Over 8,000 Pages Read! | September 2021 Reading Wrap-Up

Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog! 

Wow, we're already in October!! This year feels like it's gone so fast, and yet I've done absolutely nothing. Okay, well, that's not entirely true of course. I've read over 200 books now (I hit 201 by the end of September) and I've also dedicated a lot of my time to training Mochi; by the way, if you're interested in helping me out with her service training, check out my GoFundMe page and consider donating and sharing. The link is here as well as in the "More Media" tab on the side of my blog.

Alright, let's talk stats! In the month of September, I read 29 things: 10 novels, 2 novellas, 2 poetry collections, 1 graphic novel, and 14 manga volumes. I just keep breaking my record! Though, I have a feeling I won't be reading as much in October, because I've got a lot of things planned...but more on that later. 

For now, let's just get into the books, shall we?

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Novels 

1. The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (translated by Philip Gabriel)
Genre: Literary Fiction
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 288 pages
Day(s) read: 9.04 - 9.06
Goodreads thoughts: Oh, my heart! This was so sad and heartwarming and beautiful, and I'm tearing up just thinking about it. I loved the parts of Nana's point of view, since he was such a blunt and honest cat, and so there was so beating around the bush with him. And you could really tell how much he and Satoru meant to each other. It was so soft! And yeah, very sad. But such a hopeful ending, so it was happy tears at the end.

2. The Women of Troy by Pat Barker (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 304 pages
Day(s) read: 9.06
Goodreads thoughts: Once again, extremely well written, however there were some inconsistencies with the first novel, as well as some choice language and terminology used that I think could have very easily been avoided. Also, I'm just not sure if this was a necessary addition to The Silence of the Girls. That book ended with a sense finality, and yet this novel goes backwards and ends the same way the first one does, so I'm not sure what the point of it was. It didn't really do anything spectacular or revolutionary to the story of the Trojan Women, so again I'm not sure why this was written. But still, it was very well done.

3. The Phoenix Empress by K. Arsenault Rivera
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 544 pages
Day(s) read: 9.01 - 9.08
Goodreads thoughts: Asdfghjkl WHAT????? This book took everything from The Tiger’s Daughter and ramped it up to 10–the romance, the tragedy, the anguish, everything, it’s all so much more intense. I don’t know how K is going to top this in the final book, but I sure as hell can’t wait to find out.

4. From Little Tokyo, With Love by Sarah Kuhn (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 432 pages
Day(s) read: 9.09
Goodreads thoughts: This was adorable!! I loved Sarah Kuhn’s YA debut, I Love You So Mochi, so I knew I had to pick up her next book, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Rika is an amazing protagonist, with so much passion inside of her, and I loved seeing her happily ever after come true on the page. Henry was also a very interesting character, balancing so many things that contradict each other, like being a famous idol while also having social anxiety. I loved all of Rika’s family, they’re all so unapologetic and loud with their passions and love of each other, and I like how they all spit in the face of bigotry and hatred, and didn’t lose their composure at all. I can’t wait for Sarah to write more Japanese-American girls falling in love with themselves and other people, she really has the best way with words!

5. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 416 pages
Day(s) read: 9.17 - 9.23
Goodreads thoughts: This was good but it didn't totally wow me. I didn't really care about Ouyang's plot, so in the chapters following him and Esen I found myself bored. I did really like Zhu and her plotline, but I was still a little indifferent toward the whole thing. I'll absolutely continue on with this series, but I wouldn't call this a new favorite.

6. The Warrior Moon by K. Arsenault Rivera
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Star rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 656 pages
Day(s) read: 9.12 - 9.24
Goodreads thoughts: Probably my least favorite of the trilogy, but still totally amazing. It lacked the letter aspect the first two had, which is why it didn't hit as hard for me, even though this story had the hardest content to read about. Also all of the extra POVs didn't really add anything for me, but nor did they harm the story in any way, so it's difficult to say really if they were a pro or con. But truly, I strive to have a love as all-consuming as Shefali and Shizuka's. The kind of love that legends are born out of--what else could someone hope for?

