Book Chick City: Month in Review: November '09

Month in Review: November '09

Tuesday, December 01, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

Can you believe it is December and Christmas is nearly upon us? The days are shorter, the winds are colder *hence why book chick needs her earmuffs!* I do love Christmas though! It's my favourite time of year (yes, I love it even more than Halloween!). I will be having a little 'Christmas Week' event where I will be reviewing Christmassy themed books and movies and I will also be having a few guests over for festive drinks and nibbles ;)

November was a good month, although not as jam-packed and eventful as October, but it was still pretty good. I started hosting my first reading challenges: The Anita Blake Challenge 2010 and the Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010. I also began a couple of new features: On My Wishlist and New Blogs on the Block. (See below for all links).

Unfortunately, I am failing miserably on all my reading challenges. I can't see me completing the ones that end this year :( Hopefully next year will be better. I have already seen three new challenges that I want to do, not sure I should be joining more, considering how badly I did this year, but I can't resist, they sound so good :)

New Moon was released this month (as if you didn't know!) and I went to see it with my mum (who's read all the books as well) and we loved it. To be honest, I just can't choose between Edward and Jacob, they are both adorably delicious and completely HOT! I thought the movie was actually better than Twilight and can't wait for Eclipse! What did you think of the movie? Did you like it? Which team are you on: Team Jacob or Team Edward... or like me, Team Jaward ;)

Anyway, on to November in review...

General Book Chick City News:

• Book Chick City was asked by J.Kaye to take over the Thriller & Suspense Challenge 2010, which I was *very* happy to do. I am also hosting The Anita Blake Challenge 2010 plus Contest (entire series up for grabs!). You can find out more about both challenges HERE.

• I set up a new feature called On My Wishlist. Thanks to all of you who follow this weekly event, it's been fun!

• Another feature I started was New Blogs on the Block. This is where I highlight new blogs (or blogs under 6 months, like me!). This month, the following fab blogs were featured:

- Fiction Vixen

- Jojo from Jojo's Book Corner

- Carla from The Crooked Shelf

- Mary from The Sweet Bookshelf

- Jenni from Falling off the Shelf

• I received a few blog awards during November. I've listed the lovely blogs and the awards they gave me below. Thanks so much guys - it's really nice of you to think of me :)

- Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog for the Heartfelt Award, One Lovely Blog Award and the Honest Scrap Award.

- Kindle Vixen for the One Lovely Blog Award and Kiss-Ass Blog Award.

- Cindy at Tynga's Reviews & Jackie at Literary Escapism for the Honest Scrap Award.

- Lily's Bookshelf & Sagi's Randomness for the Kiss-Ass Blog Award.

- Jen's Book Talk for the Kreativ Blogger Award.

- Ryan at Wordsmithonia for the Butterfly Award.

- Carla from The Crooked Shelf for the One Lovely Blog Award.

- J. Kaye for the Uplifting Blogger Award and Blog Addict Award.

To view all awards click HERE.

• I ran a Book Chick City survey. It's been very interesting reading and the majority of it has been really positive - phew ;) I will be sharing some of the thoughts that came out of the survey, letting you know what I will be changing (if anything) and what will remain the same. Thanks to all of you who took the time to do the survey, I really appreciate your input :)

• I can't quite believe it but I have just tipped over a 1000 followers on Twitter and over 400 on my blog, which is just amazing. Thank you so much to all who follow me, I really appreciate all the comments you leave and your support - it wouldn't be as much fun without you!

Books Read/Reviewed: 7

• The Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus

• Personal Demons by Stacia Kane

• Hell's Belles by Paul Magrs

• Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

• Bone Magic by Yasmine Galenorn (guest review)

• Retribution by Jeanne Stein

• Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista by Amy Silver (guest review)

Author Interviews/Guest Posts: 4

• Gabriel Madison - Guest Post

• Chloe Neill - Guest Post

• Paul Magrs - Interview

• Keri Arthur - Interview

Favourite Book Read This Month: Another tie this month - Hell's Belles by Paul Magrs & Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Reading Challenges 2009 - Progress Report:

- Suspense & Thriller Challenge: 2 read, 10/12 to go

- Sookie Stackhouse Challenge: not started, 9/9 to go

- Everything Austen: I watched, 4/5 to go

- Romance Reading Challenge: 3 read, 2/5 to go

- Guardian's 1000 Novel Challenge: not started, 10/10 to go

- Books vs Movie's Challenge: 1 read/watched, 4/5 to go

- Stephanie Plum Challenge: not started, 15/15 to go

- Lisa Jackson Challenge: not started, 25/25 to go

- 100+ Reading Challenge: 42 read, 58/100 to go

- L.J. Smith: The Vampire Diaries Challenge: not started, 5/5 to go

As always, a big thank you to all the publishers and authors who have sent me such wonderful books to review, you have been so generous. I will do my very best to read and review them all!

So, what was your month of November like?

Labels: Month in Review 2009

11 comments:

Melody said...: Looks like you've a great productive month in Nov! I'm just the opposite; I find that I read lesser books last month as compared to the other months, but it's ok with me. It must be the holiday mood, hehe.; 1 December 2009 05:52
Rachel said...: I loved the movie New Moon - I also thought it was better than Twilight and I even thought it was better than the book version of New Moon. Jacob was hot in the movie but I'm still on Team Edward!; 1 December 2009 07:05
Leontine said...: Wow, and there i thought I was busy! Your November month was packed and I hear you on the challenges. I only signed up for 2 but already falling behind on both of them and of course I had to enlist for two more which just sounded right up my alley.

I love your winter look BTW and look forward to what you have in store for us all in this month ;); 1 December 2009 09:33
Sandy Nawrot said...: Hey, I love the holiday motif on the Book Chick! I have to say that I'm enjoying the Twilight movies better than the books, by far. When I read the books, I was team Edward all the way. But NOW, after seeing the movie, I've changed my mind. If I had known Jacob was so luscious, I would have moved over to his side long ago. Sigh.; 1 December 2009 11:06
Lily Child said...: Wow! You have had a busy month! I think I enjoyed your reviews the most! :) That is an impressive amount of blog awards! Speaks highly of your blog! :); 1 December 2009 15:40
gapyeargirl123 said...: November was ok - unfortunately nano didn't go as well as I'd hoped, and other things have gone up and down.

Read a lot of good books that I need to get reviews done for. I don't know where to start!; 1 December 2009 17:25
J. Kaye said...: Holy cow! What a busy month!; 1 December 2009 17:37
Meg said...: November was a little jam-packed for me, too!

I definitely thought the movie version of "New Moon" was way better than the film version of "Twilight" and, like Rachel, I loved the movie way more than the book! Looking at the whole series, New Moon was probably my least favorite.

Jacob was ridiculously good looking in the film... I'm still on Team Edward, but I could definitely see the appeal of Jake in this one!; 1 December 2009 22:04
Alexia561 said...: Very impressive month! Can't get over how much you've accomplished! And I can't tell you how happy I am that I'm not the only one who will probably not complete all of her challenges. Not that I want you to fail miserably, but you know what they say about misery loving company! *L*; 2 December 2009 01:43
Fiction Vixen said...: You must be the busiest blogger I know! You had a great month BCC. :); 14 December 2009 18:46
Anna said...: You had a great month! Don't stress about the challenges. I think we all have good intentions when we sign up for them, and all we can do is try.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric; 17 December 2009 13:26