Hello, and welcome to my September wrap up! I am genuinely concerned to be writing those words. How is it time for a September wrap up already?! I swear it was May like two weeks ago. Anyway. Time is just a construct. Let’s take a look at the books I read this month.
I’m happy to say that September was BUSY. Like many people, my working life took a hit during the pandemic. I’ve basically been a sloth for the last four months. But thankfully, September saw a little influx of work come my way, and I am truly grateful. I thought that I was reading less, but when I came to compile my September wrap up stack… I realised I was mistaken! Once again I’ve devoured a seemingly ridiculous number of books, and I am not complaining!
Usually I write a separate audiobook round-up post, but this month I just didn’t have time! So I’ve given them their own little section in this post. Let’s dive into my September wrap up then, starting with my favourites!
Disclosure: titles with an asterisk* were gifted by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’m an affiliate for Blackwell’s, so this post contains affiliate links to their site. If you buy a book via my links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you – thank you!
September Wrap Up Standouts
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
After loving Pet in June, I was sure that Emezi’s adult fiction would be even more up my street. And I was correct! The Death of Vivek Oji is an achingly beautiful exploration of gender identity, grief and love. Emezi credits Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez as the inspiration for the structure of the story. Honestly, I think they pull it off better than Márquez. This book captivated me, particularly the sections narrated by Vivek and his cousin Osita in the first person. Don’t miss this one.
Buy The Death of Vivek Oji at Blackwell’s
Learning to Talk to Plants* by Marta Orriols, tr. Mara Faye Lethem
Translated from the Catalan, this beautiful novel is another exploration of grief. Am I okay? I just love sad books. This one feels so unique. It centres around Paula, who is mourning the sudden death of her partner after an accident. However, barely anyone knows that just a few hours before he died, he had broken up with Paula, admitting to an affair. Orriols picks apart Paula’s feelings before and after the event. I just can’t imagine feeling that many feelings at once, but Orriols does a fantastic job depicting it.
Buy Learning to Talk to Plants at Blackwell’s
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
It took me a while to pick this book up, as although I liked The Underground Railroad, I wasn’t completely sold on Whitehead’s style. I’m kicking myself about that now. The sparse, almost cold style I didn’t love in TUG completely swept me away in The Nickel Boys. The straightforward storytelling makes this book all the more powerful, without the need for embellishment. It also has probably one of the best endings I’ve ever read.
Buy The Nickel Boys at Blackwell’s
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Poetry scares me. Novels in verse scare me. But if you feel the same way, don’t let that stop you from picking up The Poet X because this book just WORKS. This is the kind of poetry I can get behind. The entire narrative is told through countless poems, with beautiful and powerful verses combining to create a compelling story. I truly wasn’t expecting to love this book this much, but I ended up devouring the whole thing on one Sunday afternoon. I couldn’t put it down, Xiomara’s story kept me absorbed until the very last page!
The rest of my physical books!
Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café* by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, tr. Geoffrey Tousselot
I broke the rules and read this sequel before reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold… But it landed on my doorstep out of the blue and I couldn’t resist! It can definitely be read as four standalone tales. Perfect for when you want something a little bit sweet, a little bit sad, and with a sprinkle of magic.
Blueprint* by Theresia Enzensberger, tr. Lucy Jones
Sadly, this is one of the only books from my September wrap up that didn’t really work for me. I was interested at first, as I knew nothing about the Bauhaus School. But the subject matter felt dry, and I found the main character quite annoying. A shame, but I think its audience is out there! It’s just not me.
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
This was a recommendation from Sofia @sofia_reading and as always, she delivered! This book had me gripped the entire way through. Some parts are hard to stomach, but we definitely need more books like this! I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book where a character discovers Islam a bit later in life and embraces it, finding solace in religion. It was refreshing, poetic and utterly heart-breaking at times.
Holiday Heart* by Margarita García Robayo, tr. Charlotte Coombe
On the surface, this book is about a failing marriage. Underneath though, there is an exploration of class, racism within the Latinx community, and the grim reality of the ‘American Dream’ for many immigrants. However, I wished the book were longer so Robayo could have delved into these topics with more depth.
A Musical Offering* by Luis Sagasti, tr. Fionn Petch
This is such a little gem from Charco Press! It took me by surprise, as I’m not a huge music buff, but I think everyone will find something to love with this unique book. Through a fragmented yet circular narrative, Sagasti muses on the transformative power of music. It’s a mash-up of classical music, the Beatles, war, Scheherazade, and something unique that Sagasti brings to the table.
Small Country by Gaël Faye, tr. Sarah Ardizzone
I first saw this one on Anna’s feed @never_withouta_book and was instantly intrigued. It’s set in Burundi, against the backdrop of the Rwandan genocide. As expected, it’s a harrowing read. War told through the eyes of a child always has a particular power to it. Faye excels at creating a sense of place, and I was carried away by his descriptions of the Burundian landscape.
Outsiders*, edited by Alice Slater
I’m always hesitant with anthologies because I prefer single-authored collections. However, this one was consistently strong! Some of my favourite stories were Wendigo by Julia Armfield, Peep Hole by Leone Ross, Skin by Lena Mohamed, and The Lady’s Not for Burning by Sarvat Hasin.
Ogadinma by Ukamaka Olisakwe
Described as a ‘feminist classic in the making’, Ogadinma is the story of the eponymous heroine battling her way to independence. Ogadinma faces many obstacles thrown at her by the patriarchal society of 1980s Nigeria. Sometimes it seemed as though everything that could go wrong for Ogadinama did. However, Olisakwe provides some moments of relief through friendships, and her style remains imminently readable.
