Let’s Wrap: November

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November was a bit of a weird month. Or rather, a stressful one. I’ve just been a bit overwhelmed with trying to sort out my life and then trying to nurse a sick animal – my hamster Cookie – and then he passed away. As you can expect, I’m still pretty upset about the whole thing and I really miss him; he was like a tiny dog! But he led a great life and definitely improved mine, which is all that matters. Some people don’t understand just how much personality these little animals can have, and how attached you become to each other!

So it hasn’t really been a fun month and, as a result, my blog went totally on the back burner. However, I’m now back (mostly) and have some ideas for new posts. So bear with me!

There were some plus points, I have to admit, like getting published for what I think was the seventh (???) time, which was pretty mind-blowing! It was for the HG Wells Short Story Competition and, whilst I didn’t win, just to be published was amazing.

And we also adopted a cat! She’s settled in really well and three days ago we decided to finally let her outside (she was getting very grumpy and taking it out on the furniture). Thankfully, she clearly knows her way back to the house and she seems much happier (so does the sofa).

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As you can see, this month wasn’t good for my blog, for reading, or for me in general, but thanks for sticking with me!

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None! I only finished reading one novel and, whilst I started A Darker Shade of Magic in November, I finished it this month, so it doesn’t count. But if you want to check out the review, then you can find it here.

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I’m currently reading Gemina and loving it! I’m about a quarter of the way through and I’m totally hooked, just like I was with IlluminaeI got a little bit confused at the beginning as to what was going on, mainly because I couldn’t quite remember all the events from Illuminae, but I’ve got a grip on it now and wow this series is just too good. So many interweaving plots yet it never feels confusing, with larger than life characters and an amazing format that really ramps up the tension.

So far, I like the two leads, especially Nik, who I probably like as much as Ezra. However, I think I prefer Kady as a lead to Hanna. I’m now just counting down the hours till the Hypatia turns up…

But what to read after? I’m thinking maybe An Ember In the Ashes as I’ve heard such great things about it. Or to change it up a bit from Sci-Fi and Fantasy and go for a YA Contemporary instead, a la How Not To Disappear by Clare Furniss. I’ll have to see what I’m feeling closer to the time. I have so many good books in my TBR pile at the moment it’s just so hard to choose!

Also, just as a little warning now, I probably won’t be posting from this Saturday to next Tuesday as my boyfriend is coming to visit and we haven’t seen each other in a few months, seeing as I bailed on him twice. But with good reason, I might add, aka a very sick me followed by a very sick hamster.

And that’s my strange and depressing month over and done with. Bring on Christmas.

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How was your November? Any opinions on what book I should read next? Have you read Gilded Cage, A Darker Shade of Magic or Gemina? Let me know in the comments below!

caitlin

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The Versatile Blogger Award

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Hello, I’m back! I took a week away from the blogosphere because my boyfriend came to visit.

So, a little while back, I was nominated by the lovely Maya @ Maya the Book Explorer for the Versatile Blogger Award, so thank you very much!

The Rules

  • Show the award on your blog
  • Thank the person that has nominated you
  • Share 7 different facts about yourself
  • Nominate 15 blogs of your choice
  • Link your nominees and let them know of your nomination

7 Facts About Little Old Me

  1. I have a degree in BA English from Royal Holloway, University of London, and don’t let anyone tell you English degrees are easy because they really aren’t!
  2. I have a Syrian Hamster called Cookie who’s very tame but also very naughty. He loves cheese and will wrestle you for it.
  3. I want to be a successful author sometime in the future and I’ve previously been published and won competitions so fingers crossed!
  4. I really love anything apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic, whether it’s a book, a film or a TV programme; there’s just something really fascinating about the apocalypse. Oh and zombies!
  5. My favourite author of all time is Virginia Woolf.
  6. I enjoy photography and would love to be a proper wildlife photographer but I’m nowhere near good enough, so taking photos of random cats and my hamster will have to suffice.
  7. I like dinosaurs because I’m secretly a three-year-old boy at heart.

I Nominate

I know that’s not 15 nominations but I’ve been nominating and tagging so many blogs recently I don’t want to keep bombarding all the same people! But these blogs nominated here are all ones I enjoy and worthy of the award.

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