The penultimate reading month of the year, obviously, and also the ultimate reading post of the year, because my December reading will not be organized into a post until sometime in 2022!
But one month, one year at a time, right? Let’s not rush away these last two weeks of the year any more quickly than they’re already rushing on their own! Instead, we can look backwards just a bit to what I read in November, half the month in Europe, the other half back here at home.
As with my October reading, I was not very good at keeping up my reading journal as I moved from book to book, and instead found myself trying to remember something about each book days or weeks after reading it. . . By the end of the month, though, I was almost caught up, and I’m hoping to re-set some useful patterns in the new year.
November’s Reading, notes transcribed from my Reading Journal pages where titles are numbered (for easier retrieval) from the beginning of the year.
77. A Tiding of Magpies. Steve Burrows. Mystery; Police Procedural; Birder Murder Series; Set in England; Birding. Immigration.
Still late catching up here and I’m writing this December 1st, so details lost (and ebook borrowed from VPL long since disappeared from my Kobo reader). . . . But this is another satisfying title in The Birder Murder Series, the Norfolk setting well-drawn, characters continue to develop. Context includes anti-immigrant (Polish) politics in Britain. . . . A renewed threat to Lindy, Dominic’s girlfriend, and he has to make some tough decisions.
I read the first two of this series back in 2016 and that year-end post says a few words and includes a link to a few more. I read volumes three and four in the series the next year, but don’t seem to have recorded anything but author and title in my 2017 reading list. I’ve enjoyed them all.
78. Silent Voices. Anne Cleeves. Mystery; Police Procedural; Vera Stanhope series; set in England; strong female protagonist.
Another Vera Stanhope mystery, and this one involves heavy rainfall and dangerous flooding with roads impassable and communities cut off. Too much like what’s happening here right now!
I find Vera’s self-image painful to read, sometimes, her conviction of her own undesirability, the longing she sometimes admits to herself for the romantic connections, the family lives, she sees around her.
This title focuses on women and children, on Social Services, on media and gossip and life in small communities, class, love gone wrong . . .
I began reading the Vera Stanhope series last year and have enjoyed each volume so far.
79. Seating Arrangements. Maggie Shipstead. Literary fiction; Social satire; Comedy of Manners; Set on New England island; Wedding, Family, Marriage.
Social satire, comedy of manners — Wedding on a New England island, summer place of Winn Van Meter, father of the bride (one of his two daughters). Winn puts so much stock in his idea of an appearance of “old money,” of discreet wealth and social connections, which for him tracks back to a father who withheld approval — and Winn’s pride in having belonged to a college club he assumed his father envied his membership in. His present-day obsession with membership in an island golf club connects with resentments and rejection and his own bad bnehaviour from back during those college days . . . and then a couple of generations before that to a secret that shocked him long ago, that he’s guarded closely ever since it was revealed to him.
Wedding preparations set Winn up as a man (husband, father) beleaguered in a houseful of women — the temptation, particularly, of one of his daughter’s best friends . . . and the inability/unwillingness of his younger daughter to move on from a traumatic break-up (for which Winn so far has not had much tolerance or empathy).
Some very funny scenes and also some very painful ones (a few, literally . . . ) And men don’t come off particularly well here, or perhaps it’s more fair to speak of the white upper-class patriarchy . . . But there are a few balancing examples and enough compassion for human frailty.
I enjoyed this very much (read on a plane and on several trains and a few hotel rooms, Paris, Turin, Rome . . . ). Thanks to Suon for bringing Maggie Shipstead to my attention with a post about her latest book Astonish Me. I’m looking forward to reading that title soon.
80. Une Ritornelle ne fait pas le printemps. Philippe Georget. French; Roman policier; Mystery; Police Procedural; Gilles Sebag series; set in Perpignan, France.
Last in the series I’m going to call “Les Quatre Saisons” — featuring Lieutenant Gilles Sebag of the Perpignan police. Each of the four volumes has a title that refers to a season, and for this volume, the title does so via a proverb: A (single) swallow does not make the Spring.
