October 2025
October can be a really hard month. This year, it felt better. Probably because August and September were so hard. Millie participated in a climbing competition that stretched out over the month, trying to climb as much as she could. Her skill, confidence, and bravery increased exponentially. It was so fun to belay her through that journey. Aubrey and I celebrated our 14th anniversary. She’s my favorite human.
Anyway, here are the books I finished and my reviews of them:
Fiction Books
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
My “Want to Read” list in Goodreads is about 300 books because of the recommendations you send me. I sort through it often and pick out books to hunt. This magically helps books come to me at the right time. This book caught my eye because it has the most reviews of all the books in my “To Read” list (Harry Potter #1 is most reviewed on my “Read” list). This is a crazy hard book. It’s an exploration of the trauma and chaos of childhood cancer. Hazel, a 16-year-old cancer survivor/fighter, is the main character. Hazel’s life is full of fear, struggle, and pain. She is physically limited by lungs that suck at being lungs. She needs constant oxygen, and any physical exertion leaves her gasping for breath. Hazel is obsessed with a fictional novel called An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten, which ends abruptly- like mid-sentence. Hazel falls in love with a boy named Augustus Waters, whom she meets at her cancer support group. Their relationship develops strangely as Hazel tries to save Gus from the pain he will inevitably feel when her lungs quit on her or her cancer returns. The two teens seem made for each other. They share so many hard experiences, ideas, and struggles. Augustus eventually takes Hazel to meet Van Houten, hoping to discover what happens after the end of his novel. I can’t write about what they find without spoiling the plot. The hope of the story is in the dialogue between Hazel and Gus. Sorrow is the undertone of pain and loss, ever-present in the lives of their families and friends. Loss is inevitable. The burden of long-term care is also thoroughly explored. Some caretakers cope better than others. This book reminded me of my friend Beau and my cousin Naomi, both of whom lost their battles with brain cancer. They both were so clever, so bright, and are so missed.
This is for survivors, caretakers, and empaths.
(Rated PG-13, Score 9/10, audiobook read by Kate Rudd, 7:11)
The High King by Lloyd Alexander (Chronicles of Prydain #5)
Arawn, Death-Lord, has made his final preparations and advances on Prydain. Taran, the assistant pig-keeper, and his fellowship of comrades must unite to face him directly, or lose their homes by force of violence. The fellowship meets at Caer Dallben following the loss of the great magic sword Dyrnwyn. Taran, Princess Eilonwy, King Rhun, Gurgi, the former giant Glew, Coll, Lord Gwydion, Kaw, Dallben, Fflewdur Fflam, and Queen Akron all come together to plan their next move. The majority of the crew heads toward King Smoit’s castle, where they run into Magg, who imprisons some of the warriors. King Rhun dies in the brave rescue, and the party decides to head to Caer Dathyl and rally around High King Math. Taran rallies troops who are loyal friends from his travels in earlier books. But Arawn’s forces are as bold and desperate as ever, and leaving Annuvin unguarded, the cauldron-born assault Caer Dathyl and destroy it and kill the High King. The remaining good forces decide to assault Arawn in his evil realm in a final attempt to destroy him. To do this, Taran leads a force that constantly harasses the evil troops as they march back to Annuvin to buy time for Lord Gwydion’s army to make their assault. Doli and the Fair Folk devise a brilliant plan to drown the evil army in fire and ice. Taran and his army then join the assault on Annuvin, where Taran chances upon Durnwyn, which he uses to destroy the deathless warriors. Taran then kills Arawn in the form of a serpent, destroying the Death-Lord and his castle. The heroes return to Caer Dallben, where they learn that many of them will leave Prydain for the Summer Country, never to return. Taran refuses the trip because of work he has promised to complete after the war. Eilonwy also refuses to leave, and the pair become the High King and Queen of Prydain.
This is for warriors, adventurers, and those who need a fantastic book where good overcomes evil.
(Rated PG, Score 10/10, audiobook read by James Langton, 7:24, Ebook)
This is a strange little story about a family with a son named Stuart, who is a mouse. The reader is expected to suspend all expectations of reality and lean into the adventures. The author takes great pains to explain some of Stuart’s challenges, like brushing his teeth, but comfortably ignores other issues, like how a human gives birth to a mouse. There are sailing adventures, road trip adventures, and some challenges with the family cat being…rude.
This is for young readers with proper imaginations.
(Rated G, Score 7/10, audiobook read by Julie Harris, 1:54)
The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller
Goldie. She says her name is Goldie. Marv spends the story hunting down Goldie’s killer in Sin City. Marv, whose looks and brains weren’t enough to keep Goldie safe, but are enough to help him sort out a bad frame job, escape the cops, thugs, a killer cannibal, and kill his way to the truth. I like the characters (especially Marv), the tension, the redemption, and the one-liners. This is the first graphic novel in the Sin City series that was used to make the movie that came out way back in 2005. The parts of the movie from this piece are incredibly close to this graphic novel. I’m going to work through the others as I can get a hold of them.
This is for young men with a vigilante streak.
(Rated R, Score 8/10, graphic novel, 208p.)
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
There are limited bands of light in the visible spectrum, but there are many more we cannot see. Technology is both wonderful and terrible. Humans have the capacity for immense perseverance and brutal cruelty. War brings out the best and the worst of us. This story is set before and during World War II. One story arc follows a young German boy out of the slums and into the German war machine. The other ark is the story of a cursed diamond, big enough to have an ancient history of death and betrayal. A young blind French girl protects the diamond in the center of the story as the war begins. She must keep the diamond safe from the Germans who hunt for Europe's biggest treasures. The author uses the war to show that there were good and bad people on both sides. Many of the heroes have gone unrecognized. They provided peace, food, and courage in the little moments. They held the world together while evil was tearing it apart. One aspect of the war that I learned from this book was how brutal the Germans were to everyone, including their own people. Another aspect was how brave some people had to be to stand up to the Germans throughout Europe in a time of fear and oppression. The author’s writing style in this book was interesting to me because he used a lot of very short sentences or phrases or single words, and lets the reader fill in some of the rest with their imagination. This is a heavy book because of its setting, but it is filled with grit, perseverance, and hope.
