From Hugo Award-winning sci-fi to a ‘pandemic novel’ that’s actually worth your time, here are the best books read by Booktopia’s staff in October 2021!
Mark Harding – Head of Branding & Communication
Inhibitor Phase by Alastair Reynolds
Why I loved it: I simply ADORE Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space universe. Reynolds has spent years building up this rich vision of humanity’s future through a core trilogy, supporting novels, and lots of short stories. It is now a masterclass in worldbuilding and envisions a future where humans have colonised nearby star systems, but run into the Inhibitors, an ancient race of alien machines, with a single purpose: to prevent the rise of intelligent civilisations. This is a welcome and thrilling return to the universe with a high-stakes science fiction epic.
Buy it here
Olivia Fricot – Senior Content Producer & Editor of The Booktopian
Burntcoat by Sarah Hall
Why I loved it: If you’d told me before October that my favourite book of the month would be one about a pandemic, I would not have believed you. Having had no desire to dive into any ‘pandemic fiction’ (that wasn’t written by Emily St John Mandel, at least), I picked up Burntcoat with some hesitation, but I’m so glad that I did. It takes up with Edith Harkness, a sculpture artist nearing a long-awaited death due to complications from contracting ‘novavirus’ decades ago, during a devastating global pandemic. The novel takes us on a meandering journey through Edith’s life — her childhood with her brilliant mother, her studies in Japan of shou sugi ban (the process of hardening and preserving wood through fire), and the purchase of an industrial warehouse called Burntcoat, in which Edith locks down with an intriguing new lover in the pandemic’s early days. This book is gorgeous, equally tender and erotic but without any cloying sentimentality in its reflections on life, art and human nature. A true reward for any reader looking for a new perspective on our current times.
Buy it here
Nick Wasiliev – Senior Content Producer
Love Stories by Trent Dalton
Why I loved it: For lovers of his previous work, this is Trent at his most Trent! Love Stories is a middle finger to our divisive times. Love takes many forms, whether it be young love, or grief from a loved one who has passed. This book talks of princes from Zimbabwe missing their mothers, to a blind man wanting to see the face of his wife of thirty years. It talks of love affairs, and love at the moment of death. Some stories aren’t for the faint of heart, and others will make your heart sing. This is love, warts and all.
Buy it here
Callum Gough – Junior Category Manager of General Merchandise
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Why I loved it: Stepping away from my usual non-fiction or historical fiction, I devoured this story! N.K.’s world building is phenomenal and depicts a volatile world where a single ‘season’ is enough to bring humanity to its knees. For those who are fantasy veterans or newbies like me, I highly recommend it. The writing style beautifully portrays diverse, strong characters and worldbuilding, whilst also detailing how this alternate earth (The Stillness) has come to be. Laws that instil governance and historical events build upon this sense of lingering fear that the inhabitants live with. I cannot wait to continue with the series.
Buy it here
Ben Hunter – Fiction Category Manager
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
Why I loved it: I can’t stop thinking about this book. It has somehow compressed all of the big questions bouncing around my tiny distressed brain into one potent cocktail of contemporary fiction. What spectacular forms could life take beyond this planet? What is the place of humans on this planet and why are we grossly abusing our fellow species? How do we raise children in a world that is decaying in real time? How do we carry on the essence of people we love when they die? How can we understand others when we can barely understand ourselves? Yep. This book is really heavy, but it’s also short, clever, and, at moments, funny and joyous. Bewilderment is moving, and challenging and brilliant in it’s own wild way. It also comes from the massively successful author of the Pulitzer prize-winning The Overstory and it’s on the Booker Prize shortlist this year. It struck very close to the bone for me and was all the more effective for it.
Buy it here
Rob O’Hearn – Academic & Professional Category Manager
Why You Should Give a F*ck About Farming by Gabrielle Chan
Why I loved it: As someone who was born opposite cattle sale yards, who grew up helping on chook farms and hanging out on dairy and goat farms, I thought I already did know and care about farming. I was wrong! There is so much more to the picture, with farming facing unique and evolving threats: globalisation, corporate economics, land care issues, climate change, changing consumer demands, and more. Farmers’ risks are growing as the returns are dwindling. The subtitle of this book is “because you eat”, meaning we, as consumers, have responsibility, and some complicity, in the farmer’s predicament. If we want produce grown on environmentally friendly farms that provide a decent return to the farmer, we have to accept the price of that. Veteran journalist and tree-changer Gabrielle Chan sees both sides of the rural-urban divide, and her book is a thorough, lively and compelling conversation-starter that engages much more than I expected.
