Luggage and Literature

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

  • Travel Bucket List
  • Travel Resources
  • Indexes
    • Book Index A-F
    • Book Index G-L
    • Book Index M-R
    • Book Index S-Z
    • Book Club Questions Index
    • Packing Index
    • Domestic Travel Index
    • International Travel Index
  • About
  • Contact

October 2017 Reading List

11.01.2017 by Tana Henry //

Every month I try to read at least one book from the following categories: nonfiction, devotional, and fiction. And this year I’m participating in the 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenges, so I’m also going to be listing which category my books fulfill. If you want to join in on the fun, you can check out the list of categories here! This is my October 2017 Reading List, my brief reviews and book recommendations for October 2017. Hopefully I’ll provide you with some inspiration for your future reading as well!

Books Finished:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

This book was so intense! From page one I wanted to know what was happening, and could scarcely stop reading or thinking about this book. In the story, you meet Shadow when he’s in prison nearing the end of his sentence. You don’t know what he’s in for, but you know it’s something serious. And some weird and probably bad things are happening around him. He doesn’t know what’s happening, and therefore you as the reader don’t either. But it is gripping stuff. I really, really enjoyed this book and would recommend it strongly!

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

My book club read this for our Halloween meeting. Although we all found it interesting, it was by no means scary in the sense that we were expecting. Written from the perspective of a demon advising his nephew in tempting a human man, each letter touches on a different topic or theme. The book made me think of my own actions and ways that I’ve been tempted in my own life. I recommend this if you’ve not read it before, although not all in our book club enjoyed it.

The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe

In addition to reading The Screwtape Letters, my book club read The Black Cat aloud during our meeting. It is a short story most appropriately placed into the horror genre. After not having the ‘scary’ experience from The Screwtape Letters, this was exactly what we were looking for.

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe

In searching for a piece of Poe’s work for our live book club reading, I also read this one. I settled on The Black Cat because of it seeming more appropriate for Halloween and being shorter, but very much enjoyed this short story as well. The story of a man going to visit a childhood friend, Usher, who is very ill. The cause of his illness is mysterious and made more alarming by the grave and haunted feel of his house. It’s creepy.

Tapping In: A Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Your Healing Resources Through Bilateral Stimulation by Laurel Parnell

Recommended to me at a training on reflective practice, I’ve tried to implement the skills when I’m anxious. Essentially the book teaches to use bilateral stimulation to help calm a person. I listened to this in the audiobook version, and recommend this version, as the author herself walks you through the different strategies.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

2017 MMD Reading Challenge: a book that’s more than 600 pages

I’ve been working my way through this one for a couple of months because it is quite long. But I very much enjoyed it, and intend to read the next book in the series. The book at first seems to jump forward from character to character, but in the end ties the pieces together. This book begins in a few years in the past, moves forward to present day, and then jumps forward approximately 100 years and is clearly a piece of dystopian fiction. I don’t really want to describe anything else about the plot for fear of ruining the surprise and the suspense, but I do recommend this book wholeheartedly.

Kilmeny of the Orchard by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I just love L.M. Montgomery’s books after beginning with the Anne of Green Gables series in recent years. This entry in her collection is a sweet romance, and (at least as far as I’m aware) not a part of a series, but instead a standalone. The book picks up with Eric as he’s completing his studies. He moves to Lindsay, Prince Edward Island and meets an unusual woman, and learns more about her history. As with all of her other novels, this one was charming and sweet.

New Enlarged Anthology of Robert Frost’s Poems by Robert Frost

2017 MMD Reading Challenge: a book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection

I am not typically a fan of poetry, but there are a few poets whose work I enjoy immensely, as it just makes sense to me. Frost writes in a way that everyone can understand and enjoy his works, but at the same time they are immensely beautiful to read. If you’ve not spent any time with Frost’s poetry, I recommend doing so.

The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck

My second time through this book, I found it easier going, but still great tips (now reminders) about what I need to be doing to continue losing weight. I recommend this book, as it’s not a diet plan, but simply using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies to work through whatever diet plan you choose, and then to maintain weight loss later.

Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones

I serve on the local Board of Health, and have been following the opiate crisis that has hit certain places in the country. Thus far, we haven’t seen significant issues with opiates, but I’m hoping that with some interventions, we can avoid it becoming a significant concern here. This book lays out quite well the major causes of the opiate epidemic.

The Diamond As Big As The Ritz by F. Scott Fitzgerald

An immediately engaging story, I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished. John Unger, the protagonist goes away from home to a boarding school for very wealthy young men. Whilst there, he meets a rather unusual man, and goes to the man’s home in Montana. Surprises (I was really surprised to find out what was really going on) ensue.

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg or Adam Grant

Option B is the story of Sheryl Sandberg’s journey after the death of her husband, trying to find a new normal for her life and the lives of her children. It was gutting at times, but important reading whether you’ve lost someone close, or you know people who have (and who doesn’t?!). A great book.

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

I also picked this book for October for Halloween. It was suspenseful, and seemed a little bit scary when trying to figure out exactly what was happening. But it’s not a horror or thriller type of book. It was a nice read, and not particularly long.

 

Books In Progress:

Raising a Secure Child: How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture Your Child’s Attachment, Emotional Resilience, and Freedom to Explore by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell (this was recommended to be by some therapists that I work with regularly on my cases, as it is the background for the Circle of Security Parenting curriculum that we often have parents go through as part of their case plans)

My Brilliant Friend (Book One of the Neapolitan Novels) by Elena Ferrante

Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God is Speaking by Priscilla Shirer

The Justice Calling: Where Passion Meets Perseverance by Bethany Hanke Hoang and Kristen Deede Johnson

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

 

Books I’ve Abandoned:

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Categories // What I Read Tags // Adam Grant, American Gods, Bert Powell, C.S. Lewis, Christopher Morley, Colson Whitehead, Discerning the Voice of God, Dreamland, Edgar Allen Poe, Elena Ferrante, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Glen Cooper, Invisible Man, Jessica Shattuck, Judith S. Beck, Kent Hoffman, Kilmeny of the Orchard, Laurel Parnell, literature, Lucy Maud Montgomery, My Brilliant Friend, Neil Gaiman, New Enlarged Anthology of Robert Frost's Poems, Option B, Priscilla Shirer, Raising a Secure Child, Ralph Ellison, reading list, Robert Frost, Sam Quinones, Sheryl Sandberg, Tapping In, The Beck Diet Solution, The Black Cat, The Diamond as Big as The Ritz, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Haunted Bookshop, The Passage by Justin Cronin, The Screwtape Letters, The Underground Railroad, The Women in the Castle, What I Read

My name is Tana, and I am an attorney in South-Central Nebraska. I'm married to a great guy, named Mike, and have a dog named Emmy and a cat named Scout. I read as much as possible, and travel any chance I get. Luggage and Literature chronicles both. I hope you enjoy looking around! Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

HELP KEEP CREATIVITY GOING AND MY MIND AWAKE WHILE READING AND REVIEWING!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • October 2023 Reading List
  • September 2023 Reading List
  • August 2023 Reading List
  • Bahamas Scuba Diving
  • Pet Care During Travel

Categories

  • Book Club Questions
  • Domestic Travel
  • Friday Five
  • General Tips
  • Goals
  • International Travel
  • Packing Tips
  • Roadside Locations
  • Uncategorized
  • What I Read

Pages

  • About
  • Book Club Questions Index
  • Book Index A-F
  • Book Index G-L
  • Book Index M-R
  • Book Index S-Z
  • Contact
  • Domestic Travel Index
  • Indexes
  • International Travel Index
  • Packing Index
  • Travel Bucket List
  • Travel Resources

Archives

  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • August 2022
  • June 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in