October Reading Wrap Up | Lauren and the Books

[@AnnaShuk]

October was just an okay reading month for me. What I did enjoy was "The Midnight Feast" by Lucy Foley. I've realised that Lucy is my perfect reading slump saviour author. Just when I see I'm stuck, not reading, Lucy comes to the rescue.

[@beckyomelia9242]

I listened to Clear and it was absolutely beautiful. Hearing the language was amazing, I definitely would not have done it justice reading myself. I didn’t want it to end, but it was also perfect as it was. I think that’s the beauty of her work. Will definitely be reading more Carys Davies!

[@lindacasalgrandi292]

Hi Lauren! I love your blouse. It combines my 2 favorite prints❤

[@itchystitchy]

I just looked up Wendy Cope online and she has two other collections that sound like they would be perfect for you: "Christmas Poems" and "Life, Love and the Archers: Recollections, Reviews and Other Prose". Also, if you are interested in stories about the deaf community I recommend the film "Coda" about a child of deaf parents who finds out she has singing talent. And how that causes conflict in the family. it's heartwarming comedy/drama.

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Thank you so much for your recommendations, I have indeed watched Coda a few years ago and very much enjoyed it. I think I own that Christmas Poems book by Wendy Cope somewhere, but knew nothing of the poetry with The Archers in the title, I will definitely be getting my hands on it!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Thats a lot of reading. Some people don't read that many in a life time. Best wishes and happy reading.

[@backtothebooks9201]

I read the Liveship books without having read any of the others and absolutely loved it! I didn't ever feel unmoored or like I was missing things. I know there are characters from other books in there, but I couldn't even tell which ones so I wouldn't worry too much if you're not clicking with the farseer trilogy!

[@alldressedupformars]

Im reading the Autumn chills right now!!

[@jackymiddleton2730]

Defo skip to the live ships trilogy! Loved it! Haven’t read the others yet

[@elaineray245]

Nell Paterson is from Scunthorpe, I live in scunny. X

[@RichardFarley1976]

Great wrap up Lauren. Enjoyed watching.

[@anneroy4560]

Lolly Willowes was the first Book of the Month Club choice back in the day ... I quite liked her ...

[@wooshell11]

I liked the Richard Osman books, but understand not getting on with books as I really did not get on with HMRC at all and DNFd it. Brian Jacques presented me with a school certificate back in 1989! He was a really funny guy I seem to remember who had a massive following with the Red wall books. I have never read one, but might give it a whirl now.

[@dawnlizreads]

I absolutely loved Lolly Willows, so much so that I have just bought another book by the author Sylvia Towsend Warner. Don't know anything about it (can't remember the title), but I really hope I love it as much. Lolly Willows is basically about "I am not giving two effs anymore and doing what I want". Though I grant you it's completely bonkers.

[@Victoria-kl7su]

I was slightly underwhelmed by the Pumpkin Spice Cafe even though the cover totally grabbed me and I was really keen to read it - not sure if I would read any more in the series? Am glad I am not the only one who doesn’t get the hype behind the Richard Osman books, I got half way through his first book and just didn’t finish as I wasn’t at all interested in what was happening or the setting - for some reason October hasn’t been a great reading month for me - I had planned to read several witch based books but even those haven’t been grabbing me - I think I am having a reading slump and November will be better! Have you read the Shady Hollow cosy crime books? I really enjoyed those, also animals involved in crimes and murder but also small town life and nothing too gruesome

[@susprime7018]

I had a productive reading month as well, starting with Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix, which I first saw when you held it up, I thought it was like early Stephen King, enjoyed it. Moved on to The Final Girl Support Group, which was difficult since it dealt with abuse of women, but Hendrix did a good job with suspense. I read what I would consider some classics, The Rector by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant, The Haunted House by Dickens, Witch Wood by John Buchan. I enjoyed Lolly Willowes on Kindle, thanks to you. Your special edition is a lovely object, so yes, keep it. I enjoyed Benighted by J. B. Priestly. I'm reading Babel and A Discovery of Witches, but they will bleed into November.😅

[@cajunpeachreads]

I started drinking out of a travel mug at home because one of my cats loved coffee and more than once I found him face down in my mug lol.

