Things I Loved in October and Looking Ahead
Monthly Recap | October 2023
If September was the month of busyness, October was the month of sickness and trauma. Everyone in the household got sick (except Michael, because he has an immune system of steel).
It’s been another excellent reading month. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s autumn. Even with the illnesses going around our house, I still finished eight books! Some were audiobooks, which I’ve finally decided to start including in my reading tracking.
My Top Three Reads
Songs of the Wicked (C.A. Farran): This book has everything my heart desires: found family, friendships, magic, love, clever banter, and more. It’s not perfect, but I love it. The characters are alive. My full review here.
Finding Me (Viola Davis): THIS. IS. THE. BEST. BOOK. Viola Davis is a force of nature. I’ve always loved her acting and that she seems so down-to-earth as a person. Her memoir explains why. She came from severe poverty, experienced all kinds of abuse and racism, and clawed her way out of it to be the successful woman she is today. I had no idea she had suffered so much. Amazing story. I listened to audiobook, which Viola reads herself. Highly recommend that, because you can hear her story in her own voice. (content warning: lots of cursing, descriptions of domestic violence, severe poverty, racism, sexual abuse, physical abuse, child abuse)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Neil Gaiman): I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never read anything by Neil Gaiman before this, and now I’m sad I’ve gone so much of my life without him. This book is achingly beautiful and made me feel things. It’s like returning to the magic of childhood but as an adult. (content warning: pet death, suicide, death, child abuse)
I haven’t watched many shows or movies in the past couple months, but one series I looked forward to was Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher (stream on Netflix), and oh it did not disappoint. I just find a deep satisfaction in watching evil people die horrible, gruesome deaths, you know? And all the references to Edgar Allan Poe’s works made my Poe-obsessed teenage inner-self simply giddy with delight. I think this ranks second after Haunting of Hill House for me. Highly, highly recommend, but be forewarned that it is one of Flanagan’s more violent works.
We also watched Saw X, which I enjoyed almost as much as the first Saw. It had a surprising amount of heart. Though sometimes I like villains to just be villains, this latest installment gave us a glimpse into Jigsaw’s humanness.
28 years ago, a book club began reading one novel. It’s finally reached the end: A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post about slow reading. Shortly after, I came across this article of a book club that took 28 years to finish one book. They read one page a day. If that isn’t slow reading with intentionality, I don’t know what is.
Have you heard of Hay-on-Wye, the “town of books”? Despite my intense hatred for England, (this is in Wales so it doesn’t really count), I would love to visit someday. A whole town dedicated to books and book festivals? Honestly, why doesn’t every country have one?
These habits can cut the risk of depression in half, a new study finds: Guess what’s at the top of this list. Rest. Something I’m woefully bad at doing. As with physical illnesses, certain practices can make depression more manageable sometimes or lessen its intensity. I recently started trying to track habits with
How Much Time Should We Spend with Our Kids? An old article continues to be relevant today. Quality over quantity, as you may imagine. Take advantage of the in-between moments. Take care of yourself and time off from parenting. I needed this reminder, and maybe you do too.
Instagram, is This a Break-Up? Interestingly, as I migrated over to Substack, many of the writers I’ve been following on Instagram have recently spoken out against it. Apparently I’m not alone in feeling burnt out and tired of fighting with the algorithm, or in the constant hustling to be seen and building a following so that future publishers will take me seriously as an author. The amount of self-promotion, marketing, creating, engaging—it’s exhausting, y’all, and I still don’t have anything close to even a thousand followers to show for it.
reflection on Instagram echoes many of my own thoughts and is well worth the read, especially if you’re a creator.On the Virtues of Unsubscribing. This article highlights how important mindful consumption is, and that includes which newsletters/blogs you choose to subscribe to.
Let Suffering Lead to Gentleness Not Bitterness. A reflection by
on God’s goodness and what gentleness really means (spoiler alert: it doesn’t mean being quiet and indifferent).Add a Little Extra Beauty. “God loves to add a little extra beauty. God could have made every time of day the same, but he gives sunrises—he adds a little extra beauty.” Love this reflection by Tim Challies.
Prayers That Receive a “No.” Another wonderful article about when our prayers are disappointed by
.How Horror Uncovers Our “Holy” Hypocrisy. As a lover of horror, this article was quite relevant and interesting to read.
The Sower’s Song (Andrew Peterson): a beautiful song I’ve been listening to on repeat. In this season of pain and uncertainty, I have nothing to cling to but the certainty of God’s love. I especially love the bridge.
A sign everlasting that will never be cut off
As the earth brings forth sprouts from the seed
What is sown in the garden grows into a mighty tree
So the Lord plants justice, justice and praise
To rise before the nations till the end of daysAs the rain and the snow fall
Down from the sky
And they don't return but they water the earth and they bring forth life
Giving seed to the sower, and bread for the hunger
So shall the word of the Lord be with a sound like thunder
And it will not return, it will not return void