Here in Southern California Fall has arrived. Seasonal changes are usually more subtle here than other regions of the country, but not so this year. We’ve already had a rain storm, an odd and eerie thunder (no lightening) event and the temps in the early morning are in the 50s. It is wonderful to walk now, bundled up as the sun peaks up over the horizon. I hope everyone is safe, healthy and enjoying the year as it changes to warmer or cooler temps, depending on where you live.
September was one of the best reading and blogging months I’ve had in a long time. I had my second cataract surgery at the beginning of the month and it healed speedily with the result I was hoping for: the new lens matches my other eye and I still don’t have to wear glasses to read. And, of course, everything is so much cleaner and clearer and has made a difference in the ease and pleasure of reading again. Thank God for modern medicine.
Books Read
Two on a Tower, Thomas Hardy
The Burning Girls, CJ Tudor
Period Piece, Gwen Raverat
The Wild Silence, Raynor Winn
The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently, Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Brettler
The Night Lake, Liz Tichenor
Martha by the Day, Julie Mathilde Lippmann
Blog Posts
“A White Heron,” Sara Orne Jewett
The Fruit of the Tree, Edith Wharton
Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser
RIP
Well, I should know by now that what I say I am going to read for RIP and what I actually read are two different things. While I did start and will continue with HP Lovecraft’s, “The Call of Cthulhu” I got waylaid by other works. When The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton arrived, I had to dig in. And after I read Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron” I continued with the short story collection and found some spooky stories there. I’ll write up some next month.
October
For RIP, I’ll finish The Call of Cthulhu and I really do think I will reread The War of the Worlds, which I am really looking forward to…but who knows…!
The “Club” is this month and Simon at Stuck in a Book has designated the year 1976 for October. My choice is Penelope Lively’s, A Stitch in Time.
I’ll be reading Shakespeare’s, The Tempest for Witch Week.
The Thomas Hardy year continues with the short story collection, Life’s Little Ironies
Hmm, that’s a pretty full dance card, but I’m sure there will be room for spontaneous reads.
Other Reading News
I have discovered a new podcast thanks to Juliana at The [Blank] Garden, who put up a post on The Lost Ladies of Lit. It is a wonderful podcast that showcases little known and forgotten women writers. I am learning so much and have already ordered a book from an episode and more are definitely to follow.
Lizzie Ross is doing daily posts for Banned Books Week that I have found fascinating. Check them out for some enlightening content.
That’s it for me. If you’ve done a September wrap-up let me know in the comments below. I wish you….
Happy Spooktober!
I am so pleased your cataract operation has gone so well and that the weather has cooled enough for you to enjoy walks again. Like you though my R.I.P plans are not going to well… in fact I have not even started, as I have been consumed in trying to finish the weighty classic The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas; which I started at the beginning of summer! 😅 Take care and a happy spooktober to you, too! 🎃
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Thank you, Jessica and good luck with the Count! 👍
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I am happy you are enjoying The Lost Ladies of Lit! I love their work, it is one of my favourite podcasts. Thank you for mentioning my post 🙂
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They are now part of my morning walk. The content is so enlightening. I am so glad I caught your blog post! 😍
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Brilliant news about your surgery, I’m so glad. Nice to read about your upcoming reading plans and I will be interested to read about your reactions.
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It’s a miracle surgery, I think. So happy to have both done.
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Hooray for cataract surgery!
I must admit I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so I haven’t got much to say…
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I know from slumps. They happen and will last as long as they do. Be patient. And thanks for stopping by😍
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Congratulations on your new lenses and your reading accomplishments!
Let me know what you think of Wharton’s “ghost” stories. I started reading them once upon a time, but didn’t find them very ghosty.
The Bible book sounds very interesting!
Enjoy your dance card!
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Amy-Jill Levine is a favorite religion writer of mine. I am so happy with my eyeballs! Thanks Cleo, I hope you are well.
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