The books of November 2014

November went way too quick, didn't it? And it's already a week into December. Seriously, time is whooshing by us! I got to go home for Thanksgiving and see family, so that was very nice. Otherwise...I didn't do too much.

Crafts:
I forgot one from October...for my friend who like kitties (pattern found on etsy):

Stretchy kitty

The next one was for a friend who's hooked on Supernatural (pattern also from etsy):

I'm still weirded out that he was Sami's twin on Days of Our Lives

Movies:
I only made it to one movie this month: Hunger Games: Mocking Jay, Part 1. It. Was. Awesome. I didn't really love the book...I remember thinking it was kind of boring. Luckily, the movie was really good and makes me excited to see Part 2...which seems like it's a billion years away, but given how fast time is going, shouldn't be that long of a wait at all.

Books:
Much of November was spent making crafts to give away as gifts in December, so I didn't get a lot of reading done. But I managed to get through the following: Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich, The Illusionists by Rosie Thomas, and Written in My Heart's Own Blood by Diana Gabaldon. I also started Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, but I haven't finished it yet...so far, so good.

Janet Evanovich has her formula for the Stephanie Plum books down pat. Car explosions, near death experiences, same two men vying for her attentions...it's all there. There's not really a point in talking about these anymore...I read them; they're funny; I'm going to keep reading them even though it's pretty much the same every time. If you like the series and haven't read this one yet, get to it.

I took a chance on The Illusionists. It wasn't my best pick. About halfway through, I realized I still didn't like the characters and didn't care what happened to them. I don't know...it seemed like a good idea, but I just never truly got into it enough to enjoy it. The main trio of characters were interesting solo...and their act of illusions were interesting...but just something never gelled as I read. Probably stress from reading instead of doing crafts.

So the EIGHTH Diana Gabaldon Outlander book was more of the same. She left the tiniest of windows open to write book nine...which makes me sad. All the major players are currently safe and together in the post-Revolution America. Seems like a fabulous time to let it lie, but she won't. There are still people in the 1980s who are out to get the gold from Brianna and Roger...and to find out more about the time traveling. There is one man in America who wants to take the French lands from Fergus. The story picks up where the last book left: Jamie has taken John; Claire is trying to recover from the shock that Jamie's alive; Brianna and Roger are trying to find Jem...same old perils, different time periods, different players. Some things were nicely done in this book...both of Roger's poignant moments at the rocks in the 1700s come to mind. I'm still not overly sure of why they brought the witch into it again. I actually enjoyed reading this one a little bit...which is saying something since the last four have been like dental surgery on the enjoyment level for me. I just want them to catch a break and have as normal as a life that they can have...and that's kind of what this was...I mean, you know, except for the battles of the American Revolution.

So next month will have more books (hopefully) and more movies...I know of three I want to see as soon as they come out. Hope everyone's having a good holiday season!