I’m sorry to see this series (presumably? there are no more seasons for more titles) end — Sebag’s relationship with his family, his unwillingness to be promoted because it would compromise his family life, and I really like the descriptions of Perpignan and the Catalan culture.
In this volume (not yet available in an English translation), I especially liked Sebag’s interactions with a homeless man known as The Library . . . also the Catalan Catholic rituals/procession for Holy Friday. . . . more difficult was the unpleasant topic of pederasty, of secrets protected for decades and generations.
I see that I first mentioned the series back in February 2019 after reading Summertime: All the Cats Are Bored in English. And by January 2020, when I posted my 2019 Reading List, I’d found and finished reading French copies of Les violents d’automne and Les méfaits d’hiver. I believe the latter two have also been translated into English. I think you might like them! I certainly did.
81. Hamnet. Maggie O’Farrell. Literary fiction; Historical fiction; Shakespeare; late 16th-century England; Strong female protagonist.
I’ve seen this book recommended so many times and finally got tired of waiting for a copy from Vancouver Public Library — the wait list is SO long! And I can see why — this one lives up to all the recommendations.
The setting of Stratford in the late 16th century is convincingly drawn, so that we’re drawn right into it, thoroughly invested. O’Farrell imagines Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (about whom not much is known) as a splendid character — strong, creative, passionate and practical, unconcerned about what others think of her unconventional ways. And she’s inherited wisdom (or magic) tied to the earth from her mother.
But not enough to save her son, Hamnet, (a name that was, apparently interchangeable at the time, with the name “Hamlet”) from the bubonic plague. After his death, she and Will never really overcome the rift between them. Will’s moved to Stratford to pursue his interest in theatre, in writing, at her encouragement, but evidently likes it too much — and family needs make it more difficult than they’d imagined to relocate together. And his absence during the illness, death, and ensuing, prolonged grief nearly shatters Anne. . .
So much about love and family, passion, work, grief, in this novel. It stretches the little we know about Shakespeare’s home and family life but O’Farrell imbues her fiction with so much truth and wise, wise observation and insight.
Now to read more of her backlist! I wrote about her very good Instructions for a Heat Wave in my October reading post.
And my only October reading post on my Instagram Books account (shame on me! The only one for a month?!) refers to Hamnet, although really just features my new Kobo (not an ad, just an update).
If, like me two months ago, you still haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it. Maybe ask Santa for a copy?
I know you’re all very busy now, but if you have a minute, I’d love to know what you’re reading. . . or whether you’ve read any of the books in today’s post . . . or even what book you’d recommend giving as a Christmas book . . . and which one you’re hoping to receive. . . Comments are open now. . .
happy reading,
Frances
I’ve read (and loved) all of the Vera Stanhope books, as well as the next series featuring Jimmy Perez. I’ve also recently read all of the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J. K. Rowling)… so much so that I’ve purchased the series for my daughter for Christmas! Also recently read and enjoyed The Reading List by Sara Niagara Adams and This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel.
I’ve just downloaded Seating Arrangements from my library app based on your comments, and looking forward to reading!
Author
Some good suggestions here (I’ve watched the Jimmy Perez series but not read any of it).
I just quickly looked up The Reading List and This Is How It Always Is — both appealing for different reasons.
Hope you enjoy Seating Arrangements
I’ve read all of the Ann Cleeves’ books. I do get impatient with Vera because she does not see her own worth. I love the Brenda Blethyn interpretation. When I saw Ann Cleeves at an event, she said that she now pictures Brenda as Vera.
Author
And I’ve never seen the series! I think I’ll wait until I’m finished the books. . . .So far, Brenda Blethyn is not the way I picture Vera, but if it works for Ann Cleeves, who am I to argue? (well, the reader, is who I am, so for now I’ll just stick with my own imaginings 😉
I am new to your newsletter, and I am enjoying it. I love your posts about books read. I have read all of Ann Cleeves books, and love them. My weakness where books are concerned, mysteries, set in Europe, particularly Britain. It was home for many years, maybe that’s why. It am eagerly writing down the books you have recommended to add to my ever growing to read list! Thank you, love your newsletter.
