November has whizzed by for me – perhaps because I have been working from home, it has become so hard to tell one day from the next.
November is a month of reading challenges, there are a good number around to join in with – and I did fairly well with #MARM and Novellas in November and even got one in for Nonfiction November. Ten books read – which would have been more if I had stuck to my plan of just reading novellas – but of course I didn’t.
I started the month with the first of three books by Margaret Atwood. Surfacing was a re-read for me, though I remembered nothing about it. This is a novel about human behaviour, identity, personal and national, grief, loss and memory. I’m convinced that I appreciated this one so much more this time around.
The progress of a Crime by Julian Symons – a fireworks crime story sent to me by the British Library. I read it during the week of Fireworks night. There is little work for the armchair detective to do – but in the atmosphere of the early 1960s the conflict between different generations and its portrayal of police methods The Progress of a Crime paints a vivid picture.
My nod to Non-fiction November came in the shape of Popcorn by Cornelia Otis Skinner – a collection of autobiographical essays from the American actress and writer written during the Second Word War. A really enjoyable collection.
My first of two novellas in translation was A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein, a novel that is both heart-rending and brilliantly compelling at the same time. It is a novel about mothers and daughters, family secrets and the nature of belonging.
Turnpike books kindly sent me copies of the two Barbara Comyns books they have brought out. The House of Dolls – a more minor Comyns perhaps but I loved it. The setting is a small boarding house in Kensington, the house is run by Amy Doll – who lives in the basement of the house with her daughter Hetty. Upstairs reside four middle aged or elderly ladies who between them and under the direction of two; Berti and Evelyn have established an eccentric kind of bordello for elderly gentlemen – finding a little prostitution on the side really helps to pay the rent.
My second read for this year’s MARM was Moral Disorder – a collection of linked short stories – which could almost be read as a novel. The stories are of one woman told in non-chronological order the ups and downs of family life – from childhood through to late middle age. Through these stories it feels like Atwood is recounting the stories of a generation – her generation.
MaddAddam is a very different novel to the first two Atwood books I read this month, showing what huge versatility she has as a writer. The third in the trilogy of the same name – its conclusion gave me reason to hope.
I have had A Month in the Country by J L Carr tbr for a ridiculously long time. Novella November provided me with the perfect occasion to read it. It is, of course every bit as lovely as everyone said – review to come.
I read the The Barefoot Woman by Scholastique Mukasonga translated from French by Jordan Stump for Novellas in November but also with #DiverseDecember in Mind (see below) – as I knew I wouldn’t have time to review it in November. I was very aware I had been skirting around this Rwandan novella for ages – having received it as part of the Asymptote book club when I was subscribing to that. There is a privilege in that choice to look away – which I am aware of – so decided to take a deep breath and get reading. It’s a poignant novel certainly, but nothing like as harrowing as I had feared. I hope to revie this later this week.
My second re-read of the month – The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, my book group’s December pick, and it’s been quite a while since I read it so read it again so I could talk about it. I am remined that there are quite a number of Edith Wharton books I haven’t even read for the first time.
So, that was November – a good month all in all.
Yet another reading challenge caught my eye last week. Naomi from The Writes of Womxn is hosting #DiverseDecember – and I probably had intended to read more diversely than I have managed this year so it struck a chord. As Naomi explains…
“#DiverseDecember is a month of reading and recommending books by Black, brown and indigenous writers. It is an opportunity to discover new books, to consider our reading habits and to make a permanent change in what we choose to read.”
Already this year I have encountered some wonderful books that would fit into the category above. Titles like The Vanishing Half, Queenie, Such a Fun Age, Quicksand & Passing, Brown Girl, Brownstones, Celestial Bodies and Dust Tracks on a Road – any of which I would recommend if you’re looking for #DiverseDecember inspiration. So, scanning my shelves (and my kindle) I realised I had quite a pile of really marvellous looking books – and quite a diverse group in themselves.
The problem I shall have is in choosing which to read – as I can’t possibly read them all. Here’s my pile (in addition my kindle contains The Distant Traveller by Attia Hosain, Mr Loverman by Bernadine Evaristo and The Enlightenment of the Greenage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar)
Do you have any recommendations from the pile?
