2021 Goodreads Challenge Completed 🎉
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It’s been a while since I did a wrap up, and as I’m going to be showing you what books I read this year in my overall reading wrap up at the end of the year, I thought I would start the month off easy with just my November wrap up.
Looking at my wrap up as a whole, I read an odd mix of books.
I would have liked to have read more, but I just haven’t found a lot of motivation to just sit down and read, and I’ve been putting off listening to audiobooks on my commute because my brain doesn’t want to function so early in the day or after work 😅
Atomic Habits; James Clear
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.
Goodreads
I’ve come to the point in my life where I think I should probably read more self help books. I don’t know why, maybe I truly do feel like a middle aged woman stuck in a rut despite only being 26.
My best skill is procrastination. I am so good at it! And of course it’s incredibly detrimental to my stress levels, general wellbeing and outlook. And procrastination makes having good habits hard, because you need to put effort into them…
I mostly listened to Atomic Habits on audiobook and I enjoyed this experience more than when I would pick up my library copy. This is a really insightful book and as I was reading I did write down some of Clear’s resources – I believe these can also be found on his blog (I was copying them down from my loan from the library).
Certain aspects of the book obviously didn’t feel relevant to my situation, but that’s to be expected with a self-help book, but it did give me insight into other people’s situations and habits and methods that could be useful to me in the future.
Metamorphosis and Other Stories; Franz Kafka
⭐⭐
In the bizarre world of Franz Kafka, salesmen turn into giant bugs, apes give lectures at college academies, and nightmares probe the mysteries of modern humanity’s unhappiness. More than any other modern writer in world literature, Kafka captures the loneliness and misery that fill the lives of 20th-century humanity. The Metamorphosis and Other Stories reveals the author’s extraordinary talent in a variety of forms—prose poems, short stories, sketches, allegories, and novelettes—and showcases the straight–faced humor, startling psychological insight, and haunting imagination for which he is revered as a modern master. In this brilliant new translation, prize–winning translator Joachim Neugroschel preserves the delicate balance, rich timbre, and wondrous language of Kafka’s original works.
Goodreads
I really wanted to be the type of person that loves Kafka, however, I am not smart enough.
Most of the short 1 page stories just went over my head and I didn’t really see the point of them. And for some of his longer works, I had to read analyses of them afterwards… I read the intro and the translator said that Kafka’s work is accessible and humorous. I feel lied to 😅
The works I did enjoy were The Judgement and The Stoker: A Fragment. I felt that these two stories had the best writing, characters and I felt I could understand the plot and meaning behind the narrative.
I did read this primarily for Metamorphosis and the beginning was so funny to me. Gregor was like, “I’m a bug, cool. Now how do I get out of bed?” and then it went all depressing. I was so confused about this story and the overall message. Gregor becomes a burden to his family and then in the end his hard work is used by his family to better themselves… is this story meant to mean that you’re better off if you don’t have to look after your sick relatives? Both siblings go through a metamorphosis, one literal and the other through character progression, but I feel like this is Grete’s villain origin story.
What are your thoughts on The Metamorphosis?
Find Your Shine; Anna Lou Walker
Your journey from self-conscious to self-confident begins now!
Take those first steps toward becoming more self-assured with this empowering collection of tips and wisdom. Helping you learn to love who you are and sparkle with certainty, this book offers practical advice on how to:
Think positively. Feel body confident. Fire up your happiness hormones. Choose a mood-boosting diet and lifestyle. Treat yourself with compassion.
Waterstones
This is quite an aesthetically pleasing book. The problem is it doesn’t have much substance.
There are lots of quotes and generic feel good rhetoric that doesn’t really have enough depth to it.
I’m someone who is self-conscious, and I’m trying to be more confident and assured in my own body. Sadly, this book wasn’t helpful to me.
It is super short though, so I did feel good about how quickly I read it. Not the point of the book, obviously, but it made me feel slightly accomplished 😅
The Radleys; Matt Haig
⭐⭐⭐
FAMILIES. SOMETIMES THEY’RE A BLOODY NIGHTMARE . . . Life with the Radleys: Radio 4, dinner parties with the Bishopthorpe neighbours and self-denial. Loads of self-denial. But all hell is about to break loose. When teenage daughter Clara gets attacked on the way home from a party, she and her brother Rowan finally discover why they can’t sleep, can’t eat a Thai salad without fear of asphyxiation and can’t go outside unless they’re smothered in Factor 50. With a visit from their lethally louche Uncle Will and an increasingly suspicious police force, life in Bishopthorpe is about to change. Drastically.
Goodreads
The Radleys is an interesting take on vampires and their integration into society. I liked the concept of the book and the writing was fast paced and well written.
But for some reason, I feel like the characters weren’t as fully developed as I would have liked. And the romance is barely developed at all. I would be far more interested if the story only involved the adult Radleys.
I will say that this is the most dynamic of Haig’s work that I’ve read. Considering what I’ve previously read from him, I was pleasantly surprised by the darkness and humour of this novel.
Bleach 3-in-1 Vo1. 11; Tite Kubo
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Orihime has been kidnapped and it’s up to Ichigo, Chad and Uryû to rescue her. But the Arrancar world Hueco Mundo has many surprises in store for the heroes…not the least of which is how much it will change them!
Goodreads
I obviously can’t say much about this as the bind-up is volumes 31-33.
What I will say is that the Arrancar’s are a bit confusing, however, for the most part I did really enjoy being in Hueco Mundo as we got to meet and learn more about some interesting characters. I still think there are too many characters, but we focused a lot on ones I love in this instalment.
I love Ichigo! He’s my favourite character in this series. I love his resolve and the way he strives to protect his friends. Is he still a bit of an idiot? Yes, and that makes me so happy. But we are seeing him become such a strong and dependable man for, not only his friends, but those who are vulnerable.
What books did you read in November? Have any new favourites?
Thanks for reading!
I hope you are having a lovely day and staying safe ♥
DramaRambles 🌸 