Author
Oh, I’m so pleased to know you like the posts! Thanks for letting me know.
And as you’ll see, I’m partial to mysteries as well! 😉
So glad you enjoyed Seating Arrangements. Maggie Shipstead is gifted writer and I’ve enjoyed all her books. I can also count on you for good recommendations. Just started Standard Deviation on your advice.
Author
Hope you like it (actually, I’m fairly confident, as we seem to enjoy many books in common).
Meanwhile, I’ve just got Astonish Me from the library — not sure how I’m going to work it in to the stack that has to be read and returned this month, but I just saw your pile on Instagram and if you can do it. . . . Ha!
I’ve read three of the Four Seasons series , on your recommendation, & really enjoyed them . I’ll have to keep my eye open for the latest to come out in English . My terrible schoolgirl French has withered away completely now . I can recommend a couple of quirky murder mysteries I read recently . The Appeal by Janice Hallett is comprised of emails between the characters which sounds odd but it worked well . The other is Design for Dying by Renee Patrick , a murder mystery set in 1930s Hollywood . Edith Head is a main character , so lots of clothes references plus some major old film stars have walk on parts . It had a real feel for the period . I made my Xmas book wish list ages ago & can’t remember my choices now so it will be quite exciting .
Author
Aren’t those Gilles Sebag mysteries good? I didn’t realize you’d been reading them, and I’m happy to know you like them as well.
I’ve just begun, on your recommendation, Emma Smith’s memoir — thank you! I’ll check our library for those murder mysteries.
I have been winnowing the bookshelves in preparation for Christmas gifts, digging out books that I won’t read again. As a consequence, I found myself re-reading and finding that there were mixed results. Some I couldn’t finish, filling me with world-weariness. Others I really loved. I am working my way through Bleak House for the first time in many years and enjoying it greatly. Emma – an edition from 1972 – is off to the charity shop. While I still think this is her greatest novel, I dislike it now, feeling tired of all the restrained acidity. These past two years have made me realise that just hanging onto books for old time’s sake is a waste of space, sapping my energy every time I look at them. Besides, someone might just be desperate to read my cast-offs. Tastes change. I think I will be contacted by the Home Office soon, wanting to verify my actual citizen status – don’t like the Brontes?! Don’t like Austen?! Disputing the queenship of Agatha Christie?! Well…yes…
I hope you get a pile of fine reading for Christmas, to help the darker months to pass.
Author
You’ve sent me back through my blog archives to discover when it was I read Bleak House: in the summer of 2008, apparently, and I liked it very much, although so far, in the interim, that Signet Classic has set on the shelf completely undisturbed.
I’m surprised how much my bookshelves have collected since that rather severe culling of two years ago. Maybe your comment will inspire me to shift some books up the street to the secondhand shop. . .
Or perhaps inertia will prevail. . .
I wish you the same re Christmas reading — it seems a very good wish for Solstice, truly.
Natalia Ginzburg.
In translation for now, as I don’t want to miss a word. (Although I have read her poetry in Italian and I am comfortable doing that, prose is a bit trickier to me. I try to read too quickly maybe?) I’ll give you the names of what I’m reading so far in Italian though as the translations through the years have differen titles: Novels – È stato così, Lessico famigliare, Caro Michele and essays – Le piccole virtù.
I need to take her in small doses though, I’m not overly emotional but her work is very, very moving.
Author
Hmmm, I’d say this is an inspiring commitment, but I’m perhaps too lazy to do anything other than admire for now. And wait to hear your report. In the Italian Book Club, we’ve been reading excerpts (in the original Italian) from the female winners of the Strega throughout the years. We missed out on Ginzburg, though, and I think our facilitator has decided to go with lighter/easier choices next term. An English translation would be very welcome!
