Talking About October’s Books

October was a great reading month. Which doesn’t really come as a surprise as I had much more time at hand with only one client and one week of vacation. And it is. the month I achieved my reading goal of 75 books. Not sure if that also hits the 20.000 pages I wanted to read as Goodreads only shows these at the end of the year since updating. But anyhow, very happy. There are still some books from my reading goal list that I didn’t really touch so I guess I am chipping away until end of year there. But let us not skip ahead and let’s talk about October books first before I wrap up the year.

Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World by Elinor Cleghorn | ★★★★✶

Goodreads says: A trailblazing, conversation-starting history of women’s health–from the earliest medical ideas about women’s illnesses to hormones and autoimmune diseases–brought together in a fascinating sweeping narrative.
In Unwell Women, Elinor Cleghorn traces the almost unbelievable history of how medicine has failed women by treating their bodies as alien and other, often to perilous effect. The result is an authoritative and groundbreaking exploration of the relationship between women and medical practice, from the wandering womb of Ancient Greece to the rise of witch trials across Europe, and from the dawn of hysteria as a catchall for difficult-to-diagnose disorders to the first forays into autoimmunity and the shifting understanding of hormones, menstruation, menopause, and conditions like endometriosis.
What I thought: This book is enraging, sad and eye-opening. I did listened to it so I didn’t catch every single case and at times it was an overload of information. I am sure I would have marked a gazillion things if I had a copy. This book leaves me somewhat devastated while at the same time I am very glad I did listened to it. It made me aware of things I didn’t know, confirmed things I had small knowledge about and shed light on the way modern western medicine is set up. I would almost say it is a must read for every woman. It would be better to make it a mandatory read for all male doctors and practitioners but let’s be realistic – they wouldn’t be interested.
Medium: library audiobook
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Die kranke Frau: Wie Sexismus, Mythen und Fehldiagnosen die Medizin bis heute beeinflussen”
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to know about females in history, how things came to be and discrimination have influenced today’s practice and teachings.

The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafa | ★★★★☆

Goodreads says: A profound and poignant exploration of one woman’s life in a nation at odds with its ideals. Afaf Rahman, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, is the principal of Nurrideen School for Girls, a Muslim school in the Chicago suburbs. One morning, a shooter―radicalized by the online alt-right―attacks the school. As Afaf listens to his terrifying progress, we are swept back through her the bigotry she faced as a child, her mother’s dreams of returning to Palestine, and the devastating disappearance of her older sister that tore her family apart. Still, there is the sweetness of the music from her father’s oud, and the hope and community Afaf finally finds in Islam.
What I thought: This was a good read. It let me have a look insight a culture I am not part of, that I would probably never really learn about in real life. I enjoyed the way it was portrait. I had a calm to it that made me endure even the terrible things that happened. I finished this book only days before the attack of Hamas and the start of the latest Israeli-Palestine conflict. The. author is of Palestinian immigrants. While the book isn’t really focused on that it still is influenced by the heritage. I really did enjoy this book and I am glad I read it.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title not yet translated
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to understand Islamic immigrants better, their way of life, their struggles and the burdens they carry.

A Dark Chill – Calista Gates #2 by Bernadette Calonego | ★★★★☆

Goodreads says: Newfoundland. As the new police chief in the remote coastal town of St. Anthony, Detective Calista Gates expects to see whales and icebergs—not the blood-curdling scene she discovers at an abandoned campground. Flames in the dark. A trembling twelve-year-old boy, naked and bound, a tight noose around his neck. With one false move, the child could strangle himself to death. When Calista frees the boy, he is too frightened to betray his tormentor.
Far from her hometown of Vancouver, Calista learns that other twelve-year-olds have been exposed to mortal danger in this rugged, isolated place. It doesn’t stop A schoolboy goes missing. Can Calista find him before time runs out? Do the college students who come to town intent on scaling an iceberg off the coast—a daredevil move if ever there was one—have anything to do with the horrid events?
What I thought: I love Calonegos books. They catapult you right into the Canadian wilderness, the cases are entertaining and twisted. I couldn’t pick up on what was going on until the ebd. The series is connected with two overall case that Calista effect personally and each book gives away some puzzle pieces of those cases. But you could also read as standalone.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: German “Kalte Klippen”
Publications: English title “A Dark Chill”
Recommend to: Everyone loving an almost bloodless mystery thriller set in Canadas wilderness.

