Books Read in October

Our jack-o-lanterns, ready for Halloween!

Poor health in October got me WAY behind in writing reviews, but it meant lots of extra reading time! So, I'm a little late with the summary, but here are the books I finished in October:

• Sycamore by Bryn Chancellor (AZ) - adult fiction on audio
• The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton (MI) - adult fiction

• The Witch Elm by Tana French (Ireland) - adult fiction
• All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban - YA fiction on audio

• The Sense of Death by Matty Dalrymple (PA) - adult fiction
• August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones (MI) - adult fiction

 

• Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam (NY) - adult fiction on audio
• Trespassers by Breena Bard (WI) - middle-grade graphic novel

• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - classic adult fiction
• One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks - middle-grade graphic novel

Wow! I finished 10 books last month, which is close to a record for me (though two were middle-grade graphic novels, fit between the cracks). As you can see, it was an all-fiction month for me and an all-dark and creepy reading month, too! I love reading for the season. Otherwise, it was a good mix, with three audio books and seven read in print. Though I read mostly adult fiction, one book was YA and two were for middle-graders. All of these were great; I really enjoyed my months of spooky reading. I'm going to cheat and pick three favorites: a three-way tie! My favorites last month were The Lock Artist, The Sense of Death, and The Haunting of Hill House. Each well-written, compelling, and suspenseful in its own way.

Progress in 2020 Reading Challenges:
You can see all of the reading challenges I am participating in and full lists of the books read for each at the challenges link. I have some fun ones going this year!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2020 - I read eight books from my own shelves last month. #RIP XV Challenge is always good for our TBR shelves.

2020 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge - October was Thrills and Chills, which means every single book fit! I chose The Sense of Death by Matty Dalrymple, since it includes actual ghosts/spirits.

Back to the Classics 2020 - I read another classic! The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson brings my 2020 classics total to five.

PopSugar Reading Challenge - this is a unique one! Most of my categories are filled now, so I didn't add any new ones last month.

2020 Nonfiction Reader's Challenge - No nonfiction last month.

2020 Diversity Reading Challenge - Four of my books were diverse last month.

Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge - I only traveled globally to Ireland in my books last month (where I'd already been this year).

2020 Literary Escapes Challenge - I added two new states, Arizona and Wisconsin, which is tough to do at this time of year.

2020 Big Book Summer Challenge - Ended in September, with a grand total of ten for me this year.

RIP XV -  All 10 of my books fit the challenge, for a total of 14 books this season.

And finally, Bookish Bingo hosted by Chapter Break - not really a challenge per se, but a fun game that I play each month! Stop by to print out this month's Bingo card and play along. In October, I filled 15 spaces on my bingo card:

  

 

Spaces Filled:

 

Sycamore - not in a series, bicycle

The Lock Artist - trick or treat, black on the cover

The Witch Elm - read a physical book

All Your Twisted Secrets - skeletons (figurative), audio book

The Sense of Death - in a series, kidnapper

August Snow - landscape on the cover, shelf love

Leave the World Behind - free book

Haunting of Hill House - made into a TV show or movie, cursed

Free Space

 

What was your favorite book read in October?