Intro

I’m so bad at keeping promises to myself, aren’t I? In Roundup | July 2025, I promised to revive the tradition of monthly roundsup and then I disappeared for two months. Honestly, not in a good headspace these days, suffering from both physical health issues and a ton of mental stress. This also reflects in my reading achievements of the month. I think I started reading three books but finished only two.

October 2025 Reading Roundup

I started the month on a light note with a surprise find in my bookshelf: Qissa Chahar Darvesh. It blew my mind, literally. More elsewhere on the blog.

The next book was a 180-degrees turn, a book on seerat-e-nabawi: Durr E Yatim ﷺ by Mahir Ul Qadri. It took a while to finish the book, because reading about Peer-e-Kaamil takes time to read and absorb. You’ll find my review of the same elsewhere on the blog.

How was your October 2025?

Currently Reading (or trying to…)

Because I’m not reading enough, I have started two more books, and one that continues from August 2025, but all are in a format that needs time to finish.

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

I scoured my bookshelf and picked this up at random. Haven’t got past the first chapter so far. Non-fiction, so obviously going to take more time than usual

 Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind by Nate Bargatze

I’ve read a few chapters and loving it so far. He’s my current favourite standup comedian.

Carried Forward from August 2025

Backlog, as we call it in software development.

Labels and Other Stories by Louis de Bernières

Awesome collection of 14 short stories, currently on 7th.

Carried Forward from July 2025

Delusions of Grandma by Carrie Fisher

Started on July 8th, for the third time since this book came into my possession and honestly, can’t relate to Carrie—who people find quirky, self-aware, and sharp.

Parking aside as “to-read” instead of “currently-reading”.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Began on July 21st. I know, I know… “Finally?” Yes. I’m late to the March sisters party, but better late than never. Current thoughts: Jo is everything people promised me she’d be. Also because “Little Women played an important role in The Giver of Stars. I would have finished it if it was not an ebook. Trying to reduce screentime, you see. Parking aside as “to-read” instead of “currently-reading”.

So, what’s the July vibe? A little bit of everything: cartoons, classics, cowboys, and a dash of chaos. Honestly, my TBR looks like it needs therapy, but hey—that’s what makes reading fun.

Shabana Mukhtar