My September Reads 2024
Hiking long-distance trails in the US, a cozy mystery series, YA romance fantasy - and smuggling in a film
September was a very lively reading month with lots of interesting and diverse books. I decided to split this post into two parts because there is so much to tell.
(If you missed the other one, here’s My September Reads 2024 - Special Edition: Rural Life.)
So, let’s continue where I left off!
After having written about my passion for walking, I felt like reading about hiking adventures and found a very good book at the library.
For a bit of variety I tried another fiction genre I haven’t read before - cozy mystery. I was curious to see if it was something I might like. (You would bet I would, me being highly sensitive and all.)
And because I was so captivated by the cover, I tried yet another genre that usually isn’t on my reading list: Young adult romance fantasy. Very unusual in many respects because I don’t read much YA, very rarely a romance novel and I am also very picky when it comes to fantasy. Nevertheless, I was intrigued...
Non-fiction books
Laufen. Essen. Schlafen: Eine Frau, drei Trails und 12700 Kilometer Wildnis, Christine Thürmer
Note: It’s a German title (and translates as: Running. Eating. Sleeping: One woman, three trails and 12700 kilometres of wilderness), but the author has a website in English.
I’ve been meaning to read this book for some years and now it fit perfectly.
When Christine Thürmer is made redundant, she decides to take some time out and hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada - 4277 kilometres. Not really sporty, she sets off on her adventure and actually makes it to her destination. And she keeps going, walking the Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail, earning the triple crown for having finished all three of the US long-hike trails.
The author humorously describes her experiences and impressions of the landscape, the story of her inner search and what it’s like to be a woman travelling alone.
The first hike plays the main role in the book, and I would have liked the other two to have taken up just as much space because it was such an interesting read.
I really enjoyed her writing style, like telling her story at a campfire. Very impressive what she achieved and truely inspiring as she changed her life completely to live simply and slowly. She reduced her possessions, gave up her home and lived frugally in order to follow her heart and what freedom meant to her.
Fiction books
Der Mordclub von Shaftesbury, Emily Winston
I really like crime fiction (if it’s not too bleak or gory), especially British crime, whether books or TV series. (I definitely have to do a posting on this topic.)
So, this crime novel series sounded promising.
However, there was a catch or two.
Firstly, it’s not published in English, it’s written in German, by a German author under a pen name. She is as anglophile as I am, so I can totally understand that she places her novels in, let’s say, the English countryside.
Secondly, cozy mystery is a genre I haven’t read yet.
Well, it definitely was an easy read, light and funny.
The characters were very loveable, and - especially the supporting characters - the right kind of quirky. I enjoyed the atmosphere at lot, the somewhat typical village and all the different relationships, also the developing love story.
I very much enjoyed following the protagonists and all the other villagers around. That’s what kept me reading all three volumes.
But as far as the crime and suspense aspect is concerned, I could have done with a lot more suspense and surprising twists.
If this series is typical for cozy mysteries, I don’t think it’s my kind of genre.
By the way, it’s a bit puzzling, but if you are looking for the murder club referred to in the title (spoiler!): It doesn’t exist. The protagonist Penelope St. James has to do all the detective work on her own (and the village expects her to). It’s not at all like The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (a series I truly adore).
Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross
I’m usually not drawn to pick up a book because of its cover. I use other ways to decide what to read next. Ways that have more to do with the content or the topic.
This time, well, call it an exception.
The combination of YA, romance and fantasy is a rare choice for me in every way. However, this book initially fascinated me because the cover is so beautifully old-fashioned, the protagonists are writers/journalists and the world, with its antiquated typewriters, steam trains, fashion and so on, felt much more historical than fantastical.
Setting the story in an alternative Europe during the First World War (at least that’s how it seemed to me) and turning the young protagonists into war correspondents was unique and interesting.
Writing letters on magically linked typewriters was lovely and contributed a lot to the romance.
The writing itself is often beautiful, even poetic. However, it more than once got in the way and made for a bumpy read sometimes.
The real problem, however, was that the story failed to captivate me emotionally. I didn't really get close to any of the characters. Most of their feelings and problems remained strangely distant. Many events seemed astonishingly stale to me, no plot point, no twist came as a surprise.
Also, at times it read slowly and wasn't very exciting, even though it was set during the war and everything was at stake.
It got a bit better in the last quarter of the book. There were some strong, emotional and also romantic scenes.
Final note: It’s aimed at younger readers, of course. I can imagine that it’s more appealing to them. What I take away from it, though, is just the interesting setting.
Bonus: Heaven Can Wait (Documentary)
May I smuggle in a film, just this once?
This life-affirming documentary tells the story of Europe's oldest casting choir, whose over 70-year-old members (the average age being currently 82) perform hits that normally their grandchildren listen to.
The Heaven Can Wait choir is Hamburg based and I saw a performance live in August 2024 at the SummerJazz Festival nearby. They absolutely rocked the place. The atmosphere was so very special. It was awesome!
The filmmakers accompanied the choir and some of their members over the course of three years, showing practices and performances, visiting members at home, talking about their personal story and what the choir means to them.
These people are simply impressive, their energy is contagious. One thing they all have in common is that they live every moment intensely.
It is such an optimistic film, so charming, funny, heart-felt, very moving and simply absolutely life-affirming.
Getting old doesn’t have to be beige. It can be as colourful as you want it to be.
I’m looking forward to October and new reading adventures!
Interested in my previous reading months?