Month in Review: November

I'm back from vacation, I'm ready for Christmas, and 2023 is just around the corner! Here's what I got up to in November: 

What I Read: 

The Comfort Book by: Matt Haig: 5/5 stars 

Adult Onset by: Ann-Marie MacDonald: 3/5 stars 

When The Reckoning Comes by: LaTanya McQueen: 5/5 stars 

The Weight of Blood by: Tiffany D. Jackson: 4/5 stars 

The Love Hypothesis by: Ali Hazelwood: 4/5 stars 

Five Little Indians by: Michelle Good: 3/5 stars 

Favourite book: The Comfort Book by: Matt Haig was exactly what I needed this month. This book lives up to its title. It's a comforting book about how to handle stressors and practice good mental health. It was also my first Matt Haig book and didn't disappoint. I know Haig suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and I think he just gets it right when it comes to how to practice healthy coping mechanisms. 

What I Blogged: 

I took a teensie break from blogging while I was away, but still managed to post a mixture of discussions and reviews. My favourite post of the month was my review on Scarborough by: Catherine Hernandez. I've been wanting to review this fabulous book for a while, and getting to talk a little bit more about a neighbourhood close to my family was quite enjoyable. I found this review very easy to write. 

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Cee asks: Why Do You Hate Me? 

Marie shares 8 Unforgettable Books I've Read in 8 Years of Blogging 

Greg features Post-Apocalyptic Covers 

Life Stuff: 

November was busy, semi-stressful, and full of fun. Near the beginning of the month my sister moved to Ottawa, which has been an adjustment as I get used to just being alone with my parents for the first time ever. But, we reunited near the end of the month to go to Italy for a week with my dad. The Italy trip was very fun, but very not so fun on my anxiety. This was my first time travelling since having panic disorder and really bad OCD, and my intrusive thoughts and panic ramped up from the time we landed until about halfway through the trip. But, I was able to find the fun in a lot of moments throughout the week, and I am proud of myself for not completing freaking out and sending myself home. I will definitely have to work on what went wrong in therapy, so hopefully trips in the future can go a bit more smoothly. 

In December, I hope to ward off the plethora of illnesses that have been going around (hello flu season!) and hopefully have a fun Christmas. I have a few parties to go to and gatherings that I'm excited for, so it will surely be an eventful month as well. 

That was my November. How was yours? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: November

 

I am in Christmas mode. After the year it's been, I think everyone who celebrates any kind of holiday during this time of year has started celebrating a little bit earlier. We could all do with a little bit of cheer. But, even if you don't celebrate anything during this time of year, I hope you still find joy in something. Here's what I got up to in November: 

What I Read:

A Discovery of Witches by: Deborah Harkness: 3/5 stars 

Dear Justyce by: Nic Stone: 5/5 stars 

Furia by: Yamile Saied Mendez: 4/5 stars 

An Ember in the Ashes by: Sabaa Tahir: 5/5 stars 

A Torch Against the Night by: Sabaa Tahir: 4/5 stars 

A Reaper at the Gates by: Sabaa Tahir: 4/5 stars 

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by: Roselle Lim: 4/5 stars 

Favourite book: Dear Justyce was an incredible sequel to Dear Martin. I was very curious about Quan's story from hearing about him in Dear Martin, and this book offered an amazing insight into him, and the lives of incarcerated black teens. I think this book gives a great outlook on racism within the justice system. I thought it was really well written. 

Favourite Blog Posts: 

Roberta shares Gratitude on Tell Me Something Tuesday 

Sabrina shares Five Signs that You Should Take a Reading Break 

Claire interviews author Maurene Goo 

Cee discusses Setting Work/Life Boundaries 

Simone shares Wheelchair Facts and Stories 

Life Stuff: 

November was a very busy month school-wise. I rarely ever get stressed out about school, but this month I almost sent myself into a panic attack! To be honest, I was actually kind of happy that I was stressed about school and not other things, because I feel like school is a more common thing to get stressed about rather than the stuff that usually stresses me out. I know it's sad that school is such a common thing to get anxious over. We definitely need professors and teachers to be a bit more understanding. 

Anyways, this month was spent at my desk studying and writing masters applications. It's so nerve-wracking! But, hopefully December will be more under control. I'm looking forward to the winter break and I'm definitely looking forward to the holiday season. Even though it will look different this year, the spirit will still be there. But please party responsibly this year and limit social gatherings! Let's have a happy new year, instead of a sick one. 

How was your November? Do you have any plans for December? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: November

The Christmas season is officially upon us and I am almost done with this semester! Time flies when you're trying not to fail your classes :D Here's what happened in November:

What I Read: 

Anne of Green Gables by: Lucy Maud Montgomery: 4/5 stars
The Island of Dr. Moreau by: H.G.Wells: 1/5 stars

It was a bummer of a reading month, and both of these books were for school. I obviously enjoyed Anne of Green Gables a lot more, which is surprising because I didn't think I would like it at all! As for Dr. Moreau, well I am currently stressed out of my mind trying to write an essay on it. It's funny how difficult essays become when you really hated the book.

What I Blogged:

By far, my favourite blog post that I published this month was my rant on Canada's Idolisation of an Old White Man and his Racism. It was a discussion on the Don Cherry scandal, and it generated a lot of traffic blog-wise for me. I'm so happy it was well received!

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Veronika asks if YA Prices has Gotten out of Hand? 