7. The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel 
Genre: Mystery
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 320 pages
Day(s) read: 9.25 - 9.26
Goodreads thoughts: This was a fun, classic middle-grade mystery. It hit all of the tropes you tend to see in this particular genre: an abrupt change of scenery, a mean kid for no reason, a group of close friends (typically a trio), a mysterious call to action, an old building with secret passageways and cult society behavior, random clues that lead to a final investigation, a big-bad reveal that honestly is easy to peg if you know what you're looking for, a miraculous win against said big-bad, and then some secrets being revealed until the breakaway for the sequel. That doesn't mean it wasn't good or well-written, because it was, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. I'm sure the sequel will be just as fun.

8. The Secret of White Stone Gate by Julia Nobel
Genre: Mystery
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 304 pages
Day(s) read: 9.26 - 9.27
Goodreads thoughts: A great sequel that knew exactly how to up the anti of the first book! Make things a little more wild, a little more dangerous, but not too unrealistic (though it’s still pretty crazy). I loved the new characters introduced, and (if) we get another book I hope they’ll be explored more. Oli is too precious!

9. Anna K: Away by Jenny Lee
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 304 pages
Day(s) read: 9.24 - 9.29
Goodreads thoughts: This was a good sequel, and I enjoyed the hilarity of the super-rich and their ridiculous lives. It definitely felt more down to earth than the first book, with Anna and Bea both dealing with their grief, but it also felt more frivolous than the first because it had a sense of lightness throughout the whole novel, where as in Anna K there was that abrupt cut-off 60% of the way through when suddenly every bad thing ever started happening. I liked the inclusion of the k-pop craze, which seemed to be the biggest indicator of the year it takes place. Well, that, and Anna mentioning her graduating in 2020, which...good luck, I guess.

10. Unlocked by Shannon Messenger
Genre: Fantasy
Star rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page count: 764 pages
Day(s) read: 9.29 - 9.30
Goodreads thoughts: This was a hit as well as a miss. I totally get how this book would be super special and insidery to the kids who love this series, because you get fun activities and never-before-seen information on characters and places in the Lost Cities, but as an adult (who definitely still loves this series) it felt a little silly to me. However I really liked the novella, with Keefe's POV, even if I did want to reach through the pages and shake him. I have a feeling that the next book in the series will be much more brutal than all the previous ones. But yeah, the first 500 pages were a little lackluster for me. I did love the illustrations though!

Novellas

1. Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Science Fiction
Star rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 156 pages
Day(s) read: 9.04
Goodreads thoughts: How very odd, but extremely well written. And what a concept! Never could I ever come up with something so original and unique. I wish I could have gotten a little more information, that things were a little more fleshed out so I wasn't left with so many questions, but I suppose a lot of sci-fi leaves you with more questions than answers. I'll definitely be reading the author's other novellas, though. This was so good.

2. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Genre: Science Fiction
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 160 pages
Day(s) read: 9.07 - 9.09
Goodreads thoughts: This was so beautiful, so cooky and wild, but so so beautiful. There were so many amazing discussions about human nature, and the purpose of living, and how there IS no purpose except to live. This book really came to me at the best time, all of my inadequacies and insecurities feel so much lighter now.

Poetry

1. The Essential Rilke by Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Galway Kinnel and Hannah Liebmann)
Genre: Literary Poetry, Philosophy
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 157 pages
Day(s) read: 9.10 - 9.12
Goodreads thoughts: I absolutely loved this, it was an excellent introduction to Rilke, and I definitely will be picking up more from him. His poetry is so emotional and gripping, it feels like I'm speaking to a friend.

2. The Girl and the Goddess by Nikita Gill
Genre: Fantasy, Feminist Poetry
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 352 pages
Day(s) read: 9.15 - 9.24
Goodreads thoughts: Despite this being the first fiction poetry collection of hers that I've read, this story feels the most personal to Nikita, which I think is on purpose. I feel that this collection is meant to be a homing beacon for brown girls, for queer girls, for girls who maybe see things they shouldn't, for lost girls, and for girls who need a kind word spoken to them. Being at least one of those girls, I felt deeply connected to Paro and her journey. Also I learned some Hindu mythology, which is always a win in my book.

Graphic Novels

1. The Girl From the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag (ONE DAY READ)
Genre: Fantasy, Sapphic Romance
Star rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page count: 208 pages
Day(s) read: 9.04
Goodreads thoughts: (I could have sworn I wrote a review for this but Goodreads ate it, so sorry there's nothing here!)