Bay of Evil – Calista Gates #3 by Bernadette Calonego | ★★★★☆

Goodreads says: A terrifying secret, buried in Canada’s wilderness. People who touch it die. One by one.
In northern Newfoundland, where Viking ships landed a thousand years earlier, Detective Sergeant Calista Gates awaits the arrival of a cruise ship bearing hundreds of tourists. Camouflaged among them may be someone hell-bent on Calista’ s destruction. The young police chief in this wind-swept territory has received an anonymous warning: one of the ship’s passengers has it out for her. But then events take a sudden turn. A prominent passenger vanishes without a trace. The next day, Calista Gates stumbles across the battered body of an unknown man in an isolated bay.
The murder investigation leads her to an archeological dig in the barren vastness of Labrador, where two students disappeared six years ago. Can she uncover the truth before more people wind up dead? And before she becomes a victim herself?
What I thought: Once a year I get caught in the thriller mystery fever. So I kept going in this series. I had for some reason already read part 4 previously so at times I was a bit confused or had some inking what will happen but nevertheless I enjoyed my reading time. I really enjoy that Calonego includes topics that are currently topics within society. I like the archeological. aspect I this story. Overall maybe a little less exciting read than the second in this serious but I enjoyed it.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: German “Grabesgrauen”
Publications: English title “Bay of Evil”
Recommend to: Everyone loving an almost bloodless mystery thriller set in Canadas wilderness.

Agent of Time by Nathan van Coop | ★★★✶☆

Goodreads says: How do you race a clock that runs backward?
Special Agent Stella York watched a man die in the middle of the Interstate. But he didn’t stay dead for long…
When a rookie FBI agent is tasked with solving a series of bizarre murders, her case is going nowhere. The evidence is contradictory, the timeline is impossible, and if she doesn’t solve it now, the killer will become unstoppable.
Agent of Time is a mind-bending multiverse thriller. If you like twisting time travel and heroes who won’t quit, you’ll love this novella length adventure in the world of In Times Like These.
*Caution: This novella contains spoilers for the novel In Times Like These and is best enjoyed as the second book of the series.
What I thought: Love that multiverse Nathan Van Coop has created and have read every single book so far. Never disappointing. Even though I was at times lost since it’s been a while I read the story. But there is a recap so you know what is going on and where the story fits in.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German not yet translated
Recommend to: Everyone who enjoyed the multiverse series called In Times Like These and who is loving agent and detective work.

Once more with Feeling by Elissa Sussman | ★★★☆☆

Goodreads says: Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America’s number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone. Katee loves to perform but hates the impossible demands of stardom. Maybe that’s why she finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who’s always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smouldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to blow up Katee’s relationship with Ryan, her career, her whole life.
Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal shows up with the opportunity of her dreams – a starring role in the Broadway show he’s directing and a chance to perform the way she’s always wanted. The two haven’t spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other. But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smoulder and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Katee can’t deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you’ve been burned in the past?
What I thought: Sigh… I keep falling into the trap of reading books where one – or in this case – both main characters are somehow famous and life in the spotlight. I don’t like that trope. But I keep on reading. Compared to others this was tolerable. It was entertaining enough. I didn’t like everything and some parts were a. bit annoying but overall it was an ok read.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title not yet translated
Recommend to: Everyone loving romance novels and especially the famous trope. Than this one is probably on the better end of published books about that.

Das Salzmädchen by Rosie M. Clark | ★★★☆☆

Goodreads says: “Your mother … Mallorca …” To get to the bottom of her dying grandmother’s mysterious words, Ella flies to the Balearic Islands. She is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding her family and finally learn who her birth parents were. But Palma’s town hall can’t find any records of her origins. Discouraged, Ella is about to book her return flight when an incident occurs at a picturesque market. An old woman “She’s alive! The salt girl is alive!” Together with the attractive and sensitive olive farmer Miguel, who rescues her from distress and takes her to his family’s enchanting finca, Ella uncovers a long-hidden truth, unaware that she is in grave danger. New The deliverable edition of “The Salt Girl” has been revised and redesigned.
What I thought: I read this book while sitting at Mallorcas beaches. And to honest I may have abandoned it was I not on the island. It was in the end a nice enough story. I personally enjoyed the insight to how a saline is working the most fascinating. Also the friendship between Ella and Rosa was nice to follow. A can read but not a must read.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: German
Publications: English not yet translated
Recommend to: Everyone traveling to Mallorca it is a nice beach read to spend your day.

