This week I actually requested a huge list of review books in order to write my ‘gift books for xmas 2013’ type posts. I don’t like asking for books but I really can’t afford to buy anything this year and I can write lovely things about them. The books go to a variety of sources after I’ve reviewed them. We do keep many of them (for now), but a lot go to various charities and good causes too. Next week may be heavy on the review books received front, then I need to write the posts!

I’ve been ill most of the week so not really got anything done. On Monday I went to a drop-in for parents with a friend of mine, which made me feel all buzzing after I processed it. I started writing a post but it fell apart. Maybe I will later.

I’ve been reading I Am Malala this week, not the ones I was reading last week. I really need to finish something I’ve started but my brain isn’t working. I think I will postpone The Dark Is Rising sequence until next year again. I do really need to read The Moon of Gomrath after re-reading The Weirdstone of Brisingamen recently. I think my reading will happen nearer xmas as I have to get too many reviews written first to concentrate on reading at the moment.

I read a great post on depression and how for the author depression took away her ability to read books, for someone who was a great reader. I can really relate to that. Okay, I’m a parent now and have less time but I used to read 100+ books a year with no problems and it went down to under 10 because of the depression, which is why I’m really working on getting what was my favourite hobby back now.

I guess I’m still permanently depressed, but not so much in the foggy depths that I lived in for years. It’s hard not to view everything through a foggy lens though.

My plan for a post a day in November failed early on, and I’ve now missed two days. I know it doesn’t matter, but it did for me so I am a bit sad.

New Picture Books read this week:

Books added to shelves: 5 review copies. 2 Bookstart (reception book pack) Cumulative: 452

Library books borrowed: 11  Cumulative: 154+

Books removed from shelves: none (but I have almost 50 sorted I really need to get out of the house!) Cumulative: 233

Challenge books read: The Arrival (Shaun Tan)

Year progress: 313/365 = 85.8%
Picture Book Challenge progress: 441/300 = 147.0%
50 Book Challenge / Read 52 progress: 54/52 = 103.8%

[Word count: 431; November word count: 4,584]