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October 2014 Reading Wrap Up and a Look to November

Who has two thumbs and fell of the blogging bandwagon this week? That’s right, this girl! Work and life got in the way in a pretty significant way, but that’s just the way it is. No sense dwelling on the disappointing — let’s look at my October reading, which was anything but disappointing (transitions!).

october 2014 reading wrap up

Thanks to Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon, I finished a bunch of great books in October:

  1. Waters, Sarah: The Paying Guests (fiction)
  2. Lowe, Rob: Stories I Only Tell My Friends (memoir/audio book)
  3. Prentice, Claire: The Lost Tribe of Coney Island (nonfiction)
  4. Robinson, Marilyn: Lives in Ruins (nonfiction)
  5. Verstynen, Timothy and Voytek, Bradley: Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? (nonfiction)
  6. Mandel, Emily St. John: Station Eleven (fiction)
  7. King, A.S.: Ask the Passengers (YA fiction)
  8. Bechdel, Alison: Fun Home (memoir, comic)
  9. Flynn, Gillian: Gone Girl (fiction)

It’s really hard to pick a favorite. Both The Paying Guests and Gone Girl were major page-turners, but I think the book that burrowed into me and stayed there is Station Eleven. It was an incredible read. Lives in Ruins was also a lot of fun, but in a slightly different way.

For those counting, mostly me, that puts me at 86 books for the year, well on my way to making my goal of 100 books, but probably not surpassing it by much. I also visited my reading stats for the year and discovered something interesting: I’ve read more fiction this year (44 books) than nonfiction (42 books). For the last few years, I’ve been about 40 percent fiction to 60 percent nonfiction, so being evenly split is a little strange. But I suppose my reading plans for next month will help change that.

A Look to November

I already shared part of my reading plan for November, which is to focus on nonfiction by women. I’m really excited about this prospect and already got a start on my list — I should have The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg done in the next few days.

I did pick up a copy if Rooms by Lauren Oliver at the library today, so I suspect I’ll make some time to read that. And I’ve got the audio for Amy Poehler’s new book, Yes Please, queued up for a drive this weekend. Then, onward and upward!

What books are you looking forward to reading in November? Which books should I make sure to review this month?

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • BermudaOnion(Kathy) October 30, 2014, 7:00 am

    Everyone is loving Station Eleven. I have to grab a copy!

  • Sarah @ Sarah's Book Shelves October 30, 2014, 7:20 am

    You’re so good about reading nonfiction! I usually love nonfiction, but never make it to your 60/40 ratio. Except, this year I realized I’d read 2 nonfictions that were not memoirs or cooking books…and I was horrified! I’m rectifying that now in prep for Nonfiction November 🙂

    I’ve also been considering Station Eleven…I feel like I’ve seen mixed reviews on it. I might try a sample first…

  • Becca Lostinbooks October 30, 2014, 7:52 am

    You had a great October in reading, girl! The Underground Girls of Kabul! Ah, so jealous!! I can’t wait to hear about it. I think I am going to cheat and start Cleopatra tonight. I am just too impatient to wait!

  • Leah @ Books Speak Volumes October 30, 2014, 7:52 am

    Looks like a great month of reading! I need to track down a copy of Station Eleven, ASAP.

    I’m also hoping to get an audio copy of Yes Please from the library this month. Can’t wait!

  • C.J. October 30, 2014, 10:21 am

    Everyone seems to agree that Station Eleven is really good and I just got my copy, so I guess I’ll find out for myself. What about Do Zombies Dreams of Electric Sheep? I love that title alone!

  • Leila @ Readers' Oasis October 30, 2014, 10:44 am

    I’m very anxious to read Lives in Ruins! Oh, I LOVE me some good archeological rubble! (oh dear, how nerdy is that statement? Um, yeah)

  • Jenny @ Reading the End October 30, 2014, 6:59 pm

    I’m really excited for nonfiction November! Without even planning it, I ended up having a ton of nonfiction books by women to review next month. YAY. (Including Lives in Ruins.)

  • Anita October 30, 2014, 8:41 pm

    I’m going to be loosely participating in Non-Fiction November, I’m trying really hard to make less rules for my Nov-Dec reading. I’ve started The Underground Girls of Kabul and Separated @ Birth, both nf and perfect for going forward. I’ll see what else jumps out at me.
    You had a great October…yay for you!

  • Jennine G. October 31, 2014, 7:31 pm

    Wow, what a great list for October! Have you see the movie Gone Girl yet? Excellent!

  • Tina November 1, 2014, 6:28 am

    Ok well, now I need to get a copy of Station Eleven! You did very well without readathon, lots of cool,books. I agree Gone Girl was a page turner. Looking forward to the Zombie book, I am number 2 on the library wait list .

  • Lory @ Emerald City Book Review November 1, 2014, 12:17 pm

    I’m looking forward to Nonfiction November, after I finish Witch Week (celebrating Diana Wynne Jones) on my blog! I have One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson on my shelf. I would love to add some nonfiction by women.

  • susan November 1, 2014, 1:24 pm

    I look forward to hearing about the Unground Girls. Our book club has picked “Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil” for this month’s discussion. So that’s a nonfiction one I’ll be reading this month. cheers.

  • Christina November 1, 2014, 6:37 pm

    I heard Lauren Oliver speaking about Rooms last weekend so I’m very excited to read her book once my hold comes in at the library. And my book club just decided to read The Underground Girls of Kabul for December so I hope you’ve been enjoy it.

  • Trisha November 1, 2014, 8:47 pm

    I keep hearing good things about Rooms, but I haven’t yet put it on the to read list. The Lowe book I have on the list- maybe I’ll get to it as part of nonfiction November.