Hi everyone. It’s almost September! I haven’t been around too much as life has been busy, but I think I’m back now to post more regularly. And I look forward to visiting all of your blogs again and seeing what you’ve been reading. I had a good visit with my parents in Southern California, and I also enjoyed a reunion with two old friends who I grew up with back in the day. We had fun times catching up while at the beach, where we once escaped to from the hot desert. We were able to pick up so-to-speak where we left off, LOL.
Now I’m back home and our house is up for sale so my husband and I are trying to keep it nice as well as sparse while still trying to live in it with two dogs. Our Labs are wondering where all their toys and beds went. The market has slowed a bit so that is unfortunate, but we are okay to wait and see who wants a great home.
Meanwhile I’m looking forward to all the good books coming out in September and October. I should have had a fall Preview post up by now but that will have to come next weekend.
September is always my favorite month — as it’s my birthday month — as well as being a beautiful time of year. It feels like a new beginning after summer, which we are sorry to see go. There is a tinge of fall now in the air here, and the mornings are a bit cooler, but we still have warm days. The kids in town are heading back to school (I believe it’s Sept. 1 here), so summer is winding down quickly. It’s a bit hard to believe!
And now I’ll leave you with a couple of reviews of what I finished lately.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt / Ecco / 368 pages / 2022
Yes this debut novel is charming and sweet, and made for a nice summer audio of characters who’ve experienced family loss and are looking for connection and a way forward. I gave it 3.7 stars but many others gave it a much higher rating, so keep that in mind. It might be just me, being preoccupied these days, and not you.
The story involves an intelligent octopus Marcellus … and widowed Tova, age 70, who befriends him while working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium at night in the (fictional) small town north of Seattle. Tova has gone through a lot, especially years ago with the loss of her son when he was 18. The other main character a boy, Cameron, age 30, drove me a bit nuts, but his story of being abandoned by his addiction-plagued mother when he was 9 and looking for his father, eventually brings him to the Northwest town where he meets Tova and their stories eventually dovetail in a way.
There’s quite a few coincidences in this novel and character or plot stretches perhaps but the overarching feelings of people needing connection seems genuine, and I liked its theme of companionship with animals and its renderings of animals being much more perceptive and smarter than we realize. Marcellus, the octopus, narrates various chapters and is a likable and wise enough character that somehow it doesn’t come off as hokey. And he figures a way to help Tova that’s clever.
By the end, I came to sympathize with the three main characters (Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus) who persevere against their dilemmas, and the ending was good even if somewhat predictable. It seems this novel proved to be popular this summer due to the octopus and friendship aspect I gather.
Against the Ice: The Classic Arctic Survival Story by Ejnar Mikkelsen / 224 pages / (first published in 1955 titled Two Against the Ice)
Whoa I did not know about this real-life journey before, which consisted mainly of two Danish men who become abandoned on the northwest coastline of Greenland from Aug. 1909 when their wooden ship with shipmates gets stuck in the ice to July 2012.
Explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen and a mechanic named Iversen set out in the wilds freezing and trying to stay alive with their sled dogs, traveling hundreds of miles across snow and ice. They had gone to Greenland in 1909 to look for the remains and records of three men who did not return from an earlier expedition there, but then their ship with the others — the Alabama — gets stuck hundreds of miles from where they believe the mens’ remains to be, so just the two set off on sleds with dogs. Yikes they find one man’s frozen corpse and recover the mens’ lost records, but then it takes eight months to get back to the ship at Shannon Island and no one is there when they do. Luckily their shipmates erected a small hut with provisions, so they winter there two more times before eventually being found by a ship.
I listened to the audiobook of Ejnar’s pretty grisly, epic account. It’s filled with how they stayed alive in Arctic temps and traveled with their dogs taking the brunt of their journey and not making it back. Dog lovers beware — this story might be a bit harsh for you to endure. But Ejnar tells quite a vivid story of endurance and survival against the odds, about two men who make a good team together in order to keep going.
