What I Read in November and December

 

Reading was not at the top of my agenda in November and December. Honestly, nothing creative was. It's been a rough couple of months. I scrolled and endlessly watched Schitt's Creek and New Girl. I wasn't even taking my daily walks with Oswin, so there were no audio books. I had already made my reading goal and finished the last book for my book club. My brain just couldn't take it. I did read some lovely books though, even though they were few! 

The Only One Left by Riley Sager ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I didn't have the chance to really get into a look of "spooky" books this year and I, unfortunately, didn't even finish this one in October, but woah! I haven't had the pleasure of reading Riley Sager until just now, but I am a fan. The twists were great, the detailing of the world was wonderful, and the characters were interesting. I wasn't expecting the ending, but I did guess the who. Reading this felt like reading Gone Girl. 

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shockingly, I hadn't read any Kurt Vonnegut until this book. I am properly ashamed, but can now say he's officially fabulous and wonderful. It was a quick read and had some moments that really made you think, but it was also a bit funny? There were a few times I thought about different Doctor Who episodes during the read and I always find that entertaining. 

The Band's Visit by Itamar Moses ⭐⭐⭐

The only screenplay I've read is Cursed Child and while I understand turning screenplays into "books", it's not really my jam. This was a musical so I did listen to the soundtrack as well. If you're into shows (especially musicals), I do think this is another great way to connect with the work. 

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoyed this, especially since I read it while on my cruise. It was about a family's yearly visit to Nantucket and how they started the summer somewhat separated and how they came together at the end. It was sweet and really fun seeing life in 1969 in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. I'm sure it was a hell of a time. 

Go as a River by Shelley Read ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A book club pick! This book was heavy and sad, but it was very good. There was a lot of trauma to unpack for this main character, but I thought she was a "strong female lead" in her own right. Set starting in the late 1940's, it was interesting and heartbreaking reading about the prejudices of those considered "othered" and how much this is taught to us and not inherently part of our natures. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I LOVED this book. After seeing the UK cover, the US cover definitely doesn't market it correctly. I also think the book was marketed incorrectly in general. I thought it was going to be a fluffy romance and it is not. It was really cute, but also smart and sad. It's about chemistry, cooking, love, and chosen family and those may be weird together, but it worked so perfectly. It also made me really excited to see a dog that was so apart of the family instead of just a thought. I'd really like to watch the show, but I don't have Apple TV. 

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was so cute and exactly what my brain needed during the holiday season. It's written like a romance and there is some romance, but that's not what it's about. This book is about how important your chosen family is and how traditions sometimes need to be altered to fit different stages of our lives. I think showcasing platonic friendships in this kind of light is so important because those relationships deserve to be shouted off rooftops as well.