Welcome back to my monthly reading wrap up! In November, I read a whopping nine books, although in all honesty, one of them I had been reading for my degree since September. But still! I was really happy with the variety of books I read this month, and hope to have just as many standouts in December. I have now read 68 out of 75 books for my reading goal this year.
Children of Men by PD James, 1.5 stars
This was a graduate school assignment and, to be honest, the only reason this wasn’t a DNF is because it was required reading. James’ concept was interesting-in a dystopian infertile world, the first woman becomes pregnant and must secure her safety for the future of her baby and mankind. Theo, the main character, was extremely unlikable and his ‘why’ was offered with thin explanation and poorer execution. The only reason it received any stars at all is because I think it’s a unique concept with the potential to be a great story.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman, 3.75 stars
As you read earlier this month, this was the November pick for the SideBar Book Club! Confession: I had never read any Backman because I hate how juvenile his signature cover font looks. Yes, I am guilty of judging his books by his cover font-sue me. This book was good, but not great–I’m also pretty sure I have never read a book that talked so much about farting in my life. If you’re looking for a story that moves quickly while still dealing with heavy issues and is tied up in a nice bow by the end, then this one is for you.
With Stars in Her Eyes by Andie Burke, 3.75 stars
Every now and then, I crave a good romance and this book did not disappoint. A star on the brink of fame has a medical incident on stage and takes time away working at a friend’s bookstore back in Kansas. Enter: the sexy tattoo artist working on the same block who suddenly makes the idea of staying in Kansas and avoiding Hollywood look mighty nice. The catch? Thea, the tattoo artist, doesn’t know that Courtney is hiding her superstar persona. This satisfied my pallet for cozy queer romance-bonus points for a bi main character!
James by Percival Everett, 5 stars
I was required to read Huck Finn many times throughout my education and yet I never enjoyed the story until I read it through James’ eyes. Everett does a phenomenal job of subtly weaving in social commentary that applies to both the past and the present. This ex-teacher strongly believes this book should be in classrooms everywhere. This will be a contender for one of my best books of the year.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo, 4.5 stars
Kat and Heath are just two kids with a dream to ice dance their way to the Olympics–ok ok it was Kat’s dream and Heath was in love with her, so what could go wrong? The definition of obsessive codependency, this pair had me on the edge of my seat rooting both for and against them at different times on their multi-year journey. This was recommended to me many times, and I think it lived up to the hype.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, 3.75 stars
I wish I had waited to read this until my Christmas tree was up! Set in the heart of Ireland at Christmas time, a hardworking man wrestles with his conscience as he finds that all is not well at the local convent for the young girls housed there. Sweet, short, and chilling in turns, this novella stays with you long after you put it down.
107 Days by Kamala Harris, 3.5 stars
The problem with this book is that we all know how it ends. As the book counts down throughout the 107 days of Harris’ presidential candidacy, I couldn’t escape the sense of dread that only continued to grow as I reached the election’s sad conclusion. While interesting, this book felt like I was a balloon whose air was escaping very slowly until I was totally deflated by the end.
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage, 4.75 stars
Those that have known me for a long time know that I am a sucker for all things outer space, so it should come as no surprise that I loved this slow burn novel. Steph Harper has been obsessed with becoming the first Cherokee astronaut for as long as she can remember and every decision she makes is with achieving that goal in mind. This book deals heavily with identity and what it means to honor one’s ancestors, respect for the planet and Native land, generational trauma, blended families, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the costs of ambition.
Heart the Lover by Lily King, 3.75 stars
Our narrator meets two highly academic seniors, Sam and Yash. Although she is initially folded into the group by Sam, Yash is her first love, her “I would do anything for you” love until it all comes crashing to a halt. To Yash, she is the one that got away. At only 250 pages, it sometimes lingered too long on certain emotional beats, but overall it was…fine. Personally, I would have loved more detail on the narrator’s family, which felt like a foil more than a developed storyline.
Thank you for reading my November recap! I would love to hear from you in the comments.
- Have you read any of these books?
- What was your favorite book from November?
- What do you want me to read and review before the end of the year?
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