monday musings: November wrap-up and december goals

The last few weeks of November were a blur. We had to put Indy to sleep and then I had a chipped tooth so I barely read at all. I just wasn’t in the mood. I did d a lot of cleaning and throwing out though. I’m a stress cleaner and I managed to make a big dent in my cleaning/purging and organizing.

I ended up reading a total of 7 books for November – which sucks for me (I usually read 12+ books) and I fell woefully behind on the my arc’s. I barely request any these days but the few I did were due THIS week and I was too depressed with what was going on to notice so I had to hunker down and read, read, read this past weekend and thankfully I got them read before they vanish off my Kindle. I did fall behind with my ALA arc's though.

Here’s a quick wrap-up for November:

*Clicking on the covers will take you to Goodreads



~ The Lying Woods was a huge surprise – not very spooky, as the cover implies, but a good little family drama/mystery with a dual timeline that works. You can read my review here.

~ Rough Trade by Sidney Bell is book #3 in her M/M The Woodbury Boys series. The characters were all boys who spent time in the Woodbury detention center together. Each guy gets his own romance and HEA. This one was Ghost. He’s a character with a terribly dark & tragic past (sexual abuse. prostitution, violence) so it was a heavy read but so well done. I’m not sure *enjoy* is the right word but I did love this final(I think) installment for the series.

The meh:



~ I love Martha Wells Murderbot Diaries and book #4, Exit Strategy, was good but the shine has worn off for me. Each book is almost the exact same scenario and I think I’ve read them too close together and the repetition grated. Even so – I do love spending time with the murderous SecUnit with a soft marshmallow center for the people he likes.

~ I’m really glad that I wrote my thoughts down right after I read Little White Lies because I don’t even remember reading it now. lol

I loved the characters in this one and the beginning was so funny but it goes off into too many different directions.

And there are some pretty big revelations that should have more emotional impact but don't - because they all just roll from situation to situation with no time to reflect on things.

Even so – Sawyer Taft, 18 year old mechanic turned reluctant debutante, is an easy, if indifferent, character to relate to and like and if you like fish out of water with a side of mystery – this might work better for you. I especially loved how supportive her family and friends were instead of cliche mean girls.

~ Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks was a book I’ve been really excited to read. I’ve read and enjoyed a few of Burgoine’s adult novels and he writes tenderhearted characters and stories with a touch of magical realism so well.

Sadly, it was a bit of a disappointment. First off the good – this story is brimming with wonderful LGBQTIA representation and Cole is a sweet, nerdy, geeky, planner boy that everyone can relate to in his awkwardness. His plan for keeping his head down and not get noticed during his last week of HS is thrown for a loop when he starts being able to teleport from one doorway to another.

His friends and family are supportive and interesting in their own right. As a coming of age novel it’s quite good and touches on several issues such as career paths after HS, crushes, coming out, changing friendships.

If you’re reading it for the cool teleportation skills that Cole suddenly acquires, then the book is less successful. It’s not the focus and isn’t even really addressed fully until about the 70% mark. Once it was the action really picks up and it's a fun take on things but by then the book is over.

This was a fun book – and anyone looking for AMAZING LGBQTIA (gay, bi, pan, transsexual, asexual, lesbian) and disability (Cole's father is deaf & Cole is studying to be an professional ASL interpreter) rep should put this at the top of their list but I wish the sci-fi/contemporary parts were balanced better. 

I also hope this will become a series because it leaves things at an awesome place that had me very curious and I would pick up the next in a heartbeat.

Challenges:

2018 Reading Challenge

Karen has completed her goal of reading 150 books in 2018!

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155 of 150 (100%)

view books

I’ve read 155 books this year so far and it isn’t going to go too much higher. Kevin’s on vacation so reading and blogging time will be scarce.

One book I WILL get to because I’m SO SO SO lucky to have a friend that sent it to me is Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett!!!!!!!!! (Fonzi sneaked in to my photo shoot for a little taste of whipped cream lol)



Other posts to check out if you missed them! 

December of Books Giveaway Hop! (International)

The Friday 5 – a list of really disturbing, squicky toys for the kids.

And I hope to manage to get a few more posts scheduled for the next two weeks before I take vacation. I might be a little slow answering and leaving comments but I will catch up!

So…how did you do with your November reading and what are your plans for December?