November has to be the busiest month for book bloggers with Novellas in November, Non Fiction November and German Literature Month all vying for our attention. I’ve taken a keen interest in the first two of these reading events in previous years, but this year I just couldn’t get in the right mood.
I did read two novellas by the French author Hubert Mingarelli but I never got around to writing my reviews. And I managed only one post for Non Fiction November. Not to worry, there were plenty of other bloggers who were much more organised than I was so I just contented myself with reading all their posts. And, of course, picking up recommendations of books and authors to explore.
I might have scored myself a fail with those events but I find reasons to celebrate elsewhere in my book corner.
Celebration #1
It was a mammoth effort but I did manage to get through all 900+ pages of my Classics Club book with one day to spare. Armadale by Wilkie Collins was readable just not as riveting as I’d hoped and nowhere as good as The Woman In White. The beginning was promising, featuring a man’s death bed confession to murder and a story of stolen identity. But it then got bogged down in a lot of detail and I kept losing track of the characters and their relationships.
Celebration #2
Two more squares have now been completed on my Wanderlust Bingo card. I ticked off the Polar Regions square by reading Land of Snow And Ashes by Petra Rautiainen (reviewed here ) which is set in the Lapland region of Finland) and Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates meant I could also claim the “Road” square. So that means there are just three left to complete.
It’s been a tough challenge and it’s taken me a lot longer than expected so I probably won’t do it again. I still want to continue reading more widely around the world so am thinking about a completely different project for next year. My working title is Adventures in Africa and is an idea triggered by a post from Hoplwellslibriaryoflife where she did a top ten list of novels set in African nations. Ideally I want to read authors from each of the 53 nation states rather than just novels set in the country but I think that will be impossible for some of the nations. Stay tuned for more details next month.
Celebration #3
Ever since I saw my first photo of a Christmas tree constructed from books, I’ve been curious how this was done. I finally got to find out in November when I helped decorate a National Trust property where I volunteer. After making garlands for the garden and wrapping fake gift boxes two of us were let loose on the book tree.
It’s a lot more difficult than it looks. The arrangement might look random but we had to re-arrange the books several times because we had too many red ones together or we had gaps that could only be filled by taking books from other sections. Of course, the whole job would have gone much quicker if we hadn’t kept pausing to read the titles on each book we picked up……..
The overall effect was good and the tree is still standing intact. This is how it looked before we started weaving some tiny lights into the gaps.
Celebration #4
My backlog of unread books is slowly inching down thanks to a combination of two things:
- Using my Sample Sunday strategy to let go of books that have lost their appeal
- Making more of an effort to read the books i already own. This year I set a 23in23 goal to read 23 books from my TBR during the year. To qualify, I had to have acquired the book before 2023. So far I’m at 19, so not quite a victory but certainly a step in the right direction. Of course, the goal gets harder each year —next year I have to read 24……
Books Read November 2023
- Four Soldiers by Hubert Mingarelli: a short tale of friendship between four Red Army soldiers. During a lull in fighting, they grasp every moment that will help them forget the horrors that lie ahead
- The Invisible Land by Huburt Mingarelli: a tender story of a war photographer adrift at the cessation of hostilities. As other members of the press corps . Unlike other members of the press corp he is not yet ready to return home, so sets out to photograph ordinary German people in front of their homes.
- The Undertaking by Audrey Magee: the consequences of war as seen through the eyes of two ordinary people who marry in extraordinary circumstances
- Armadale by Wilkie Collins: nineteenth century sensationalist novel where the plot revolves around a stolen identity
- Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny: book four in the Chief Inspector Gamache series set in Canada. The plot revolves around a dysfunctional wealthy family taking a holiday at a secluded country hotel
- Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates: superb character study of a couple who feel stifled by their mundane existence. Their decision to change their lives has far reaching tragic consequences
That’s November done and dusted. i wonder what December will bring. Dare I hope for some more books to add to my shelves???? I’ve cleared space in eager anticipation…..
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