My Goings On in November:
- I went on vacation to Cancun to celebrate my 20th anniversary! If you want to see pictures, click on my Sunday Post.
- Then I came home to a plumbing emergency that lasted for over a week (and cost thousands of dollars). Yay?
- I started working on a new editing project.
- I went to lots of swim meets and floor hockey games. (My kids’.) And sang a lot at church. I joined the worship team a couple of months ago, and I’m singing two or three weekends a month, which I love—but it is a lot of time (from 11:30-6:30 on Saturday and then from 7:30-12:30 on Sunday). It’s been harder to get my Sunday Posts ready (well—with giveaways and pre-order deals) when I don’t have much of my Saturday to work on it, so I’ve been adjusting to that.
- What I watched:
- We’ve been watching the new season of The Good Place. (In fact, I’m watching it right now, while writing this post.) Loving it, but I’m so sad this show is almost over!
Features & Discussions:
November 2019 Discussion Challenge Link-Up & Giveaway
October 2019 Wrap-Up & Best of the Bunch
Fun With Spam #9
Tales of a Social Media Failure: Is Bloglovin’ a Thing of the Past?
Goodreads Choice Awards and Paste’s 30 Best Young Adult Novels of the 2010s: What Have I Read?
November 2019 Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up & Giveaway
My 2019 Reading Progress:
I’ve read 165 books so far this year. That’s 15 over my 2019 goal!
November 2019 Reviews
- The Edge of the Word by Drew Callander and Alana Harrison | Review
- Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel | Review
- Lexi Magill and the Teleportation Tournament by Kim Long | Review
- Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy, Illustrated by Whitney Gardner | Review
- Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper | Review
- It’s Me. by Jim Benton| Review
- It’s Me, Two by Jim Benton by Jim Benton| Review
- The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta | Review
- Sick Kids In Love by Hannah Moskowitz | Review
- Slay by Brittney Morris | Review
- Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds, Illustrated by Alexander Nabaum | Review
- Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry & Jessica Curry | Review
- Missions to Mars by Gregory L. Vogt | Review
November Best of the Bunch:
(Best of the Bunch is hosted over at Cocoon of Books. We link up our favorite reads of the month!)
My MG choice is definitely Becoming RBG, which I found so inspiring!
My YA choice is Sick Kids in Love. I thought this book gave a fantastic perspective on living with chronic illness.
2019 Reading Challenges/Goals Progress:
Progress: 23/21-30 Discussions (Chatty Kathy)
I met my goal for the year!! Yay!
Tales of a Social Media Failure: Is Bloglovin’ a Thing of the Past?
Goodreads Choice Awards and Paste’s 30 Best Young Adult Novels of the 2010s: What Have I Read?
Tales of a Social Media Failure: AKA, I Don’t Understand Instagram Stories
Books YOU (Yes, You!) Should Nominate for a Cybils Award
I’m a Judge for the 2019 Cybils Awards!
That’s a Wrap! (My Wrap-Up of the SCBWI 2019 LA Summer Conference)
Updating the Blog (a Little) and I Need Your Opinions!
Bookish This or That Tags (x2!)
Goodreads’ YA Books Lists: 2019 Edition.
Why Don’t Illustrators (and Cover Artists) Get More Attention?
How Often Do You “Randomly” Visit New Blogs?
Bookish This or That Tags (x2!)
Goodreads’ YA Books Lists: 2019 Edition. Let’s Discuss.
Have Books Ruined Me for Movies?
“Other Stuff” I Like Reading About on Your Book Blog.
I Want to Post It NOW! (AKA One Reason I Almost Never Blog Ahead.)
I’m Addicted to Exclamation Points!!
The Challenge of Running a Successful Meme (or Challenge!)
How Much Is Too Much? Sometimes Life Is Stranger Than Fiction.
Why Audiobooks Are Important.
Bookworm Confession: Swag Isn’t My Thing.
Why I Love the Book Blog Discussion Challenge (Even When I Fail)
Things I Learned About Fairy Tales By Reading the Grimm’s Versions
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Feed Your Fiction Addiction & It Starts at Midnight
Progress: 3/12 Classics Read
None this month! (I never actually expected to win this challenge, but at least I read a few?)
19th Century Classic
20th Century Classic – Catcher in the Rye
Classic by a Woman Author – I Capture the Castle
Classic in Translation – Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Classic Comic Novel
Classic Tragic Novel
Very Long Classic
Classic Novella
Classic From the Americas (includes the Caribbean)
Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania (includes Australia)
Classic From a Place You’ve Lived
Classic Play
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Books and Chocolate
Progress: 58/48 Library Books Read
I think I’ll hit the top tier of this challenge after all! (The top tier is 60 books.)
