Happy Halloween 🎃
Weekly Thoughts #7 Everyone!
Happy Halloween or if you are a resident of a country where this day is known as a Remembrance Day of The Loved Ones Who Passed On, I hope you will spend it in peace and calm nostalgia (on the 1st or 2nd of November depending).
I’m somewhere in between, I lit candles for my loved ones throughout the whole day and I do think about them a lot. This being said I also love to watch spooky movies, read blood curling books and just enjoy the pop-culture Halloween for what it is.
This day also happens to be the day when I’ve finally received my degree. I won’t have a problem remembering this date at least in the future. So officially I’ve been awarded with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Natural Sciences (Astronomy and Planetary Science), First-class Honours. I’m so happy that I pushed it through because there were times when I thought that I won’t be able to finish or even keep going on with this degree. There was also Covid in between which was a really hard time of my life in so many ways that I’m still not completely recovered from it, yet. I also had a big career change after Covid, where I have founded my own small company with my partner. Which was not just a huge risk but absolutely necessary to even being able to continue with my studies. But after all this here we are! Ready to move on, ready to broaden my horizons and really jump (back) into writing. Let it be about science or fiction. If you are someone who is struggling at the moment, who feels like there is absolutely no way that you will be able to push through this, this is your sign.
When you are pushed to the edge and you go through the storm with your sleeves rolled up and your collar raised up, you will be elevated. You will level up. That person won’t be the same. It’s going to be stronger, tougher, smarter and way more humble. It’s a win-win. Even if it’s just a pass, even if you fail but you went through it. Doesn’t matter. You will get through it. Trust yourself.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey Review in the Making...
As for books that I’ve read the past couple of weeks, there are 3 amazing books that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely going to write more about them in detail. Orbital* by Samantha Harvey is one of them. Orbital has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize this year, 2024. It is a small book, a quick read if you are a fast reader but I would advise against speeding through it as it doesn’t necessarily read like your usual plot and character-driven novels. It’s more a meditation, a bouquet of thoughts for the philosophical mind. Currently, I’m working on my detailed review on it and I have found some crazy interesting stuff about astronauts so keep your eyes peeled for future posts, or if you don’t want to miss it subscribe to NOLITETHOUGHTs newsletter at the bottom of the page.
If you are interested about the book click on the link above it will take you to my bookshop.org* page where you can read the official synopsis.
I have to say I definitely need to re-read this novel somewhere in the future because I just read it way too fast. I should’ve left a little room for my thoughts so they could be happily floating around a little bit before I jumped into the next page or even the next paragraph.
I did enjoy it a lot. It slightly changed my perspective as someone who loves space and science. Especially, after reading and deep diving into it a little more. I highly recommend it if you are a reader who likes to read books that are not written in a conventional way, that are a bit more philosophical and a bit more contemplative.
King’s Vampires
Salem’s Lot* by Stephen King was my next read after Orbital, and I have to say you can’t go wrong with this one. It has vampires, it has the signature small town vibe and lore!
The book peaked at the middle plot-wise and definitely grew into an awesome book by the end of it. It was a perfect read for Halloween, and it just brought my appetite back for some more Stephen King reads in the future. I will probably write a short review on it at some point.
Peak Freakiness
Oh this book, this book was just peak freakiness. It’s Gus Moreno’s This Thing Between Us** an epic ghost/demon/grief story. Definitely comes with its trigger warnings on grief. So just keep this in mind before jumping in.
I loved this book so much. Gus Moreno absolutely has a shelf in my inner library from now on. I read it in two sittings and it was an absolute page-turner for me. His writing absolutely checks out everything that I like about a writer’s style. It’s witty and sarcastic. He doesn’t take himself seriously. I loved it. It is also a hard book to read hence trigger warnings about grief but if you are okay with going a bit deeper in this subject it can be a healing experience. It was definitely for me. Another highly recommended one for spooky readers with a little umph with a little twist and depth to it. A longer detailed review is a must for this one.
Captain, oh Captain!
My current read is The Fisherman* by John Langan, I’m roughly third way through and it has been a very nice experience so far. It has trigger warnings on grief as well, but very beautifully approached. Very humble. Interesting fact: Gus Moreno thanked John Langan’s The Fisherman at his acknowledgements and when I started to read The Fisherman it was clear why he did that. I won’t go into it too deeply here, but it’s a nice little easter egg and definitely gives a deeper meaning to both these works. Can’t wait to see where this novel is headed.
Next Reads: Epic Fantasy and Space Noir Series
I’m probably going to go forward with The Song of Ice and Fire series* by George R. R. Martin. Clash of Kings* to be exact. Can’t wait to jump back into Westeros. Then I also have space noir, The Expanse series** by James S. A. Corey that I’m reading, the second novel:Caliban’s War* I can’t wait to jump back into that one too. It’s actually very refreshing to rotate the genres. It helps me not to go into a reading slump. In between I’m probably going to read some standalones.
I am also a PR1ME and GSSF member ofGoldsboro books since a few months ago and their books are just so gorgeous. I need to write about them separately too at some point, because the highlight of my month is when I receive them. I’m not affiliated with them or anything, it’s just genuinely my honest opinion that these books are just gorgeous and still (somewhat) affordable. I love Folio Society but that’s not something that you just buy, that’s more like THAT DRESS that you are contemplating buying for months or that new e-reader that you are saving up for. That precious little thing that you always go visit once in a month and say: One day you shall be mine. One day…
There are so many authors that I want to start reading, including Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, Ken Liu, Jane Fonda, Douglas Adams, Robert Jordan just to mention a few. I mean if you just take Brandon Sanderson who writes faster than I can read, this is a lot of books. How cool is it that there will always be more books that you can read in a lifetime? I mean, if you can move forward from the existential crisis point that we all had the first time when we learnt that the Sun will turn into a red giant and its outer layers will consume everything in its way including Earth.
Anyway, the main thing is there are amazing books out there waiting to be read and written and that is something that’s worth being excited for. I leave down below my curated list of 10 Unnerving books for October 🦇*
If you like my work please consider supporting my page by either buying me a cup of coffee or contributing towards a book on my wishlist or just using my affiliate links to buy the books recommended by me. It would mean a tremendous lot because this way I can make sure that I can keep my website safe, up and running. I am posting new reviews every weekend.
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*Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org where your purchases support local bookstores. I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
** Further Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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