Wow. I cannot believe this is the next-to-last SUYB of 2018. I feel like it’s been 46 years since the last one, though. I’m not really sure what’s going on. Usually it feels like a week in between. Time is weird.

This month’s update is pretty no-frills. I’ve read a normal amount of books but I did a shitty job of tracking my reviews on Litsy because I don’t have it in me for more social media. Sorry for that. I also did a shitty job of taking pictures of Barkley with my books because, well, I just did. No real excuses for that one.

So. Here’s what I read since the last SUYB.

Burden: A Preacher, A Klansman, and a True Story of Redemption in the Modern South by Courtney Hargrave. This was not a great book in the sense that it didn’t cover, at least not in the way I’d hoped and that the title described, what I expected. It was, however, a very in-depth history of the Klan and white supremacy in the South. I didn’t want that and I don’t feel better that I know it. The main story was glossed over in favor of the history and logistics and tensions and I wanted less of that and more of what I was promised.

Cherry by Nico Walker. If the Heroin Diaries met fiction met Dopesick met memoir because apparently part of this story is true (this longform Buzzfeed article is fascinating), it would result in this book. It’s a fucking mess that reads like a stream of consciousness inside the mind of an addict with PTSD but it’s also what made it interesting to read. I didn’t love it but I liked it a lot. If graphic descriptions of war violence, murder, and drug use bother you, this needs to be a pass. Also, several dogs are killed in the book which was unpleasant to read. Oh, fun fact: he’s in prison and  wrote the book in prison.

Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg. I. Loved. This. Book. So much. It’s everything I prefer in my nonfiction and, more than that, it makes such a strong case for the societal value of libraries that if anyone says libraries don’t deserve funding or are outdated institutions or do nothing for their communities, they should be locked in a room with nothing but a library copy of this book. THEN we can have a chat. He talks about places other than libraries and that’s cool, too.

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid. You all know how much I love her books, and this short story is no exception. My main complaint, though, is that it was too short. I would have gladly read this as a full-length novel. I devoured it in maybe an hour. It’s clever, creative, and ends so satisfactorily. My favorite part, though, was the mention of Daisy Jones. That was a great little Easter egg.

Dopesick by Beth Macy. This book does for the opiod epidemic what Missoula does for campus rape. It’s a no-holds- barred account, tracing the origins of the epidemic, and how it’s been able to persist, using specific cases to highlight her data and research. It’s heartbreaking, raw, frightening, and one of the saddest books I’ve read this year.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. The single best book I’ve read about depression and anxiety. I related on so many levels and if you deal with mental health issues, I cannot recommend it enough. Especially if you feel hopeless or alone. It inspired me to think about own reasons to stay alive (you can read that here if you want) and I think I’m going to buy a copy so I can reread when things get bad. He does have a stream-of-consciousness style at times so if that gets on your nerves, be warned.

Ghosted by Rosie Walsh. I put this in the TJR/Jennifer Weiner category of books. Chick lit but heavier on the lit side. It’s not a lighthearted book, even though it has its moments. It’s a story of love, grief, tragedy, hope, and the pain in the ass that is modern communication (although that plays a minor part later on in the book). Her writing is quite good, and I’m looking forward to more of her books.

TL; DR: I loved almost everything I read this month. Lots of nonfiction, which is unusual since I generally only read one nonfiction per month. Dopesick was outstanding but if you struggle with reading about drug use and addiction then maybe it’s not for you. Burden isn’t a must-read. Neither is Cherry. But they’re both good enough.

Currently reading Daisy Jones and the Six by TJR and Heartland by Sarah Smarsh.

Now it’s your turn! Bloggers, link up and show us your books. Nonbloggers, tell me what you read in the comments. Don’t forget to visit my co-host, Steph, and some of the other bloggers sharing their reads. It’s a perfect time of year to do it, too, with the holidays coming up. Lots of good books to find, buy, and gift!

Next SUYB is December 11.

Okay, now talk to me, Goose!