Buy it here
Shanulisa Prasad – Lifestyle Category Manager
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Why I loved it: Having only read one Ann Patchett book – The Dutch House – I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book of essays, in which she explores themes of family, friendship, the small joys of life. I shouldn’t have worried because I loved every story in the collection (reading about how Snoopy was an inspiration to her was a particular delight). Once you have stepped into Ann’s world, I promise you won’t want to leave. I know I didn’t.
Buy it here
Hannah Armstrong – Assistant Category Manager for Fiction
Devotion by Hannah Kent
Why I loved it: I can confidently say that Devotion is my new religion. This book is a rare and deeply affecting love story, following the life of Hanne Nussbaum, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood in 1830s Prussia. Hanne would rather run wild in the natural beauty that surrounds her small village than deal with the foreboding prospect of marriage. Her life’s trajectory changes dramatically when she meets Thea, a newcomer to her village who seems to understand her instantly. What follows is a story that explores the magic and tragedy of the everyday; of nature, religion, family and above all, love. I was absolutely blown away by Hannah Kent’s prose, her careful construction of sentences filling me with awe and wonder. Tender, tragic and all-consuming, this is the kind of book that will touch your soul if you let it.
Buy it here
Amy Evans – Assistant Category Manager for Lifestyle
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
Why I loved it: When I heard about this book I knew I immediately was going to love it – a reality dating show where Prince Charming falls in love with his awkward producer instead of the cast of ‘perfect’ princesses? Sign me up for this ultimate rom com. While it’s just as fun and adorable as it sounds, Alison Cochrun weaves in such an intensely beautiful story about mental health, self-acceptance and letting someone love you. It was so much more emotionally impactful than I was expecting, while still being the most fun romance novel I’ve read this year! Perfect for fans that have been looking for the next Red, White & Royal Blue.
Buy it here
Eden Samuel – Assistant Category Manager for Kids & YA
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
Why I loved it: This series is your next YA thriller obsession! An exquisitely plotted mystery that is full of wit, energy and heart-pounding twists and turns – I was left leafing through the end pages exclaiming “HOW?!” and “WHY?!” while simultaneously ordering the next and final book in the series, As Good As Dead. I am absolutely in love with our main character, Pip, who never fails to abruptly barge in, ask the difficult questions and solve the entire mystery on her own – she is fearless and at times even reckless in her pursuit for the truth, giving me anxiety the whole way through (but in the best of ways)! This is the sort of book that you will ignore all of your responsibilities for. It will take over your whole life and you will have no regrets, only the highest of praise for Holly Jackson, the queen of obliterating minds since 2019.
Buy it here
Cassandra Sharpe – Assistant Category Manager for Non-Fiction
Break the Internet by Olivia Yallop
Why I loved it: In the last ten years, the media and information landscape has changed significantly. “How to become an influencer” is one of the most Googled terms, as millions try to carve out a following online. Yallop looks at the phenomenon of influencers from both sides – as a marketer specialising in social media, and as a consumer. She looks behind the algorithm and considers how it’s already shaping everything, from spending patterns, popular culture and trends, to even television. Yallop goes undercover at a fan meetup, joins an influencer bootcamp and examines the good and bad of life online, from dial-up days to Tumblr’s explosion to TikTok today.
Buy it here
Isabella Noyes – CRM Assistant
Michael Yardney’s Guide to Investing Successfully by Michael Yardney
Why I loved it: This month, I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and pick up a book on investing. As a woman in my mid-twenties, my finances are top of mind and my odds of winning the lotto are low. Michael Yardney taught me everything I didn’t learn at school and has a magical ability to make a book about investing not dull. He has advice for people in all stages of the investor journey and outlines the steps you need to take towards securing financial freedom. As someone who thought their super was a ‘future me’ problem, I’ve been inspired by Yardney to act now. It’s a short read with just under 300 pages and could be easily tackled in a weekend.
Buy it here
Karen Robinson – Territory Relationship Manager
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
Why I loved it: I’ve heard so many rave reviews about this book that I was a bit nervous to read it, but oh my how right they all were. This magical and charming book more than lives up to the hype. While it’s marketed as a children’s book it is by no means one you should overlook, I actually hugged this book when I finished reading it. The characters are wonderful, the dialogue witty and touching, and its message about accepting the beauty of difference is so timely. Honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year — its beauty will stay with me for years to come.
Buy it here
What was the best book you read in October 2021?
Tell us in the comments below!
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