This account was a good intro to me of Greenland’s early period. And I liked how Ejnar describes their journey and how the two worked together (they didn’t fight) — and only a few times did I become confused where they were, or what was going on. There is much going back and forth, sledding and freezing too. I felt the cold and frostbite along the way as well as sheer hunger, scurvy, and exhaustion. Somehow they keep their wits about them, even after a close polar bear attack, and the loss of their overworked dogs.
I haven’t seen the Netflix movie (Against the Ice) of Ejnar’s account that came out this past March and from where I heard about the book. But apparently explorer Ejnar Mikkelsen made two other trips to Greenland in the 1920s and ’30s, and lived till the ripe age of 90 in 1971. It’s safe to say, he became a Danish hero for his expeditions. Apparently his so-called Alabama hut on Shannon Island, Greenland, still exists, if you are wanting to visit it.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read or heard about these books, and if so what did you think? Ps. If the title of this post rings familiar to you — it’s thanks to a song by the Doors circa 1968, which sums up: “When summer’s gone / Where will we be?”
Remarkably Bright Creatures has been on my radar for a while, but I want to read a few Booker nominees, so it won’t be possible, at least not this year. The Greenland book reminded me of the novel Minds of Winter, about poles exploration in general, and the search for the Northwest Passage in particular. It’s quite a commitment at 500+ pages, but I think you would like it.
My reading stalled in August due to going to endless appointments and helping two family members navigate the start of their new lives in America. At the end of each day I have been too exhausted to watch movies, TV, or read. Hopefully, in September the dust will settle down somewhat.
Hi Carmen, yeah I hope both your and my Septembers settle down a bit but not sure if that will happen for me. Maybe yours will be better. It’s nice you are helping family.
I remember Minds of Winter but my head is all over the place right now with the move & things. But I do like polar exploration books. This one was pretty good but perhaps not as epic as Shackleton’s journey. And I was hoping to like Remarkably Bright Creatures better than I did. Too bad alas. Have a great week. & Happy September.
Glad you had a nice time in CA visiting with family and old friends. Hope the sale of your home doesn’t drag too long for you. I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures but, yes, the whole Cameron plot point was so contrived. Despite that, I just feel into the story and loved it enough to want to listen to the audio since I read the print last time. I’m ready for September and fall as well and I’m hoping for lots of snow this winter as well after a too hot summer. I’ll be looking forward to you fall picks. I’ve been making my list as well.
Thanks Diane, we’ve had some house showings lately, knock on wood. & Yes it’ll be interesting to see your fall picks and I need to get on the ball about picking mine. Hopefully by next weekend’s post. I’m glad you liked the octopus novel. Something about Cameron seemed a bit immature at 30 years old. And he had such a large part. I rather liked Tova & the octopus parts better. As usual much to read. I still seem to be reading earlier summer books. Have a great week.
Both of the books sound interesting! I hope you have a great week!
Thanks Vicki. Nice of you to stop by. These were fine books. I hope you are well in FLA. Cheers.
So glad you were able to visit with your parents and some friends. Sounds lovely. I also love September as the air starts to get a bit cooler in the evenings and one can still enjoy the evenings outdoors.
I hope your place sells soon!
I haven’t read either of those books. The ice one sounds like a great read. I may pick that one up in the winter!
I hope you have a lovely week.
Thanks Heather. September weather is always great. So I hope you enjoy being outside where you are. There’s much to do. I’ll stop by your site to see what’s going on. Cheers.
Against the Ice sounds like a fascinating read. I’m always drawn to that isolated Arctic setting. And I hope the right buyer for you house comes along soon! 🙂
Thanks Lark. We will see about the house. And me too — I always seem to like polar exploration books. Some crazy times there! I’m glad you like them too. Much adventure. Have a great week.
