Welcome to November’s Monthly Minutes at Midnight! 

 Here’s the deal: I’ll share the books I’ve obtained, posts of interest from others, giveaways I have happening, and just general random shenanigans. You know I love a shenanigan.  

The Books

For Review/From Publishers:

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo (I am so giddy I don’t even know what to do. I mean… remember when Allie was a little ol’ blogger like us mere mortals?! Holy craaaap!!)

Thanks to Macmillan! 

eARCs:

Huge thanks to Entangled, Wednesday Books, and DAW!!

Purchased:

I bought two books, one of them is actually a physical book but I was too lazy to take a picture, so here they are:

Gifted/Traded:

Thanks to the lovely Holly and Valerie who bought me The Song of Achilles and Icelandic Catching Fire for my birthday!! I am so lucky to have such lovely friends! And as always, thanks to the people I traded with! And huge thanks to author S.A. Chakraborty for City of Brass! She did this awesome giveaway where if you voted, you could enter to win and… I won!!!


Shenanigans Since Last Time:

I read only 10 books. This is literally the least I’ve read since I started doing monthly recaps. Idk what my problem is.

There were some really good ones in this bunch. And then some okay ones. And like, one disappointment. But because I am evil, I’m going to make you wait to find out which muahah. 

Giveaways: Click Here, or on Sidebar


Blogosphere Bulletin

Here are some of the loveliest/most entertaining/super helpful/just plain interesting posts I found this month! 

Guys, I am sorry, I fail harder than ever, because this month kind of kicked my ass. Again. But I tried!


Random Musings

This month wasn’t super fun either, honestly. I mean, it wasn’t terrible or anything but… I was sick for a big chunk of it with apparently some kind of Super-Cold that decided to not quit, to the point where I was spending my evenings stuck to a nebulizer. Good times, good times. Thanksgiving was okay I guess, my birthday was insanely anticlimactic- in fact, I was planning on doing a post for it, and then was just like… meh, screw it. I think that’s my motto for the month actually. ?

Fancy & New Since Last I Saw You!

I love looking at pretty covers! So here are some new ones that I have fallen in love with since our last update!

Slowww cover month, guys. I don’t even know if  this Circe cover is new, but it’s not the US edition and I hadn’t seen it before so it is new to me. Ditto Defy the Worlds.

Things we need to talk about at this juncture:

  • It has been six months since Praimfaya. And the worst part? We have no idea when the show will be back. I was super excited because February is soon- I can feel like end of hiatus- but now we’re in limbo with no release date, no info at all. I also didn’t do my The 100 post this month. I had it started, but I lost inspiration. Maybe I’ll come back to it. Also, I have been busy working hard* on December’s post!
    *By working hard, I mean playing. Be excited.
  • I’ve apparently finished my Goodreads Challenge, woo! I didn’t even realize it until a bunch of people liked it, and I thought “hmmm, this is strange and random”, only it wasn’t, because I had completed it, so yay? Hopefully random.org will be kinder to be in 2018, 139 books wasn’t the easy challenge I’d hoped for tbh! 
  • I think I need to do one of those posts about shows I have watched/am watching. Because there’s been some good stuff! And what else am I even going to post anyway?

Happy December, loves!

Posted November 30, 2017 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in Blog Recaps / 35 Comments

Divider

35 responses to “Monthly Minutes at Midnight: November 2017

  1. You let Random.org set your challenge? You are a most interesting person. I picked 5 books a week, because it seemed manageable. I am too anal to let someone else control my challenge. I admire you doing that! Sorry you spent November sick and meh. I hope December brings you much joy, so you finish off the year on a good note. The holidays + little kids (usually) = a lot of joy.

    • YEP I did! I just used the most books I’d ever read +5 as the upper limit, 1 as the low. And it gave me 139, which is rude, because the upper limit was like 155 or something? My problem is, I am SUPER competitive, so I kept upping my goal every year and it was just not realistic! I had LESS time and yet thought I could read MORE? And it stressed me out. Cross your fingers that Random is better to me this year 😉 And thank you so much! I am a little worried about the holidays this year but I am REALLY hoping they’ll end up being okay!

  2. Ooh those covers. ?? And DOUBLE OOOH to Allie’s book!! And okay one day you’re going to do a post and give us a tour of all your Hunger Games editions, right?! ? You must have the most incredible collection ever haha. Also I’m looking forward to your am/watching post because I’ve been watching WAY more stuff lately (who even am I) and I’m keen for some recs. Ok shh yes I still have to try The 100…I should see if it’s on the Aussie netflix! AND CONGRATS FOR FINISHING YOUR CHALLENGE!! WOO!! ??