For a number of years I enjoyed the Vera series on TV but only recently got around to reading the books. I think I mentioned in a last post abut my reading this series and I have also read some of Anne Cleeve’s other series as well. I do really like them and pleased there are still more to encounter. I agree that Hamnet was a beautiful book. That series by Steven Borrows seems the kind of book that is kind of my sweet spot for a cold winter’s reading night. My daughter has just passed along a book to me that I am finding hard to put down. It’s the Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Kind of two books in one, and actually I am still reading it. part your country manor mystery set in the 50’s, the other a modern crime, or so it seems to be. Time to get get back!
Always enjoy your reading posts.
Author
I read Magpie Murders last December and found it perfect for some winter armchair reading, cleverly structured with that “book within a book.” I’ll let you get back to your reading now 😉
So glad you liked Hamnet! My favorite book that I’ve read recently.
Have you ever read George Saunders? Lincoln in the Bardo is spectacular, and Tenth of December is wonderful a collection of short stories.
As to what I’m hoping to read: I’m on the library waitlist for Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead.
Author
I did read Lincoln in the Bardo and I agree with you that it’s spectacular. I wrote a bit about it in this post. Haven’t read the short stories.
One of my daughters just read Harlem Shuffle; I haven’t yet. So many good books. . . .
I loved Hamnet. One of the best books from last year. I have heard from a former student that George Saunders is a fabulous writing teacher – kind and useful. I bought, but have not yet read his “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain”. But I have not been able to get into George Saunders novels or short stories. I have tried.
Most writers I know do love “Lincoln in the Bardo.” But also a few hated it.
So many other great novels and memoirs to read.
I recommend Anthony’s Marra’s A Constellation of Vital Phenomena” – a original, brilliant, and moving novel about Chechnya. The title comes from a Russian definition of life.
I’ve read all of Ann Cleeves books love her books very much
Steve Burrows is among the favourites,too
Hamnet is one of the best books I’ve read indeed
Some of my books from last month:
Elaine N. Aron’s Highly Sensitive Person was published in 1996.,my copy was with author’s addition for 25th anniversary. I’ve heard about it on Vera’s You Tube channel Simple Happy Zen (I recommend her chanel, too).It is very interesting book about 30-40% of population who are so talented,sensible and gifted,but,in our busy world, their light can be muted. Highly recommend (maybe not for Christmas,as well as the other two),I’ve liked it very much
The other two books were quite similar one to another,but also very different (if it makes sense at all)
Patricia Lockwood’s No One Is Talking About This was The Booker Prize finalist. The book has two parts: first one is situated in chaotic world of “portal”, as the main character call it .I’ve struggled with the first part and the new age Ionesco like apsurdity of non-stop being online,especially on Twitter (The author is often described as “the poet laureate of Twitter”)brain worm and “inside ” jokes. I’m not on Twitter,so ,it was difficult.The part two is where the real life happens,family crisis,tragedy,written poetically about, even so that I immediately after I finished,wanted to start over with Part One (but I didn’t)
Instead,I went for Ane Riel’s Resin, a Danish author , this book got a lot of prizes,scandinavian,as well as world wide,as in crime genre. For me,it is more psychological drama with elements of grotesque….. Well,it is deeply disturbing and creepy,describing changes from deep feelings into mental disease happening pretty quickly,showing how love could change in fear and horror. But,she writes so beautifully….
I’m so done with dark,dark books and stories and am faithfully back to my Reginald Hill and something lovely and cosy
Dottoressa
Author
Thanks, as always, for your comment, although you always have me adding to my TBR list. But Elaine N. Aron’s books sounds like something I need to read. The description reminds me of how much Susan Cain’s book Quiet helped me better understand my own introvert self.
I will note the other two books, the fiction, but might be reaching for something cosier myself, instead. I keep thinking that someday I will read right through Reginald Hill again, start to finish, back to back. Ah, Wieldy . . .
Yes,Wieldy….
I’ll check Susan Cain’s book as well (after detox from difficult books-although Aron is not difficult and is very interesting indeed)
D.
I am curious about what Kobo you got, if you don’t mind sharing. I need to replace a very old Kindle at some point and it would facilitate getting e-books from the library (although, to be honest, I’ve been yearning for paper books and have been reading print more lately).
