September Reads (2020 Edition)

penny on October 1, 2020

Each September I want to curl up with a book, a crocheted blanket, a mug of tea and simply read for hours on end. That didn’t happen, but I made the most of moments I could snatch here and there — without burning dinner! Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams is one that has been on my list for months and becomes more important every day. There were some titles to help me work — catching up on UX and also knitting inspiration. I didn’t really want to think too much so most of my fun reading this month was pure candy. I enjoy Ilona Andrews writings and they made up the bulk of my reading. I’ve written up short reviews below.

List of Book Covers for titles read in September 2020
  1. Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews
  2. Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles, #2) by Ilona Andrews
  3. One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles, #3) by Ilona Andrews
  4. Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles, #4) by Ilona Andrews
  5. Sweep with Me (Innkeeper Chronicles, #4.5) by Ilona Andrews
  6. Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams
  7. To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
  8. The Kinsman Universe (Kinsmen #1-3) by Ilona Andrews
  9. The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley
  10. Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal
  11. On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews
  12. Bayou Moon (The Edge #2) by Ilona Andrews
  13. Fate’s Edge (The Edge #3) by Ilona Andrews
  14. Steel’s Edge (The Edge #4) by Ilona Andrews
  15. Unconquerable Sun (The Sun Chronicles #1) by Kate Elliott
  16. Book Burners, The Complete Series 1 by Max Gladstone
  17. Gunmetal Magic (Andrea Nash #1; Kate Daniels #5.5) by Ilona Andrews
  18. Magic Dreams (Dali Harmau Novella #1; Kate Daniels #4.5) by Ilona Andrews
  19. Magic Steals (Dali Harmau Novella #2; Kate Daniels #6.5) by Ilona Andrews
  20. Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
  21. Custom Shawls for the Curious and Creative Knitter by Kate Atherley, Kim McBrien Evans
  22. Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot

Current Events & Memoir Recommendations

  • Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams
    This is more important every day. VOTE.
  • Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot
    This is a beautifully written memoir. I need more time to process what I read (I finished it yesterday).

Knitting Recommendation

  • Custom Shawls for the Curious and Creative Knitter by Kate Atherley, Kim McBrien Evans
    I knew this would be a great book when I first heard that Kate and Kim were writing one together. My library ebook hold came in and I finally had a chance to read it and it’s even more fabulous than I imagined. I’ll write a review and post it to little acorn creations soon.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Recommendations

  • Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
    This is one of those books that I knew when I stopped to focus on it, I’d be drawn in. It took several months of starts and stops to have the stars align and I finally paused to read this straight through.
    I immediately wanted to reread it! This is a powerful story of power, hope, and anger. While it is speculative fiction, it is an all to realistic portrait of black pain in America.
  • Ilona Andrews
    • Innkeeper Chronicles
    • The Edge
    • The Kinsman Universe
    • Kate Daniels Series
      There is something about this duo’s writing that has me binging series. I was very lucky to be able to read the first three as uninterrupted series. I find that unlike some series that seem to loose interest as books go on, this is untrue for Andrews and the later books of Innkeeper and The Edge series were even more enjoyable than the intro. Kinsman is a quick read. I’ve read most of the Kate Daniels series previously and this time I focused on Dali and Andrea. These books are pure candy, with interesting characters and world building.
  • To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
    This novella is a quick and interesting read. While I got frustrated with the narrator, Ariadne, more than once I feel that makes it more enjoyable. The story covers lots of different things — relationships, humanity, and following orders. I think I would have enjoyed it a fully fleshed out novel, but it was interesting and different from the Wayfarer books.
  • Unconquerable Sun (The Sun Chronicles #1) by Kate Elliott
    I wanted to read more space opera and this book delivered.
  • Book Burners, The Complete Series 1 by Max Gladstone, Mur Lafferty, Brian Francis Slattery, Margaret Dunlap
    Sometimes I look at the length of a book and choose it based on page count. This one clocks in at about 800 pages and there’s a lot in every one of those pages. What I like most is seeing how the different authors mesh together (or sometimes not) in the Serial Box format. I think because it was primarily set in Rome and I miss traveling I was willing to overlook its flaws. The characters and premise are interesting enough I plan to read series 2 soon.

Technology Recommendations

  • The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley
  • Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal
    Over the past few months, I’ve been reading more about accessibility, usability, and the user experience. I’ve looked to gain a better understanding as to the definition of these topics, as well as for ways to build a framework that will help small businesses. Read more at PSG Studio.

Next reads

Each month I always say I’ll read more from my shelves and catch up on Netgalley reviews. It’s easy to be distracted by new ebooks from the library. I don’t have a specific plan of what I’ll read this month. Today I’m halfway through the Lost Children Archive. I’d first started this months ago, and then needed to return it to the library. I’m listening to the audiobook while I work up a knitted shawl sample.

Have you read something you think I’d enjoy? Please let me know!

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