Doppelgänger* by Daša Drndić, tr. Celia Hawkesworth and S.D. Curtis
This was my first introduction to Drndić’s work, and I think it was a great one! It gave me a good insight into her unique style, which she’s very rigid about in translation. I liked the way she wove Croatian history into personal stories. It definitely made me want to read more by her, as well as more from Croatia and its history within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Confessions by Kanae Minato, tr. Stephen Snyder
Many thanks to Nadia for gifting me this one for my one-year anniversary at The StoryGraph! She knows my tastes very well, as I was utterly hooked by this one! The first chapter is SO good, I had chills by the end of it. What follows is a twisted journey of revenge that will have you on the edge of your seat. I did have to suspend my disbelief for some parts, but that’s all part of the fun, right?
Mr Fox by Helen Oyeyemi
I really enjoyed this trip into the weird and wonderful mind of Helen Oyeyemi! It’s a mash up of different retellings, but I think it works even if you aren’t familiar with some of the stories being retold (like me). Oyeyemi considers this book a ‘game’, and it’s certainly very playful! But she also says she doesn’t think it contributes anything, which I think is harsh! It contributed to a delightful day of reading on my end.
Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
If you read a collection on the recommendation of Tasnim @reads.and.reveries, you know it’s going to be good. Heads of the Colored People was no exception. I love it when a short story collection is so strong it’s hard to choose favourites! But if I was forced to, I’d say Whisper to a Scream, Suicide, Watch, Heads of the Colored People and the trio of stories featuring Fatima were my favourites.
Sisters* by Daisy Johnson
This book is perfect for anyone looking for a spooky autumnal read that’s easy on the horror. Sisters delivers sinister vibes without getting creepy enough that you’ll need to sleep with the lights on. I’m also a sucker for books where the house is a character in its own right, AND twisted familial relationships. So this was destined to be a winner for me.
The Lying Life of Adults* by Elena Ferrante, tr. Ann Goldstein
It must have been tough to follow up from the Neapolitan Novels, but I think Ferrante gives it a bloody good go. Although The Lying Life of Adults doesn’t have the same edge as the quartet, it’s still a compelling story. I loved her dissection of adolescence, in all its messy glory. Her use of and commentary on Italian dialects continues to fascinate me too.
Girls Against God* by Jenny Hval, tr. Marjam Idriss
This one started off really well but sadly derailed a bit for me by the end. I liked what Hval had to say about conservative attitudes in southern Norway, and the need to split away from that. But the book became too cinematic for my tastes further in. It felt like reading a series of surreal, avant-garde film clips, and that didn’t work for me. I think fans of black metal, the goth subculture, and horror films will enjoy it though!
Audiobooks
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (narrated by Adjoa Andoh)
There’s a new favourite romcom in town and its name is Get a Life, Chloe Brown! I know I’m incredibly late to the party, but I became OBSESSED with this book. It took me a week to listen to because I parcelled it out – I never wanted it to end. I want to be best friends with Chloe and Red is one of the sweetest men in fiction EVER. It’s also steamy as heck and features an MC with fibromyalgia. Just great stuff all round. I can’t wait to read the next one! A definite standout of my September wrap up!
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio (narrated by the author)
You have surely seen this one all over bookstagram. It’s been especially championed by @lupita.reads, @booksteahenny, @idleutopia_reads and @allegedlymari, and when these people say something is a must-read, you should listen! It’s also The Stacks book club pick for September, so you can listen to Traci’s chat with the author and then with Lupita about the book! I only finished this one at the weekend and I’m still trying to collect my thoughts on it. It’s an intense mix of personal and general. Villavicencio recounts her and her family’s experience as undocumented Americans, while investigating and exposing the atrocious ways undocumented immigrants are treated in America on the whole.
A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry & Kali N. Gross (narrated by Janina Edwards)
This is SUCH an illuminating read. Once I got used to the rather textbook-like style, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the often-hidden roles and achievements of Black women in US history. I think this would make a valuable addition to any classroom, but particularly American ones.
A History of My Brief Body* by Billy-Ray Belcourt (narrated by the author)
From this essay collection, I can instantly tell Belcourt is a stellar poet. His words are carefully chosen, expressing his thoughts in a way that is profound and poignant. I think I might have enjoyed this even more if I’d read it in print. Belcourt’s thoughts are complex, and often take routes that are difficult to follow just by listening. If I reread it in print, I know I’ll be underlining passages all over the place, particularly when he talks about Indigenous folk claiming joy in the face of colonial violence.
Wisdom from a Humble Jellyfish by Rani Shah (narrated by Soneela Nankani)
This was a disappointment. I expected lots of fascinating animal facts, and what I got was repackaged self-care tips such as ‘write down three things you’re grateful for each night’. I’m not saying this is bad advice, it’s just not what I wanted from this book.
September Wrap Up Stats
Total Books Read: 24
Physical Books: 19
Audiobooks: 5
Total Pages: 5644
Countries visited and translations read
I visited two new countries for my reading the world project!
- Croatia with Doppelgänger* by Daša Drndić
- Burundi with Small Country by Gaël Faye
I also made return visits to the following countries:
- Italy
- Nigeria
- US
- Canada
- Norway
- Argentina
- UK
- Japan
- Germany
- Spain
Again, I was pleased with the translations I read in September. Usually my physical books make up the bulk of my translations and this month was no different. It’s surprisingly hard to find audiobooks of translated works! These were the languages I read from in my September wrap up:
- Italian
- Norwegian
- Spanish
- Catalan
- Croatian
- Japanese
- French
- German