Books to Check Out: What I Read in September 2022

It’s Fall! For me, that means it’s the perfect time to sit inside with a blanket, some tea, and a book. Don’t worry, I have plenty of cozy reads to warm your heart, make you cry, and feel all the fun emotions in between

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

Lily and the Octopus is a straightforward tale told in an extraordinary way. In this book, our narrator has to cope with the impending loss of his dachshund Lily after noticing a tumor on her head. It’s a sad plot, but what makes it a good read is the creative way it’s dealt with.

This book is all about character, from our narrator Ted, to the tumor itself. Ted describes the tumor as “an octopus”, and gives it a personality. He also gives Lily a voice of her own, which made her more of a character too, not just a dog that doesn’t speak. There’s also Ted himself, flawed, matter of fact, and offbeat. He has a strong voice to keep you engaged the whole time.

The magical realism of giving the tumor agency added so many layers that gave levity and grief to the situation in a way I haven’t seen before in similar books. You know what I’m talking about: the books where the dog dies. It’s no secret where Lily’s story will end, but it was still a rewarding and heartfelt journey to sit with.

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

I may have mentioned in previous book reviews, but my favorite book of all time is Moby Dick. I read it in high school and something about it stuck with me. In the Heart of the Sea is the historical account of the actual event that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick in the first place.

The tragedy of the whale ship Essex is honestly one of the wildest things I’ve read about in history. Philbrick’s retelling takes from journals and notes of people on board the ship, and it’s a good balance of fact and artistic language. It’s also worth noting that this is a bit of a slower read to take your time with. It works, however, because the narrative isn’t bogged down with too many overwhelming facts. I think it’s the perfect non-fiction read to keep you occupied for a little longer than the other two books here. Still, the story itself is shocking and engaging, and you won’t be bored with this one.

It's a whale of a tale, wink wink.

Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake

I’m a firm believer in adults reading middle-grade/children’s fiction every once in a while as an adult. The writing is completely different, and reading something a bit more playful is always a great way to put you in good spirits.

Egg Marks the Spot is the perfect September read to make you feel cozy and content. It’s a fun adventure following Badger and Skunk as the two set out on a rock hunt out in the forest. I won’t give away any more plot, because the way everything unfolds is the joy of this read. I adored every second of it. I didn’t see anything coming, every twist and new saga of the little journey proving to be a complete surprise. The story is inventive, creative, and the use of little woodland creatures like a badger and a skunk that don’t get a lot of love is a really good choice.

The writing itself is the reason the vibe of this book is so whimsical and Over-the-Garden-Wall-esque (for fellow fans of that show, which you should also watch if you haven’t). Timberlake’s style is super quirky and odd. Every bit of dialogue is snappy and sharp, and the use of onomatopoeia, italics, capitalization, and other fun textual tricks made the story pop from the page and into my brain. It was so satisfying to read, and I fell in love with the characters immediately. What I also didn’t realize when I bought this book, (having literally bought it because I gasped at how cute the art was), is that this is the second book in the Badger and Skunk saga. You bet I’ll be grabbing that first one ASAP. Rest assured, you don’t need the first book to enjoy this one.

Happy Fall, readers, it’s our time to shine. And as always, check out last month’s recommendations here.