October Newsletter

"October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace!"

-Rainbow Rowell, Attachments

Octember Book Club

This again?! Yes, since our Octember book club has not yet happened, I am resharing the details to make sure it stays at the forefront of your mind. Can't wait to share food (for the body AND the soul) with each other as we discuss our Dark Academia picks!

Still deciding what to read? I have started a Libro.fm playlist that is sure to grow after our discussion on the 9th.

Find the Playlist

December Book Club

We're trying something a little different this month and are going in BLIND to the books we'll be reading. If you want to join, stop by the shop to pick out a book from our shelves, write three hints about it, and add it to our Blind Date shelf. Then, pick one up for yourself that you are prepared to read and discuss at our December book club!

Like last month, that there will be NO Facebook event this month - instead, please RSVP by e-mailing lasismoregbg@gmail.com and request to be added to our WhatsApp group.

2025 Book Bracket - October Edition

Phew, this month went by in a flash! Since I was busy traveling for half of October, I didn't get to read quite as much as usual, but I did manage to squeeze in THREE dark academia picks for our upcoming book club. This month's standouts include The Likeness, Call Me By Your Name, and This Must Be the Place. I DNF-ed The Sisters, but only because I struggle with listening to literary fiction. As always, you can find more detailed reviews on any of the below three reading apps:

Goodreads

Storygraph

Fable

Books Brought

Many of you know that this month, I spent a week in Ireland and a week in the US for back-to-back weddings. In Ireland, I was able to source quite a few books for the shop in exchange for donations to Passage West's "Tidy Towns" fund. I anticipate your next question, and the answer is exactly what you think - Ireland has an annual competition for the tidiest town (small, medium, and large division). If you want to read more about it, it makes a short appearance in the satirical Oh My God What A Complete Aisling series by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen.

Books Bought

When in the US, I stopped by several bookshops including Powell's Used Books, Book Bin Northbrook, Half Price Books, Myopic Books and my hometown's own Lake Forest Book Shop. I traded totes with the latter two which have now been added to our Independent Bookshop Wall.

While I am a bookseller by trade, I am a book buyer in my free time. Most of the books I bought on this trip were US covers of a few of my favorite reads of the last few years, as well as two that have been on my TBR (The Most Fun We Ever Had, set in the Chicago suburbs, and Disgrace, a recommendation by last month's visiting author Andrew O'Hagan).

A Tale of Two Tables

Those of you who follow me on social will know that our borrowed table returned to its home at the end of October so I had to source a replacement. Luckily, one of our customers found me a very similar, slightly larger table that was available free of charge! After trying to unsuccessfully manage the transfer logistics myself during my two days back in town between trips, Courtney reminded me of the Tipp Tapp app which saved me at the eleventh hour. Our beautiful new table was born in Paris, spent most of its life in Kiruna, and will now retire here in the shop. Come see it in person next time you're in town!

Nina's Book Nook

This month, our resident crime enthusiast Nina has read and recommended two books from our shelves. Read her reviews below - both books are available now in-store and online!

The Black Country, Alex Grecian: Two Scotland Yard policemen arrive in a small mining village to investigate the disappearance of three people. They find a place full of secrets and superstitions. With only two days to investigate, will they find out the truth? If you like detective books set in Victorian England you will like this book. It's a real page turner.

The Fisherman, John Langan: Two widowed men find comfort and friendship in fishing. When they go to fish in the Dutchman creek they are told the tale of the fisherman: a tale of black magic and the dead walking again. Is it just a spooky tale or is there something more to it? A mix of folk horror and cosmic horror with beautiful thoughts on grief. A perfect fall read.

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