The Most Popular Books of the Month: October 2014

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We love to geek out with stats, and what could be better than using them to see which books Book Riot readers were most interested in? Below are the five most-clicked-on titles from the previous month.

#1: Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

broken monstersWhen Broken Monsters was announced I put on my brave boots (they are very stompy and sturdy, these boots) and picked up the galley. And if The Shining Girls opened the door a bit, Broken Monsters has thrown it wide. Murderous villain: check. Heroic — but far from perfect — protagonists: check. Politics, social commentary, and a roller-coaster ride into the dark places of our imaginations: check, double-check, triple-check.

I still haven’t managed to read a Joe Hill novel (SOUL VAMPIRES NO THANK YOU) or a Laird Barron short story (TOO MANY TEETH) all the way through, but now I’m at least willing to try. And whatever Beukes writes next, be it urban fantasy or supernatural horror or history of the toothpick, you can bet I’ll read that too.

-Jenn Northington, How Lauren Beukes Turned Me Into a Horror Reader

#2: Gilgamesh by Stephen Mitchell

gilgamesh

“Darmok” (season 5, episode 2, Stardate: 45047.2)

I’ve seen this episode about four times now over a period of twenty years (!), and each time I fall more in love with it. “Darmok” takes on one of the most basic problems we would face if confronted with an alien species: communication. In the case of the Tamarians, language is based on their rich stock of myths, which they draw on to refer to present-day events. Captain Picard recognizes the ways in which humans, too, use myths and ancient stories to make sense of and describe the world. References to Gilgamesh run throughout the episode- and no wonder.

-Rachel Cordasco, Literary Moments in Star Trek: The Next Generation

#3: Bird Box by Joshua Malerman

bird boxWhen chatting with other Rioters about books with strong atmosphere and suspense, this came up. And it is my favorite time of year for creepy reads. So far? It is NOT disappointing.

-Jessica Pryde in What Rioters Are Reading: October 2, 2014

 

 

 

 

#4: Snowblind by Christopher Golden

snowblindCreepy things happen during a whiteout in New England: It’s twelve years after people mysteriously disappeared during a blizzard, and now scary things are happening again, like phone calls from dead people, and more missing children. A town must pull together to overcome the seemingly supernatural events taking place. This is Golden’s best yet!

-Liberty Hardy, Oh, the Horror: Scary Reads for the Season

 

 

 

#5: Blueprints for Building Better Girls by Elissa Schappell

blueprints for building better girlsWhat’s your favorite book to recommend? I always recommend Blueprints for Building Better Girls by Elissa Schappell. That book is as fierce as Elissa, utterly beautiful, and possibly my favorite book of all time.

-Brianne Sperber, Strand Book Store, in What Do Booksellers Read?, Part 2

 

Samantha Irby and Robin Sloan talk about their favorite books in our newest podcast, Recommended. Download it for free from Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
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