“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” wrote L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables. October is a pretty glorious month. The leaves are colorful, there’s a chill in the air, and it’s harvest time for some fruits and late season vegetables. If you’re into pumpkin spice everything, this should be your favorite month of the year! The World Series is happening, football is really kicking in, and basketball is starting soon. Maybe you just like the shorter days so you can curl up with a good book indoors. October just has so much going for it.
These books provide a range of October experiences, from a thriller to a memoir. I hope they help you enjoy the October days. Of course, for more reading suggestions, you can always ask our staff at the library, call us at 360-906-5000, or contact us online.
- Becoming Mr. October by Reggie Jackson. Reggie Jackson, who hit 563 homers and earned the nickname "Mr. October," relates his story and the path he paved in baseball history.
- The End of October by Lawrence Wright. This thriller follows Henry Parsons, a high-ranking CDC official, as he tries to contain a mysterious and deadly new pathogen. But, things escalate quickly, and soon millions are dead and no continent is untouched.
- A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. Part horror, mystery, and comedy, this Victorian tale features knife-wielding Jack who roams London every night on his grisly business accompanied by his dog Snuff. What makes this story unique and interesting is that it’s told from the viewpoint of the dog.
- October Fest by Jess Lourey. It’s all polka music, beer, and a Congressional candidate debate at the town Octoberfest until murder breaks out. Reporter Mira James uncovers some dirty laundry and skeletons in closets while ducking the political mudslinging to solve the murders in this light, humorous mystery.
- Camille in October by Mirelle Best. Camille is a young lesbian coming of age in a coastal town in France in the 1950s. Her family has problems, so she is hidden away in a book most of the time, until she begins a relationship with her dentist’s wife.
- And, what would this world with Octobers be without the title that started this off?
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan, comes to live with elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on their farm called Green Gables on Prince Edward Island. She brings much drama and adventure to the home and to the town of Avonlea.
Library tip of the month: Have extra seeds in your harvest this year? We have seed libraries at Vancouver Community Library (downtown), Washougal Community Library, and White Salmon Valley Community Library. You can donate your extra seeds to share with other growers. Come before you plant in spring and check our seed inventory. Learn more here.
Janet Alder is Marketing and Communications Coordinator with Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, which has 15 locations in Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, and Cowlitz Counties. Call 360-906-5000 or visit the library district website for more information.
A version of this column first appeared in The Messenger, October 2023.
Find more book columns in our Off the Shelf blog.
