After the bumper reading month I had in August, September has been unusually quiet on the book front.
I only managed to get through two novels this month. Whether it’s down to spending so much time with my nose in a book last month, or moving house, I don’t know, but I haven’t read much at all this last few weeks.
The first novel I read in September was Acceptance, by Jeff VanderMeer, which is the final part in the Southern Reach trilogy. I’ve already written fairly extensive reviews of part one and parts two and three of the series, which go into more detail about the story, but if you enjoy science fiction or psychological thrillers with a unique twist, this is a trilogy you should read.
The other book I read this month was The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac. I’ve been circling around Kerouac’s novels for a while now, having only previously read On the Road, about a decade ago. There were three or four of his novels that I was particularly keen to read and in the end I went for this one, which features the writer’s musings on spirituality and Buddhism. As with On the Road, this is a semi-autobiographical tale about a group of young men who are keen to explore the Zen lifestyle through the simple life and the solitude of mountain climbing.
It took me a long time to get through On the Road, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Dharma Bums, but I actually enjoyed it a lot. Kerouac’s writing has a poetic edge that perfectly captures the wanderlust and desire for meaning that his work is so often associated with.
I’m definitely going to be picking up a few more of his novels in the coming months.
So, to recap on this month’s reads, with affiliate links:
September’s reads
- Acceptance (The Southern Reach Trilogy), by Jeff VanderMeer (read my review)
- The Dharma Bums (Penguin Modern Classics), by Jack Kerouac
Slavka says
Suggestion for October: Kerouac’s poetry. 🙂
Amy Lord says
Thanks Slavka, I’ve been reading quite a bit of Ginsberg lately, so I’ll check out Kerouac’s poetry too!