Reading List for September

My reading list for September is late. I am currently working my way through a large history book, but I don't mind taking long breaks from it in order to absorb & ponder the information & interpretation of the writer. I know it's going to take me months to finish this book, but that's okay. I wouldn't enjoy it any other way.

In the meantime, I tried reading other smaller novels in July, but I lost interest. Time is short. So I moved on. August was completely taken up by the Rio Olympics, my guilty pleasure, where I drop everything & focus (waste) my time & energy cheering on the various athletes & marvel at the wonders of the human body & spirit.

The weekend after the Olympics was over, I spent reorganizing & lining my kitchen cabinets. I need to sort through & organize the stuff I tend to accumulate. Otherwise, it just piles up & starts taking up space. I'm a packrat by nature, always trying to store extra things, afraid to toss junk away for fear of needing them some time later down the line.

But the truth is, a lot of it is stuff I don't use or need, so every couple of months, I sort through the accumulation to recycle & sort out the materials. It keeps me from becoming a hoarder, & it keeps the place clean & open. I like open spaces. And I like the feeling of accomplishment & lightness that comes from thinning out the piles of stuff that start to collect & take up space ever few months.

I barely had enough time to start reading last week, but it was worth it. I indulged myself & went for something fun. I like SciFi & Fantasy stories, especially when they are creative & entertaining. And one of my fave writers of the genre is Neil Gaiman.

The very first work of Neil Gaiman that I read was the amazing & magnificent comic book The Sandman. I had never read a comic book (or any other book) like that before. It was totally creative, original, & highly imaginative & thoroughly entertaining. The artwork was fantastic & absolutely stunning. I was flabbergasted & pleasantly surprised that a comic book could be so rich, engaging, & sophisticated. It was art, pure & simple & so spectacular.

As I was pondering what book I ought to read to pass the time, for some reason, Neil Gaiman popped into my mind. And seeing as I remembered how much I enjoyed his previous work, I sought out more of his creations. I found one, but I was so impressed & intrigued with his marvelous tale that I went on a binge these past few days & ended up reading three of his works. And I thoroughly enjoyed them all.

American Gods (American Gods #1)

The first book that read at the end of August was American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I was so hooked on the story that I read half of it long into the night, passed out on the chair, woke up a few hours later & read several more chapters til obligations forced me to put the book down & do what needed to be done. Even when I was away, the story stayed in my mind, & as soon as I got home, I sat down & read the rest of the book to the end.

It's been a while since a book has grabbed my attention this way, making me eager to read all the way through to the end without stopping. But this story of a man caught up in this surreal world of gods & intrigue & conflict in middle America was so fascinating. The characters & situations were so unique & exotic & familiar at the same time. It seemed so natural to believe that there were/are gods in America, & our lives are intertwined with theirs, for better or for worse.

There were some surprising & shocking scenes in this book, but it made sense in this fascinating world the book portrayed. The ending left me wanting more. And that's a good thing, because it makes it seem like the characters go on to do other things & live their lives, while the reader/audience must depart. I highly recommend this book. Check it out in your local library or do an online search for a digital option for your electronic device. It's a great entertaining read.

Anansi Boys (American Gods #2)

I was so entertained by Neil Gaiman's American Gods that I immediately sought out this book. It's not a sequel to the first, but could definitely fit into the world of the first book or stand on its own. It starts off kind of slow in the first chapters, but it's important because those chapters set out the themes of family ties & troubles, trust issues, & the dynamic relationship between families & the ties we share with other people through our history, interactions, & changing perspectives.

The story kept getting more interesting & exciting as the chapters went on. Mysteries & adventures made for a thoroughly entertaining read. What started out as a story about a beaten down man with a complex & conflicted relationship to his father developed into this riveting tale of action, intrigue, & revelations. The ending was totally satisfying & left me smiling, because the whole story surprised me & engaged me & left me identifying with the characters, cheering them on. I highly recommend this book, too.

The Graveyard Book

Of all the Neil Gaiman works I've read so far, The Graveyard Book is by far the most heartfelt for me. Yes, there is action & adventure & that touch of magic & mystery. But for me, this book had a lot of heart, & I honestly felt so much sympathy & hope for the characters & their lives. The ending left me feeling bereft, because although there was a sense of inevitability & some hope, I honestly didn't want the story to end. I felt that the main character needed to remain, even though the best thing (& most natural) was for him to go.

It's that feeling you get when the little ones you raised are suddenly poised to take those first steps into independence & make their way into the world. You've prepared them as best you can, you know that they are smart enough to survive, but still, you aren't ready to let go, you still want to hold them close & protect them forever. And this story made me feel very protective of the characters, whose stories & actions raised my sympathies & concern for their well being. Their world was so believable & fascinating, & I found myself wanting more. That's what makes this story so good & amazing. I highly recommend this book.

And there you have it, my reading list for September. It's late, & it's all the work of one author. But these three books captivated me with their stories & made me connect & identify with the characters. I highly recommend checking these out at your local library or searching online for digital versions/access. I have enjoyed reading Neil Gaiman's works so much that I'm actually continuing to search for & read the rest of his works.

Whatever you decide to read, I hope it's something that you enjoy. Good stories are like good people--they provide great company, good fun, & make for a great time. Good stories & good people should be shared, because they make the world & life a much happier, more wonderful, & more enjoyable experience.