I love your reading lists although I end up feeling a bit like a slug given that my reading progresses slowly these days. That said, I’m still working full time and have work reading obligations, so I’m pretty tired by the end of the day. Sad but true.
Right now I’m reading Karl Ove Knausgaard’s The Morning Star and it is hitting the spot. His writing always connects with the way that I consider life in extreme detail.
I have Hamnet (and Judith) on my shelf, as it was a birthday gift. I keep on meaning to pick it up, although when I am in a fugue state, such as I am now, I often want to go back to “old” titles. I might pick up something that has been sitting on the shelf much longer next, or go to something obscure and classic…or just obscure. That may be aligned with the way the world is making me want to crawl into a hole or a warm, cozy cave for a while.
I was interested to read the reference to Natalia Ginzburg by a reader above. I have Lessico Familiare and started it a many years back, but only got through the first few pages before stopping. My Italian is certainly much better now and so that might be one to pick up again. I got my copy in Italy and I love printed books from Italy – something about the layout/presentation is so appealing.
Always interested to hear about police procedurals and mysteries – have never read any….may be time to start.
Author
I got the Libra H2O — my bit of research a few months ago suggested it was the best value for the money — there are less expensive models but this has a few more features without my paying for the features I don’t need, as I would for the higher-priced models. So far, it’s synch-ing very well with my library, which is very important for me.
I got to the penultimate volume of Knausgaard’s autoab and then lost the will to continue, daunted by reports of those 50+ Hitler-focused pages. I will get to that volume eventually, and I’m with you in connecting to that detailed observation.
The best of the mystery genre, to me, entertains (setting, character, plot, dialogue) while also offering trenchant observations about the human condition and something about epistemology and hermeneutics, if I can pull out the stops and use the five-dollar words. I love Canadian John Farrow’s Emile Cinq Mars series for this (set in Montreal, the first is City of Ice). But there are so many good mystery writers. . .
Thanks for that! I came to the same conclusion about the top model Kobo, after reading the reviews, and was thinking of the Libra H2O instead. That’s nice to have confirmed.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m intrigued by the mystery series you have mentioned in this post, and thanks for the recommendation. I don’t live in Montreal anymore, but it remains my favourite Canadian city, for better or worse (despite being a Torontonian by birth), perhaps because of the period of my life in which I lived there. It’s a fabulously creative city, for all its warts, and always surprising. I’ll look up John Farrow.
Oops I just realized…Lessico Famigliare (sp). I speak Italian much more than I write it and I write it so poorly!
Hamnet was one of my favourite books this year too – brilliant writing! Lots of good recommendations here for Christmas reading and beyond. I’ve just started the last of my borrowed Japanese novels: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, translated by Jay Rubin – interesting so far as it depicts university life and relationships in Tokyo in the late 60’s, my university years.
Once I finish this I’ll search out some of your recommendations.
Author
Thanks for reminding me about those Japanese novels. It’s a while since I read Murakami, but some of the images are indelible.
Thank you for your book reviews and recommendations. I am in awe of the number of books you manage to read every month. I’m a fast reader but only manage around four a month. I suppose I do still work part-time – that’s my excuse! I’m glad you enjoyed Hamnet. Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favourite authors, I’ve been reading along since her first novel was published in 2000 and have attended several of her book festival events over the years. My favourite book of hers is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, one of the very few novels (by any author) I’ve read three times!
This past year, I’ve read a number of books which have stayed with me, including Underland by Robert Macfarlane, a beautifully descriptive non-fiction book about various underground journeys he has made in very different parts of the world. Loved Clothes Last by Orsola de Castro galvanised my efforts to ‘buy less, buy better’ and to try and treasure every garment. I’m currently enjoying The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller which complements Memorial, a long-form poem by Alice Oswald I read a couple of months ago for my literature class.
Author
You’re very welcome! I do read a lot; thank goodness my husband likes to cook, grocery shop, and share the cleaning! And I’m retired! 😉
I’ve just put The Vanishing Act on hold at our library; i’m keen to read all of Maggie O’Farrell’s backlist now.
