November 2013: On My Shelves + Recap
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| Sarah Hearts |
Although November passed quickly, it was a slow reading and blogging month for me. I spent what felt like forever trying to read The Signature of All Things, and that just set the tone for the rest of the month. Things finally picked up toward the end - I read eight books in November and four of them were in the last week. Thank goodness for the holiday break!
I really only loved one book that I read this month (Past Perfect by Leila Sales - review coming soon) and really liked another (A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears - review coming soon), so I know that contributed to my slump. It felt like I reading book after book where I was either just okay with it or legitimately disliked it. That left me with very little desire to do anything related to reading or blogging. It seems like that bump has finally passed (whew), and I'm back to both things in full force. Here's to hoping I close out the year on a much more positive note when it comes to books and the blog!
On My Shelves
Bought for Kindle: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, Definitely, Maybe In Love by Ophelia London, Dare You To by Katie McGarry and The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund
Gifted for Kindle: A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears, Wedded to War by Jocelyn Green, In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark, Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater and Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
For Review from NetGalley: Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (Not Pictured)
Bought for Shelves: More Like Her by Liza Palmer, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
Books Read
134. Stir Me Up - Sabrina Elkins
135. Past Perfect - Leila Sales
136. The Signature of All Things - Elizabeth Gilbert
137. After Hello - Lisa Mangum
138. Dear Mr. Knightley - Katherine Reay
139. A Bride for Keeps - Melissa Jagears
140. Doomed Queens - Kris Waldherr
141. Roomies - Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
On My Blog
I reviewed:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore
Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield
The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore
Friday Never Leaving by Vikki Wakefield
The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig
I listed the top ten:
November was definitely a slow month for me in terms of reading and blogging too. The flurry of holidays + shopping + snow makes for one VERY unproductive Leah :)
ReplyDeleteHopefully December will be a better month for you! It's so hard not to get discouraged when you're reading nothing but okay (at the best!) books.
Christian Fiction is a HUGE seller in my store and I've recently become curious. I've only ever read one series (and it was Middle Grade at that), but from what I've seen, it's a genre that could definitely appeal to me (particularly authors like Dekker and Peretti). Looks like I'll be keeping an eye out for these titles - especially Wedded to War. My studies focused on the Civil War, so any book set during the time period instantly catches my eye. ...and in the few seconds after typing that I went to my library's website and it looks like they have a copy! Yep, definitely reading that one!
Every Secret Thing practically screams my name. I'm ALL ABOUT dual eras and, just like with Civil War novels, WWII fiction falls under must-reads.
I'm currently working my way through The Raven Boys. It's slow-going (still trying to get over my own slump), but I'm loving it.
Okay, Liza Palmer. I seriously need to read her stuff! I've heard nothing but glowing reviews of Nowhere But Home!
Yeah, November is definitely a month where I don't get as much book stuff done because life is getting in the way. And thankfully, December was a better month!
DeleteI first started reading Christian Fiction in high school, and I've always returned to it when I'm in a book slump. Some authors are much better than others, but that's true in all genres really. I have read books by Peretti and Dekker and both are very talented. I hope you enjoy Wedded to War!
Civil War AND WWII fiction are must-reads for me, too. I also really love the Revolutionary War, but I have a hard time finding good books set during that time period.
I remember Raven Boys being really slow, too, but also really good. Hope you ended up enjoying it!
And yes, PLEEEEASSSSEEEE read Nowhere But Home soon. It's so good!
SIEGE AND STORM.
ReplyDeleteIt is time, Hannah.
I haven't even read Shadow and Bone, so....
DeleteI reallllly liked A Bride for Keeps. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was so good! I was pleasantly surprised :)
DeleteLots of good books! I've had The Doctor's Lady on my wishlist for a while now. I hope to get around to Mindy Kaling's book too. I've had it for a while.
ReplyDeleteThe Doctor's Lady is my favorite of Hedlund's books - soooo good. And I love Kaling's book too! Hope you read both sometime :)
DeleteI've been meaning to try a book by Susanna Kearsley for quite some time as I've heard such good things about her. And I'm very curious to hear how you like Dear. Mr Knightley -- I've been very on the fence about that one and wonder if you'll like it :)
ReplyDeleteI know this one by Kearsley isn't like her other books, but it sounded the most interesting to me! And I ended up realllly disliking Dear Mr. Knightley so maybe just get that one from the library if you're still curious.
DeleteI'm so curious to see what you think of Siege & Storm! I really liked that one a lot, even more so than Shadow & Bone. And The Girl of Fire & Thorns! I've read it but don't own a finished copy -- which I should seriously remedy.
ReplyDeleteI really need to read Shadow and Bone! Struggle. I bought the second book and haven't even started the series!
DeleteAnd you need to finish the Rae Carson series - it was *so* good.