November Reads: Wait--It's November?! What?!

 It's going to take me a week or so to realize November is here. 2020 is certainly a year which feels like it is endless. With two months to go, I don't have the mental energy to even contemplate what else is just around the corner. 

I've been pretty low key the last week, staying home for a week of vacation and not doing much. I have realized the benefits of vacation the week of Halloween-I get to watch as many paranormal shows as I want, anytime of the day or night. It's also a good week to do some decluttering around the house to get ready for holiday decorating. I'm not one to put up my tree until after Thanksgiving, so I've still got some time to keep chipping away at the accumulated "stuff". Thankfully this time around my decluttering does not include cleaning out my home library. 

October's reads were a lot of thrillers, and I will admit I got a little burnt out this last week. I realized I haven't been reading much historical fiction at all and it's my favorite genre! So I went down the Edelweiss rabbit hole and quickly accumulated a few ebooks to read on my Nook. I'm halfway through The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly and it's just what I needed to push through my reading blahs. I'll have a review up for that in a few days. 

I've been accumulating a few holiday reads in preparation for December and I have resisted the temptation to start reading them early. I've got about ten books left to read by the end of the year to hit my reading challenge on Goodreads. There have been a lot of articles and posts about reading challenges and the pressure to reach goals. I know plenty of folks who read dozens more books than me each year, and hey, good for them. I don't pay much attention to numbers-just like at the gym, I don't look at other people in class and how much weight they're picking up, or how fast they're rowing. To each their own. Read however much you want, and read whatever makes you happy. I personally like to set a reading goal each year to keep myself accountable. And it helps me remember everything I've read all year, too. 

I've got a lot of books to read this month, mostly because they're sitting around my house and I want to read them and pass them on to family and friends. Here's a few that I'm planning on reading and reviewing in November:

I've eagerly awaited this novel and wanted to read it in October but didn't get to it. The cover is stunning, and I expect the read to be fascinating, too! 

I'll confess: I usually don't read Jodi Picoult novels. This one, however, features Ancient Egyptian history, which has fascinated me since I first saw King Tut featured in National Geographic years ago. Archaeology, alternative lives, and wondering what if? 

Another October read I didn't get to...I started it but got sidetracked. I've been waiting for this for months, so I'll dive into Addie Larue's deal with the devil that gives her eternal life, but at a price. 

Rebecca Roanhorse is an amazing writer, and this fantasy novel is getting huge accolades and buzz. A Native American writer who creates a whole new world and mythology. 

This book isn't out until March, 2021 but I'm lucky to have an ARC. Historical fiction about a tragic ship sinking. A bit of American history that has been forgotten over time.

A book that combines the outdoors, survival, and a race against a killer.

Phew. That's a lot for November. Happy Halloween everyone!