7 genre-bending Books I read recently in September 2023

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September was a month of some fascinating reads for me as I got to read some 4 and 5-star books. It was also a good selection(I think) with some good mystery novels, fantastic historical fiction laced with magic and mystery, and short stories and graphic memoirs.
On the personal front – I turned 40 midway in September. And the world hasn’t turned upside down since then. I’ve been working out well and gradually moving towards a super fit. Celebrated the Ganesh festival, met a lot of cousins, and got a lot of programming and coding done. So overall I think September was an ideal month for me. How was yours, drop me an email or connect with me on my social media channels.
Let’s deep dive into my reads for the month.

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Recent Reads September 2023

Babel : An Arcane History by R.F.Kuang

I was skeptical while beginning my reading of Babel. It was a genre (politics and historical fantasy) I rarely read, also, the length of the book just felt daunting. I am so glad I persisted.

It is 1828. The mysterious Professor Lovell transports the cholera orphan Robin Swift from Canton to London. He takes young Robin under his care and enrolls him in Oxford University's famed Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel—he spends years there studying Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese. The tower and its students are the most critical source of translation for the world and an even more important center for silver work. The British have achieved a level of power unmatched by any other nation owing to silver-working, the ancient practice of employing enchanted silver bars to manifest meaning that has been lost in translation.

For Robin, Oxford is a perfect place where everyone is devoted to learning. However, power triumphs over knowledge, and Robin, a Chinese child raised in Britain, understands that serving Babel entails betraying his motherland. As his studies advance, Robin is forced to choose between the enigmatic Hermes Society—an organization devoted to halting imperial expansion—and Babel. Robin must make a choice when Britain wages an unfair war with China over silver and opium. 

Babel takes us on a mesmerizing journey into the depths of a world filled with magic, intrigue, and political upheaval. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by Kuang's rich storytelling and vividly imagined characters. Set in the fantastical city of Babylon, "Babel" introduces us to a cast of complex and compelling characters all vying for power and survival in a world on the brink of chaos. 

The way Kuang weaves together elements of history, mythology, and fantasy is masterful. Each page is filled with breath-taking descriptions and heart-pounding action that kept me on the edge of my seat. 

One of the things that impressed me most about "Babel" is the depth and complexity of the characters. Kuang has created a diverse and multifaceted cast that is impossible not to root for. Each character is flawed yet relatable, and their struggles and triumphs kept me emotionally invested throughout the entirety of the book. But perhaps what I loved most about "Babel" is the way it tackles vital themes such as power, identity, and the consequences of our actions. 

Kuang doesn't shy away from exploring the darker side of humanity, and her exploration of these themes adds an extra layer of depth to an already gripping story. Overall, "Babel" by R.F. Kuang is an absolute triumph. It is a book that will stay with me long after I've turned the final page. 

Kuang's ability to create such a rich and immersive world, coupled with her incredible storytelling prowess, makes this a must-read for any lovers of fantasy or historical fiction. Do yourself a favor and pick up "Babel" today. You won't be disappointed!

The Text by Claire Douglas

Doesn't this happen to all of us? We send a text to our friends in a hurry and there's a typing mistake and all of a sudden the message takes on an unintended meaning. But the bigger nightmare is when what you did not intend becomes true. That's what the story of the text is about.

 
Although I enjoyed the fifteen minutes I spent reading this short story, I was very disappointed with the ending. I would have enjoyed it better if it had an ambiguous end instead of explaining the whole thing.

The Vengeance of Samuel Val by Elyse Hoffman

Despite being brief, Elyse Hoffman's WWII historical fiction novella THE VENGEANCE OF SAMUEL VAL is a riveting read. In this short story, a young man seeks to get revenge on the SS Beast of Belorussia for the death of his family.

I appreciate the novella's innovative idea, which in just 110 pages takes the reader on the emotional and spiritual journey of a young guy.  Ms. Hoffman's writing is poetic and educational at the same time, and it creates a picture of this historical period and location. 

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A compulsively readable book.

A very detailed and organized investigation by Pippa, our protagonist, into a murder and suicide, that took place five years ago in her small town, Kilton. Pippa decides to pick up the investigation as her summer project as she does not believe the accused Sal Singh, who committed suicide later, was responsible for the death of Andie, the town's darling girl. Pippa takes care of all the small things that a reader might question during her thorough investigation. Like, for example, editing a photo in Photoshop to find its time stamp.

Also very logical writing, for example, deciding to save a person she trusted in favor of finding the truth of the real mystery. Pippa makes detailed notes in her diary of her investigation and even creates a list of suspects based on her interviews with them. In addition to that, I also loved the many twists and turns, and the final reveal was someone I did not deduce. Overall, I think the story was five-star entertainment.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Esperanza is a young Latino girl growing up far away from home in Chicago. She lives in a house on Mango Street. And she hates it. Because it is nothing she ever dreamed of for her house.

 
The book is a collection of several stories from her life. Mostly the stories speak of people related to her in some way. Either her neighbor or her cousins. The stories are a mix of emotional, dramatic, happy, funny, and witty vignettes. It is a very short and delightful read.

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Arthur Less is a forty-nine-year-old author with one successful book and an unsuccessful relationship. Now, Arthur's boyfriend of nine years is getting married, and he wants to avoid being an attendee at all costs, even if he has to travel all around the world for it. To do just that Less accepts all half-baked invitations of the literary world and begins his journey through France, then Italy, Morrocco, India, and Japan.

 
The novel started off a little confusing for me, as I got lost in the various people and their relationships. The middle too was slow for me. But towards the end, as the plot thickened and the comedy darkened, it built an appeal and the end was oh-so-sweet. A feel-good book for sure.

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

The Best We Could Do is an illustrated memoir of when Thi delivered her baby and then recollected how the same experiences would have been for her mother who had four kids and migrated from Vietnam to the US during a brutal war that was being raged in her home country.

 
The book discusses the author's relationship with her father and her mother, and the author is trying to find out why they behave the way they do and traces back their behavior to their childhood and upbringing.

 
I love illustrated books that can recreate the scene of the story through their pictures. And this book had a grim and dark theme, and yet it had me engrossed in the illustrations as if I was watching a movie play out.