Yesterday, I shared the September book releases worth checking out. Now, on to October! My favorite month of the year. October brings fall weather, Halloween and…spooky books. You’ll notice quite a few of those in this list!
The Tilted World by Tom Franklin & Beth Ann Fennelly: Written by New York Times bestselling author of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter and his award-winning poet wife. Set during the historic flooding of the Mississippi River in 1927. Two federal revenue agents are in Hobnob, MS investigating the disappearance of two agents on the trail of a bootlegger. They find an infant abandoned in the middle of a crime scene. Wanting to find the infant a home, they meet a woman who has lost her child to illness. Little do they know that woman is also the best bootlegger in the business and may be connected to the other agents’ disappearance. A story of “murder and moonshine, sandbagging and sabateurs, and a man and a woman who find unexpected love.”
Leaving Haven by Kathleen McCleary: Georgia and Alice are best friends, always there for one another. Georgia is struggling to get pregnant and, after several miscarriages, Alice agrees to donate on of her eggs. The procedure is a success and Georgia finally gets the child she’s long desired. While Alice is happy for her friend, she reflects upon her life and notices something is missing. A devastating discover rocks both women’s lives, forcing them to confront the choices they’ve made. Absolutely heart-wrenching story. Publishing straight to paperback so perfect for book clubs.
Let the Old Dreams Die by John Alvide Lindqvist: Short story collection that continues the stories that began in Let the Right One In and Handling the Undead.
Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson: Originally self-published, recently picked up by a major publisher. A respected civil leader is accused of being a former Nazi SS officer. Accuser is convinced he knows this because the office was abandoned as a child, raised like his brother, but betrayed their family during the Nazi occupation. A story of two boys, once as close as brothers, finding themselves on opposite sides of the Holocaust.
This House is Haunted by John Boyne: Written by the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. A classic 19th century ghost story. A woman responds to an ad for a governess position. Upon her arrival at the grand home she’s greeted by the two children now in her care. While there doesn’t seem to be an adult presence in the home, an eerie presence does seem to live in the walls of Gaudlin Hall.
The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P.D. Viner: Twenty years ago, college student Dani Lancing was kidnapped and brutally murder. The killer was never found and the case ultimately went cold. Her parents marriage was destroyed. Her mother, Patty, was a successful journalist who through it all away after becoming obsessed with her daughter’s death. Every little clue consumes her. Dani’s boyfriend is now a detective, solving cases much like Dani’s. He finds an opening in Dani’s case and Patty’s obsession reawakens. She’s willing to drag her family through all of the pain again, revealing lies and secrets, if it means the truth about Dani’s death is uncovered.
We Are Water by Wally Lamb: We all know this author from his books The Hour I First Believed and I Know This Much Is True. In this novel, Anna is a middle-aged wife, mother, and artist. Despite being married for years, she’s revealed she has fallen in love with the art dealer responsible for her success, a woman. The two plan to marry in the family’s town of Three Rivers, CT where gay marriage has recently become legalized. The wedding opens up wounds that have festered over time. The most remarkable thing about this novel is how it is an exploration of modern America including issues of racial violence, class, and our ever-changing social values.
The Abominable by Dan Simmons: Simmons is known for his retellings of actual historical events. In 1924, the shocking disappearance of George Malloy and Sandy Irvine has caused the race to reach the top of Mount Everest has stopped. A year later, three climbers attempt the climb. Funded by the mother of a man who disappeared on Mount Everest, she begs the men to bring him home. As they climb, they notice that someone (or something) is following them. A chilling tale of death and survival.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: It’s been seven long years since Tartt published The Secret History so needless to say, The Goldfinch is a long-awaited novel. Thirteen year old Theo Decker survives an accident that kills his mother. He’s taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. As he grows up in a world that seems to overlook him, he’s drawn to the one thing that reminds him of his mother: a painting that captivates him. A breathtaking novel about loss, sorrow, and the power of art.
Whew!! I told you October was a crazy busy month concerning book releases! These are just a sampling of the magnanimous volume of outstanding books coming out in October!
What are your favorites? Which books, even if not mentioned on this list, are you most looking forward to?
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