November 2020 Reading Discussion

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Hey everyone, and happy November! This month is sure to be a long one (especially for those of us in the United States), so fill us in on what you are reading to escape the world!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I have 100 pages left of Recursion and I'm not sure how any book this month will be better?

[Ellie]

I have 4 books left for ATY and 3 for Popsugar, so fingers crossed I can get my challenges finished off this month. I'm just about to start Followers for my PS social media book after seeing praise for it here.

[Hannah]

I have 16 books left to read for the challenge and two months to do it in. This year I've averaged 4/5 books per month, BUT I should have more free time for reading what with the holidays and cold weather and being done with grad school. So I'm pretty hopeful that I can make it through.

I'm beginning the month by returning to two books I was reading but put down temporarily: To Hold Up the Sky (I like short story collections a lot, but often take awhile to read them) and The Gene: An Intimate History (I just couldn't focus on the middle of this book while writing my thesis, but I'm excited to return to it and maybe take some notes this time). After those two, I'm looking forward to my two library books: One Hundred Years of Solitude and The Right Stuff. We'll have to see what arrives next from Libby after that!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Oh Ellie, I really enjoyed Followers! It's perfect for the social media book prompt.

I just finished Recursion and my mind is blown. I have a lot of books on my November To Read list that have gotten really strong reviews, but I don't know how anything will top Recursion this month... we will have to see.

Up next, I'll either start Uprooted for my book club book and the ATY prompt about witches or Illuminae for the book by an Australian author. I'm currently only one book ahead for ATY so most of my reads for the rest of the year will be ATY books.

[Jillian]

I’m trying to wrap up some challenges for other groups right now. I’m reading on ebook The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, hardback Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson and on audio The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.

What I really want to be doing is starting the ATY 2021 challenge. It is so hard waiting.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Same, Jillian. As if we needed another reason to want 2020 to end lol

[Chrissy]

Since I am 4 books ahead for AtY challenge and have finished Popsugar and Read Harder, I’m spending the month reading 2020 books for Goodreads Choice voting, currently The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue with Luster and Anxious People up next. My next audiobook is Migrations. Once I clear out some of these new releases from my library hold list, I can start reserving books for 2021!

[Beth]

I've somehow found myself in the middle of 6 books (damn library holds all coming through at once!) so my November goal will be to finish them all, plus maybe one more. 3 are ATY which will leave me with 3 more to complete the challenge in December. I was hoping to be done in November as I will have read more than 52 books total. I might see if I can shuffle around some books to fit different prompts as the ones I'm left with are surprisingly quite easy to fill (mystery and author whose name you're not sure how to pronounce).

[[deleted user]]

i think i'm going to focus on catching up on my current reads (which i have let get out of hand) this month and making sure i have all the prompts covered for this year's aty and popsugar. i seriously fell behind keeping records so i'm a bit lost where i'm up to. i just haven't been great about the 2020 lists at all this year tbh. i have been more focused on 2021 since i participated in voting & suggesting for the first time! whoops

[Pam]

I decided to switch prompts for 2 books and add another one The Importance of Being Earnest, which I read in October, so I'm down to my last 2 books for the challenge - Anna Karenina and The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep! I'm currently reading both of them. I probably won't finish Anna K until December.

I'm also reading some mid-grade/youth books - Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (a 2020 GR Choice Award nominee and an author from my state (Motley challenge prompt)), The Man Who Was Poe by Avi, and The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. The Wild Robot is an audiobook which I'm listening to with my 3 year old grandson. I'm waiting for the ebook so we can see the pictures! I also have a few ebooks checked out from the library that I may start - Wow, No Thank You. and Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson. I also have Shuggie Bain on hold and it should come in this month.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Random, but did the font on Goodreads change for any of you? (On my laptop, not on the app) I feel like it's smaller.

[Kathy]

I've notice the small font too, Emily.

[Johanne]

I've noticed the cursive has changed to a smaller and more 'curly' font. I think it happened around the time of the Big Notification Breakdown.

