It’s December! I love the Christmas atmosphere of this month – we can finally open our advent calendars, put up our Christmas trees and spread the festive spirit! I’m feeling particularly cheery this year and have a few Christmas posts planned for this month, which I’m really looking forward to writing. A very exciting month ahead!
November was as exciting as I’m hoping December will be and I managed to get a lot read. Woo! I’ve been in a reading slump since the start of September so I’m glad that I’ve finally broken it and I’m getting back into the swing of finding time each day to read. I’m trying to set twenty minutes aside each day to read and this has really helped me feel a lot better and also get a lot more read.
The books I read in November were:
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa, The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson, The Isobel Journal by Isobel Harrop, Storm and Stone by Joss Stirling, When It Happens by Susane Colasanti, Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider.
Choosing a book of the month is going to be very hard, because all of them were so good!
I’m going to have to choose The Darkest Minds because I was totally hooked, and also The Isobel Journal because it’s a favourite of mine now. They’re both completely different, so it’s nice to see a variation in what I’m reading.
Things of note that happened in November:
– I did NaNoWriMo, and then stopped at 12,000 words! You may think that I failed and I know people have been asking me why I stopped and the reason I did stop was because I didn’t feel like I needed to go on. I wasn’t trying to reach 50,000 words this month, although that would have been amazing. Instead I wanted to get something written. So I don’t think I failed and I’m very proud of myself for writing so much in such a short space of time: I think I wrote it in around 5 days.
– I went ice skating! I went with a few of my friends to an ice rink close to me which has been put up for the holiday season and I had so much fun. I’ve always loved ice skating and actually didn’t fall over! I’m hoping to go a few more times in the coming weeks because I realised just how much I enjoy it. I loved watching Dancing on Ice when I was younger and am in awe of the people who can do all those moves and not fall over! I’m so clumsy!
– I went to laser quest, and I failed. It was my friend’s birthday and thirteen of us went. It was lots of fun, but I came 11th. I obviously didn’t channel my inner Katniss Everdeen enough. Maybe next time!
December Goals:
Books I’m Hoping To Read in December:
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle – I’m planning to read this a few days before Christmas, and I am so excited. I’ve heard amazing things about it and it certainly looks promising. I can’t wait!
Memory by Christoph Marzi – This is a review book I have and I love the sound of it. I’m not sure if I’ve read anything similar to it before so I’m looking forward to reading something a bit different.
Della says: OMG! by Keris Stainton – Eeeep! I’m a huge fan of Keris’ books and this is the only one I haven’t read. It sounds fab!
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff – I’m super nervous about starting this because there’s so much hype, and there’s even more now that it has been translated onto the big screen. I’m really looking forward to it, though.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold – I thought it was finally time I gave this a go. I’ve read the first chapter or two and I enjoyed it, so hopefully the rest will be just as good.
Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian – My friend recently read this so I thought I’d give it a go too and it sounds absolutely amazing. Can’t wait!
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – This has been likened to Ally Carter’s books, which I loved, so I feel super excited to start it. It sounds so kick ass! It’s also a review book, so expect a review sometime soon!
The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher – I was at the launch in October and really enjoyed the part that Lucy read out, so I can’t wait to read the whole book. Another review book!
This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales – One that I’ve heard amazing things about and I know I’ll completely adore it, because I don’t think I know of anyone who hasn’t. Yay! Another review book!
Legend by Marie Lu – This sounds awesome and I have a gorgeous hardback copy which just adds to the reading experience. I’ve heard amazing things about it and so I’m keeping my fingers crossed I enjoy it.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth – I decided that if I didn’t read it now I would just keep putting it off, so here we are! I have no idea what I’ll think of it, but lets hope I think positive things!
Other Goals:
– I’m hoping to get a lot of posts out this month because I’ve been neglecting the blog a lot lately. I have loads of ideas so I just need to get on and write the posts now!
– Enjoy myself! This is something I really need to focus on because I’ve been feeling like blogging is a huge pressure for ages now. I just want to relax and have fun.
How was your November? Have you set yourself any goals for December? Let me know!
10 Comments
Kayla Elizabeth
4 December, 2013 at 2:38 amI had no idea that How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff is being created into a film. I have had that on my Nook for over a year now- I guess it is time to get to it!
