My Mid September Reads

Hello hello, my lovely readers! It's been a minute since we've spent time together on the blog and I do apologize for that. I've just settled into my shared home, getting into the groove of international living and job searching. I'm finally ready to get back into the swing of content making and I'm happy to say that I've got so many ideas for content and possible means to bring them to life.

That being said! I have a writing and reading intense degree so I do a lot of academically encouraging reading, outside of the books I read in my spare time. Today I'm going to share with you my favourite picks from my course reading list and personal novel picks for the month. If you would like to hear more drop a comment here or on the forum page!

Reading List from my Genre Fiction study

• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

I'm really looking forward to reading this as I was introduced to the 'character' of Achilles in Pat Bakers The Silence of the Girls. I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction but I have a feeling I'll enjoy this one!

Summary: The story is told from the perspective of Patroclus who, exiled by his father to live in the court of Peleus, soon falls in love with his host's son, the superhuman Achilles: from childhood, his demi-god status means he is swifter, more beautiful and more skilled than all his peers.

• The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

So I've seen the Netflix Adaptation on my reccoemnded a few times but I've never actually watched it, so I'm excited to have to read it first before I can dive into the adaptation (and judge it!).

Summary: The Haunting of Hill House book follows four strangers, all of whom come to Hill House, long-rumored to be haunted, under the guidance of Dr. Montague, who is hoping to scientifically prove the existence of the supernatural. Over the course of the summer, the house proves itself to be extremely haunted.

• The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

I've not read as much Gaiman as I would like so to have this included in the compulsory reading list is very lucky for me! I've read 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman and that was incredibly captivating so I have high hopes for this high fantasy novel.

Summary: It tells the story of a man who returns to Sussex for a funeral and then finds himself driving "randomly" to the scenes of his childhood. He is drawn to the Hempstock farmhouse wherein, he remembers, there lived three generations of powerful and mysterious Hempstock women.

Personal Picks of the Month

• The Silence of The Girls by Pat Baker

I've fallend absolutely in love with this book and I'm not even halfway through it yet. The writing style is simple but potent, and the way the author is able to tie together the old and the new so seamlessly is greatly impressive.

Summary: Briseis of Lyrnessus is the teenage queen taken as Achilles' trophy when his army destroys her town on their way to Troy, after he murders every male in her family—her husband, her father, her brothers, all brutally murdered in front of her.

• Good Omens by Neil Gaiman

I know I'm a bit late to the Good Omens craze but in keeping with the Neil Gaiman theme of this months reading I'm going to attempt to squeeze this in.

Summary:Good Omens is the story of an angel and a demon who are both trying to do their jobs that are part of the Great Plan. Although Aziraphale and Crowley are adversaries by nature and profession, their relationship develops into a friendship merely because of the time spent together over thousands of years. In this unlikely pairing, compromises are made between the two of them so that they can both appear to be accomplishing their missions without overcoming the other too much. When the birth of the Antichrist occurs, they agree to work together and try to see if their influences on the child have any effect.

I've got a lot of reading to do! Hopefully some reviews of these books will go up as I finish them.