Novellas in November

Novellas in November is hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Rebecca of Bookish Beck.

There is a theme for each week to help us on the way. I will see how I manage since I do not usually read many novellas.

Week 1 (starts Wednesday 1 November): My Year in Novellas

During this partial week, tell us about any novellas you have read since last NovNov.

Week 2 (starts Monday 6 November): What Is a Novella?

Ponder the definition, list favourites, or choose ones you think best capture the ‘spirit’ of a novella.

Week 3 (starts Monday 13 November): Broadening My Horizons

Pick your top novellas in translation and think about new genres or authors you’ve been introduced to through novellas.

Week 4 (starts Monday 20 November): The Short and the Long of It

Pair a novella with a nonfiction book or novel that deals with similar themes or topics.

Week 5 (starts Monday 27 November): New to My TBR

In the last few days, talk about the novellas you’ve added to your TBR since the month began.

There is also two buddy read options this year, one contemporary and one classic. Please join in reading one or both at any time in November!

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo (2023) is on this year’s Booker Prize longlist; whether or not it advances to the shortlist on Thursday, it promises to be a one-of-a-kind debut novel about an eleven-year-old girl coming to terms with the loss of her mother and becoming deeply involved in the world of competitive squash.

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf (1929), an extended essay about the conditions necessary for women’s artistic achievement, is based on lectures she delivered at Cambridge’s women’s colleges. This feminist classic is in print or can be freely read online (Internet Archive or Project Gutenberg Canada).

What should I read?

I don't usual read many novellas, so must rely on my fellow bloggers to find a few good novellas. From Books Are My Favourite and Best I find a few interesting suggestions.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote (100pp) Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton (99pp) Eve in Hollywood by Amor Towles (91pp) Nostalgia Has Ruined My Life by Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle (76pp) Come Rain or Come Shine by Kazuo Ishiguro (78pp) The Forester’s Daughter by Claire Keegan (67pp)

From Greg and book vlog Supposedly Fun, Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith.

From Words&Peace, Jakob von Gunten by Robert Walser.

From my own TBR shelves I have few novellas, but I think that Doctor Copernicus by John Banville is rather short.

That will probably be more than enough for November, considering the German Literature Month, and hopefully, Nonfiction November. I have not yet seen anything about this year's event, but hope it will be continuing. In the meantime I will think about the weekly themes for the novellas.