As always I would love to know what you have been reading in November and what if any plans you have for December.
Such varied reads in November and December looks like it will be so as well. A Girl Returned was so good, I’m pleased to have come across this author.
I’ve only read one book on your pile, the Elif Shafak, I have that Jackie Kay to read and I see her Bessie Smith book is being republished which is love to read, after reading Bernice McFadden’s The Book of Harlan earlier this year. There are so many great books that might be considered “diverse”, reading and making choices with awareness is a form of passive activisim readers can participate in and enjoy.
I like that idea of passive activism. I haven’t heard of Jackie Kay’s Bessie Smith book, that will be one to look out for.
I can see a Dorothy West in your pile. The Wedding is making its way to the top of my TBR thanks to your recommendation. May I give you a gentle push towards Mr Loverman…
I am looking forward to Mr Loverman so many people rate it highly.
The only one of those I have read is A Month in the Country. It has such a quiet beauty to it.
A quiet beauty is exactly right.
A good reading month and I am looking forward to your review of A Month in the Country, which I also somehow haven’t read!
Thank you for alerting me to DiverseDecember, I have picked myself a couple of novels plus two books I’m reading at the moment. I would give you a gentle push towards Mr Loverman, too!
Posting reviews completely out of order at the moment so not sure when I’ll be reviewing A Month in the Country, fairly soon though. It’s a lovely little novella.
I’m glad November ended up being a good reading month for you. You’ve got some very tempting reads for December too, I’d have a difficult time picking from that group.
It was a good month. Yes, I seem to have acquired quite a good selection there.
I’m a fan of Margaret Atwood and other authors on your book covers.
Margaret Atwood is great, glad you are a fan.
I’m so glad you enjoyed A Month in the Country, a book that would stand up to repeated readings in spite of its brevity. It really is quite magical! And you’ve done very well with the diversity of your reading this year, particularly given the quality of the books in your list of recommendations. The Vanishing Half seems to have generated quite a bit of excitement since it came out, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see more readers picking it up in December…
I remember how highly you rated A Month in the Country, it is a lovely book, so glad I finally got around to it.
What a lovely reading month, Ali and such a range of books – well done! like Jacqui I’m so glad you loved A Month in the Country! Diverse December sounds like a wonderful project – I don’t know if I’ll get to take part but if it fits in with my mood, I will! 😀
Yes, I am all for going with what our mood dictates. I will certainly need to read other things than just from that pile.
I also enjoyed A Month in the Country this month, a re-read for me and it was even better than I remembered, a story to savor. Also in November, standout titles for me include Whisky Galore, my first read by Compton Mackenzie, and and The Spare Room by Helen Garner. As for books on the pile, I Know How the Caged Bird Sings is unforgettable. Maya Angelou was a remarkable writer.
Yes A Month in the Country is a story to savor, it has a quiet delicacy that I appreciated. I remember reading The Spare Room a few years ago. The Maya Angelou would be a re-read for me, I have forgotten a lot about it.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is absolutely wonderful, but it will tie you in to reading the next 4 (?) which are just as good! I read A Month in the Country this year too and like everyone else loved it!!
It’s lovely to see so many people thoroughly enjoying A Month in the Country, it’s had a lot of love lately.
I’ve enjoyed the Shafak, Hurston, Manto and West in your stack. Diverse December isn’t something that’s come up in my feed, but it sounds like a good event to draw attention to titles/authors that are neglected/overlooked. You triple-MARMed. If only I’d’ve arranged those BINGO squares differently you’d’ve had a line or column for sure! *chuckles* But of course that’s not the point. Events are just great for encouraging us to do what we already wanted to do anyhow!
Yes, I love the way reading challenges somehow point us in the direction of things we really want to read. MARM worked out perfectly for me.
I’ve heard good things about Maya Angelou’s writing…
Yes, I remember little about it, but I would love to read more by her, so will start (at some point) with a re-read of this one.
Every time I read The House of Mirth I hope that it will end differently. Alas, it never does.
Oh gosh yes, I felt just like that. Poor Lily.