I have had such a busy week but finally I have the time to sit down and do this wrap-up! I’ve finally finished all my studies for this year, having sat the big exam I’ve been talking about last week. From that, I’ve barrelled straight into Christmas festivities but let’s talk more about that below!
I had a really good reading month in November which actually surprised me. I was dead sure that reading would hardly happen, despite my best efforts, because of how busy I was last month. But quite the opposite! I read a good batch of books and I’m super pleased with my efforts. I think I’m also nicely on track for a lot of my goals for the year which is exciting. So, let’s get onto the wrap-up!
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
by Christopher Paolini
Genre: Science Fiction
Author: Christopher Paolini
Published: September 2015
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 880 [paperback]
This was such a mammoth read but on the whole I quite enjoyed it. I didn’t really love the ending which was a massive shame, however. Up until page 750 I was loving how well Paolini has written a hard sci-fi but the ending felt cliched to me and knocked a few stars off my rating. This was sent to me by Pan Macmillan for review.
Leave the World Behind
by Rumaan Alam
Genre: Thriller
Author: Rumaan Alam
Published: October 2020
Publisher: Ecco
Pages: 241 [hardback]
This was a quick and totally different novel to read after finishing the Paolini book and I found it so hard to put down. This book is a wicked commentary on the uglier parts of humanity and the way we treat each other. I really enjoyed the cleverness of Alam’s portrayal of the characters. This was sent to me for review by Bloomsbury.
Wonder
by RJ Palacio
Genre: Middle-Grade, Contemporary
Author: RJ Palacio
Published: February 2012
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Pages: 315 [paperback]
I’ve been wanting to read this for such a long time so it was awesome to finally get around to it. This was picked for my TBR for November (I do those over on my YouTube channel) and I found it a fun and easy read. The disability representation was also nicely portrayed in this book. If you haven’t read this yet, you should!
Review to come
The Keeper of the Mist
by Rachel Neumeier
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Author: Rachel Neumeier
Published: March 2017
Publisher: Ember
Pages: 400 [paperback]
This was honestly just awful. I can’t believe I managed to finish it but there are so many problems with this book. The writing was terrible, if this was edited at all I question what the editors were doing. The language was painfully repetitive and cliched and the character development was so two dimensional it was unbelievable. Bad writing aside, the plot was also dead boring with little to nothing explain and even less actually happening.
Review to come
The Sky is Everywhere
by Jandy Nelson
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Author: Jandy Nelson
Published: March 2010
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 320 [paperback]
This was the first time I’ve ever read something by Jandy Nelson! I was really excited to pick this up though I admit this surprised me by not quite being what I was expecting. This is a heavy-hitting book about grief. I wasn’t loving it to start with but as I read more I found myself liking the characters and the story more and more. In the end, I really enjoyed this.
My review
- I participated in some Top Ten Tuesdays:
- I reviewed some books:
- I did my October wrap-up
- I shared by October book haul
- I looked at all the new releases for November 2020
Genres Read
Pages Read
Total: 2156 pages
Goodreads Reading Challenge
93%, or, 56/60 books
TBR Count
286 [ -3 ]
Like I said earlier, November was a busy month for study for me. I finished my first year of my postgraduate studies at university by the first week in November which was really exciting to have completed all of that. I’m really looking forward to starting up in my final year next year and everything that 2021 is promising to bring so far. I’m *really* hoping I’ll have an exciting announcement to share with you along the lines of my career this time next month. But we shall see.
I then spent the remainder of the month studying for an exam I just sat at the beginning of December. Technically I should talk about this in my next wrap-up but I’m going to break the rules and talk about it now. The exam I was sitting was the accreditation exam for Australia/NZ editors so it’s a pretty important one! I am crossing my fingers that I’ve miraculously passed it on my first attempt—but I won’t find out until February 2021.
Other than that, I was a quiet month of reading and working. I’ll have many more exciting things to report on next month seeing as I won’t have been so consumed with study! So let’s take a look at what I’ve been watching.
Movies
I watched just the one movie this month, About Time, and it was a rewatch for me. Such a good one!
Tv Shows
I watched a few more of these so here they are:
Tick! November done!
What was your favourite book that you read in November?
~~ Kirstie ~~
Upside-Down Books 
I haven’t read any of the books in your wrap-up, but I’m glad you enjoyed most of them!:) It seems like you had a great reading month for November, and I hope December is the same or better for you:)
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Me too!! It was a good month! Fingers crossed – thanks!
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Shame to sleep in a sea of stars had a cliched ending. Wonder is such a great book though! Awesome wrap up!
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Thank you!! Definitely a shame but alas, what can we do!
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