[Jillian]

The font got smaller on my computer and I have had to zoom in on my screen.

[Sherri]

I finished Never Caught:The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. In November I read all nonfiction, Nonfiction November. What a surprisingly good book. Very well researched & written. I couldn’t put it down. 5 stars

[Johanna]

I am done with this challenge but trying to finish up the Popsugar Reading Challenge now. I'm currently reading:

Unnatural Creatures and Where Do I Begin?: Stories (I Sort of Remember) from a Life Lived Out Loud and I'm listening to The Night Visitors on Audible. I am loving that one and can't stop listening!

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Jillian wrote: "The font got smaller on my computer and I have had to zoom in on my screen."

I thought so too but thought it was maybe after switching from another site with bigger print that it seemed small! When I hit Zoom In on my Safari menu, it looks "normal" size.

The font is weird too, while I am typing this comment, it appears in a sans-serif font but once printed, it shows up in a different one.

[Jillian]

It seems like the posted and typing fonts have always been different. For about 2 days, the posts on the app where completely posting. I thought that might have been why they changed the font. The app then went back to leaving some posts incomplete. I have no idea why they changed the font since there are so many other functions that need to be improved.

[Ellie]

I hope this means they are sorting out how terrible the "mobile view" is and just making the site fully responsive. They've used a different font between the mobile view (not app) and the desktop view for a while, so if they've been trying to make the site responsive in tiny steps this might be why the font appears to change randomly. Though the only place I have seen any vaguely responsive behaviour so far is the home page (columns change when you resize).

[Hannah]

Does that thing ever happen to you where you read two books back to back that are completely different in every way, except they have one little thing in common that you never would have known about or even remembered, except for the fact that you just read the first one? I just read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which had a scene where a character told a tall tale about a flock of geese landing in a lake, getting frozen to it, and then carrying the lake off with them into the sky. So I was amused today when I read a short science fiction story from Cixin Liu's collection, To Hold Up the Sky, in which an alien artist came to earth to freeze the ocean and carry it off into the sky to create an ice sculpture...

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I love that, Hannah! I find that happens a lot to me with domestic thrillers... like little details about the wives that probably wouldn't have caught my attention if I hadn't read a book right before it that had the same little detail.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Yes, some odd factoid turns up in two unrelated places. I've also had it where two very different books that I was reading at the same time turned out to have something similar going on, like a car accident happens or a person has a secret marriage. Then I start getting the books mixed up!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Hooray, the font is fixed!

Just a reminder that there is only a few hours left to write in votes for the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards! The top 5 write ins in each category will be added to the nominees on October 10.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Lucky you, my font is still terrible. *sigh*

[Anastasia]

Emily wrote: "Hooray, the font is fixed!

Just a reminder that there is only a few hours left to write in votes for the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards! The top 5 write ins in each category will be a..."

Thanks Emily, I just added a few that I had high ratings for this year. Hopefully a couple of them make it through.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I have 15 books left to hit my Goodreads goal for the year (a lot for me, but I can do it if I focus).

I only have 6 books left of my various challenges, which means I only have 6 books planned out for the rest of the year.

What are you favorite quick books that will keep me interested? I like pretty much everything except for horror and (explicit) romance. I need to plan out the rest of these books or I'll end up paralyzed, wasting time and not knowing what to pick.

[Jillian]

Emily wrote: "I have 15 books left to hit my Goodreads goal for the year (a lot for me, but I can do it if I focus).

I only have 6 books left of my various challenges, which means I only have 6 books planned o..."

I find Rainbow Rowell’s books to be fast reads. I tend to take awhile to finish books but I read hers in a day. For me, YA books in general tend to be the quick books.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Short books I liked this year
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Jim the Boy
Cannery Row

I also read Regency romances which are generally under 250 pages and don’t have explicit sex.

[Ellie]

Emily wrote: "I have 15 books left to hit my Goodreads goal for the year (a lot for me, but I can do it if I focus)..."

