October Monthly Reflections

This month I read five books.

Books reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews


65. Westfallen. Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares. 2024. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [MG speculative fiction, MG science fiction, MG dystopia, TIME TRAVEL, alternate history]
66. Xenocide. Orson Scott Card. 1991. 592 pages. [Source: Library] [audio book, 3 stars]
67. Daughter of Egypt. Marie Benedict. 2026. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy] [adult historical fiction, dual narratives, 3 stars]
68. Westfallen: The World at Midnight. Ann and Ben Brashares. 2026. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, MG speculative fiction, series book]
69. I Am A Good Dog (Dogtown #3) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 2026. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, series book]

Books reviewed at Young Readers

I didn't review any books.

Books reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

I didn't review any books.

Bibles reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

I didn't review any Bibles.

Totals

Totals for 2026
Books Read in 2026	171
Pages Read in 2026	44499
January Totals
Books Read in January	21
Pages Read in January	5119
February Totals
Books read in February	24
Pages Read in February	4225
March Totals
Books read in March	18
Pages read in March	4099
April Totals
Books read in April	16
Pages read in April	6386
May Totals
Books Read in May	11
Pages read in May	4067
June Totals
Books read in June	26
Pages read in June	4767
July Totals
Books read in July	18
Pages read in July	3239
August Totals
Books read in August	23
Pages read in August	6965
September Totals
Books read in September	9
Pages read in September	4095
October Totals
Books read in October	5
Pages read in October	2057

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Century of Viewing, October

This month I watched 18 things--not counting twelve seasons of Flip or Flop which I never bothered adding officially.

This month's five star movies: Mannequin, Home Alone, Elf, and Dr. Strangelove.

This month's four and four and half star movies: Battle in Outer Space, Terms of Endearment, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, and Monsieur Verdoux.




© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #44

I am reading several books. I've finished none.

Century of Viewing #44

1980s

• 1983 Terms of Endearment. Just as sad as Steel Magnolias but without the humor and quotable quotes. Glad I watched it. If I had to sum it up, family is complicated and life doesn't go as planned.
• 1986 Howard the Duck. It was way more adult oriented than I was expecting. That being said I didn't have many expectations. You never can tell what "PG" means. A duck from an alternate universe finds himself trapped in this one....and may just be the duck to save the day.
• 1987 Mannequin. So glad I finally watched this 80's rom-com!!!! It has a quirky premise for sure--but has been done in the past. A man falls in love with the woman he creates. In this case, he "creates" this mannequin--piecing her together. And ends up falling in love with her after she comes to life each night in the department store. (He works the night shift).

1990s

• 1992 Used People. Would not watch again. Probably wouldn't recommend. The description seems safe enough but this is one very weird, quirky movie...about grief and new beginnings. A widow is pursued on the very day day of her husband's funeral by an alleged 'friend' of her husband who has secretly been in love with her for twenty something years (even writing a love song for her). How well do they know each other??? Well, he spied on them through a window once. The widow's family--daughters, grandsons, extended family are all eccentric some being eccentric and CREEPY

2010s

• 2013 Olympus Has Fallen. I would have preferred a few developed characters and a sturdier plot. BUT if you like action-action-action movies, you could always do worse. No dinosaurs, meteors, or aliens. There are sequels but I'm undecided if I'll go on with the series. We'll see. This is a "must save the President" movie.

ABCs of Viewing #4

A
B Beginning of the End (1957)
C
D
E Elf (2003)
F Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) Flash Gordon (1980)
G The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)
H Home Alone (1990) Howard the Duck (1986)
I It Came From Outer Space (1953)
J
K
L
M Mad Monster Party (1967) Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) Mannequin (1987)
N
O Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
P Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Q
R
S
T Terms of Endearment (1983)
U Used People (1992)
V Monsier Verdoux (1947)
W World without End (1956)
X X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963)
Y
Z

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #43

This week I read some books!

68. Westfallen: The World at Midnight. Ann and Ben Brashares. 2026. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, MG speculative fiction, series book]
69. I Am A Good Dog (Dogtown #3) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 2026. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, series book]

Century of Viewing #43

1950s

• 1956 World Without End. Four astronauts experience a bit of trouble and end up returning to Earth over five hundred years later. What they find are two groups of descendants of the human race--can they find a way to create a future in a future that is so disturbing? What is known is that the LADIES are all about these four astronauts.
• 1957 Plan 9 From Outer Space. This movie has an identity crisis. BUT it is a "cult classic". It has aliens. It has zombies. It has snippets of Bela Lugosi that may or may not be him starring as a vampire. There is an incompetent investigative team who can't solve the case no matter what they see with their eyes. Anyway, it was something.

1960s

• 1965 Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster. IS it good? What do you think? Is it super fun and silly and ridiculous? YES. That being said, I didn't give it more than three stars. BUT it was enjoyable enough. My favorite line, "Remember, he's a robot and not a man, Karen." Martians have come (with a monster) in search of earth women....for reasons. They go to the beach (obviously) and pool parties (obviously) but an android having a bad day may just be the one to save the day....if he can stop melting down first.

ABCs of Viewing #3

A
B Beginning of the End (1957)
C
D
E Elf (2003)
F Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster (1965) Flash Gordon (1980)
G The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)
H Home Alone (1990)
I It Came From Outer Space (1953)
J
K
L
M Mad Monster Party (1967) Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
N
O
P Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Q
R
S
T
U
V Monsier Verdoux (1947)
W World without End (1956)
X X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes (1963)
Y
Z



© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

69. I Am A Good Dog (Dogtown #3)

69. I Am A Good Dog (Dogtown #3) Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 2026. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [animal fantasy, series book]

First sentence: I was built from random household items: rivets, routers, safety goggles, table legs, and a Christmas-tree light. When I was complete, a young girl flipped a switch, and I began to bark.

Premise/plot: Metal Head is the (dog) narrator of this third and (probably, probably) final Dogtown novel by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. He is a dog--a robot dog, but a dog--in search of a purpose. He has thoughts and opinions about who his forever person is, BUT, that doesn't mean that "his" "forever" person even notices him, likes him, or wants him. Metal Head and his friends (mostly dogs--dog-dogs and robot dogs--but also MOUSE and a few kittens) live in a shelter. The goal is adoption and forever homes. But that isn't always the reality.

My thoughts: I found this a sadder, less humorous book in the series. BUT it was well-written and had some good insights into what it is to live and to love. It has been a few years since I first read the first book where Metal Head is presumably a character. There was a robot dog that was a big part of the first book. And I believe his name was Metal Head. I thought there was an origin story for him in that book....that seems to contradict--for better or worse--his origin story here. I won't talk about it because spoilers are no fun. I mostly enjoyed this one.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews