisters death. Sadie is attempting to bring her sisters killer to justice by finding him and killing him herself. When radio host West McCray hears about Sadie, he starts a podcast retracing Sadie’s steps to find out what happen and maybe find her. I read this as an audio book which is amazing. The story is incredibly gripping and makes you want to finish it but the topics the story handles makes it hard to read. As you see what Sadie did to try to protect her sister Mattie from a man who just wanted to hurt them. About two hours to the end of the audio book was the hardest part to finish, I wanted to know what would happen but I was worried about Sadie and I just wanted her to be okay. If you can, try the audio book as it is very well done.

Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant is a horror novella about a research vessel going out and trying to find mermaids. This was a reread for me on my phone while waiting for an appointment. I have a full review posted already but its still as good as it was the first time I read it.

 

 

Saga vol 8 and vol 9 by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples are the last two currently published graphic novels of the Saga series. I don’t want to post spoilers here and I do plan to have a full series review with spoilers so I don’t want to say much. These volumes where very good but hard to get through given some of the topics mentioned and who lives and dies. I do love that these characters that have been forced into this situation are slowly becoming a family that cares about each other.  

The last book that I read this month was Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters by Justin Richards. This is a coffee table type book with information and pictures about the monsters in Doctor Who and how they were created. Its written in a way that both acts like these monsters are real but also talks about how they were created for the show with behind the scenes information. Good book for anyone who is a major fan of Doctor Who.