September started well with the announcement of our 2020 Subjective Chaos Kind of Award winners, but it has felt like sailing into the wind ever since. To quote Bilbo, I’m feeling like butter spread over too much bread and would like a holiday (although not a permanent holiday). Preferably one with books and a blanket. Strictly no magic rings.

Reading Round-up

There’s nothing like a 1000-page epic read-along to leave a dent in your completed count. Based on pages read, September has been marginally below average; based on books finished it looks like a full on reading slump. It’s been good reading tho, and that’s what counts!

• The Green Man’s Silence – Juliet McKenna  ★★★☆
• Unconquerable Sun – Kate Elliott  ★★★★

I eventually DNFed All City by Alex di Francesco having read enough to meet Subjective Chaos rules. Things I didn’t know until reading this year’s finalists: I am quite twitchy about flooding, which shouldn’t surprise me (apparently my childhood anxiety about living below sea level is still simmering away in my subconscious).

Additional Reviews

Having got all caught up in August, I’ve fallen behind: September has been a complicated month for various reasons, and I’ve not managed to clear my head enough to compose reviews.

Stacking the shelves

It’s been pre-orders, ARCs and the monthly delight from Goldsboro Books hitting my shelves this month and I’m a pig in mud: I really just want to take a month off and READ ALL THE THINGS.

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Reading statistics

My goal – always – is to read diversely and to love every book. This year, I’m also planning to read more backlist. I have joined some challenges, but this year they’re more about fun and helping me pick my next read than pushing me to read specific things.

Books read: 48 / 70 | Game of Books: 402 / 600

• 7 off the shelf (i.e. not bought in 2020)
• 17 ARCs
• 12 bite-size (excl. short stories)

Authors: 12 male (25%) / 33 female (69%) / 3 trans, non-binary or genderfluid (6%)

• Authors of colour: 14 (29%)
• LGBTQIA authors: 14 (29%)
• Non-US / UK based authors: 9 (19%)

Litsy A to Z

I may not have finished many books in September, but it was enough to cross one more letter off my LitsyAtoZ challenge hosted by BookishMarginalia. I now stand at:

Letters completed: 17 | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, O, R, S, T, U, W

Here’s planning to make it 19 by the end of October…

What’s coming up?

October is autumn, and that means our Wyrd and Wonder mini-event Spooktastic Reads is back for 13 days to celebrate ghost stories, horror and dark fantasy. I’ve got a Gothic thriller and a zombie novel lined up, and Lisa is trying to tempt me into rewatching The Crow…

After October comes SciFiMonth, when you can expect wall to wall enthusiasm round here for all things speculative but rational, extravagant space opera, but probably not too much dystopia (because honestly, 2020 is dystopian enough).

My plans are well underway – I’ll be hosting a read-along for a favourite classic, Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle, and have got an exciting guest post lined up from one of the biggest names in British SF. Now to make time to get some of my own posts drafted…

Remember to sign up early to enter our crew giveaways – UK early birds can enter the draw for a copy of Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott (sign up and post before October 16th); and all crew have a shot at a copy of Seven Devils by Elizabeth May and Laura Lam (sign up and post before November 7th).

How was your September?

…and yes, yes, I edited this in the block editor and it wasn’t terrible. But it wasn’t better. And I only did it because my theme no longer appears to be able to centre an image if I don’t use the block editor, which is a greater sin than the block editor not allowing you to randomise images in galleries. Ugh, WordPress. UGH.