A month really can feel like a year. I feel like so much has gone on since I did this post a month ago. What I said that I was going to read ended up looking slightly different than what I actually read in October.
Remember this list back from my post in the beginning of October?
Crossed Wires, by Rosy Thornton
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal, by Sean Dixon
The Magicians, by Lev Grossman
I maybe managed to read a few more pages in Crossed Wires, and I just have a couple more chapters to finish in Frankenstein (I was reading along with Heather at Age 30 Books), but I will finish! I hope to get a review up this week. I found it to be easier to read than I expected, but it also disappointed me in a quite a few ways. I know it is a classic for its ideas in the context of the time but I found it too be disappointing as a story.
I was reading The Magicians for my book club, but just finished today, so I couldn’t count it toward my October reads and it was the same for The Carnivore, by Mark Sinnett. I had odds and ends that I finished up here today, so my count for November is already quite deceptively at three books.
The Maze Runner was originally one of my Read-A-Thon selections, but I switched it in favor of reading The Carnivore. And when my book club for The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal was postponed til January, I decided that I should wait to read it a bit later so that it is fresher in my mind.
That list somehow morphed into this list.
A Change In Altitude, Anita Shreve
The Seance, John Harwood
Locked In, Marcia Muller
Tell Me Something True, Leila Cobo
A Mercy, Toni Morrison
The Dancing Plague, John Waller
Labor Day, Joyce Maynard
The Story of A Marriage, Andrew Sean Greer
Ash, by Malinda Lo
I expect to have lots of extra reviews to post in November because I didn’t get to write that many in October. I had a few specials projects going on that have been taking up most of my free time, but more on that in another post. Keeping my original October list in mind, here is a list of books that I am considering for November.
My November List
This is a list of possibilities. After last month’s dismal failure at completing my list, I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, especially mine!
• Cranioklepty, by Colin Dickey. I love fact-based books on kooky historical topics. Stealing people’s skulls to study the bumps that may or may not have made them a genius seems to qualify.
• Daniel O’Thunder, by Ian Weir. Eco-Libris is raising awareness for books made from recycled materials. On Tuesday, November 10, over 100 bloggers will post their reviews of books made from recycled paper. This the books that I will be reviewing on the 10th so it’s one that I will be sure to read!
• In the Wake of the Boatman, by Jonathon Scott Fuqua. This book has got such gorgeous writing and an engaging story (you know I started reading the first chapter right away, right?). I have been looking forward to reading it ever since I received it back in July. I am hoping that this is the month.
• The Girl on Legare Street, by Karen White. The title word is actually pronounced Le-gree street. I was glad to find that fun fact in the press materials because I would have flipped back and forth and pronounced it about 5 different ways throughout. Leg-air. Ley-gaire. Legree, of course! I have heard so much about Karen White’s books and I can’t wait to read this one.
• The House on Tradd Street, by Karen White. This is supposed to be the first book and companion to The House on Legare Street, so I will try to read it first. I also have The Color of Water, by the same author, but I don’t think it is related to this series of books.
• In the Land of Cotton, by Martha A. Taylor. I had actually made quite a bit of headway with this before I had to put it down to finish up some other books. I definitely want to finish it up this month while the story is still fresh in my head.
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth, by Carrrie Ryan- Beth (Beth Fish Reads) and I are going to be discussing this one for our Twenty Minute Book Club when she guests on That’s How I Blog!
• Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater. I started reading Amy’s (My Friend Amy) copy of Shiver when we roomed together in DC for the national Book Festival. It’s what I did when we weren’t running all over the place or talking each other’s ears off. It’s fitting that we will be discussing it for the Twenty Minute Book Club on That’s How I Blog!
Other reviews and posts:
I hardly read anything that I said I was going to read: The Year That Was: October 2009 – via @twitoaster http://www.linussblanket.com/2009/11/the...
The same thing happens to me when I try to plan my reading ahead of time. Something new and shiny comes and it distracts me. You sure have had a lot going on!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
Aah, yes, disappointed is what I was with Frankenstein as well. But I’m still looking forward to your thoughts on it.
.-= Heather J.´s last blog ..October ’09 Recap =-.
I had a decent October overall, but this last week, I feel like I’ve been trudging through the mud with regards to my reading. Gotta get back in gear! And I don’t even bother with lists because two minutes after I make them, my fickle self wanders off in a different direction!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Monday Movie Meme – Sleeping with the fishes =-.
I just loved Shiver. I have The Forest of Hands and Feet and I still haven’t got around to reading it.
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..Monthly Roundup / End of RIP challenge =-.
I’m planning on reading Cranioklepty and The House on Tradd Street this month too. *Fingers crossed*
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (audio) =-.
Yay! Mini read along, maybe. I have enjoyed what I have read of CRANIOKLEPTY but so far it keeps getting bumped for other books. Are you going to read THE GIRL ON LEGARE too.
Ugh Frankenstein, technically great, actually dull. I fell asleep twice while reading and that’s just not how books affect me. It’s no fun to stick to plans all the time, sometimes you just have to go without wires, plus you read ‘A Mercy’, which I hope was wonderful.
.-= Jodie´s last blog ..National Novel Writing Month 2009 =-.
You have been quite a prolific reader! I look forward to reading your reviews when they post. I am fearful that my TBR pile is going to topple over!
.-= Kathleen´s last blog ..The Tattered Cover Bookstore =-.
Nice work and can’t wait to read your reviews. Good luck in November!
.-= Leah´s last blog ..Sometimes You Need a Little Fluff =-.
Hilarious! I see that you have learned your lesson for November, giving more of a pool that your reading *may* come from.
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..RIP Wrap-Up and Fairy Tale Week =-.
I so love making lists and it’s fun looking at them, tweaking them and then seeing how everything actually turned out!!
.-= Staci´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday- November 2 =-.
I can never plan my reading. I end up not reading a single thing on my list.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Books: October 2009 =-.
LOL, I love that Amy’s got you finishing up Shiver to discuss. I can’t wait to hear that conversation
You kicked butt this October!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – November 1 =-.
I know what you mean about getting my hopes up. I have a list of books that I want to read before the end of the year, and I know most of them are just not going to happen
.-= Lenore´s last blog ..Library Thing Tuesday (78) + Picture of Emmy =-.