Monthly Wrap-Up | November 2019

The end of November is here already – did this month fly by for you, too? I don’t have a lot to say about my reading and blogging activities over the course of November, but there are a couple of things to review so here we are.

Books I Read

I did not finish one single book in November. When I looked at my Goodreads profile and my reading tracking journal in preparation of this blog post, I felt quite astounded – surely I completed one book! But no, I have plenty of half-finished books left over from October, plus a couple more I started to read this month, but I did not reach the last page of any of them. I can’t remember the last time I went an entire month without completing a book, and I don’t currently have the time to look back at past monthly wrap-ups to find out…😜

Currently Reading (1-6 were carried over from OCTOBER)

1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 
2. Chocolate House Treason by David Fairer 
3. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar 
4. The Silver Witch by Paula Brackston 
5. Dracula by Bram Stoker 
6. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier 
7. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman – I have seen the movie, and even read The Rules of Magic when it came out two years ago, but this is the first time I’ve made good progress in the source material. It’s a lot more heartbreaking and heart-wrenching than I expected, so I’m taking it a little bit slow as to not be totally consumed by the affecting story.
8. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James – I was lightly warned about this book not living up to expectations, and I have to admit the beginning has been a little tough to get into. I want to give it a little more time, though, so stay tuned.

Like I alluded to in October, reading multiple books at once is my thing, so I’m sorry if the length of the above list disturbs you. I just can’t help myself.

Did Not Finish

N/A

In Other News…

National Novel Writing Month also comes to an end today. I will be posting my NaNoWriMo Wrap-Up tomorrow, so stop by again if you’re interested in knowing my full thoughts on my progress and lack of.

Additionally, I have now been at my “new” job for five weeks. I haven’t really gone into depth about the change from my previous job to this one (apart from the differences I mentioned last month), but other than my actual position being quite different, I have a new, much more positive outlook on just about everything. I am happy to wake up in the morning, and I look forward to every minute of every day I’m at work. I’ve also felt more clear headed and positive outside of work, rather than feeling haggard and pessimistic and useless. I feel in control of my life.

Which is why, when looking back over the month, it surprised me at first that I hadn’t done more reading, and, spoiler alert, decided to abandon NaNoWriMo. I’ve had more time because my commute has been halved, and I haven’t been super busy outside of work. But I have been putting my energy into things I didn’t have time for (or just didn’t feel like doing) before starting my current job. I have been trying new dinner recipes, baking new and old favorite desserts, watching movies, using downtime as downtime, and creating and focusing on new goals for myself. I don’t feel like I wasted a single moment over the past month, and that makes me happy for the ones to come.

So onto December. I used a bunch of time in November for blog planning, and have a few exciting ideas in the works for the final month of 2019. I need to finish up my Fall TBR before December 21st, and today on Instagram I announced the one “big” book I really want to finish before the end of the year. Speaking of Instagram…

I want to shout out all of my 500 Instagram followers! I know everyone says it, but it truly is spectacular that my photos have made that many people click “follow”. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And as always, thank you, blog reader and/or follower, for continuing to support my space for rambling, sharing thoughts about books, and gaining inspiration of all kinds. If you wrote something you’re particularly proud of during this month, or are feeling especially excited about a readathon, a photo you took for bookstagram, or just a memory you want to share, leave a link and/or your thoughts in a comment below.

See you again in 2020, November. 🍂

Kelsey