My Year in Books 2024: October

Well, I've not really improved my reading-for-fun streak this month. In my defence, I was really tied up with Halloween events this month, and I had a few books to read for review. I did start another novel, but I didn't finish it by the end of the month, so sadly today's post only has one title on it.

In case you're curious, here are my posts from the rest of the year so far: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September

Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram (2024)

I got this in my Abominable Books box this month, and I was so intrigued by the premise that I jumped straight in. The book is about a man called Vicken who is travelling on Montreal’s Metro with the intention of ending his own life. He reaches a station at the end of the line, only to discover that there’s no exit and no trains leaving from the platform. The building that Vicken finds himself in is a labyrinthine, impossible space that defies logic. I was drawn to this idea, as I do enjoy a bit of impossible architecture. Some of the descriptions of the Metro station are dizzying and utterly bizarre, so I wasn’t disappointed in that aspect at all. To be honest, I wasn’t disappointed by anything in the book, though it’s certainly not subtle. It’s told through first-person narration, so a lot of it is about Vicken describing his state of mind to the reader. The subway station is a pretty obvious metaphor, though there are times when Vicken denies this is the case. However, the nature of the metaphor is a bit more elusive than you might expect, and there are certainly moments that will give the reader pause. Ajram uses a narrative technique in the final section of the book that I really enjoyed (though I won’t say what it is, as I don’t want to spoil it). The book resists a trite or placatory conclusion, and that really worked for me. Enjoyed this one.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 28

Another day of celebrating the Halloween season! I can't believe it's been four weeks now! Some really lovely things planned for today though.

Halloween Walk in the Park

I took one of the residents from Castlerea Care Home for a Halloween walk in Heaton Park this afternoon. I promised him we'd do this when we did our Poetry in the Park session at the Autumn Equinox, so we've been looking forward to it for a while. We spotted loads of seasonal things in nature, followed the scarecrow trail, and talked about all sorts of things.

Halloween Treat Bags

I made us little Halloween treat bags to have with a cup of tea on our walk in the park, with crisps and a chocolate apple each.

Pumpkin and Beetroot Soup

I used up half of the flesh from our pumpkin lantern for soup (accompanied by beetroot and a bit of orzo).

The Lodger

Me and my friend went to Stockport Plaza tonight for an amazing screening of Alfred Hitchcock's The Lodger, with live improvised accompaniment by Hugo Max on solo viola and percussion. This was such a cool event - so happy that we got to see it.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 27

Another day of celebrating our Halloween month. It was a bit more relaxed than yesterday's craziness, but still very enjoyable and super-seasonal.

Samhain Nature Walkshop

I went on Natalie Rossiter's annual Samhain Nature Walkshop this afternoon, which has become a really special part of my Halloween celebrations. We did forest bathing, searching for beauty in decay, looking for messages in the woods, and then reflection around the fire with homemade biscuits, mulled apple juice and magical flames.

Pumpkin Lantern

When I got home from the woods, Rob had carved our pumpkin lantern.

Halloween Dinner

Tonight, we had our traditional Halloween Dinner of Pumpkin and Sausage Casserole.

Halloween Gifts

And then after dinner, we swapped our traditional Halloween gifts - the last whiskies to add to the set that we'll drink in December.

N is for Night of the Living Dead

Our Horror A-Z continued tonight with Night of the Living Dead.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 26

Today was a very busy day, involving four different outfits and two different wigs. It was a good day.

Bailey’s Wood Litter-Pick

This morning started off with the monthly Friends of Bailey's Wood litter-pick. As is tradition, we dressed up for October litter-pick. And, as is also tradition, we (or maybe that should be I) tried to make our costumes as unsettling as possible.

Christmas Duck

One of the guys on the litter-pick presented me with a present this morning. He said, "I know you're into your ducks," and I think this is because my little Halloween ducks have been turning up at various events. Then he told me he'd found this one in his garden one day, and I could have it for when we start celebrating Christmas. I love my little garden duck!

Mouse and Chocolate Owls

A present from my mum!

Hannah’s Bookshelf Halloween Special

This afternoon was the annual Hannah's Bookshelf Halloween Special on North Manchester FM, featuring seasonal flash fiction from this year's 3 Minute Scares entries.

Abominable Books

Also on my radio show today, I opened my October box from the Abominable Book Club. I got Disturbance by Jenna Clake and Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram, plus a tote bag, popcorn and a few other treats.

Bailey’s Wood Horror Walk

Then it was to the woods for the Friends of Bailey's Wood evening event... Saturday the 26th - Horror in the Woods. I led some brave souls through the forest, telling stories of other realms, vengeful trees, and why you should never book a cabin in the woods on Airbnb.

L is for The Loved Ones

Back home, we continued our horror A-Z with The Loved Ones.

M is for The Menu

And then we rounded off the day with The Menu.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 25

Bit of a quieter day than yesterday! We have a lot of things planned for tomorrow, so today was mostly just about taking things easy and getting ready for the weekend.

Toffee Apple Cookies

A nice seasonal treat for a quiet day.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 24

Busy day today, because we had a big Halloween event on at work, and I was performing at it!

Pumpkin

There were some pumpkins left over from another event at work yesterday, so I was offered one to take home. Admittedly, we already have seven at home... but I just can't say no to a pumpkin.

A Nightmare on Nelson Street 2: Emmeline's Revenge

Tonight was the annual Halloween event at the Pankhurst Centre. I led a walk around Nelson Street (where the museum is located), telling stories of its history and the history of the infirmary that surrounds it. Then we returned to the museum, and I gave a talk entitled 'Suffragettes and Werewolves'. It was kinda weird, but also kinda nice, to return to female werewolves after so long. A bit like a homecoming.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 23

Today was a bit of a busy, but absolutely lovely, day of Halloween celebrations.

Bailey’s Wood Halloween Story Walk

This morning, I led a Halloween Story Walk for Friends of Bailey's Wood. The kids who came along were so creative and imaginative, looking for clues about the identity of the creature who lives in the woods. Ultimately, they concluded that there's maybe... just maybe... something wrong with the trees. Gulp.

Campfire Tales at Castlerea Care Home

I did my regular poetry and stories session with the residents at Castlerea Care Home this afternoon. On a whim, I thought we might honour the spooky season by telling scary stories. We lit a campfire, gathered round, and started telling stories. I told some of my favourite urban legends (The Killer on the Back Seat and The Vanishing Hitchhiker), and the housemates invented a story about a ghost in the care home. We also listened to some classic Halloween songs (although we had to temporarily turn off the campfire to do that).

Uchiki Kuri Squash Curry

Squash season continues with Uchiki Kuri!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 22

Another day of celebrating Halloween!

Halloween Cupcake

Nothing says Halloween more than a ghost cupcake.

J is for Jeepers Creepers

Carrying on our A-Z of Horror with Jeepers Creepers tonight.

K is for King Kong

And then back to a classic with King Kong. Not gonna lie... this was an odd double bill.