September 2026: Books I Read Last Month

Written by Graeme

Well the highlight of the month for me was pretty easy I have to say.

The Odyssey by Homer: This was a funny one because I really didn’t think I would enjoy it and kept putting it off. It cost me a bit of reading time as I went a week or two without reading anything. My wife and both kids had read it in preparation for going to see the adaptation, so I had to read it.

In my head I kept considering it the type of book you’d read for “homework”. I couldn’t be more wrong.

It was the Emily Wilson translation I read and it was just exceptional. I thoroughly enjoyed it – Book 9 was my favourite for sure. And then I went to see the adaptation and wow – also incredible! What I loved about it was it was accessible and great for people who haven’t read the book, but if you’ve read the book you enjoy it just that little bit more. Always appreciate an adaptation like that.

Highly recommended.

Mind’s Eye by Douglas E. Richards: Oof – I am a big fan of Douglas, but this was a swing and a miss. A big, big miss for so many reasons. I only rated it 3/10. If you want to read my full thoughts, check out the Book Notification podcast where we discuss it and well – pretty much hammer it down hard.

Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards: The concept of this was great in this YA Thriller – 5 strangers stranded at an airport decide to rent a car to get to where they’re going. But then things get weird. Unfortunately, it was a bit too “YA” for me – one of those where I personally didn’t like, it, but I could 100% see young adults enjoying it. It is what it is. I’m 44 – I am NOT a young adult!

It also had one of those tropes I hate where a character decides someone is the bad guy or whatever and then just zone in on them and push that the entire book even when there is potential evidence to the contrary etc.

I listened to that one and I have to admit the narrator brought it down a bit.

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child: The book the new season of Reacher is based on. I have read it a couple of times but wanted to re-read it before the new season and glad I did; I enjoyed it more than I have in previous reads (this was probably my 3rd or 4th read). You know whaT I really like about it? You can tell just how much FUN Lee Child is having writing it. That’s a big difference between him and his brother.

That’s all I read in August – it was a fairly hectic month and putting off The Odyssey didn’t help.

I’ve got Lies He Told Me by David Ellis on the go on audiobook right now, and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah is the book I am reading.