Things I Loved in November and Looking Ahead
Monthly Recap | November 2023
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Table of Contents
Recommendations
Sadly, my reading mood has not been mood-ing. Though I’ve been thoroughly enjoying reading Never Let Me Go again (and annotating it beautifully for the first time), I haven’t really read much else this month. I’m fine with that, since I’ve decided my practice of simultaneously reading multiple books is unsustainable in the long run.
On that note, we made it through the book! I loved doing this slow read. There were some really good thoughts from all of you who joined in. I can’t wait to host another one hehe. This is a lovely way for me to share long-winded thoughts and discuss deep topics with you.
Since falling into another reading slump, I picked up a true crime book by Ann Rule, which at least got me out.
I also started reading the classic, How to Read a Book, which, wouldn’t you know it, says you ought to skim-read before doing a more careful reading. Is that where I got it from? I remember my mom making me read this and take notes when I was young. Maybe the idea got ingrained. However, it also recommends annotating all your books, which I have been highly against until only a couple years ago, so who knows?
My desire to watch anything has significantly decreased in the past couple of months. I had a Lord of the Rings extended edition marathon, but that’s it this month. There will always be time made for Lord of the Rings hehe. Elliot joined in this year and made me proud. These were some of his comments:
“Gandalf’s so cool.”
“(Gollum) needs a shirt.”
“I love this movie. This is my favourite movie.”
“Why doesn’t (Aragorn) say thank you (to Elrond) for the sword?”
Sold a Story. I listened to this podcast on the recommendation of a friend (thanks, Amanda!), and it talks all about the method schools have been using to teach children how to read. The podcast details the history of reading education, how it’s been incorporated into American school systems, and why these schools have not caught up with the science that reveals such methods are ineffective. With a five-year-old who just started kindergarten, I’ve been doing my own research so I can figure out how best to help him learn to read on his own. This podcast is informative, well-explained, and interesting.
Myths and Legends. Another recommended podcast. I’m enjoying listening to this one for the narrator’s dry sense of humour, and hearing stories from all over the world. This one is excellent to listen to with your children as well.
The Sower’s Song (Andrew Peterson). Yes, I am still obsessed with this song.
Who Needs Plot When You Have Vibes? I must have missed the train when this became a thing on TikTok. From my understanding, most readers still crave a well-written plot, something I have lamented as a writer who crafts characters and emotions well but lacks plotting abilities. Well, I’ll take this article as affirmation for my own style, and continue on in my vibes-with-no-plot stories.
Ghost Story. If you’ve walked into any bookstore in the last couple months, you may have noticed
(the writer, not the dame)’s memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful. I have been reading her essays on Substack, and they always leave me feeling all sorts of things. This one is no different.Build your kids’ libraries with these wonderful, beautiful books. Lately, I’ve been working with Elliot on reading. One of the things I really looked forward to in parenting was being able to share my favourite books with my children. I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to him last year, and now we are making our way through The Hobbit. Yes, he’s five.
‘No’ to Trans, ‘Yes’ to Gay Marriage: Will This Be the New Normal? An interesting look from a Christian perspective at the cultural narrative surrounding gender identity and sexuality.
i’m sorry, i’m sorry. a beautiful personal poem by chen chen about cultural struggles with his Chinese mother, what home means, and the pain of drawing boundaries with someone you deeply love but continually hurts you.
I’m Adopted. It was National Adoption Day on November 18. This heartfelt post by
, an adult adoptee, gives a glimpse of the trauma and healing process of adoption.The Unglamorous Reality of Anti Trafficking Work. A sobering but important read.