I like September, too. It doesn’t really start cooling off except for the occasional cool front that blows through here until October or even November, though.
I started Remarkably Bright Creatures, but it just wasn’t working for me so I returned it. I may give it another try.
I’m eager to read your post about upcoming fall titles.
Thanks Deb. I hope to put up my fall titles post next weekend.
Interesting to hear you say that this book didn’t work for you — I also had a bit of trouble with it, though it seems to be hugely popular. Still the octopus friendship with Tova is a nice part.
I’m glad you like September too. It’s a terrific month usually, ha. Enjoy!
The adventure story sounds like edge-of-your seat stuff.
And, as you know, I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures. Right book, right time for me.
Yeah Helen, most readers really liked Bright Creatures – and in many ways it’s a nice story especially of Tova & the octopus. Just the Cameron part drove me a bit crazy. But its heart is in the right place.
The ice book is pretty scary to imagine. And they were harsh on the sled dogs but somehow the two men survived after a few years … alone in crazy cold conditions. Have a great week.
Yes, summer is almost gone, but September is usually the nicest/sunniest/warmest month here, so it won’t feel like fall for a while. The downside of this is that we always travel after Labor Day, since the campgrounds aren’t as crowded, so we miss out on the great weather. I shouldn’t complain, though, since I love traveling in our RV.
Glad you had a good trip to SoCal and a good visit with your friends. Isn’t it great when you can pick up with someone like you just saw someone even after years/decades have passed? I have a few friends like that and it’s awesome.
Ugh. I’ve sold five homes and it never gets any easier. I wish you great luck with a quick offer so you don’t have to keep the house spotless. Must be tough with two dogs!
Sorry you didn’t love Remarkably Bright Creatures as much as other readers. I have it ready to go (on audio) after the R.I.P. challenge. Against the Ice sounds like a remakable story. I’ll have to tell my husband about it!
Hi Lesley. Where will you RV to in Sept? It’s usually a beautiful month. I hope no wildfires are near you all. We have one trip mid-month to a lake in BC where we’ll stay for a week near Nelson. Should be pretty.
And it is tough keeping this place tidy with two dogs. But it’s pretty bare – as we took much stuff to a storage locker, so it’s a bit easier. We might have to wait awhile to sell but we will keep going/trying.
See what you think of Bright Creatures. Many really enjoyed it so perhaps you will too. I liked it okay. Hope you are well. When does your husband’s book come out? Cheers.
Hey, Susan. We’re heading over to Glacier National Park! We’ll drive through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, exploring as we go. I thought about heading up into Canada, but we’ll be away for a month as it is, so we’ll save that for a separate trip. Rod’s book is due out on November 1st. Thanks for asking!
Wow Glacier beautiful. Take your bear spray. Robert was there in June – when the Going to the Sun Road was still closed high up due to snow. Should be nice now. Those states will be awesome. I hope you take plenty of photos and do posts. I will buy Rod’s book for Robert (and me) as soon as it comes out. Robert likes sailing books. Have a great trip & Happy RV-ing.
I have bear spray and bells to carry! Thanks for supporting Rod’s book. Hope you enjoy it!
Ok great. Looking forward to it. Enjoy your time. The weather has turned beautiful here.
Sounds like a wonderful trip to CA! Hope your house sells soon… real estate transactions are stressful, no matter what the market is like. It’s definitely cooled in our part of FL, but the condo market in CT seems to have ramped up even further since we purchased in March. Good luck!
I loved the audio version of Remarkable Bright Creatures… sent a print copy to my mother after I finished and she loved it, too. Definitely a case of the right book at the right time. Now I’m slowly working my way through The Soul of an Octopus, so I can learn more about them.
This week I’m also reading Fellowship Point by Ann Elliot Dark… it’s a long (nearly 600 pg.) book you can really sink into. Hard to believe September is almost here.
Hey thanks JoAnn. It’s good you bought your condo when you did. SoCal was fun and I’m still trying to get my bearings being back. Fall is coming.
