• 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?