I like your goal to enjoy yourself 🙂 I think that is awesome that you realize you need to do this for yourself and you’re setting out to do it!
Kayla Elizabeth recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – December 3rd, 2013
Sandra
4 December, 2013 at 8:05 amYour new blog is absolutely gorgeous! It makes me want to switch to WordPress myself! Personally, my November was okayish, lots of internship where I barely had time to read and write blog posts, but I’m trying to get some more out in December. More reviews and some interviews are coming up. I hope you will get to read all the books, they look great. About Allegiant, I still haven’t read Divergent, I don’t want to end up getting disappointed :/
Great post, Lucy!
Maya @ The Book Nook
4 December, 2013 at 11:30 amWell done for completing your NaNoWriMo story and for kicking your reading slump! I hope you enjoy your December reads, particularly How I Live Now as it’s one of my all time favourites! I’ll be interested to see how Allegiant turns out for you as I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews. Although I loved Divergent, I haven’t read the other two and I’m undecided if I will or not – I saw a huge Allegiant spoiler when it came out and it’s put me off a bit 🙁 Also, I’m glad to hear you liked The Isobel Journal!
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Melanie (YA Midnight Reads)
4 December, 2013 at 11:49 amI love the new look, Lucy! It’s so cute 🙂 Let It Snow and The Naturals looks great!
Happy reading, luv! <33
Melanie (YA Midnight Reads) recently posted…Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale
Nova Lee @ Musings of a Blogder
5 December, 2013 at 1:15 amThe design! OMG! So cute!
For this month, I’ve been doing ALL NaNo and rejecting my blog. So my little blog is totally saddened by my lack of attention. I’m actually doing a redesign set to happen at midnight on December 31st. it’s going to be spectacular.
You have a LOOTTTT of books to read in December, but you can do it!
-N★va
Nova Lee @ Musings of a Blogder recently posted…Blog Tour Review: Crash Into You – Katie McGarry
Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain
5 December, 2013 at 2:28 amLegend is an amazing book and it seems that everyone loves it. I also heard that it’s was optioned for movie rights and that a company held the movie rights for it. Hopefully it gets produced into a movie because it is absolutely phenomenal. I hope you get to read all the books you have planned there Lucy!
Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain recently posted…Crash Into You by Katie McGarry Tour Stop
Chrissi Reads
5 December, 2013 at 5:47 amTwitter: ChrissiReads
Great goals 🙂 I hope you enjoy the books you’re hoping to read. I didn’t mind Allegiant, it’s not great but not awful in my opinion!
Chrissi Reads recently posted…And For Your Information
Rebecca-Books
5 December, 2013 at 9:37 amTwitter: rebeccabooks
AH YOU HAVE TO READ LEGEND, IT IS FULL OF AMAZING UNDISCOVERED THINGS LUCY!
It is so good, as I know you know I think (that sentence got away from me a bit…). It is so good though.
I need to read How I Live Now, Let It Snow and This Song Will Save Your Life too. Hope you enjoy them!
Also, well done with NaNoWriMo! 12,000 words is A LOT to write in 5 days 🙂
Rebecca-Books recently posted…Veronica Roth Signing
Debbie @ Snuggling on the Sofa
8 December, 2013 at 10:55 amTwitter: SnugglingonSofa
I’ve never been to laserquest, but I can’t imagine I would be very good either! Memory and Burn for Burn are both on my TBR list, so I’m interested to see what you think. And I haven’t read The Lovely Bones yet either! But congrats on trying to read some older books 🙂 I really loved The Naturals and hope you do too!
Debbie @ Snuggling on the Sofa recently posted…Book Review: Twinmaker
Rachel @ Read. Write. Ramble.
9 December, 2013 at 8:58 pmI read The Darkest Minds in October, which makes both of us a little late to the party, I guess. 😛 But I’m so glad I finally read it because it was fantastic! Never Fade was even better in my opinion.
That’s awesome that you wrote that much for NaNoWriMo. You should definitely remain positive and proud about ANYTHING you write, because at the very least, it’s more words than you had before. 🙂
Let it Snow is the perfect book to read during the holidays. It’s so cute and fun. I hope you love it!
Rachel @ Read. Write. Ramble. recently posted…Rachel Rambles About Sweet Evil