    • Thankssss! And YES I am so excited for Allie’s book, and you know, soon this will be YOUR book we’re all flailing about YAYYY. I will give you a tour of my Hunger Games! I did a post once and I did share some pictures! I am kind of impressed at your show watching! I think this is good for you! I have recs for sure, I have seen some good stuff. Hopefully before the end of the year. YESSS THE 100, DOOOOOO IT. The first couple of episodes are like, cheesy, but then it gets sooooo good.

  3. I want to pick up The Shark Club soon. Sorry you were sick last month. Hope December is better for you on that front. Good job on completing your GR goal. I lowered mine earlier this year because I am just not reading like I used to. I need to set a more realistic 2018 goal. And yes do a what you’re watching post!!

  4. I didn’t know Allie had a book!! How exciting – all these bloggers getting published. Fingers crossed it will be someday!
    Sorry you were sick a lot of November; that’s never fun! I wasn’t too sick, but my mom and sister had a pretty rough month too. Hopefully December will be better!!

    -Lauren

  5. Ugh…sorry to hear your November was full of illness, and it put a damper on your birthday. 🙁 But…YAY for completing your Goodreads challenge!! I completed my challenge last month. I hang my head in shame because my challenge was to read 12 books this year. I’m not saying I’m jealous of you super readers. I’m saying I’m totally jealous of you super readers!!

    Here’s to an AMAZEBALLS December!!!

    P.S. I needs that post of shows you’ve been watching!!!!

    • Aw thank you!! WOW, last month is awesome to complete your challenge! And hey- ANY amount of reading is good! People have so many different life circumstances and hobbies and reading speeds, I say GREAT JOB! And I will definitely get that post up- hopefully before the end of the month!

  6. Ahh, happy belated birthday, and congrats on winning your Goodreads challenge! I’m sorry you were sick for so much of the month– hopefully you’re feeling better now! I also only read ten books this month, which is quite low for me– I wonder what’s up with that? I always seem to get into a bit of a slump toward the end of the year. I’m interested to hear your thoughts on everything you read, though (especially Girls Made of Snow & Glass, because I was… not a fan. lol). Also, YAY for Shadowsong! I am jealous about that one! Happy reading in December, friend! <3

    • Aw thank you so much! I am starting to feel better. Idk why this cold (which I feel like turned into something more than a cold because come ON hah) lingered so long! I agree with you about the slump toward the end of the year. It was weird- I didn’t *feel* like I was reading slower than usual, but I suppose I was hah. I didn’t DISlike Girls Made of Snow and Glass, but it was a bit slow for my tastes at times. Hope you have a great December too!

  7. Happy belated birthday!!! I‘m sorry your month wasn‘t great. I hope December will be better! I spent three minutes trying to decipher that Sea of Strangers cover (live footage: „Does it say… Se1 of Strangers?“ Yes. Yes, clearly it does) so that‘s where my brain is at right now. You should definitely do a post about shows you‘re watching!! Oh and thanks for the mention too.

  8. To Kill A Kingdom looks pretty awesome, actually. Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Anti- climactic or not, hope it was a good one. 🙂 And being sick- ugh. Hope you’re feeling much better. And nice win for City of Brass! Can’t wait to hear about that one…

    Clearly I approve of your purchases lol. Hopefully they don’t suck. 🙂

    Okay Sea of strangers looks great. The Icelandic catching Fire is nice. Defy the Worlds is an amazing cover, totally agree. And Praimfaya- 6 months? Wow. Has it really? And they’re stringing us along… but we have to know soon, it’s December right??? Um, right? *crickets from the CW* damn them

    Oh and I think we may need a SIMS update at some point… 🙂 Thanks for linking my post BTW.

    • I am SO excited for To Kill a Kingdom, because I don’t think I’ve ever KNOWN-known an author before? This is thrilling. The story itself does sound good too, of course! And thank you! It was… well, I won’t lie, it was actual crap, but I hope that this means that when I am an old lady my birthdays will be awesome an Al Roker will put my picture on a jar of jam or some shit because I have paid my shitty birthday dues?

      City of Brass looks awesome, and I have heard great things, but it is also HUGE and I am scared. HA yes my purchases were definitely both inspired by you! I am certain I will like them. Plus, I can start my year with All Systems Red and be ahead of my Reading Challenge. #Cheating

      Sea of Strangers was good- it’s a sequel, and like- they’re VERY well done, fantasy, the world building is VERY unique, but it also is almost like learning a whole new world? Some stuff is in different languages (made up ones!) and it”s… a task. I have the first two books, I’ll give them to you one of these days 🙂 I LOVE that cover of Defy the Worlds, and I will be buying it.

      The CW is just being a bully at this point. It’s almost been 7 months now, and we were SUPPOSED to be prepping for a premiere in less than 2 months! And it’s just… crickets. Everyone wants the trailer and I am like NO, just give me a damn premiere date, screw the trailer! And of course, you are all caught up on my Sims updates now- I have to get to them again one day this week and try to get some violence or mayhem happening ?

