Novellas in November 2023
Today, I’m wrapping up my reading for Novellas in November 2023 hosted by Cathy @ 746 Books and Rebecca @ Bookish Beck. I read nine novellas and feel great about crossing some classics off my list. My favorite was Parnassus on Wheels. There was one on my novellas TBR that I didn’t get to and will save it for next year.
Did you read novellas in November?
Here’s What I Read
Do you notice one of your favorites?
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Passing by Nella Larsen 5 Stars
I’m happy to have finally read this classic!
The Levee by William Kent Krueger 3 Stars
This story was OK. Excellent writing (because Krueger) but I didn’t connect with the premise and characters as much as I anticipated. (audio format only)
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa 3.5 Stars
I always appreciate a diverse read and I enjoyed the cultural details, but this quietly written story didn’t especially engage me.
The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis 3 Stars
I think this unique story is a reread but I’m not sure if I ever finished it the first time. This is best read as part of a class or group discussion in my opinion because I felt like I missed a lot.
Delivering Christmas by Liz Fenwick 4 Stars
I enjoyed this engaging (contemporary) women’s fiction Christmas story as a welcome change of pace.
So Late in the Day (ARC) by Claire Keegan 3 Stars
This might have been my most disappointing read. I had high expectations after reading Foster and Small Things Like These last year. These short stories were bleak and I had difficulty connecting with them. Nevertheless, Keegan is an admired author and many of her fans might appreciate this short story collection.
Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morely 5 Stars
This might be my surprise read of the month! I quite enjoyed this quirky delightful classic! Have you read it? (only $.49 on Kindle!) I may read the sequel next November.
No Crocodiles in Lake Michigan by Pam Hubbard 4 Stars
This memoir was written by a childhood friend of mine and documents her work in Chicago with refugees (Lost Boys) from Sudan.
A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote 5 Stars
This poignant and beautifully illustrated classic about a grandmother and grandson was not on my original TBR but I’m thrilled to have discovered it!
I didn’t get to A Room of One’s Own and I’ll save it for next year.
Other Novellas
I greatly enjoy an occasional novella and find that a novella or short story provides a nice balance and palate cleanser between more dense reads. A few recent novellas I’ve read include Foster by Claire Keegan, Signal Moon by Kate Quinn, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, Maureen (ARC) by Rachel Joyce (spin-off of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry), A Vicarage Christmas, Christmas in Briarwood, Ethan Frome, A Single Rose, Open Water, The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, The House on Mango Street, Love & Saffron (stretching the definition at 206 pages), And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer, The Deal of a Lifetime (short story length), The Redhead By the Side of the Road, The Convenience Store Woman, Our Souls at Night, and 84 Charing Cross Road.
Related: Novellas in November 2022 Wrap-Up
Related: Novellas in November 2021 Wrap Up
QOTD:
Did you participate in Novellas in November?
Do you have a novella rec for me?
Do you have a favorite novella?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
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Sorry some of these fell a bit short for you, Carol. I have added a number of your recommendations to my reading list as I also use novellas as a palate cleanser. Thank you. 💕📚
With a few exceptions, this has been a meh year overall! I hope you find a wonderful novella to enjoy!
Hi, Carol – I read A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote this past month as well. Like you, I absolutely loved it and gave it a five-star review. This story was made especially meaningful for me as I had recently finished reading To Kill A Mockingbird (based on the same small town that Capote was writing about).
Oh, that is a great connection! I’m thrilled to hear we both loved it! Maybe I heard about it from you?
Hi, Carol – I’m not sure if I mentioned it to you in a comment, perhaps I did. I haven’t posted about it yet, that post comes in the middle of this month. Either way, I am delighted that you read and enjoyed it. It’s such a beautiful little book.
I would love to get a hardback copy!
It looks like you read some good novellas this month Carol. I want to check out the Truman Capote book, it sounds delightful. I also picked up a copy of Parnassus on Wheels. I have not heard of it, but am curious.
Parnassus is fun! A delightful surprise! I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Capot book is poignant and sweet.
***Capote***
[…] If you’d love to discover more books to read in one day, you might also enjoy my Novellas in November post here. […]
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