Curl up, get cozy, and carve out some time for October’s best reads

As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, there’s no better time to curl up with a great book.

 

October is the perfect month for escaping into stories that transport you through history, across continents, and even into the future.

 

Whether you’re looking for a thought-provoking novel for your book club or a thrilling mystery to keep you up past bedtime, this month’s book picks have a little something for everyone. From epic sagas to gripping nonfiction, you’ll want to carve out extra time for these captivating reads.

 

Fiction

“There Are Rivers in The Sky” by Elif Shafak. A transgenerational saga, beginning with the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” weaves together three stories in this engaging book. Themes of archeological, political, and historical stewardship make for a stunning story. Excellent reading.

 

“The Fertile Earth” by Ruthvika Rao. A remarkable debut novel using the Naxalite (Marxist) revolution in India in the late ‘60s early ‘70s. Harsh cultural restrictions, heartbreaking personal tragedy, and attempts at upending the class divide provide compulsive reading.

 

“Mina’s Matchbox” by Yoko Ogawa. For a complete twist, I urge you to read this quietly exquisite story of a girl in Japan who goes to live with her cousin and family for a year. Lovely prose, and a story with humanity and gravitas. A joy to read and savor.

 

“Hum” by Helen Phillips. In the not-too-distant future, a family is disrupted by technology.  A small mistake becomes every parent’s nightmare. Timely as we bring more AI into our daily existence. 

 

“The Murder of Mr. Ma” by John Shen Yen Lee and SJ Rozan. Wonderfully written, fast moving murder mystery in 1924 London. Holmes- and Watson-like duo sleuthing out perpetrators. A nice historical context along with the chase for the criminals.

 

“A Talent for Murder” by Peter Swanson. This author never disappoints. When you just want a fun cat-and-mouse crime novel, here you go. All of his books are enjoyable.

 

“Middletide” by Sarah Crouch. Beautifully depicted setting in Puget Sound for this contemporary murder mystery involving love, betrayal, and vengeance.

 

Nonfiction

“Everest, Inc.” by Will Cockrell. Fascinating account of how climbing the most iconic peak in the world has been transformed into a profit-making business, taking hundreds of people to the summit, some who have never put on an ice crampon before arriving at base camp. What? Great as a listen to make your trip fly by.

 

“Wanted: Toddler’s Personal Assistant” by Stephanie Kiser. I guess this is what it is like to be a nanny for the TV show “The Real Housewives.” Yikes! An easy read or listen to the lifestyles of the uber-rich, and cringy funny. 

 

“The Incorruptibles” by Dan Slater. Did you know the Eastern European Jews of the Lower East Side in the early 1900s started their own organized crime mob? Prostitution, gambling, “security.” When the police failed to adequately control the mayhem, the German Jews of Uptown organized to squelch the activity. Community activism at its best.

 

With many great reads to choose from, October promises to be a month full of literary adventures.