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Do you have any candy left from Halloween? My neighbor made my kids freeze dried candy and I can’t.stop.eating.it. There are these malted chocolate ones that are just unreal. Thank goodness each holiday only comes once a year….

These below freezing temperatures have made for excellent reading weather, and I hope you’ve been able to take advantage of it. I was able to read 11 books in October, of which eight were four stars or better. Here they are, in no particular order:

The Last Green Valley and Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T Sullivan are historical fiction books that are long but incredible page turners. They both take place during World War II and the stories verge on unbelievable. They are both medium-paced and very adventurous. These books are not to be confused with his suspense books, which I haven’t read but my husband enjoys, that are more along the vein of James Patterson. (These books are featured in this month’s Thompson Falls Public Library book talk video series).

Contents May Have Shifted by Pam Houston is a slow-to-medium-paced collection of short stories on travel and love. It’s reflective and while touted as fiction, I doubt very much that it is. Houston has a way of revealing poignantly personal discoveries in the midst of everyday life that I absolutely love. This may be my new favorite of her book of collections.

Female Trouble by Antonya Nelson is a slow-paced collection of short stories that are more literary than mainstream, which to me simply means they are dense; each one feels like a novella. They’re beautiful though and break wide open the idea of “family.”

Bliss Montage by Ling Ma is a collection of short stories that’s medium-paced, dark, and reflective. I would call this speculative fiction, borderline dystopian. A fascinating look at what we call sanity and normalcy. I’ve not yet read her other book, Severance, which is supposed to be much more dystopian, but it’s on my to be read (TBR) list.

Descended from a Travel-Worn Satchel by Chris La Tray is a book of poetry and short prose that’s equal parts funny and sad, touching and devastating. I don’t read as much poetry as I’d like, but this is definitely one of my top 10 poetry books now.

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow is a medium-paced young adult book that is intense, emotional, and dark.

Reminiscent of books like Go Ask Alice and Girl Interrupted, it’s a hard-hitting contemporary story of a girl who cuts and her experience going through the psych system and coming out the other side. Highly recommended.

Old Friend from Far Away by Natalie Goldberg is a nonfiction writing book that’s fast-to-medium-paced and inspiring. Similar to Writing Down the Bones, Goldberg walks the reader through tools to help unlock memory and make for a better memoirist. An excellent gift for the creative nonfiction writer in your life.

I’m currently in various stages of reading:

Buster Midnight’s Café by Sandra Dallas

Wild Dogs by Helen Humphreys

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

Bound by Antonya Nelson

Stay warm, grab a bowl of candy (especially if it’s freeze dried), and lemme know Whatcha Readin’. Or send a photo of your TBR stack or your bookshelf. Seeing these always makes me smile.

Sunday Dutro is an avid reader and eBook convert living in Thompson Falls with her beautiful family and an enormous “to be read” pile. Reach her at [email protected] or sundaydutro.com.

FLASH WRITING

At a writing discussion last month at the Thompson Falls Library, attendees were invited to participate in a five-minute timed writing prompt in an effort to learn to relax, trust their flow, and recognize how much can be accomplished in only five minutes. The attendees were then graciously given the option by The Sanders County Ledger to have their pieces published. Congratulations, writers: here’s one acceptance!

The Subconscious is Busy Elsewhere

by Fiona Walker

Anger’s boundless sun flares of creativity soar. Inspiration flows unimpeded; decision making is fast and questionable. The CPU of my brain strains thoughts in nanoseconds. Activity reaches a frenetic pace closely matched by the speed at which my next idea, action, or witty (perhaps not) remark is pressed into the malleable core of my consciousness. Lightning fast brain synapses crackle, pop, and momentarily blaze brightly like the control panel in a sci-fi movie where the slightest misfire becomes the catalyst of destruction exploding magnificently in a glorious chain reaction ending in complete annihilation of… any leftover cheesecake in my fridge.

Anger is one of my favorite creative resources

by Chad Sivertsen

I am unhappy with myself for not keeping detailed notes of my adventures in life. Not angry but disappointed. Writing about these experiences would be more enjoyable and could be prepared with better accuracy. For the younger folks I recommend you carry a notebook and write every day.