Books Read in November

Whew, as you can see, I am REALLY far behind! It happens every year at this time. I usually read a lot in the fall and don't have as much time to write reviews as we move into the holiday season, so my reading outruns my writing! I may end up doing what I did last year and writing a single post with mini reviews for my December reading.

But, looking back at November, I had an excellent reading month! Here's my video November Reading Wrap-Up, which is different than this post. In the video, I talk about each of the books I read.

And here are the books I finished in November:

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (UK) - adult fiction

An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System by Matt Richtel - nonfiction on audio

 

No Cure For Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler (NC) - nonfiction memoir

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (OR, Korea) - nonfiction memoir

 

The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Iperen (Netherlands) - nonfiction history

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (CA) - nonfiction true crime

Other Boys by Damian Alexander - middle-grade/teen graphic memoir

Lift by Kelly Corrigan (CA) - nonfiction memoir

 

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson (MA) - adult fiction on audio

As you can see, I was mostly immersed in Nonfiction November (see my Challenges update below). I read nine books in November (which is a lot for me), and seven of them were nonfiction. Most of my books last month were for adults, with just one middle-grade/teen book, which was also my only graphic novel/memoir for the month. I listened to three of my books on audio and read the rest in print. Every one of these nine books was excellent, and I was pleased to read so much variety in my nonfiction. It's hard to pick a favorite among so many diverse choices, but there's a special place in my heart for No Cure For Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler, since I love listening to her podcast.

Progress in 2021 Reading Challenges:
You can see all of the reading challenges I am participating in and full lists of the books read for each at the challenges link above. I have some fun ones going this year!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2021 - I read 5 books off my own shelves last month. November is always good for my TBR Challenge!

2021 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge - November was In the Library with the Candlestick, and Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson was a mystery/thriller.

Back to the Classics 2021 - No new classic again in November!

2021 AtoZ Reading Challenge - Most of my spots are already filled (19 of 26), so I didn't have any more to fit in last month, but I did get the Mini Challenge for a book outside your normal genre: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara.

PopSugar Reading Challenge 2021 - this is a unique one, with 50 quirky categories. My list is getting pretty full now, but I added two more last month:

1. A book that won the Women's Prize for Fiction: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (2020)
2. A book from your TBR you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara (my son's girlfriend, who loves true crime!)
   

2021 Nonfiction Reader Challenge - I read seven nonfiction books last month, bringing my annual total up to 13 so far, and I also fit four of my books into the categories provided.

Diversity Reading Challenge 2021 - Four of my nine were diverse books.

Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge - I added Korea and the Netherlands last month.

2021 Literary Escapes Challenge - It's tough at this time of year, with so many states filled already, but I added Oregon and Massachusetts last month.

2021 Big Book Summer Challenge - Finished in September, with a total of 12 for summer 2021!

R.I.P. Readers Imbibing Peril Challenge - Finished in October, with a total of eleven for this year's challenge.

Nonfiction November - I read seven nonfiction books in November.

And finally, Bookish Bingo hosted by Chapter Break - not really a challenge per se, but a fun game that I play each month! Stop by to print out this month's Bingo card and play along. In November, I filled 15 spaces on my bingo card (a lot of the spaces are fiction-specific!).

Spaces Filled: 

Hamnet: library book, book club read, award-winning author

An Elegant Defense: not in a series

No Cure for Being Human: read a physical book

Crying in H Mart: cooking, food on the cover

Sisters of Auschwitz: audio book

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: made into a TV show/movie (documentary), multiple authors, character has an assistant

Other Boys: free book

Lift: shelf love

Eight Perfect Murders: FBI/police

Free Space

What was your favorite book read in November?