I got four books from the library this month (not including some nonfiction kids books that I read for writing research):
The Treatment by Suzanne Young (audio, reread)
The Recovery by Suzanne Young (audio)
The Remedy by Suzanne Young (audio)
Slay by Brittney Morris
Earlier books for this challenge:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Twilight by Joss Whedon, Brad Meltzer, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Retreat by Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Last Gleaming by Joss Whedon, Scott Allie & Georges Jeanty
Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien (audio)
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (audio)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: No Future for You by Joss Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate by Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Time of Your Life by Joss Whedon, Jeph Loeb, & Georges Jeanty (reread)
Winter by Marissa Meyer (audio)
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (audio)
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
Rebound by Kwame Alexander
The Color of Lies by CJ Lyons (audio)
A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always by the Ocean! by Kir Fox
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (audio, reread)
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (audio, reread)
Cress by Marissa Meyer (audio, reread)
Fairest by Marissa Meyer (audio)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon & Georges Jeanty (reread)
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story by Marie Kondō & Yuko Uramoto
We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan
The Lonely Ones by Kelsey Sutton
The Language Inside by Holly Thompson
Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels by J. Warner Wallace (audio & ebook)
Slayer by Kiersten White
Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio)
Release by Patrick Ness (audio)
The Whispers by Greg Howard
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd (audio)
Solo by Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess
Educated by Tara Westover (audio)
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (audio)
Finale by Stephanie Garber (audio)
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (audio)
George by Alex Gino (audio)
After Zero by Christina Collins (audio)
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (audio)
Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa (audio)
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (audio)
Birthday by Meredith Russo
How to Worship a King: Prepare Your Heart. Prepare Your World. Prepare The Way. by Zach Neese (audio)
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold (audio)
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio, reread)
Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio, reread)
Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout (audio)
Swing by Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess (audio)
Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett (audio)
Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye (audio)
The Fire Keeper by JC Cervantes
The Program by Suzanne Young (audio)
Grace Goes to Washington by Kelly DiPucchio
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Progress: 11 (~1 Connect 5 per month)
My November Theme: Names in the Title
Alistair Grim’s Odditorium – The title character in this book has a magical flying castle!
George – Ironically, the main character of this book isn’t actually George (the name she was given at birth), but Melissa. The book is all about her telling the people she loves who she truly is.
Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball – Amelia is an adorable vampire girl. These books are wonderfully illustrated!
Paul, Big, and Small – All three of these are actually names. Paul (the littlest kid in school) is paired up on a project to work with Big (a nickname that fits him) and an extremely tall girl named Lily Small.
The One and Only Ivan – Ivan is a lovable gorilla!
(NOTE: I haven’t reviewed The One and Only Ivan on the blog yet, but it’s a 2019 read!)
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Book Date
Progress: 6/12 Books Read
I sort of gave up on this challenge, I’ll confess. Someday I’ll read all these books. Someday.
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard (2016)
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (2016)
- Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab (2017)
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (2015)
- Winter by Marissa Meyer (2015)
- Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (2015)
- UnBound by Neal Shusterman (2015)
- Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes (2016)
- Geekerella by Ashley Poston (2017)
- History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera (2017)
- Every Last Breath by Jennifer Armentrout (2015)
- Alienated by Melissa Landers (2014)
Alternates:
- The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis (2016)
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman (1973)
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Roof Beam Reader
My bookish resolutions for 2019:
- Write the first draft of new MG. The year isn’t over yet, but I’m doubting this is going to happen.
- Read 1 review book for every 1 that I receive. I got 10 books for review this month. Which means, so far in 2019 I’ve received 92 books for review. I reviewed 12 this month, putting me at 92 for the year. So, I’m officially even!
- Read at least 6 books on the craft of writing. Again, I’m failing at this. I’ve only read 2.
- Read at least 12 books written in verse. (Since I’m writing my next book in verse.) None this month, but 8 so far. It could still happen?
Query 50 agents. Or get an agent. ? (I was a wimp and I only queried 12 agents in 2018. At that rate, I might get an agent in like 2050.)Crossed this one off in February when I signed with East/West Literary!! Will I leave it here, crossed-off, for the rest of the year? I just might.
Non-bookish resolution for 2019:
(This one doesn’t count for the challenge, but I’m putting it here so it’s with my other stuff and I’ll hopefully pay attention to it.)
- Work out 3 times per week. I already told you guys last month that I’ve basically given up on working out right now. It’s just not happening and I have so much else going on that I just can’t focus on it.
HOST/SIGN-UP LINK – Because Challenges Make Reading More Fun
Wrap-Up Round-Up!
Don’t forget to link your November wrap-up posts up to the Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up. And enter the giveaway!
Jealous about the Cancun trip! Although next year I may be going to Scotland and Hawaii. Sick Kids in Love was one of my favorites as well. The plumbing issue was not a fun one though! Hopefully December is better!
Oooh! Scotland and Hawaii—sign me up!! 🙂
Yay! Vacation! Boo! Expensive plumbing problems! It sounds like you’ve been all over the place this month (well, November) — highs and lows — so hopefully things are calmer during December. I’m so happy to see you enjoyed Sick Kids Love! I really like that the tagline says, “they don’t die in this one.” It’s good to know! 😉
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
Yes, that tagline is perfect! SO good to know. 🙂
great post. makes me want to add to my tbr. lol
A blessing and a curse! 🙂
Overall you’re doing pretty well with your goals/challenges. I’m like you in that I excel at some goals and struggle with others. LOL!