[@paigeobrien5709]

Same! I love Richard Osman but haven't gotten on with his books, although I haven't read his latest.

[@sue488]

What a great round up - thank you for sharing! I would love to hear more about joining your book club if you are open to new members x

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Always open to new members, and all the info is available above :)

[@Susana-abagfullofstories]

As others have said, you can definitely read The Liveship Traders trilogy without reading the other books in the Realm of the Elderlings. It is told from various perspectives, so even if you don't like one of them you may like the others. I've recently finished the Tawny Man trilogy and personally love Fitz as a character but find the Fool a bit annoying.

[@helengwynn9316]

You can read The Live Ships independently without reading the Farseer trilogy books but they are in the Realm of the Elderlings universe. The links are more apparent in the later books. It will be interesting to see if you enjoy them if you are not a fan of the first 3 books.

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Thank you for the advice!

[@katrinamuritala3207]

I read pumpkin spice cafe was ok you need to read out on a limb really had a good time

[@katieha12345]

I love the Farseer trilogy but the final book, Assassin’s Quest is imo the weakest by a mile so defo skip if you’re not into it so far, but I think it’s worth giving Liveship a go! Sooo many people don’t like or love Farseer but love Liveship. I’ve just started an ebook from my library called Green Christmas by Jen Chillingsworth. It’s about having a more eco friendly Christmas and seems to have a lot about crafting decorations and the like - maybe worth checking out considering the crafty year you’re having!

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

I have seen Green Christmas floating around, I will see if my library has a copy as it sounds great!

[@kmhanlon411]

Hi Lauren, Do you watch Between the Covers on BBC2? They are featuring Glorious Exploits on that next week. I love watching your videos and get some recommendations from you (Kala by Colin Walsh is on my TBR). Are you and David going to do anymore reading lives? 😊

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

I LOVE Between the Covers, was delighted it was back this week and that they are reading Glorious Exploits next week. I'm hoping if I'm up to 17,000 subscribers by the end of November, I will do a live cross stitching/reading show!

[@christinefitzhugh8669]

I wanted to ask you, when is the best time to pick the 5 book series from Elizabeth Jane Howard. I have all 5 but have not opened them yet. I would like to try them after the 1st of the new year. Thank you & happy reading 📚 😊

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Well you are in for a treat! The fifth book is set over Christmas, so I read them: book 1 July, 2 September, 3 October, 4 November and 5 in December, but you really could read them anytime!

[@christinefitzhugh8669]

@LaurenAndTheBooks Thank You

[@jennifermead4420]

I went to a book talk with Juno Dawson and she said she only wrote Queen B because her contract said she needed to write a book a year and she wasn't going to get the next HMRC book finished in time!

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Very interesting, and very much makes sense! Thank you for passing that on!

[@josephlastname]

since you didn't love Royal Assassin you're sadly unlikely to like much about Assassin's Quest (the only Hobb book that i, a superfan, think is too long). you're better off breaking up with Fitz and enjoying (hopefully!) the Liveship trilogy on its own, which is completely different and way better!

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Thank you for the advice!

[@CharlieBrookReads]

❤️📚❤️📚❤️

[@Glgj26]

Friendly neighbourhood Robin Hobb commenter checking in 3 minutes into the video: The 3rd one is better than the first two, but 100% read live ships even if you don't finish the trilogy it's the best series by far

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Thanks for the advice!

[@jenvcampbell]

* whispers * her professionalism does not increase, if that helps with decision-making 😅 xx

[@LaurenAndTheBooks]

Haha! That may well have helped with the decision making! Come on Paige! xx

[@ameliareed8214]

If you didn’t like these first ones, then they aren’t for you