I gave my son-in-law a copy of Underland last Christmas and had planned to borrow it from him when he’d done. Must ask him if it’s available.
I read a review of Loved Clothes Last (in The Guardian, I think) and will get that from the library eventually. A really important message, I know!
I haven’t read The Song of Achilles — really liked Miller’s Circe though. And I’m intrigued by that long-form poem. By all accounts, you’ve had a rich reading year!
Yes. Robert MacFarlane’s Underlands is extraordinary. I expected to read only one chapter that touched on a subject I am trying to write about. I read the entire book. I am claustrophobic, so I was tempted to skip all the passages about being stuck underground, but I managed to keep going.
I have read your blog for years but I never comment and I should because I have enjoyed many of the books from your reading lists. Some of them are the Cormoran Strike series, The Detective’s Daughter and the Slough House series. I loved Slow Horses, I had to put it on hold at our library, there were two or three ahead of me-there was one copy of a ten year old paperback! The library system here in Portland is very large and very good, it made me wonder if you had blog readers here that got ahead of me to check out that book.
I just finished The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan, a light, fast read. It’s set in England in 1942, the story focuses on the food rationing and cooking with what they could get. I guess it’s historical fiction because there was a BBC program called the The Kitchen Front and a lot of information came from what was the Ministry of Food. I couldn’t help but compare it to some of the whining about shortages that is going on in present day.
I can’t remember how I found your blog, probably searching for anything from BC. We have a summer home (55+years) in the West Chilcotin on a remote peninsula, boat access, so some of your island life was familiar.
Author
Thanks for commenting today, Lea, and for reading over the years. I’m pleased to know you also enjoyed the Detective’s Daughter and the Slough Horse books (I do have some readers in Portland — who knows if they’re the ones ahead of you in that line 😉
I can’t take credit for recommending the Cormorant Strike books, though. Haven’t read those.
I’m glad to know your connection to BC (that summer home must have really been remote 55 years ago!) led you to my blog.
I love your excellent and generous reading lists despite the fact that my reading of fiction has ground to a snail’s pace. I find it hard to “get into” and persist with books, which isn’t something I’ve ever struggled with before, and wonder whether I’m finally paying the price for too much time on the internet. I’m currently reading (or trying to) Jacqueline Maley’s The Truth About Her. Maley is an award winning Australian journalist and this is her first novel. There’s a lot to like and I hope the slower pace of the period between Christmas and New Year will allow me to finish it. I like the sound of Maggie O’Farrell’s novels and her Instructions for a Heat Wave is currently available at my local library so I’ll try that before the wonderful sounding Hamnet, which is harder to get a hold of.
Author
A few years ago I had my first-year classes read Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows (What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains) and Alan Jacobs’ The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction. The good news, overall, is that thanks to neuroplasticity we can regain our ability to read long-form work again, even though they lack the immediate dopamine rewards built into our internet interactions.
I liked Instructions for a Heat Wave very much and I hope you will as well. And I’ll look forward to hearing how you fared with The Truth About Her when we have our next book chat in a month 😉
Hmm, I just started reading Ann Cleeves this year. I love the Jimmy Perez series, but did not connect with Vera initially. I have watched the entire Vera series however, and do like Brenda Blethyn’s interpretation; she may have inspired me to give Vera another try.
I read Hamnet in November as well and really loved it. Beautiful and satisfying book. I also read Richard Powers’ Bewilderment and Tommy Orange’s There There. Both are very American, and very powerfully disconcerting, although in very different ways.
Hamnet was a wonderful book. I loved how she gave such agency to Agnes and made me think about so many other women throughout the ages whom we have never heard about or from. I have just finished ‘I am, I am, I am’, also O’Farrell, and thought it was stunning. It is not an easy book but gives much food for thought. I think this too will stay with me for a long time.
Author
Ooh, the memoir — yes, I want to read that and have it on hold at the library. Working my way through her backlist as well.