Books I Read This Month (Oct)

Albert Espinosa's "The Yellow World"
A book on cancer survival, and the analysis of "yellows" and happiness.

"Ideas For The Animated Short"
This covers everything, from character development, to story cliches, themes, and software.

 
"Abelard"
A graphic novel of a lovely little bird, who sets off on a journey, but... well, I won't spoil it. Read it.

 
F. Scott Fitzgerald's "This Side Of Paradise"
A semi-biographical novel that portrays young love, and the vanity of universites.

Tal Ben-Shahar's "Happier" 
This wasn't all that ground-breaking compared to other books on happiness, but it is worth the read if you are interested in the topic.

 
Earnest Hemingway's "For Whom The Bell Tolls"
The story of a band of rebels during the Spanish Civil War. It also has the theme of love.

 
"Stress, The Brain, And Depression"
This was a pretty dense book, with lots of jargon. However, if you're going through depression, or know someone who is, this is a pretty good book to give you an insight into the more medical side of things. There is nothing life-changing in here if you are already in the grips of it though.

 

"Imagine Your Library's Future"
This is a must read for fellow wanna-be-librarians.

 
Mandy Ord's "Sensitive Creatures" 
Were you the awkward kid in high school? Are you now the awkward adult? If you're either, read this.

 
Andy Runton's "Owly" (Vol. 5)
The first comic made me cry. There are very subtle themes here, like the concept of prize vs reward.

Karen Russell's "Swamplandia!"
This book took me rather by surprise. There are very dark themes here which wouldn't be suitable for the primary school crowd.

"No More  Fatigue"
This book has pretty extensive research, and it highlights the fact that fatigue isn't this end-all side-effect of illness, and that it can be managed.

 

Edward de Bono's "How To Have  A Beautiful Mind"
I really wish I could go back in time and give this to my 13-year-old self. It informs us how be interesting. How to talk to people, how to politely disagree, and best of all, to listen. It really was just wonderful.

Madeleine  L'Engle's "A Wind In The Door"
The second book in the Time Quintet, and rather charming.

Edward de Bono's "Thinking Course"
Another book on thinking, and another de Bono masterpiece.

 
Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking Fast & Slow"
This is brilliant, and a must-read, no matter what industry you're in.

 
Edward de Bono's "Parallel Thinking"
This is not de Bono's finest work, but great all the same.

 
Stuart Kelly's "The Book Of Lost Books"
This should be retitled "Books you will never, ever get to read, but you wish you could!" Terrible. Utterly terrible. But I think it is awesome that someone chronicled this.

E.L. Konigsburg's "From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler"
This was a favourite of mine as a kid. There would be nothing greater than running away, hiding out in a museum, and uncovering a mystery!

 
Kate DiCamillo's "The Magician's Elephant"
Another DiCamillo book to make me cry. Honestly, she is a master story-teller.