November 2013 Wrap-up [spoiler free!]

To say that I have been in a rut, reading-wise, this month would be a colossal understatement. Lingering colds coupled with painful headaches have left me sick, bedridden, and in absolutely no mood to read. Hence the four books.

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1.Velveteen by Daniel Marks. Probably not the best book to begin November with, Velveteen was most definitely my least favorite read of the month. Though the premise, in its simplest form—ghost-life in purgatory—was interesting, the actual follow-through, development, characters, and romance were so awful that it completely took away from the crazy/creepy serial killer vibe and made the story unbearable. It took me almost a week to get through this 464 page book and, after finishing it, I practically had to force myself to pick up another. If you are into cheesy, clichéd, annoying paranormal romances about Insta!Love and whiny female leads, then this book is for you. To see my full review, click here.

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2. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. Finally, amiright? Aliens purging Earth of the human race is a pretty classic and overused Sci Fi idea, but this story was so interesting and complex that I remained impressed from start to finish. I absolutely adored the characters and found the dual POV—usually confusing and/or annoying—really helpful in keeping the story fresh and action-y. Cassie's sarcastic, cynical voice and humorous remarks were fun to read and really helped me relate to her character, placing her at the top of my (ever growing) favorite female characters list (Velveteen, she is not). It did take me a little longer to warm up to Evan (with only one chapter from his perspective, it was a little hard to get to know the guy), but I got there eventually, and I absolutely adored Ben. The writing was so beautiful and descriptive and my only regret was that it took me so long to pick this book up.

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3. The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider. This book, comparable to those of John Green and Rainbow Rowell, was sweet, funny and witty; a tale of friendship, high school, love, tragedy, and how we define ourselves. The characters in this story were complex individuals, each with their own untold stories, and were so relatable and reminiscent of my own high school peers that I could actualy imagine them as real people. Ezra was a great narrator and I found myself completely falling in love with his character and story from the very beginning; feeling every betrayal and heartbreak as if it were my own. This book was, without a doubt, my favorite read of November and definitely one of my favorites of the year. Miss Schneider, I look forward to reading more of your work.

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4. The Shadowhunter's Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis. While this might technically be considered more of a "guide," The Shadowhunter's Codex delves deeper into the Nephilim world than we have ever been - with explanations of why, exactly, the angel Raziel created the Shadowhunters in the first place, a detailed explanation of the variety of Downworlders and demons, the importance of choosing the perfect weapon and how one should go about asking a Warlock where their mark is. The written-in comments from Simon, Clary and Jace are a unique and, let's be honest, completely hilarious addition, the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and, though I am pretty sure my eyes glossed over during the more monotonous, information-y parts, I really enjoyed learning (and relearning) a bit more about the Shadowhunters and their history. I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of Cassandra Clare and are interested in discovering more about the elaborate, complex world of the Nephilim.

. . . .

November Stats:

▫ Read 4 books (and 53 pages of another)
▫ Read 1,556 pages

Upcoming Releases:

▫ Fracture Me (Shatter Me #2.5) by Tahereh Mafi -- December 17, 2013
▫ The Initiate (Divergent #0.2) by Veronica Roth -- December 17, 2013



What book(s) did you read in November? Did you have a favorite?