Yeah, I’m glad I make the goals because it does help me—but I’m definitely not great about sticking to them. Oops!
Nothing like a huge plumbing disaster to kill your vacation buzz. You handled it all with so much more grace than I would have. That’s awesome that you are singing with the worship team. Yes, yes, yes for Sick Kids! Definitely one of my top 2019 reads.
Ha! Yes, well at this point, if I panicked every time something went wrong around here, I’d be plain miserable! 🙂
A busy month with lots or great books and reviews! have a great reading month in DEC.
Thanks!! (Nothing compared to your monthly reading, of course. 🙂 )
Your Cancun pictures look AMAZING (I missed the post when you originally posted it but of course I had to go check them out!) I am so glad you had such a nice time, though very sorry that you came home to plumbing hell. I definitely want to get Becoming RBG for the kids, and I absolutely agree about Sick Kids! Hope that the plumbing situation is better!
Yeah, I feel like lately we’ve been cursed or something—it’s just been one crazy episode after another. 2020 has to be better, right?
Happy belated anniversary!!
I love The Good Place too! Such a great show!
Happy December!
The Good Place is definitely a favorite of mine!!
So envious of your Cancun trip. So NOT envious of your plumbing problems. I hope you have a great December and get lots of reading done!
It’s the good, the bad and the ugly around here lately. 🙂
Sounds like a busy but good month with some celebrations, successes and your holiday. I am happy to see that Sick Kids Love made it to the top of the reading list for the month. I hope you will have a wonderful December <3
Yes, Sick Kids was a great read!!
You’ve had a very full month. At least you had a good vacation.
Yes, the vacation was wonderful—it was nice to get a little reprieve from the craziness!
Ah this sounds like such a full month! I’m happy you got to enjoy some vacation and I’m so happy you loved Sick Kids in Love, I really want to read that one 🙂
I hope you’ll have a lovely December 🙂
Hope you had a chance to read Sick Kids!!
I’m sorry about all the plumbing issues – and that it was so expensive. Not what you want to come home to, but yay for a nice trip to Cancun. The worship team sounds great, but yeah, that’s definitely some busy days when you have it!
-Lauren
Yeah, I definitely feel like the blog (and my blog hopping) has suffered from all the busyness lately—hopefully things will settle soon!
I had a plumbing emergency once. I hope to never have one again lol
Sick Kids in Love was good even though I struggled with the audio format for that one.
Karen @ For What It’s worth
Yes, they are NOT FUN!
So. Many. Holes. In. The. Wall. And expensive!
*cries*
Yep. I’m right there with you. And every repair brings a new problem, it seems. I keep joking to my husband that we just need to start over and build a new house—this one is broken!
I’m so happy for you that you got to celebrate your 20th anniversary at a place that is so gorgeous and fun! Yay you guys!
Thanks! It was a fantastic trip!!
Why is the Sunday singing times so long? Seems like it’d be easy to lose one’s breath. 😮
Yikes on the plumbing! We have been lucky to be home in the event of plumbing issues — water in our small town is expensive.
Worship team is definitely a time commitment. On Saturdays we have rehearsal starting at 11:30. We do a vocal rehearsal for an hour and then rehearse with the full band. Our rehearsals aren’t done until a bit after four (with a couple of breaks in between) and then the service starts at five and is typically over at 6:30 or so. Then on Sunday, we get there at 7:30 for another rehearsal and do two services: a 9:00 AM and an 11:00 AM. We’re done at about 12:30. It’s a little crazy, but it is fun!
Cancun seems to have been a blast. 🙂 I’m really sorry about the plumbing emergency. That’s not something one would want to return to after an amazing vacation.
Happy December!!!
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
Yeah, it sort of put a damper on some of the fun of vacation, but at least we had a break in between all our emergencies!
Congrats on your 20th anniversary, Nicole! It’s neat to hear that you’re working on a new editing project. Congrats also on meeting some of your challenges 🙂 I agree that reading some is better than none with regards to the classics reading challenge. That’s what I love about challenges. Even if we don’t complete them, they encourage us to try things we wouldn’t have done otherwise.
Yeah, I knew going into the Classics challenge that there was no way I’d read 12 of them, but I probably would have read 0 classics without it, so it’s still a win!
oh wow you have been busy. Sorry to hear about the pipes! but hey.. happy 20th anniversary! That’s awesome! I hope you had lotsa fun in Cancun!
Yes, the last few months have been … more than a little crazy. But I hope we’re in recovery mode now! 🙂
Nothing reminds you that you are an adult than coming home to a plumbing emergency. It looks like you had a good month. Congrats on completing so many of your challenges.
Ha! Yes, ain’t that the truth!
Lovely wrap up, Nicole!!! <3 Your CanCun trip sounds like it must've been a blast! Congrats on 20 years! I think it's awesome how you undertook so many challenges this year, and you've been doing pretty well in a lot of them! Way to go with the Discussion post challenge and library book reads!
I hope you've been having a great holiday season!
Thanks so much! I feel like 2019 was relatively productive considering that I had some major setbacks at the end of the year. Hoping 2020 is even more so!!