The 10 Books I Read In October
Thoughts about the 10 books I read in October, including my favorite fiction and nonfiction picks of the month!
A quick note before we jump in to the books: You will soon see some new opportunities added to Reading And Purpose, including a 2025 nonfiction book club! You will still continue receiving this free newsletter every Tuesday, plus a few different enrollment tiers will be available for those interested in additional perks. Stay tuned for details in November!
For over a decade, I have posted my top ten books of each year online. Now, as we rapidly approach the end of 2024, I am becoming a bit concerned: I am (knock on wood) having a truly exceptional reading year, and I honestly don’t know how I’ll narrow down my list! I’ll also be sharing my fiction top ten list this year, which I don’t often do, so I’m in for a double challenge.
But, to be honest, probably one of the most fun challenges I could possibly face. :-)
Today, however, we’re here to review the ten books I read in October - half were nonfiction, the other half fiction. Below you’ll find the books, a few thoughts, and my favorite picks for the month. Let me know if you’ve read any of these, or if you think you might!
(Side note: One of my greatest joys involves others telling me they read something based on my recommendation, so please let me know if you do - it brightens my day and also inspires me to continue sharing my bookish thoughts!)
The Office BFFs by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
If you asked me to name my top five TV shows of all time, The Office would definitely make the list. The Office BFFs, cowritten by two of its stars (known on the show as Pam and Angela), offers a fun behind-the-scenes look from early auditions to the series finale and beyond. I laughed multiple times as I listened to the audiobook, which is read by the authors, and was transported back to many favorite scenes, episodes, dance moves, guest appearances, and more. The book also highlights the strong friendship between the authors and the great respect it sounds like the cast and crew had for one another overall. If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll probably have fun with this one!
Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
While I’ve watched a number of its films - Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. come to mind right away - I never knew much about the company that makes them. Now, after reading Creativity, Inc., I almost feel like I was along for the Pixar journey from the start! This was a fascinating story of creating a brand new film company, advancing the field of animation, and all the joys, challenges, and innovations that accompany a venture of this magnitude. I enjoyed all the background details like how they came up with the name Pixar, the attitude change of Woody the Cowboy from the first iteration of Toy Story to its final production, and the company values and leadership philosophies that keep the organization running. I also didn’t realize what a significant role Steve Jobs played in Pixar and appreciated Catmull’s reflection on their nearly 30 years of working together. I’d recommend this to entrepreneurs, business leaders, those looking for creativity-boosting ideas, and fans of film and animation; I also feel Shoe Dog would make a good companion read.
Inciting Joy by Ross Gay
For years, I’ve been intrigued each time I’ve encountered one of the bold, floral covers and lovely titles of Ross Gay’s books, but this month was my first time reading one. Inciting Joy is a collection of essays on a variety of topics, some personal to Gay’s own life experiences and others reflecting on broader issues and themes. Based on the bright cover, I assumed this would be a light and breezy read, but he actually addresses some rather difficult experiences throughout these pages as well. As is typical with a collection of essays, some resonated with me more than others; I particularly appreciated the moments where he would talk about an ‘ordinary’ activity, like gardening, and explore it in an elevated or appreciative manner.
Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
I once heard a book reviewer with similar reading tastes to mine talk briefly about this book, so when I saw it as an ‘Available Now’ option on Libby, I decided to give it a go. It ended up being so enjoyable! Told from the point of view of an elderly grandmother to her granddaughter, the story follows her life from growing up as a young Jewish woman in Boston in the early/mid-1900s to present day, and the variety of friends, family, events, loves, and losses along the way. Definitely a rather quiet, character-driven novel with a style I would compare to Ann Tyler. A fun side note: the narrator’s voice sounded oddly familiar to me and when I looked it up, I discovered it was Linda Lavin from the TV show Alice - a blast from my childhood past!
