November was a good month. I visited my family in Phoenix for an early Thanksgiving, and then the husband and I had a quiet (and easy) Thanksgiving at home. We had November elections in Virginia, which I was dreading but all turned out well! We have a smart, capable governor who cares about the things I care about, and Virginia elected its first openly transgender candidate. So while I can’t do much about Alabama (ugh), or the country in general, at least I can be proud of my home state.
I really enjoyed the Nonfiction November event, which was a perfect chance to think about my reading in a year where I read much more nonfiction than usual. I wrote this post summarizing all the great books I read this year about U.S. politics and government.
Here’s what I read in November:
- Bonfire by Krysten Ritter
- Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
- Dad’s Red Dress by L.J. Sedgewick
- Strangers in Budapest by Jessica Keener
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
- The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
I posted six reviews in November, most of them for ARCs: Birdcage Walk, Bonfire, Artefacts, Strangers in Budapest, and Dad’s Red Dress. I’m finally caught up, whew!
My favorite read? I loved Dad’s Red Dress, a book that is moving and funny and also very timely about a teenager trying to accept her trans father.
I also adored Al Franken’s book, Giant of the Senate. After I read it, I felt like he’s the hero we need right now in the Capitol. Then I was troubled by the accusations of harassment against him. I didn’t want to hear it at first. Now I’m just really sad.
Most disappointing read? Strangers in Budapest was disappointing because I was really looking forward to immersing myself in a book about Budapest, but it was much too gloom-and-doom for my taste — and the story was all about Americans so had nothing to do with the city itself. I was also disappointed in The Stone Sky, which surprised me. More on that to come.
What I’m reading now: Ta-Nehisi Coates’ We Were Eight Years in Power (so good) and I just started A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab. I won’t be able to put that one down this weekend!
What’s coming up: I’m already working on my best-of-2017 and challenge wrap-up posts, and I plan to read for enjoyment this month. I’m thinking about catching up on a few series I’ve neglected lately.
Added to my TBR: I wrote this about nonfiction I’ve added to my TBR. I’ve also added a lot of books from Best Books of 2017 lists. See Books are My Favourite and Best for a handy compilation of these. I have to admit I love end of year book lists! New York Times Notable Books is the one I like most.
Happy December reading and happy holidays!
Finally, some book deals you might be interested in (courtesy of Book Riot):
- Vicious by V.E. Schwab for $1.99.
- Binti by Nnedi Okorafor for $1.99.
- Old Man’s War by John Scalzi for $2.99.
- Start Here: Read Your Way Into 25 Amazing Authors for $0.99.
- The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith for $3.99.
- Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick Dewitt for $1.99.
- The Nest by Cynthia d’Aprix Sweeney for $1.99.
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout for $2.99.
- A Passion for Books, with a foreword by Ray Bradbury for $1.99.
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker for $1.99.