Hello snowflakes!❄️
I’m posting this a bit late, but today I am coming at you with my November Wrap-up. Last month I participated in the HoHoHo readathon and had an amazing time doing so. I ended up completing all four books that were on my TBR during those ten days. I also finished one additional book as well.
I am keeping today’s intro short and sweet, so without further ado, let’s get into November’s wrap-up!
THE WRAP-UP
1. Frankenstein
by: Mary Shelley
Frankenstein follows a science student, Victor Frankenstein who is obsessed with discovering the cause of existence and giving life to inanimate matter. After creating and bringing to life a human being from stolen body parts, Frankenstein is disgusted at the creature’s ugliness and ultimately abandons it. This leads Victor’s creation to turn evil.
I personally believe Frankenstein would make a great book club pick as it has tons of potential for discussion. Prior to picking this up I noticed that in most of the goodreads reviews, everyone one saying how Victor Frankenstein is the true monster. Now, I don’t one hundred percent disagree with that. Victor, shunned the monster–which mind you, was his creation–before even getting to know him or let alone being able teach him what was considered morally right and wrong. The more I read though, I realized that like everyone, the monster always had a choice. He could have stayed pure at heart if only he tried hard enough. Unfortunately, he let his trials and tribulations get the best of him and ultimately went down a very dark path. The monster always had a choice and every situation he was put in, he was faced a decision to make. I am a firm believer that it is the way we react to our hardships that truly matters. Everyone is faced with their own struggles at some point in time, and one can either grow from it or turn bitter. I believe the monster did the latter.
Overall, I still ultimately enjoyed Frankenstein a lot. The writing was super easy to get through compared to most other classics, such as Pride and Prejudice. In the end, I decided on a solid 4 flowers.
My Rating:
2. Winter Story
by: Jill Barklem
Winter Story is the fourth and final book in the seasonal Brambley Hedge series. Each book is named after and takes place in a different season. So, it starts with Spring Story and ends with Winter Story.
In this narrative we follow the mice as they prepare for a huge snow day as well as a snow ball. When I say snow ball what I mean is the event with dancing, food and festivities–not the kind you build and throw at other individuals.
This was the first book I picked up for the HoHoHo readathon, and like the other volumes in the Brambley Hedge series, I finished it in one sitting. Although a cute narrative, it wasn’t my favorite. I just didn’t think there was enough going on in the story to seem interesting. With that said, I ended up giving Winter Story 3.5 flowers.
My Rating: 
3. A Christmas Carol
by: Charles Dickens
This famous story follows Ebenezer Scrooge who is a greedy and just all around mean individual. On Christmas eve he is visited but three spirits–the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Each apparition takes Scrooge on a time traveling adventure and shows him what he was, who he currently is, and who he will turn out to be if he continues on the same path. This is a story that is about the true meaning of Christmas and what it means to be a good person.
This was my first time reading A Christmas Carol, and I have to say that I think this is a new favorite holiday read right up there with The Nutcracker. In terms of book to movie comparison, I think the films got everything pretty much right. As I was reading this, I just couldn’t help but picture Scrooge McDuck from the animated Disney version as Ebenezer!
My Rating:
4. Whichwood
by: Tahereh Mafi
Whichwood is a middle grade fantasy novel and the sequel to Furthermore. In Whichwood we follow a girl named Laylee who is fated to wash the bodies of the dead and prepare them for the afterlife. She is stuck in a loneliness right after the death of her mother and is basically just going through the motions when one day two familiar faces appear and change everything.
Whichwood was such an atmospheric read and I loved it. I can’t decide if I enjoyed it a little more than Furthermore or just the same. The writing was super whimsical, and I just loved how Tahereh Mafi was often talking to the reader as she was telling the story. I don’t really have any complaints, and am still deciding if I should give it 5 flowers instead of 4.5.
My Rating:
5. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by: C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a children’s classic that follows three siblings as they stumble through a wardrobe and discover the land of Narnia. There are mythical beings, a talking lion and magic galore.
This was the last book I completed for the HoHoHo readathon. The writing was super easy to get through and the story and world was interesting and unique. The reason I didn’t give it five flowers was really only because the world of Narnia and some of the characters just creeped me out. Even when I watched the movie when it first came out years ago, I was always kind of freaked out by just the idea of Narnia. Characters like Tumnas always gave me chills because come on, you lore a child to your apartment intending to kidnap it and then apologize hoping that everything will be all sunshine and rainbows? Like, no thank you. If I was Lucy, I would run straight back to the wardrobe and never look back. Also, the fact that Tumnas is half animal, half man was enough to give me the heebie jeeebies.
My Rating:
Did you read any of the above books? What books did you read in November? How many? Sound off in the comments below!
I hope you enjoyed reading my November Wrap-up!
Until next time,
The Garden of Read-En 