Reading Wrap-Up for November, 2021

November panned out to be a another great reading month for me! Not only was I able to tackle and finish an epic classic masterpiece, but I was also able to read a handful of novellas that ended up all being enjoyable reads. Here’s what I read during the month of November.

I managed to get War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy read this month. I thought I might end up needing to carry it over into December but I finished it! This is a phenomenal book, despite my aggravation with the epilogue. This book can feel intimidating but it truly is very readable and written well. You can read my full review of it HERE.

War and Peace was my major focused read for November. But I also decided to participate in Novellas in November hosted by Cathy at 746Books and Rebecca at Bookish Beck. I really enjoyed participating in this challenge and enjoyed all the novellas I read. Here are the ones I read:

I’d Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel was a re-read for me. It’s such a fun book and perfect for any time of the year! Anne’s writing is so personable. It’s like you’re sitting down having a cup of coffee with a bookish chum discussing all things literary. If you’re looking for a Christmas gift idea for your book-loving friends/family, this book is a great option! You can read my review HERE.

I was put on to The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald from Arti at Ripple Effects. I immediately checked my library to see if they had a copy. They only had it in audiobook, which is not my preferred format for fiction. But I went with it anyway as I do try to continue to work on my audiobook skills. I tend to get distracted very easily when listening to fiction on audiobook and end up missing stuff. I know I missed things when I listened to The Bookshop; but what I did pick up was lovely and I knew I wanted to read it in print. So I ordered the book and it is now sitting happily on my bookshelf for me to read. I will do a proper review of it once I read it in print.

I am a big Backman fan! So when I saw this novella, I immediately decided to read it for Literature in Translation week. This novella did not disappoint. The Deal of a Lifetime is a story about what is important in life. A story between a father and his son. A story about a girl who is fighting for her life. A story about love, forgiveness, and redemption. You can read the rest of my review HERE.

This was my second Edith Wharton title I’ve read. And to me, Ethan Frome had a similar tone to it as the other book I read The House of Mirth. As the novella begins, Ethan is giving a person a ride in his sleigh. The individual riding in Frome’s sleigh ends up taking us back in time and recounts Ethan’s story. We learn what has happened in his life and why he is where he is. It is a story of unfilled dreams; the struggle to eke out an existence when wrestling with loveless duty and forbidden emotions. Wharton’s prose in this novella is magnificent! You can read the rest of my review HERE.

I really enjoyed participating in Novellas in November and look forward to participating again next year!

Highlights from My Instagram

Simply click on the link to visit my Instagram post.

In Which I Shared About My Latest Book Haul

In Which I Talk About Tolstoy’s Digressions in War and Peace

I Shared Opening Lines from a Variety Books

I’m Linking My Post Up With….