A World Where There Are Octobers
I was born in October and even though I don’t like being the center of attention, Anne Shirley made me happy when she said “I’m so happy to live in a world where there are Octobers.” To me, October always means a season of change. I get a year older, fall begins (and sometimes ends depending on where you live!), I buy my planner for next year and I start getting excited about the upcoming holidays. I also just love an excuse to wear a sweater and heat up the barley bags that my grandma made for me. This year, the month was even more eventful than usual! My sister took her test to become a board-certified intensive care pediatrician, my aunt got a new puppy, my mom and aunt became Dutch citizens, I’m working on a book with a friend about his parents during WWII, and I went to visit Cornell and saw where my parents met. We also started getting ready for Christmas at Starbucks!
Among all of those fun things, I sometimes get overwhelmed and my way to relax is usually reading. I’m a comfort rereader. Some people watch Gilmore Girls every fall (which I do too!) but I tend to return to some of my favorite books. I’ve probably reread Heidi McLaughlin’s Forever My Girl series more than is healthy. What can I say - I love a happily ever after story! And I love that within the romance, her characters have depth, face true challenges and don’t take anything for granted.
The biggest reread for this month is James Islington’s The Will Of The Many. I listened to a lot of it on a road trip and then started over again with the hardback when I got home. I read it last year with my book club and it has gone on my list as one of the best books I have ever read. EVER. I could not get enough of it. I think my dog Libby thought I was crazy because we were walking miles and miles in our free time just so I could listen. And then when I finished the book, she probably thought I had gotten so lazy! Islington’s writing is just gorgeous - the detail, the flow and the overall story blew me away. I always love a reread of a book like this because I learn new things or notice things I didn’t the first time. It’s also why I love a book club. My brother came to the meeting last year because he had also read it. When he started talking about the theme of the number 3, I had some mind-blowing moments. I knew it was there but when he started talking, I had to seriously pause and think. And not get overwhelmed! But then I also had a mild meltdown when I saw an interview with Maude’s Book Club and James Islington on Instagram where Islington said the series is going to be four books. What the heck?! My type A self is going to have to get over it.
But, I am very grateful that the publisher Simon and Schuster is coming out with a reversible dust cover for the sequel The Strength Of The Few so it can match the art of the original The Will Of The Many hardback. The Strength Of The Few comes out on November 11th. As excited as I am, I’m not sure I’m ready! I read some amazing reviews but they also sound like I will have even more questions. I’m anxiously awaiting it but also trying to plan my reading. I can’t start in the afternoon because I might read all night! My younger brother did that with The Will Of The Many. Euan Morton absolutely crushed the audiobook of The Will Of The Many and thank goodness he’s back! Maybe I have to start there. I’ve also been loving, and laughing, while reading the hardback. A good portion of the names that are pronounced in the audiobook are spelled in a way I could never guess. On Islington’s website he says that he already knows the title of the third one and since “the strength of the few” was a line in The Will Of The Many, I’m curious to see if I notice anything! Stay tuned because I’ll certainly have a review when I’m finished reading. And I may have to read it again so I can process everything!
As October moves to November and kids start dressing like turkeys instead of the Kpop Demon Hunters, I’m excited to dive into some new books, maybe some new projects and prepare my baking lists for the holidays! I should probably also work on some Christmas present ideas…
