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  • October, October

  • By: Katya Balen
  • Narrated by: Aysha Kala
  • Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (141 ratings)
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October, October cover art

October, October

By: Katya Balen
Narrated by: Aysha Kala
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents October, October by Katya Balen, read by Aysha Kala.

A classic in the making for anyone who ever longed to be wild.

October and her dad live in the woods. They sleep in the house Dad built for them and eat the food they grow in the vegetable patches. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They read the books they buy in town again and again until the pages are soft and yellow - until next year's town visit. They live in the woods and they are wild. 

And that's the way it is.

Until the year October turns 11. That's the year October rescues a baby owl. It's the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods. The year the woman who calls herself October's mother comes back. The year everything changes.

Written in Katya Balen's heart-stoppingly beautiful style, this book is a feast for the senses, filled with the woodsmoke smell of crisp autumn mornings and the sound of wellies squelching in river mud. And, as October fights to find the space to be wild in the whirling chaos of the world beyond the woods, it is also a feast for the soul.

©2020 Katya Balen (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

What listeners say about October, October

Average customer ratings
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Not for me

This book annoyed me in two ways.
Firstly the style of writing is so contrived and deliberate it’s like having an English lesson. It does not feel like the natural rambling story of someone who loves nature.
Secondly there are too many factual mistakes.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Liked the story but the narrator not as much

Sweet story about an 11 year old and how suddenly her life changes. I think that I would like the book more if I read it instead of listening, the narrator was a bit "flat" and she didn't manage to get me into the story as much.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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It an amazing story

During this book I went away to my own world and it was amazing I felt like I was part of the story

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wild and wonderful!

Compelling, mesmerising. The author wound me into the wild woods and into the heart and head of October. An unforgettable story, beautifully written.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Full of magic

A really beautiful story dripping with magic, wonder and realness. A perfect story for all ages.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

October October

Shows diversity and beauty in the natural world - the lost ways humble simple and spectacular. Perfect reminder of our need to contact to nature.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Absolutely beautiful story

Enjoyed this book so much! Totally recommend it! October October is the most beautiful character

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this!

What a fab short story. The characters and plot were unique and the writing was really beautiful. Only slight thing that let it down was I felt the story lost its way slightly in the middle and at times, certain phrases were used repetitively (bones, wild!!) Other than that it was amazing!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Simply Wonderful

The descriptions in this book are so beautiful! I think the narrator paired very well with this story. I thoroughly enjoyed this whilst having autumn walks and so have my children. beautiful story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but not A-mazing!

Beautiful descriptive writing that slowly (and it did feel very slow at the start) developed into a lovely story about the complexity of families and feelings. I'm not sure how much a child would like it and if they would get the subtlety of some of it. I always felt relaxed while listening to it, but I never felt an urgency to find out what would happen next.

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