It’s well and truly winter now in my particular corner of the world; we’ve had a few frosty mornings and surely it won’t be long before the first flurries fall. We’ve actually had part of a sunny week after what has felt like a year of rain in York. We’re still recovering from the latest flood, actually. I think the river has flooded four times, at least, to the extent that it’s impossible to walk alongside it into town. I’ve never been so happy to live far enough away that we’re not particularly affected.
November has been a slow, slow month for me on the reading front. I only read two books in the first ten days of the month, and then two more in the second ten days. It’s not been the slowest month of the year, that was February, but it was going to be for a while there.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that this has been my slowest reading year since I started blogging, though. I’m only predicted to finish 134 books, and my standing goal since I started has been 200. Last year I managed 197. Close enough, I think. According to my spreadsheet, I started falling behind in February, and I never caught up, not even once. I somehow doubt this trend is going to reverse in 2013, but we’ll see!
So, what did I read in November?
Fiction
- Pandora’s Star, Peter F. Hamilton
- The Stockholm Octavo, Karen Engelmann
- The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, Cathrynne M. Valente
- The Book of Madness and Cures, Regina O’Melveny
- Turn Coat, Jim Butcher
Non-fiction
- The Magnificent Medills, Megan McKinney
- Winter King, Thomas Penn
- Is That a Fish in Your Ear?, David Bellos
Favorite of the Month
Typically, I haven’t managed to review either of my favorite books of the month yet, but I will in December. I appreciated them both, but for very different reasons.
I want to catch up on everything outstanding this year in December; make sure I’ve either reviewed or decided firmly never to review everything I’ve read in 2012 and start with a clean slate in January. I desperately need one of those. I’m reading the right amount now to actually review at a good pace, if I can only get past all those pesky books I didn’t review in the last few months.
I’d also like to put together my holiday gift guide for 2012, which is the top historical fiction and history books I’d recommend this year. I’ll be doing that next weekend, for those among you who haven’t already thought about what to buy your loved ones!
What’s ahead for you in December?
It’s been sunny and very cold over here as well, which I actually really love. I’m glad you weren’t affected by the floods this past week! I’m only about 100 meters from the river myself and live on the ground floor, so I was apprehensive all week *knocks on wood*.
This has been my slowest reading year since I started blogging too, but oh well. Sometimes life just gets in the way.
Ana @ things mean a lot´s last post …Philip Pullman talks about Grimm Fairy Tales at Anglia Ruskin University
I’ve had a tough year too with reading, blogging, reviewing, and reading blogs. I’m hoping 2013 is better. I can’t wait for your best-of HF list.
Beth F´s last post …Weekend Cooking: Pull-Apart Butter Rolls
You’re so busy your reading is sure to slow down some. That’s okay, though. Besides, 134 books in a year is nothing to sneeze at. It’s been pretty warm and sunny here.
bermudaonion(Kathy)´s last post …Review: Sad Desk Salad
I also enjoyed very much Is That A Fish In Your Ear? – well, I’m a translator, so that makes sense.
and oh, I have the same problem as for writing reviews, sigh…
here is my Nov wrap-up, and my plans for Dec: http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/12/01/november-2012-wrap-up/
Emma @ Words And Peace´s last post …The Lincoln Conspiracy: And the winner is…
134 is brilliant, and there will always be years that have less books read
A clean slate sounds a good idea, I’m hoping to do the same though those reviews still needing to be written… will there be time? Looking forward to your gift guide!
Charlie´s last post …November 2012 Reading Round-Up
I’m looking forward to getting more reading than usual in December with all the holidays and all. On a good month I’ll be lucky to finish three books — typically two fiction, one non-fiction. I’m shooting for five this month because I’ll have four extra reading days!
My town lies on two rivers so we’ve had flooding too but luckily most of our flood plains are still intact. Only the park in the centre of town was off limits completely!
I don’t have any fixed plans for December, but I have already met the number of books I read last year. So I am on for reading more this year, for once!
jessicabookworm´s last post …Monthly Reflection: November