What I read in November

Discovering changes in reading taste

Readers, I feel at a crossroads in my reading life. Like most things in life, our tastes and preferences evolve as we age, experience new things, and change as people. I feel like I'm in a moment of transition with my reading taste (and have been for a few months!). At first, I thought it was a reading slump, but then I realized that some of my reading preferences had changed. This has happened in small ways over the last six years that I've been part of the online bookish world, but this iteration feels bigger than in the past.

november reads

I can't pinpoint it quite yet, but after feeling this shift for a few months, I decided to lean into some genres I know and love but also branch out a bit to get out of my comfort zone to see what grabbed me. It brought some fantastic reads and some middle-of-the-road reads. I can't say this was my best reading month, but I'm grateful for the exploration and discovery.

Here are the seven books I read this month and some brief thoughts on them.

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The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir | Literary fiction | Liked it

I enjoyed this debut novel about Sal, a young journalist investigating the life of a lauded literary figure after his death. What I loved most was Weir’s writing and how she dove deeply into the character’s back story. Through Sal, she takes us on a journey into decades past to understand the history of many of the key characters. Getting oriented with switching perspectives takes a bit, but once you’re situated, it’s a rich story. My only critique is that this is billed as a literary mystery, and I didn’t get that sense so much. So I kept waiting for a twist that didn’t really come.

The Book of George by Kate Greathead | Literary fiction | Really liked it

Kate Greathead’s books are great. I love her writing and the tone she strikes (it often reminds me of Katherine Heiny). In this novel, we meet George, a man-child who has been coddled his whole life and, thus, has little drive or motivation as an adult. We all know a George. He is infuriating one moment but then redeems himself in the right moments; he’s sneaky in that way. I found this novel to be a fascinating study of a male character. I was deeply impressed with how Greathead took the reader on a journey with this unlikable but slightly lovable character.

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy | Literary fiction | Liked it

I listened to this one on audio and found it quick, cozy, and heartwarming. It’s the story of an older woman who finds an unlikely community when a stray mouse moves into her house. This book falls into the category of “life-affirming” reads (perhaps too much, at moments), and it gave me a new perspective on aging and how we view and treat aging adults in our society.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell | Middle grade | Liked it

I picked this one up after my husband read it and raved about it! I’m glad I dipped my toe into a genre that I’m less familiar with. Though the story never quite caught me — I wanted more depth, humor, and tension — I think it’s a fantastic and imaginative book for young readers or folks who love middle-grade fiction.

Calm Christmas by Beth Kempton | Nonfiction | Loved it

I already sang this book’s praises. I loved it and haven’t stopped thinking about it or recommending it!

A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn | Holiday | Really liked it

What a delightful, warm, and witty entry into the holiday books genre! I thoroughly enjoyed this one and loved how Hahn seamlessly blended a more literary style with a holiday read. Mel and Henry, our main love interests, were a complete delight. I liked that the story focused more on Mel’s relationship with her mother than being a straight romance.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar | Literary fiction | Loved it

After so many readers I trust told me to read this book, I finally did! I decided to start reading it this month (alongside

Petya K. Grady

!) as one of the “books to read by the end of the year.” I always delight in reading a novel by a poet, and Akbar’s writing is clever, warm, and beautiful. As challenging as Cyrus can be in moments, I found him so endearing. This book contemplates death from many angles, but it left me feeling hopeful in the end, even after bringing me to some low points. I also loved that the story shifted perspectives and timelines to get a richer story of the world in which Cyrus lives. It is a fantastic book, and I cannot wait to read more from Akbar.

Have you read any of these? I’d love to know what you think! Or, what was your favorite book this month?

What I read in October

What I read in September

‘Til next time,