  9. You watch now, random.org is going to give you 1 book next year! Also, I don’t know whether I’ll continue with my 1 book a year challenge, but you know, it has been REALLY unpressuring. Especially in a time like this haha.

    AND IDK I don’t like the cover of Shadowsong as much as I WANT to? To be fair I have not even finished Wintersong yet. I will, I will.

  10. For a hot minute I thought S.A. Chakraborty was one of my high school assistant principals because the last name is near identical. Her name is only slightly off from the Chakaborty (no R – CHAKA). She stood like four foot eight and would make girls wear her own dress pants she kept in her office specifically if a skirt or dress was too short. She got busted when she made this Heather girl wear them…Heather was like 6’2″ and those pants were cutting it close to being out of dress code on her! The reign of pants seemed to die down after that.

    Anyways…I should do a shows post, too. Or at least actually include it in my Sunday Posts. I always say to myself on Saturdays, “I should put that I’m watching The Blah Blah Blah show in my Sunday Post tomorrow” and then when Sunday and the post comes, I never add it! I am a Type A person strongly fighting the disorganization in my life that I can’t control (ahem, yearbook, crazy admin expectations, we want to see a slideshow of what you’re doing second by second in your classroom, be ready to put on a horse and pony show with all this paperwork and your kids prepped on this day and this day, UGH!, dad had a heart attack, my boyfriend – can I just call him my husband? we are by common law – so my FIL has cancer…it’s just like Stressgiving over here) and I am warring with myself about trying to keep it all together and be “on” for every piece of my life, and I am really lately feeling the “Meh….screw it” attitude too. Although some days (most days…) it is escalating to the “Ehhh…fuck that shit” attitude. So I totally feel you. I’ve been scrimping on my blog and life, too.

    Congrats on completing your Goodreads Challenge! I just wrote a hilarious post about mine. I think it posted today? … Yeah, it did! It’s called….. How Dare You, Goodreads!

  11. To Kill A Kingdom sounds really amazing, and the cover for Stolen Enchantress just so gorgeous! I never saw that cover of Circe, but it’s beautiful. I didn’t manage to read a lot in November too. It’s just been a very busy month. Have a wonderful December!

  12. I feel you on reading. This month has been terrible for me too. If it weren’t for the fact that I read a few manga, I’d be crazily behind on my challenge. I’ve never gone through a period like this where I just didn’t feel like reading all that much. I’m hoping I snap out of it soon, but right now I’m forcing myself to pick up every book (and then I’m often slogging through them SLOWLY). Sigh.

  13. Okay Shadowsong is such a pretty cover. But I still have to get to Wintersong.

    November was cold and sick month for me too. Pretty sucky. But at least we won’t get it at Christmas….I hope.

  14. I forgot your goodreads challenge was chosen randomly it could have been way easier but yay for completing it without even realising. I am going through phases of reading lately, I’ve no idea why it’s being slow but it is. It doesn’t help I’m trying to read a 700 page book, why would I do that to myself? It sucks you’ve had a cold as well, I know a bunch of folks have been struck down by the lurgy and it’s not shifted so you’re not alone!

  15. I feel very perplexed because I haven’t read any of the books you picture? At all? Or heard of them? Which makes me wonder if a) you’re making it all up or b) I’m super out of it. Hard to say which is more likely, really.

    I love your Goodreads approach. I passed mine a bit ago, but I have read a lot of graphic novels, which always feels a bit cheat-y to me. I actually don’t get very competitive about mine, and try to set it at something I know I’ll do anyway. Life is stressful enough without turning my escape and joy into a pressured kind of thing.

    I hope you feel better moving into December!

  16. Congratulations on finishing your Goodreads challenge! And now this is super late but I hope you had a good birthday 🙂

    Lots of exciting new books! I hope you enjoy reading all of them. The Song of Achilles is one I keep hearing a lot of good things about and want to finally read at some point!

    Can’t wait to know what you thought of This Mortal Coil because I am kinda really looking forward to reading/buying that one when I can.

    Thanks for sharing my discussion post <3

    Oh, and I think 10 books is still a really good amount! Especially if you were feeling ill. I hope you're fully recovered now :/

  17. Here I am, end of December, and I’m doing my November wrap up rounds 😀 hah. Oh well.

    You know, I also got All Systems Red last month! It was super cheap on Kindle. Can’t wait to read it!

    I was sick a biiiiig chunk of December… How I feel those feels!

    You randomize your challenge? xD That’s genius.. I also reached mine (100) just now, but I’m totally lowering this time. I don’t want to be stressed anymore.

  18. danielle hammelef

    I’m amazed at how much you do and you were sick. I’m looking forward to reading every single book you read in November, so since I haven’t started them yet, I’ll read your upcoming reviews to make my reading pile. Merry Christmas!

Leave a Reply