What I read in September 2022

I haven’t just been reading silently this past month - I also performed a short story, “Transformation”, at Emotional Madness with Mary-Ann and Mates at Colchester Arts Centre, which went down well enough for me to be invited to submit a piece for the podcast of one of my fellow performers! So I ended up writing and recording a little something extra, which should be online for all to hear in the not-too-far future.

Me with most of my fellow performers

Here’s what I read in my head in September…

Night Shadows, by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, translated by Victoria Cribb - 4*

Without Warning & Only Sometimes, by Kit de Waal - 5*

At the Breakfast Table, by Defne Suman - 4.5*

Folly Ditch, by Anna Sayburn Lane - 4*

Black Hearts, by Doug Johnstone - 4.5*

Dark Tales, by Shirley Jackson - very good, but The Lottery and other stories has the edge because it’s better-curated. 4*

Curtains: 84 Concert Visions To Benefit #SaveOurStages, edited by Brock Wilbur and Meghan Ball - 4*

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor, by Bianca Marais - 4*

The Moose Paradox, by Antti Tuomainen, translated by David Hackston - 3.5*

Thirteen, by Steve Cavanagh - read for September’s Book Shelf Raiders, but couldn’t make it to the meeting! 4.5*

Looking ahead…

I didn’t get to read Kate Atkinson’s new novel, Shrines of Gaiety, last month as it was dispatched late due to the Waterstone’s SNAFU (although I might not have had time due to tour commitments), but as it’s now on its way, I’m hopeful of reading it in October.

Other books I’m particularly keen to read this month are Paul Cleave’s The Pain Tourist (having enjoyed his other books) and Paul O’Neill’s With Dust Shall Cover (what with being on a short story kick), both for blog tours.

I’m planning to read The Tyranny of Lost Things, by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett for this month’s Book Shelf Raiders (theme: a debut book). Maybe I’ll actually make it to the Zoom this time!