I’m glad you enjoyed Bright Creatures – so many did. I liked its octopus aspect so it’s neat you’re finding out more about them.
I’m curious about Fellowship Point — is it a family story? I’ll check to see what you think first. The year has sped up on us. I’m trying to not get too stressed about house but we’ll see. take care. & happy reading.
Sounds like a lovely stay in California! Argh, could imagine that it’s annoying having to keep the house neat and tidy all the time, ready to be viewed. I hope, you will find a buyer quickly.
Against the ice sounds interesting, just my kind of jam – I love reading about people coping with extreme conditions. I don’t think, I’ve heard of Ejnar Mikkelsen, which is probably embarrassing, since I am originally from Denmark. Maybe, I can find a Danish copy of the book.
Wow Stargazer, I didn’t realize you are Danish. Nice! My cousins are Norwegian so I love Scandinavia but I hadn’t heard of Mikkelsen either … and felt embarrassed too. I try to know about polar explorers — there are many!
Yeah I had nice time in California and I’m still trying to get my mind back to here now but it wanders. Hope you are well. Happy Sept.
Oh, wow, a novel partially narrated by an octopus. I won’t lie and say that’s just what I’ve been looking for, but now that I’ve spotted it, I know I won’t be satisfied until I give it a try. I’ve always heard that an octopus is one of the more brilliant creatures in the world, so this sounds like loads of fun.
Hi Sam. It’s great you stopped by. Yeah the chapters narrated by the octopus are pretty fun and he is wise. I liked that angle of the story. Who wouldn’t like an octopus?! Such an interesting creature. See what you think of the novel. Cheers. and let us know if you are back blogging.
So glad to hear you had a great time visiting with your family and friends! Yes, September does seem like a beginning of sorts doesn’t it? I love it as it usually means we finally get some respite from 100+ temps here in Texas. Fingers crossed all goes well and you’ll get a buyer for your home. Remarkably Bright Creatures is one I’ve been hearing a lot about and I think I probably added it to my radar before I even know what it was about because of that beautiful cover! Sounds charming and like an easy read.
Hi Iliana — I hope it cools down for you there. The hot temps have been crazy lately. The Bright Creatures novel has been incredibly popular this summer. Maybe it was a bit over-hyped for me … so that I expected a lot. Still it is a nice story about connection & handling grief. See what you think of it. Happy reading and I look forward to stopping by your site soon.
Against the Ice sounds like the kind of adventure story I enjoy, although it might be a bit grisly for me when I think about it. Thanks for the warning for dog lovers!
Happy birthday month, and best wishes for an easy move. The thought of actually moving is daunting, so hope it goes smoothly for you.
Happy Sept reading!
Thanks Jane. It’s feels strange it’s September already. Things are rushing along. The Ice adventure is one I hadn’t heard about before and it was tough for me to swallow about the dogs. It is pretty unreal the two men survived.
Hope you have a great Sept. as well.
Hello!
I’m a little surprised at Remarkably Bright- not even 4 stars. I’m always cranky in my reading and fell for it, so thought you’d like it as well. Of course, I was in a pretty soft, odd space this summer- I may have used charm and delight more than once in reviews. Gulp.
Have you had any time for movies? I just watched Elvis and was blown away by Austin Butler’s performance.
Hi Catherine, Hello. Yes we’ve just been watching Elvis — we split it into two nights and are liking it too. Also have you seen Five Days at Memorial, the TV series based on the Katrina book? Wow, see it …. it’s on Apple+.
Yeah for whatever reason Bright Creatures was just 3.75 for me. LOL. And Unlikely Animals didn’t do it for me either. But Lessons in Chemistry was a winner! Maybe it was just my head space lately was crazy … so it’s me not everyone likely. Charm & delight are okay words in reviews, ha. Funny.
Hope you are back feeling settled in the NW!