There's a few books I loved on your TBR that I think would be quick: The Flatshare, Neverworld Wake and The Familiars. I recommend the audio of The Flatshare.

[Hannah]

I looked at your TBR, Emily, and these stood out to me:

The Color Purple is an extremely readable classic in my opinion. Not too long, I've read it a bunch of times, and I strongly expect you'll enjoy it and find it very moving.

I loved Normal People and read it in a day. I'm not really sure that you'll like this one, based on what I know of your taste, but you could give it a try - it won't take long!

Cheaper by the Dozen is one of my favorite books, actually. It was one of those books that I had my mom's old copy growing up and I've read over and over again. It's a memoir that reads like fiction and it's really lighthearted and quirky and delightful.

You've got Matilda on your list, which I think you'll probably find very charming - it's the sweetest and least disturbing (weird thing to say about a children's author, ha) out of all the Roald Dahl books, in my opinion, plus I know you're a teacher, so you might feel particular connected to it.

You should absolutely read Kindred, I think you'll really like it. Very powerful book about racism and the longterm effects of slavery. Even though it's science fiction, the effect of it is more akin to historical fiction.

I also really recommend The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, though I know that you're thinking about using it for the challenge next year! It's also not short at all, but I still read it very quickly. I got really wrapped up in the world and just kept wanting to pick it up because it felt so cozy and lovely.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Thanks for all of the recommendations! Adding books to my library list right now!

[Traci]

Emily wrote: "I have 15 books left to hit my Goodreads goal for the year (a lot for me, but I can do it if I focus).

I only have 6 books left of my various challenges, which means I only have 6 books planned o..."

I second The Flatshare.

Also looking at your TBR:
I listened to Tell the Wolves I'm Home and was invested in it (i.e. kept me reading).

If you liked Beartown, Us Against You is also good (though more intense than his other books, these are probably my favorite, which I don't think is common opinion).

There are others I really like as well, but these are the one's that popped out to me for what you're looking for. Good luck!

[Bana AZ]

Traci wrote: "Emily wrote: "I have 15 books left to hit my Goodreads goal for the year (a lot for me, but I can do it if I focus).

I only have 6 books left of my various challenges, which means I only have 6 b..."

I loved The Flatshare! I'll second that too. (What are we seconding this for?)

I am done with my GR 2020 Reading Challenge of 52 books, but I still have around 8 books to finish for the ATY challenge.

I just finished An American Marriage. I wanted to read The Silent Patient for the 2019 GR Choice Awards prompt but couldn't find a copy, so settled for Once Upon a River instead.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I'm so loving The Flatshare, and I'm discovering that my audiobook preferences are either girtty nonfiction or fluffy romance books like this one lol. I loved Red, White & Royal Blue, and The Royal We, and now The Flatshare, so if you have any other recommendations that are similar to these (love stories but not too explicit), especially if they are good on audio, please let me know!!

Although I do think my next audiobook will be A Promised Land when it comes out next week!

[Sherri]

I have read 3 books so far for November.
The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister,#2) Courtney Milan. 3 stars
Never Caught:The Washington’s Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave,Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar 5 stars. I enjoyed it. Very well researched.
Becoming by Michelle Obama. 5 stars.
Currently reading: The Heartbeat Of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to Present by David Treuer. I’m reading this for “Native American Heritage Month” & for Nonfiction November.

[Traci]

Emily wrote: "I'm so loving The Flatshare, and I'm discovering that my audiobook preferences are either girtty nonfiction or fluffy romance books like this one lol. I loved Red, White & Royal Blue,

I enjoyed Beach Read, The Friend Zone, and Tweet Cute (YA).

[Traci]

I finally finished a book that I thought would take 5 days to read, and it took me 12. Then I started a non-fiction book that I thought would be rough, but so far, it's going a lot better for me. Better writing is making all the difference.

[Suzanne]

Emily wrote: "I'm so loving The Flatshare, and I'm discovering that my audiobook preferences are either girtty nonfiction or fluffy romance books like this one lol. I loved Red, White & Royal Blue.

