Monthly Wrap Up: November 2009
Total Books and Current Status
Since January 1, I've read 93 books, and of those, I left 5 books unfinished. I have posted 83 full reviews and 28 mini-reviews and I have 5 reviews left to write. I am currently finishing up The House on Tradd Street by Karen White and am listening to Sweeping up Glass by Carolyn Wall.
What Did I Read and Review?
Here's what I reviewed in November. Click on the link to see my review; the letter in parentheses is my rating.
Full Reviews
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman (C-)
- A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein (B+)
- Fables 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham (B+)
- After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyer (C+)
- The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan (B+)
- March by Geraldine Brooks
- Nobody's Fool by Ricard Russo
- Cookie cookbooks (various)
- Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
- Peony in Love by Lisa See
Also finished in November but not yet reviewed:
- Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle
- The Magykal Papers by Angie Sage
- Fables 2 by Bill Willingham
- The Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
- The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Literary Road Trip, Author Interviews, Guest Posts
- Literary Road Trip project: Mitch Sommers, short story author
I completed the Everything Austen Challenge and the Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge.
I joined a ton of new challenges: Women Unbound, Young Adult, 100+, Support Your Library, New Authors, Read & Review, Twenty Ten, and Lord of the Rings Readalong.
I am hosting another challenge: What's in a Name 3. I hope you think about singing up for it!
A Few More Activities
I co-hosted the first ever Thankfully Reading Weekend, which had almost 70 participants from around the world. Jenn, Jen, and I are thinking of doing it again next year.
I am co-conspirator for the Bloggers Unbound challenge. I took up my own challenge and stayed fairly unplugged for most of the Thanksgiving weekend.
I was guest on Nicole's (of Linus's Blanket) That's How I Blog! series on Blog Talk Radio. For the schedule and links to past shows, visit That's How I Blog.
I was also a judge for the Cooks the Books Club. A daunting but fun adventure.
What's New and What's Coming in December
My new weekend meme, Weekend Cooking, seems to be taking off, and I'm pleased to have a few people join me every week to share their food-related posts. It is an open-ended, make of it what you will meme that everyone is welcome to join.
I have one Literary Road Trip post planned for December and one blog tour.
I am taking part in the 2009 Virtual Advent Tour (my post will be up on December 15).
I have a few more challenges to join yet (yes, well . . .). And I have 12 books to read before the end of year to meet my goal of 100 non-work-related books. I am determined to do it!
How was your November? Did you meet your reading goals? Are you caught up on your reviews? Are you making changes?
21 comments:
You are one busy lady! Holy moly! And you have a full time job as well. I really need to sit down and get a good solid book count for the year. At one point, I thought I would end up around 110 or 120.
You are such an inspiration by all you able to accomplish in a month! I heard a part of your blogcast with Nicole and it was great -- thoroughly enjoyed the voice aspect of the blogging community.
It looks as though we shared a problem in finding fantastic books in November, but you've had a very busy month elsewhere in the blogging world - I'm very impressed!
I hope you find some excellent books in December.
What? No A books! I wish you better luck in December!
You had quite a month. Glad to see you're hosting What's in a name.
Ahhh....Here it is! Just found your blog listed on "onlineuniversity.com's 101 blogs you need to read" list. It is SO hard to find good literary blogs (as opposed to YA and paranormal romance, which are fine too - just not my cup of tea), so I was delighted to discover yours. I'm following now and looking forward to what you have to say.
Incidentally, Nobody's Fool is on my Top 10 of all time list, and Sully is on the Top 10 characters of all time list! (Maybe not appropriate here - but I loved the movie, too...)
Cheers,
Greg
http://thenewdorkreviewofbooks.blogspot.com
Did you ever listen to The Help on audiobook? Didn't you mention that you had it at one point? If you want a WOW book that you will want to talk to everyone about - listen to/read that one.
Or The Book of Lost Things. That one is much more fun and not nearly as thought provoking if you want a delicious guilty pleasure.
Um.
How can that be a poor reading month?
I just finished The Help today. I feel a bit like a klutz but just did not love it like I was supposed to. Such a great heart behind the story, though.
You've a great reading month there!
Jeez ... you're making me tired just reading about all that you're doing and have done!
I have not read a WOW book in awhile.
Beth.. u have mad eme feel depressed :(
i did not read this post about ALL these things.. i didn't just read u r done with 88 book.. neither did i read that u r done with 2 challenges..
GOD! GIRL! how do u do so many things.. this was supposed to be a holiday month LOL!
good going!
I really admire your monthly wrap-up posts - it must be satisfying to put your arms around the month that way (hmmm, you asked if we were making changes ... maybe I'll start a monthly wrap-up in 2010)
and your other question, am I caught up with reviews ... NO!
Wow, what a month! I read you every day but when you summarize it like this, I'm truly amazed. My wish for you is that you will find that WOW book and be able to curl up and "rest" for many hours inside that book.
Wow, what a month! I read you every day but when you summarize it like this, I'm truly amazed. My wish for you is that you will find that WOW book and be able to curl up and "rest" for many hours inside that book.
Congrats on finishing Everything Austen!
Wow, I didn't realize how much you accomplished in November!
You had a busy month!
It seems like there are quite a few people looking for a WOW book, myself included.
Great list. I'd like to see more audiobooks. especially free ones. perhaps you can tell us where to find them. I hear librevox and newfiction.com are good resources.
wow! quite a list! i just picked up the house on tradd street while visiting my parents in florida over the holiday. nicole (linus's blanket) reviewed in and i was smitten! hope to get to it before the holidays.
Hey Beth, I did sign up for the What's in a Name Challenge. :D
You've done well for the challenges you've participated and good luck in all the others!
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