Hi all! 

Welcome to my November 2018 Reading Wrap-Up! Unlike October, I enjoyed every book I read this month. I also finally emerged from my reading slump, becoming excited about books again. Without further ado, here is what I read and what I thought! 

1.) A VERY LARGE EXPANSE OF SEA BY TAHEREH MAFI (PHYSICAL BOOK) – SASSY BOOK CLUB PICK FOR NOVEMBER 2018

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PLOT: This was our Sassy Book Club pick for November. It’s 2002, a year after 9/11, and Shirin has just started at yet another new high school. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for a teenage Muslim girl, who’s tired of being stereotyped. Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments and the physical violence she endures, as a result of her race/religion. Shirin drowns her frustrations in music, spending her afternoons break-dancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever, who really seems to want to get to know her. They come from two irreconcilable worlds and Shirin has had her guard up against the world for so long, she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.

MINI REVIEW: This was my first Tahereh Mafi book and it won’t be the last. Her writing is so raw, real and full of emotion. I loved her own voices representation, of what it felt like to be a Muslim girl, living in a world post 9/11. Shirin faces so much adversity and racism, due to her wearing a hijab at school. She is automatically judged as a person who hates America and as a potential terrorist. There were many times I gasped out loud at the outward hate and abuse she received. The romance was beautiful, the life lessons impactful, and the messages clear. Everyone should read this book. I highly recommend it. 

RATING: I gave it 4.5/5 stars.

2.) ANIMAL FARM BY GEORGE ORWELL (E-BOOK) – MONTHLY CLASSIC PICK FOR NOVEMBER 2018

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PLOT: ‘All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.’

Mr. Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day, he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs: Napoleon and Snowball, leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm, is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges… 

MINI REVIEW: Initially, my November Classic was A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. However, I had already read two of his works this year and needed a break, so I picked up Animal Farm instead. I’m very happy I did, because I really liked it. It was a short, yet deep story. Orwell based a lot of it off the Russian Revolution, sending up communist leaders like Stalin and Lenin, in the guise of horses and pigs. It was so well written and clever. Even animals can become corrupt, when put in positions of political power. If you’re new to classics, I would recommend this book. It’s easy to understand and enjoyable.

RATING: I gave it 4/5 stars.

3.) GHOSTS OF THE SHADOW MARKET (NOVELLA BIND-UP) BY CASSANDRA CLARE (KINDLE BOOK)

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PLOT: The Shadow Market is a meeting point for faeries, werewolves, warlocks, and vampires. There, the Downworlders buy and sell magical objects, make dark bargains, and whisper secrets they do not want the Nephilim to know. Through two centuries however, there has been a frequent visitor to the Shadow Market from the City of Bones. As a Silent Brother, Brother Zachariah is a sworn keeper of the laws and lore of the Nephilim. But once, he was a Shadowhunter called Jem Carstairs; with a love for warlock, Tessa Gray. Jem is searching through the Shadow Markets, for a relic from his past. In the Market, is hidden a lost heir and a beloved ghost, and no one can save you, once you have traded away your heart. Not even Brother Zachariah.

MINI REVIEW: Similar to The Bane Chronicles and Shadowhunter Academy, Ghost of the Shadow Market is a novella bind-up, where one new story is released per month, taking place within the Shadowhunter world. Every single one is written by Cassandra Clare, plus one co-author. I liked all of the stories, but the ones that stood out were: Cast Long Shadows, Learn About Love and Through Blood, Through Fire. You don’t need to read any of them, but they do provide insight into future books. The physical copy contains bonus stories.

RATING: I gave it 4/5 stars.

I hope you enjoyed this wrap-up! Let me know your favourite read of November and what is on your TBR for December. 

Peace & Love xoxo