Out of the Silence by Eduardo Strauch Urioste | ★★✶☆☆

Goodreads says: A personal story of survival, hope, and spiritual awakening in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
It’s the unfathomable modern legend that has become a testament to the resilience of the human spirit: the 1972 Andes plane crash and the Uruguayan rugby teammates who suffered seventy-two days among the dead and dying. It was a harrowing test of endurance on a snowbound cordillera that ended in a miraculous rescue. Now comes the unflinching and emotional true story by one of the men who found his way home.
Four decades after the tragedy, a climber discovered survivor Eduardo Strauch’s wallet near the memorialized crash site and returned it to him. It was a gesture that compelled Strauch to finally “break the silence of the mountains.”
What I thought: I am not sure how I came to this book. I think it was recommended in a podcast about survival and outback stories. I had never heard of this plane crash in the Andes and the there were survivors who made it 72 days in the harshest conditions. And while I enjoyed the story it was unfortunately not the best read. The storyline was not chronological but more bunched in topics such as “Mountain”, “Family”, Body” etc. So following the events when not familiar wasn’t an easy task but manageable. When Strauch lost me was in the second half of the book when they returned to civilization. He recounted endless family relations of people who the reader barely had a connection too. I would have loved to read more of what happened, the group dynamic, the. thoughts, the way to continue living after such a traumatizing experience. I think this book was mainly for the author a way of cathartic writing. Which is fine and helpful but as a reader it was tough. Hence I won’t rate the book on any public platform as such a memoir has a valid in its own no matter if I like it or not.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: Spanish “Desde el silencio: Cuarenta años después”
Publications: English title “Out of the Silence – After the Crash”, German not yet translated
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to learn about the crash in the Andes and is familiar with the story already.
Read Around the World: Logged for Uruguay

The Magician by Rebecca Serle | ★★✶☆☆

Goodreads says: A mother-to-be is awed by her own mother’s chaotic and unknowable approach to life and its natural mysteries in a smart, witty, and whimsical story by the New York Times bestselling author of One Italian Summer.
Growing up with an eccentric but loving mother who levitates for a living, Charlie always wondered, How does she do it? Defying gravity is no easy trick. Neither is motherhood. Now that her mother is leaving New York for bigger skies in New Mexico, it’s a new stage in life for both of them in an ever-evolving relationship that reveals the true magic of being a mother.
What I thought: I came a cross the author a couple of times lately and when I spotted this book through kindle unlimited I downloaded immediately due to the title and my word of the year. I didnt know it was a short story but that usually doesn’t bother me. What ever this story was about I didnt get it. I didn’t see the motherhood layer here that the blurb talks about. I may have not read it if I had read the blurb. It was well enough written that I flew through it but other than I really can’t say much about the story. I would read another book by this author though.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German not yet translated
Recommend to: I guess if you are a mother you may relate better than I? Or when you are more literary versed than I.

A brief History of Priestess Miriam And & Voodoo Spritual Temple by Toni Costonie | ★✶☆☆☆

Goodreads says: For over 20 years people have come from around the world to receive Priestess Miriam’s bone readings and advise. They also come seeking her unique solutions to personal problems. Many consider her to be the reigning queen of voodoo in New Orleans, Priestess Miriam has been featured in stories in the New York Times, the Star, the Discovery Channel, CBS News and many others.
What I thought: When I picked up this book I had hoped to lean about voodoo and its origins and practices. While the introduction shed some light on that I continued reading. Unfortunately the whole book – as short as it was – was almost unbearable too read as it was written so poorly. It was a string of quotations from an interview with almost no context. The babbling of an old woman reliving her life, trying to remember it all. It was rather uninspiring and boring. It is like listening to an old lady telling her story but she is a stranger. I am sorry to say it was a bit of a waste of my time.
Medium: ebook
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German not yet translated
Recommend to: If you are interested in Voodo read the introduction and then move on. If you are familiar with Priestess Miriam it may be interesting to you.

Books I couldn’t finish

This year I will also list the books or audiobooks I started but that for some reason will not be finished. I want to keep a bit of track how many pages those books end up being.

• Caravaggio – Ein außergewöhnliches Malerleben: Romanbiografie by Siegfried Stand – abandoned 3 pages in. The writing was so amateur I knew it would drive me mad.
• Alma und der Gesang der Wolken by Heinrich Thies – stopped at around 20 %, didn’t feel the topic and it was a bit boring

New books on the shelves

Proud of myself for almost not acquiring more books. However I got a promotion code for a three month free subscription to Kindle unlimited. See me working on my TRB List.

• The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide by Thomas Easley / Steven Horne – provided by the publisher

For some reason my book count after this month came in at 80. I hadn’t planned to read 100 books this year but it is so close. Should I go for it should I ignore the number? I am a bit torn as I don’t want to stress myself but at the same time saying, I once read 100 books would be a major feeling.

Let’s hear it: What book did you enjoy this past month? Do you like memoirs and do you rate them? Have you heard of this famous plane crash? Have you ever read 100 books in a year?