October Books

 

Tis the season for all the mysterious vibes, the cosy candles, the long walks along leaf-strewn paths, and the feeling of change in the air. Even if I am mostly pretending until the weather cooperates. One must be patient for the lovely gifts of the autumn season to come. This is by no means an exhaustive list of books I have read this month, but a few that I have finished recently.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

This is a classic I had never read, and I thought it was time, especially as October started. I decided to set a task to read a classic each month that I haven't read before. If you have any recommendations I would love to hear them! Dracula is an interesting tale, well known to some extent, but reading it at last I understand what happens in the story - how Count Dracula is visited in his castle deep in Transylvania by an English attorney, Jonathan Harker, who learns the dark secrets of Dracula over his long stay. Back in England, something strange happens in London and Whitby. A strange presence emerges. Dracula has come over to England. His first victim is close to Jonathan Harker and his wife Mina. But who is going to stop him?

Walking the Invisible by Michael Stewart

A new book released that I immediately wanted to get, following the various walks and locations associated with the Brontë family. They were known for their long walks through the moors and windy landscapes of rugged beauty and danger. I love to learn about all things related to the Brontë family. Each of the siblings had their own talents in writing, and learning about their home, their landscape, and all the things that inspired them is key to understanding and appreciating their books and poems in the best way. It would be so fun to walk some of these paths outlined in the book to feel immersed in the minds of the Brontës - there is much that has not changed since their time in the early 1800s. 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

What an interesting case taken on by Hercule Poirot. He is taken away from his "retirement" and gardening in a small English village, to solve the case of Roger Ackroyd's murder. As usual, there are many suspects to investigate, and Poirot is always a few steps ahead of us in knowing things. Of course, using his little grey cells in his brain, he sees much more than we do at the surface. When everything seems like it is clear, when all evidence points to one particular person, it cannot be that simple. And it's not.

David's Crown: Sounding the Psalms by Malcolm Guite

Malcolm wrote a reflective poem based on each Psalm, set in a poetic style of a corona, meaning the circular nature is the last line of each poem is the first line in the next poem. I have been reading this collection for a couple months, and just finished it. Usually I read two poems each morning with my coffee and journaling (sometimes more). I admire his poetry so much (as well as his talks, YouTube videos, and books), as he has the gift of language that is accessible in today's modern world, yet it draws on all the old ways of writing poetry - sticking to the meter and structure which actually opens the capacity of the reader in ways free verse never could. He is certainly one of the most talented poets alive today.