I liked If I Never Met You

[Bana AZ]

Emily wrote: "I'm so loving The Flatshare, and I'm discovering that my audiobook preferences are either girtty nonfiction or fluffy romance books like this one lol. I loved Red, White & Royal Blue...

I highly recommend One to Watch! I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed The Flatshare

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Ahh thanks for all the recommendations! This is a new genre for me, so I'm excited to dive in.

2020 seems to be the year of reading changes... I've read more audiobooks than physical books for the first time, and I've gravitated more towards light and fluffy than ever before.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

How's everyone doing? 10ish days left to go of the month (and, thank goodness, a Read-a-Thon in there to give me a push!)

I'm ahead on ATY but behind on my overall reading goal for the year... and I just started A Promised Land on audio, which will take me a longgg time since it's 29 hours long. Fingers crossed I have lots of time to read this coming week since I'm off of work for Thanksgiving!

[Chrissy]

I just read (and loved) One to Watch too! It would have been perfect for the failed fat-positive prompt.

[Ellie]

I'm on my last prompt! Reading State of Sorrow for emotion in the title, though it's not really grabbing me so far. I don't have many options on my shelves so I'll kept at it, it just feels a bit like generic YA fantasy when there's so many other things I'd rather be reading right now. Looking forward to finishing and having a month of free reading!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

The book with emotion in the title was my last prompt to plan to fill as well Ellie. I have 19 books checked out from the library and only one fits (House of Salt and Sorrows) so that's the one I'll be reading... when I get to it.

[Pam]

I finished my 51st book, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, which is similar to Jasper Fford's The Eyre Affair and the Thursday Next series, with literary characters that are brought into our world. I recommend reading The Picture of Dorian Gray before reading this book, so you understand that character and nothing is given away, if you plan to read it. This book works for several 2021 prompts - siblings, below the Tropic of Cancer, and elements of magic. My last read for the challenge is Anna Karenina which I've been reading on the Serial Reader App but am now switching over to the e-book. I finished Avi's The Man Who Was Poe and have started Shuggie Bain.

[Ali]

Pam wrote: "I finished my 51st book, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, which is similar to Jasper Fford's The Eyre Affair and the Thursday Next series, with literary characters th..."

Thanks for the tips Pam, my bookclub has picked Uriah Heep for January so I'll definitely take the opportunity to cross Dorian Grey off my TBR first. I've got 6 books left for the challenge. I guess I have about 6 weeks in the year left so it's probably doable! I've just got so many library holds I'm excited about that absolutely won't help with the challenge prompts lol...

[[deleted user]]

hey lovely people! i posted this in the wrong thread but just fyi for everyone, i set up the aty 2021 challenge on the story graph! (hope the mods don't mind, i didn't think to check beforehand sorry! if you want any changes made, just let me know).

so if any of use that site, you can track your reading challenge here: https://beta.thestorygraph.com/readin...

if you want an example of how it works, here's the popsugar for 2020: https://beta.thestorygraph.com/readin.... you can see what everyone on the whole site has read for each prompt so it's great for getting ideas (like our listopias). you can see every book you read that year that fits each prompt on your personal challenge page (so if you like to juggle, it's a great visual tool to moving books around). it also tells you stats (how % you have to go) and it's just a fantastic site & tracking tool if you're into organisation 😊

[Alicia]

If anyone is in a romcom state of mind for the end of the year, I'm halfway through One to Watch and it's wonderful!

It's a darker side of the Bachelorette but much lighter than UnReal.

[Nicole]

annie wrote: "hey lovely people! i posted this in the wrong thread but just fyi for everyone, i set up the aty 2021 challenge on the story graph! (hope the mods don't mind, i didn't think to check beforehand so..."

I joined StoryGraph, and joined the challenge, but it looks like it’s missing a prompt. There are only 51 list, and when I went through the list, I didn’t see “a muster or thriller” on the list. The numbering skipped #41, but that prompt is #42 on our list.