Books I Read in October 2019

Note: I am including only the books I loved in these "Books I Read" blog posts. I read a lot, and I don't want to clog the blogsphere (and my blog) with negative reviews. There were a few books I read this month that I did not fully enjoy; those are not included here.

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala

On two sides of a long-running war, a soldier and an assassin sent to kill his military general uncle fall in love over the course of many months in a cat-and-mouse game. Inspired by Indian mythology and gorgeously written, this young adult fantasy is a truly great read. I only read a handful of YA books a year, choosing based on premises that sound fantastic, and this lived up to my expectations. The romance is front and center (usually not my fave), but the plot line, character development, and world building really make the book amazing.

Savage Gods by Paul Kingsnorth

Kingsnorth is an author whose books I read just about as soon as they come out. His writing blows me away. This book is no exception; in fact, this may be my favorite of anything he's written. As a combination of biography, exploration of the writing profession, and analysis of the disconnect between society and nature, this book says things I've been thinking and feeling but have been unable to find a way to express. Feelings about what it means to feel like you need to find a "home," a place to belong, a patch of earth to own and take care of. Feelings about writing and whether the words work to clarify concepts or if they obscure them. For writers, environmentalists, anyone who feels they don't understand the ease in which other folks follow along with the mainstream—I can't recommend this book enough. I always check out books from the library (since I work at one), but this one I may have to buy so I can read it again and again.

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

Anything involving time travel I will read. Eighteen years after a time-traveling spy gets trapped in the past, his rescue team comes to recover him. Though he has built a life for himself and doesn't want to leave, he is forced to return to the future, only two weeks after he left. The references to Doctor Who are everywhere in the text—plus in the About the Author section and the Acknowledgements. I'm not complaining—it's one of my favorite shows—but it was a bit distracting. The story, though, more than makes up for it, and the characters and science are compelling as well.

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz

Again, time travel. Here, a group of feminist activists in the future use time travel to battle misogynists trying to rewrite history to destroy women's rights. Sounds cheesy, yes, but it's written very well. There are surprising plot twists that work perfectly to shape the story arc, and the way the science works in the book is unlike other books I've read. It's a great feminist sci-fi read.