Cee discusses Marginalisation in Dystopia 

Shayna reveals the Odd Things She's Found in Library Books 

Life Stuff: 

I am preparing for final papers and exams right now, and just wishing for Christmas to be upon me already. However, a part of me is also quite stressed for December. As a socially anxious person, the prospect of the amount of parties that Christmas entails is very daunting. I am already stressed about my work Christmas party on Monday, because I have had full on panic attacks at these kinds of gatherings before.

I also have my final road test on December 18, (one day before my birthday!) which has been the main source of stress at the back of my mind for probably the past three years. Once I pass this test I will finally be done with all of this bullshit, but I do not test well AT ALL and even though I am a good and careful driver, as soon as the instructor is in the car I will freeze up. I always joke that road tests take like five years off my life in terms of the stress they give me. So let's hope that come the end of December when I'm writing my month in review, I will only have good news to share!

That being said, I really do enjoy (the quiet) parts of Christmas and getting to go home. I am also getting a new tattoo this month which I am excited about.

I love how this portion turned from talking about stuff that happened in November, to worrying about the future. But, that's just how my brain works!

How was your November? What are you looking forward to in December?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: November

November absolutely flew by and now I am officially in Christmas mode. I am happy the semester is almost over, but it will still be not exactly a holiday for me as I still have to work. *sigh.* Anyways, here's what happened in November!

What I Read: 

Shatter Me by: Tahereh Mafi: 4/5 stars
Lies You Never Told Me by: Jennifer Donaldson: 3/5 stars

Look who got up to a lot of reading in November!!! *sobs.* Hopefully with Christmas rolling around, I will get to buy a lot more books and reading will be more a priority.

Favourite Book: I re-read Shatter Me because I first read it about two years ago and wanted to give it a second shot. It was really good, although I don't think it will be a series that I will obsess over.

What I Blogged: 

My favourite blog post of the month was my Rant About my Creative Writing Course. It felt GREAT to get some things off my chest.

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month:

Cee asks that we Remember Them, Too 

Veronika and Clare try to Beat the Backlist 

Life Stuff: 

Nothing major, just work and school. I have a lot of end of term essays to do, and it is evident that I am not doing as well as I did in first year. But alas, we will persevere and hopefully get through the term with semi-ok marks!

That was my November! How was yours?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: November

This month's wrap up will be very short and condensed, as I totally forgot that I needed to post a month in review and now am scrambling to write it December 1st morning. Bare with me, it's exam season. *sighs*

What I Read:

Moxie by: Jennifer Mathieu: 3.5/5 stars
History is All You Left Me by: Adam Silvera: 5/5 stars
Paradise Lost by: John Milton: 1/5 stars
If There's No Tomorrow by: Jennifer Armentrout: 2/5 stars
Gulliver's Travels by: Johnathan Swift: 4/5 stars
Fifteen Words by: Monika Jephcott-Thomas: 4/5 stars
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by: Leigh Bardugo: 4/5 stars
The Girl from Everywhere by: Heidi Heilig: 4/5 stars
The Rape of the Lock by: Alexander Pope: 2/5 stars
Theogony/Works and Days by: Hesiod: 5/5 stars

Please don't mind all the classics in this list, it was all for English class. I would never pick these up on my own.

Favourite book: History is All You Left Me!! Adam Silvera is an amazing author and makes me feel all the feels.

What I Blogged:

I just published a (semi-controversial) post about Moxie by: Jennifer Mathieu! I was really scared at not sounding like a crappy person while still voicing my opinions. Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Life Stuff:

Exams, that's about it. I am stressed, cramming, and have no idea what my mark is in any of my classes so that's fun. But after that, December brings Christmas and my 18th birthday, so that's something fun!

How was your November?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Month in Review: November

Happy December everybody! I'm sooo excited for my birthday, Christmas, and for 2016 to be OVER! December is my favourite month for a reason :) Here's what I got up to in November:

What I Read: 

This month was crap for reading. I'm in a reading slump right now and have been on the same book for about two weeks. Hopefully I'll get over it soon!

All The Light We Cannot See by: Anthony Doerr: 4/5 stars
Tell Me Three Things by: Julie Buxbaum: 3/5 stars
Red Queen by: Victoria Aveyard: 5/5 stars

What I Blogged: 

I really loved the blog hop I participated in this month: The Thanks U Give! My post, Top Ten Reasons Why I Love the Book Community, made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)

Favourite Blog Posts of the Month: 

Lais gives her Thanks for the Book Community

Cait explains how Her Reading Habits Changed in 2016 

Veronika shares the books she's Excited to Read, but Never Actually Feel like Picking Up 

Cee shares The Diary of a Sexually Fluid Girl 

Bridget shares Your Ultimate Gilmore Girls Playlist

Blogger of the Month: 

This month's featured blogger is Lais @ Harumansae Books! She is one of the loveliest, and sweetest bloggers you will meet, and I'm so excited because I realized that I can actually comment on your posts! Go give her some love :D

Life Stuff of the Month: 

This month has been crazy with school! Between midterms, university applications (I still haven't applied) and projects, I think this is the main reason why I'm in a reading slump.

I also have been trying hard to get a job. I need the money, but so far the search has been going negatively. I got an offer, but the manager was extremely rude and intimidating so I turned it down. Not sure if I made the right decision or not :( I'm so looking forward to this break!

How was your November?

Emily @ Paperback Princess