Manga

1. Honey So Sweet vol. 2-8 by Amu Meguro
Genre: Romance (shoujo)
Star rating: N/A
Page count: 1,416 pages
Day(s) read: 9.17 - 9.18
Goodreads thoughts: vol 2: A wild new character appears!

Onise is so adorable, I love how he worries about moving too fast with Nao even though they're only holding hands ^.^ I'm sure dating culture in Japan is vastly different than it is in the US, but as someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of Japanese dating culture, I find all of the characters really sweet and endearing.

vol 3: Hmmmmm, I don't think I like Futami very much...don't get in the way of Nao and Taiga!!

vol 4: I liked learning more about Yashiro, and I'm happy that Misaki finally admitted his feelings! They're all kind of ridiculous, but I think that's why I like them so much. I just want to adopt all of them and hug them and feed them, they make my practically non-existent motherly instincts kick in.

vol 5: I like seeing the dynamics between Tai and his mom, and how it parallels Nao and Sou. It's kind of funny how Nao gets so flustered when it comes to basic family squabbles, because she's never had that problem before. Also, JUST KISS ALREADY.

vol 6: Oh, I love the twins! Ryo is so funny in his admiration of Tai, and Miyabi is so sweet and innocent, like a puppy! I love how open she is with her feelings, even if it takes her a while to speak. I can see her becoming a new favorite!

2. Blood on the Tracks vol. 1-2 by Shuzo Oshimi
Genre: Horror (seinen)
Star rating: N/A
Page count: 424 pages
Day(s) read: 9.21
Goodreads thoughts: vol 1: That was…weird.

But it left off on a huge cliffhanger so of COURSE I have to read the second volume.

vol 2: Ahahahahhha what the fuck

Okay I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with this series, because that was way too weird for me

3. O Maidens in Your Savage Season vol. 4-8 by Nao Emoto and Mari Okada
Genre: Romance (shoujo)
Star rating: N/A
Page count: 832 pages
Day(s) read: 9.28
Goodreads thoughts: vol 4: I relate to Kazusa, with feeing insecure about one of your friends liking your crush, so I totally understand her hesitancy with wanting to be around Nina and the little spikes of jealousy she felt whenever Nina mentioned Izumi. But I feel kind of bad for Nina too bc it looks like she’s developing real feelings for Izumi as well.

I still don’t like the thing between Hitoha and Milo, but I am thinking that it’s not going to end romantically (hoping, praying that it won’t, more like).

vol 5: Yay, the cultural festival was a success! I'm honestly so proud of all the girls, they each got a moment to shine and finally say whatever they needed saying. That makes me so happy!

vol 6: Oooooooo the plot thickens!!

The storyline between Milo and Hitoha still wigs me out but I'm thinking it'll change soon. And I KNEW what was going on with Momoko!

vol 7: Oh goodness...I'm not sure that is the best solution, girls.

But really, what kind of backward antebellum south bs is this? A no-dating policy in HIGH SCHOOL??? Like that's gonna fly

vol 8: I finished!! I like how the ending is a little ambiguous, it allows us to choose what couples we want together or not (I'm personally rooting for Nina and Momoko, of course). It's nice to see how everything went back to normal, and I liked seeing the girls stand up for the injustices the school was inflicting on them. I wish there was more in the series, but I'm okay with rereading whenever I wish to.

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Total page count: 8,037 pages

Favorite book of September: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Least favorite book of September: Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi

DNF'd books this month: A Collection of Essays by George Orwell
                                            The Portrait of a Mirror by A. Natasha Joukovsky

No unfinished books this month 

September book haul: The Republic by Plato
                                       The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
                                        The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
                                        The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien
                                        Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean
                                        All These Bodies by Kendare Blake
                                        After Dark by Haruki Murakami
                                        Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger
                                        The Serpent's Curse by Lisa Maxwell
                                        Troy by Stephen Fry

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Alright, September is done and checked off the list! Also my wallet is definitely weeping a little, but most of the books I actually got from a super prolific library sale, so it wasn't too bank-breaking. Still, I think that I won't buy anything until my birthday, which is at the end of October, just to give myself a little reprieve. Even though there are a fair amount of books that I really want to get my hands on soon...

What was your favorite book of September? Let me know in the comments or tweet at me @AllyEmReads. 

And please, don't forget to check out my GoFundMe page, and donate if possible (and share if not)!

Until next time!