Shaina Reads: November 2015

, by Shaina

#ReadMyOwnDamnBooks: A 2016 Challenge from Estella's Revenge!

Before we get into the books, HI GUYS! I've missed you all so much.

Since I last posted, I've submitted applications to my top-choice graduate schools and enjoyed a too-short-but-still-wonderful Thanksgiving vacation at home in sunny Florida. Unfortunately, I do still have some application work to get in before the new year, so posting might remain sparse (except, of course, for #12BooksOfChristmas) until 2016. I hope you'll bear with me!

With graduate school (hopefully!) on the horizon, I've been thinking about my personal library and how I may need to move it in the next eight months. Taking a walk around my apartment tonight, I counted no fewer than 50 physical books I would at least like to sample, if not read in their entirety, and I know for a fact that I'm lowballing here. Media mail might be affordable, but I don't know that these are all books I want to spend money to move.

As usual, Andi managed to put my feelings into fewer, more straightforward words than I could: in 2016, she wants to read her own damned books, and I'm going to join her.

My challenge rules:

I will read almost exclusively from physical books, e-books and audio books I already own, focusing primarily on physical books.

I can visit the library at my leisure, but library books should ideally make up no more than 25% of my monthly reading. Trips to the library keep me sane, and I'm not looking to gamble with my peace of mind.

E-book and audio book sales are kosher, but, with the exception of gifts, I cannot add new physical books to my collection. I will attempt to limit my digital purchases to a one-for-one tradeoff (one book read, one book purchased).

I accept that I may fail at all of these rules. If I can get through even a tiny fraction of my book collection before I have to pack up the rest, I'll consider this project a success.

Heck, I'm already off to a decent start, and it isn't even 2016! Over Thanksgiving weekend, I read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (physical) and Animal Liberation by Peter Singer (e-book), both of which I own. I'm excited to see what kind of dent I make during my Twelve Books of Christmas challenge, which you should totally partake in, by the way.

Here's to reading my own damned books! Won't you join me?

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, by Shaina

Shaina Takes A (Hopefully Brief) Break

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, by Shaina

month recap

My Month in Reading (and More): So Long, October!

Between grad school apps, illness and an all-around blogging slump, October was quiet, y'all. All I can say is thank you for sticking with me when things have gotten uninspired or haven't appeared at all. I think there's a light at the end of this tunnel!

I read/reviewed:

I only have 4.5 hours left of IT by Stephen King. I know that means I'm not finished yet, but you can bet your butt I'm bringing it up anyway.

A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin — My boyfriend I finally finished our read-aloud! We've moved right along into A Clash of Kings, but I plan to write a post about how the first reading went. In sum: you are a dirty, dirty man, George.

What Strange Creatures, by Emily Arsenault — A perfectly decent crime-y thriller for R.I.P. X. (my review)

The Wasp Factory, by Iain Banks — Another R.I.P. pick. Lots of animal torture and an ending I still can't make up my mind about. (my review)

Ancillary Mercy, by Ann Leckie — This was the final installment in Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy, a space opera that tackles notions of gender, consent and personhood. I'm planning a double-review post featuring this and The Heart Goes Last (you know, that book I read last month and said I'd review soon) because eff yeah, lady sci-fi writers.

Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice, by Adam Benforado — This is the first nonfiction I've read since July! Thankfully, this look at humanity's innate social cognitive biases did not disappoint. (my review)

On the blog:

READATHON, READATHON, READATHON. *\o/* This was my third time participating, and the event ran more smoothly than ever. I also hosted my first mini-challenge, which was way less stressful and more of a blast than I could have anticipated. I'm counting down the days 'til the April event!

I completed the Peril the First reading challenge for R.I.P. X and corralled all my reviews here! I would say I already miss the spookiness of the event, but, you know, still listening to IT.

I waxed poetic about a woodland library and discussed the sort of book that hippies love to read.

Even more library chatter! I linked up for the first time with River City Reading's Library Checkout feature and unabashedly enjoyed the chance to draw up lists of my library books.

In life:

I took the GRE and I will never, ever blog about it again!

Before the test, I went into full-on stress baking mode and made two apple pies in two weeks. I don't think I've ever made better decisions.

Despite still having the yuckiest viral infection in recent memory, I hopped on a train with my boyfriend to visit some college friends in New York City over Halloween. I don't see these guys enough, and it was wonderful to hang out over bottomless wine, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and many, many plays of Spooky Scary Skeletons.

Before we left on our trip, we made sure to take the all-important family costume photos. Not pictured: the metallic purple Leela hair I had the next night.

In November:

I will be promoting and signing people up for my totally bonkers Twelve Books of Christmas reading challenge. Go, go, go!

Two of my graduate school applications are due on December 1, and I hope to have them in before Thanksgiving, if possible. The end draws near!

Speaking of Thanksgiving, my boyfriend and I are heading to Florida for four days of food, family and some good ol' poolside lounging. Although the weather in Connecticut has been surprisingly warm lately, I know I need to bottle up all the sunshine I can to tide me over once the cold sets in for good.

I nearly forgot that my first blogoversary is this month! Although I technically opened up shop on November 1, my first real post wasn't until November 13. I guess I have until then to figure out a good way to celebrate—any ideas?

Happy November, everyone!