The PLAN by Kendra Adachi
I love Adachi’s popular Lazy Genius mantra: ‘Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about things that don’t.’ The PLAN (representing an acronym for her 4-part system, hence the all caps) offers an interesting look at time management and planning from that lazy genius perspective. She divides the book into three parts - principles, strategies, and pep talks - and incorporates some focal points not often addressed in productivity-related literature, such as the role one’s hormones and menstrual cycle can play in energy and accomplishment. This is a fairly quick read (under 200 pages) and may spark new ideas around time management, achievement, and rest.
Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
In my September reading wrap-up, I mentioned that while I’ve read a number of Sophie Kinsella’s books, I’ve never delved into the Shopaholic series - probably her most popular. Well, this month I decided to change that! And since I adore Christmas (anyone else have holiday music playing all year long? Anyone?), I thought Christmas Shopaholic would be a delightful introduction. Fun, light-hearted, silly, and a tad outlandish - it definitely checked the ‘I want a book that makes me smile’ box. I’m sure I will continue to pick up her books when I am looking for an entertaining mental getaway!
Agatha Raisin #26 by M.C. Beaton
By this point in the Agatha Raisin series, I know the characters so well that I can easily slip back into their little mystery-driven world in the Cotswolds. I listened to this particular audiobook while cleaning, cooking, and out for a few fall walks, and I found myself chuckling multiple times, particularly at Agatha’s inner dialogue. While not a perfect book/series, and there are many things Agatha never seems to quite learn despite repeated experiences (like all of us, I suppose!), they are typically enjoyable stories with great audiobook narration.
Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin
Perhaps my biggest surprise of the month! Despite its subtitle, A Transformative Program For Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included), I still half-expected a ‘should do’ list that can often make wellness feel like one more task we’re not accomplishing, making time for, or doing correctly. Instead, Lakshmin - a board-certified psychiatrist - brings her medical expertise and goes much deeper into lasting solutions, including addressing topics like societal change, cultural differences, and systemic issues. I took so many notes, both to incorporate into my own life and to share with coaching clients, and I especially loved her connection between core values and true wellness. Definitely recommended for those seeking self-care solutions beyond the quick, non-lasting fixes.
Favorite Fiction Of The Month:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
This book has waited patiently on my shelves for ages, and for an intentional reason: I’ve read (and loved) nearly every book Kingsolver has written and I know how exceptional she is as a storyteller; I also knew this one focused on the unfairly harsh life of a little boy as he grows. I needed to be in the right headspace for the journey because I had a feeling that once I started, I would be fully immersed in Demon’s world for however long it took me to finish the book. I was correct on all counts.
What an extraordinary story - devastating, redemptive, heartbreaking, beautiful at times, absolutely crushing at others. And while it follows one character throughout all of its 500+ pages, it addresses so much more, too: family, loss, love, friendship, addiction, resilience, violence, foster care, poverty, the power of one person who believes in you and sees your potential… I could go on and on. I savored the hope-filled moments, and certain teachers and relationships will definitely stick with me for a long time to come. Even in the hopeful moments, however, I also noticed a hum of dread looming in me as the reader - a feeling that Demon always seemed to carry with him, too. That ability to get the reader to truly experience the story through the main character’s viewpoint is just one of many examples of Kingsolver’s exceptional writing skill. My eyes filled with tears reading her acknowledgments at the end.
I am glad Demon Copperhead has won so many awards, including the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Pulitzer Prize, giving Kingsolver such well-deserved attention as a master of her craft.
Favorite Nonfiction Of The Month:
Meditations For Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
This book impacted me so much, I immediately wrote a full dedicated review of my experience with it, which you can read here. Since I’ve written extensively about Meditations For Mortals already, let me just briefly summarize by saying I so appreciate Burkeman’s unique, almost counterintuitive approach to our time - all in service of living a meaningful life. Also, while you can read this as an essay per day over the course of four weeks, I basically sat on the couch for a good portion of the weekend and read it start to finish - so you can enjoy it that way, too. So, so good.
A couple of these will be included in the Reading And Purpose 2025 Nonfiction Book Club - stay tuned for details in November!
Which of these books have you read or want to add to your TBR? What’s the best book you read in October?