This is for WWII buffs, young engineers, and historical fiction readers.
(Rated PG-13, Score 9/10, audiobook read by Zach Appelman, 16:02)
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
This is an amazing book on so many levels. The psychology is solid. The theology is uniquely accessible. Looking at life through the eyes and thoughts of the enemy is so helpful for understanding strategies and priorities. This is a collection of letters from Uncle Screwtape to Wormwood, a junior tempter assigned to a young man in London during World War II. The letters cover tactics and adjustments in their tempting approach. This book is widely quoted because it holds so many basic truths. This time through, I learned some things about the basics of prayer and its mechanics. I was also reminded of the dangers of becoming attached to this world. We were made for so much more than the drone of middle age. We are made for beauty and wonder. We are made for magic and truth. Hell is content to bore us to a long, old death with no spark, no joy, no living- just pain, complaining, and disconnectedness. Let us ask simpler questions, like “Is it true?”. Let us laugh when the temptations get ridiculous. Let us remember that our time is not our own. Let us be kinder, gentler, and more charitable to our neighbors. For these things will drive our tempters mad. This is my favorite quote: “Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” This feels to me to be what following Jesus is all about. Not really understanding your specific circumstances, but still willing to follow those little whispers to bring the kingdom to life here.
This is for anyone looking for a challenging read with tons of depth and nuance.
(Rated PG, Score 10/10, audiobook read by Ralph Cosham, 3:36, kindle ebook, 155p.)
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lại
Hà is a ten-year-old girl, and this is the story of the year when her family risked it all, left their home, and relocated from Saigon, Vietnam, to America in 1975. War is brutal. It is especially hard on kids. Millie and I listened to this story during our drives to climb at the North Y. Hà is the youngest child with three older brothers. Their father has been lost in the war. They still hold out hope that he will return and make the family whole again. Hà describes the challenges of packing up your life, boarding a boat with countless other refugees, and making a new life in Alabama. The transition to a new life is tough on the whole family. They have to find new jobs, learn English, and the food/culture are very, very different. There are villains and heroes, friends, and enemies. Kids can be brutal to each other. It takes such bravery to go through these types of challenges.
This is for anyone wondering what it would be like to be a human transplant.
(Rated PG, Score 8/10, audiobook Doan Ly, 2:30)
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers (Wayfarers #2)
I read book one almost three years ago, so I don’t exactly remember all the details, but book two felt very different. Book one felt like an epic adventure. Book two is more of a sci-fi survival story/AI mashup. Two story arcs bounce back and forth.
1- Jane23 is a ten-year-old girl who accidentally escapes from a clone factory/compound/slaveshop into a massive scrapyard, where she is rescued from wild dogs by an AI named Owl who lives in an old ship in the junk. Owl teaches Jane23 how to survive. Jane23 fixes things for Owl and herself. Eventually, she fixes Owl’s ship enough to escape the planet.
2- Sidra is an AI illegally living in a human body kit. She is trying to figure out how to live as a person separate from the spaceship she was designed to inhabit. Pepper and Blue help Sidra, provide her a home and a job, and keep her secret. Sidra explores life as a human. She struggles not to incriminate herself because some of her code forces her to tell the truth. She learns how to make friends on her own merit.
The two arcs wind together at the end of the story. There is a lot of speculation about what makes a person a person. There are several existential crises. Teenage Pepper swears a lot. I think I preferred the first book.
This is for fixers, misfits, and survivors.
(Rated R, Score 6/10, audiobook read by Rachel Dulude, 11:29)
Non-Fiction Books: 0
Sorry. Only fiction this month.
Preview/Currently Reading-
The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Perry
I track my books in a database called Goodreads. It might help manage your reading lists.
Final Thoughts-
One idea that changed my relationship with my wife is this: We are on the same team. Here’s what that means- We trust each other. We look out for each other. We give each other the benefit of the doubt. We don’t trash-talk each other (at home or to others). We support each other even when we don’t deserve it. We don’t execute these things perfectly, but they have formed a strong foundation for healthy communication and habits. Be a good teammate. It makes a big difference.
The climbing competition that Millie participated in this month was organized like a marathon, not like a sprint. Each climber accumulated points for each successful climb logged during the month. When we were signing her up, she told me I couldn’t compete. She knew that if I were competing, I would have less time to belay her, and she would score fewer points. It was a good decision. I got to watch my daughter grow and evolve all month. When we started, she could only climb parts of the easy walls. She was timid and afraid of climbing all the way to the top. By the end, she was able to climb each of the nine walls, including the one with the overhang. She gradually overcame her fear of letting go and trusting the rope (and me). Each of these victories allowed her to score more points in the competition. She put in the work, and the work paid off. She wrestled with her fears and found out she was stronger than she knew. They will post the final scores tomorrow, and I hope she wins, cause winning matters, and winning is fun. But the trophy isn’t as awesome as the power she gained from showing up, working hard, and being fierce. I’m so proud of her.
Thanks for adventuring with me.
Joshua
PS. I’m looking to grow and improve this little experiment. If you have benefited from it and would like to support my ability to buy better books or run with some other ideas I have been working on, here is your opportunity. You could think of it as an investment or buying me a coffee.