My Month in Books | November 2024

November came and went in a blur. I feel like it’s not too long ago when I was reveling at the autumn-ness of October. And now here we are: that period of almost-winter. We’ve had our first snowfall this season this month. ❄️ I’ve started bringing out my thicker clothing. It’s all about embracing a new season. While this month has been a bit lethargic in account of the colder (and shorter) days, my reading didn’t slow down – which makes me happy. I just finished the last book of my month this morning so I figured this would be a good opportunity to look back at the month that was—in books, nonetheless.

Books I’ve Read in November

In November, I’ve read five books:

• The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge, M.D. – 4.5/5☕
• Tome to Tomb (St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery, #5) by ACF Bookens – 4/5☕
• The Vegetarian by Han Kang – 4.5/5☕
• Scripted to Slay (St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery, #6) by ACF Bookens – 4/5☕
• Ladies’ Lunch and Other Stories by Lore Segal – 4/5☕

I’ve continued my foray into seasonal cozy mysteries with additional books from ACF Booken’s St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery series: Tome to Tomb (Book #5) and Scripted to Slay (Book #6). I’ve talked about this in my October wrap-up, but I’ve really gotten to love this cozy mystery series so much. In addition to having all the elements of a cozy, casual read, I appreciate that they tackle heavy, hard-hitting topics despite the cozy setup. It’s clear that ACF Bookens writes these books with the intention of shedding light on important issues and educating readers. Tome to Tomb dealt with mercy killing while Scripted to Slay centers on disability rights. I actually didn’t know that “angels of mercy” was a thing (or at least, I didn’t know it had a name and was so common) before reading it. On the other hand, I love the unique (and less mainstream) perspective in Scripted to Slay regarding how people with disabilities choose to live their lives, particularly in relation to assistive technology/devices. Reading these books has been a learning experience for me—aside from the enjoyment I get from the stories—and I’m really glad I came across this series.

I also finally finished Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, which I started last month. I read the last few pages while on a train in Manchester, and after I flipped the final pages, I was left dumbfounded, staring into space. I didn’t know what happened (or at least, I didn’t understand it). I didn’t know what happened (or at least, I didn’t understand it). I’m still processing that ending (and probably the whole book), so I think I’ll be thinking about it for a while. The message and storytelling are incredibly layered, despite Han Kang (and probably the translator – it’s hard to know how much they influence a translated book) using simple language. The novel focuses heavily on the societal standards that women are expected to uphold to make others happy, and how this grates on their sense of self. The first two parts lean uncomfortably into the absurd, sometimes (personally) reaching the cringe-worthy level you get when trash men’s point-of-views are put at the center. The third part was heartbreaking and probably my favorite emotionally. I wish we could’ve gotten a Yeong Hye (the vegetarian, in the story) POV – but despite this, I feel that the book is still effective in conveying its message and leaving a visceral impact on the reader (it certainly did on me). It was disturbing and uncomfortable. It is… really something (if it’s not obvious enough). And I loved it so much.

On the other hand, I finished one of the best nonfiction books I’ve read this year: The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge. This was a recommendation from C, and I am so glad I picked it up! Not all nonfiction books are the same for me (memoirs and essay collections still hold special places in my heart), but in terms of books that aim to inform, this is probably the best one I’ve read this year. The book centers around neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and change itself—its history and development, as well as various cases where people could (and have) benefit from it. I got the audiobook for this and was initially worried it would be too scientific for me because of the tone of narration, but it proved to be an enjoyable and fascinating read. In my years of trying to manage my mental health due to past traumas, I’ve developed a considerable amount of respect and amazement for how the brain can hold so much and change. This book also gave me (even more) hope that people can change, adapt, and somehow overcome circumstances, despite permanent or temporary physical or mental ailments that initially derailed their lives. The brain is truly marvelous, and I hope scientists don’t stop exploring these frontiers in the years to come.

Last but not least, I just finished Lore Segal’s Ladies’ Lunch and Other Stories and found myself wishing it would go on longer. Admittedly, she wasn’t really on my radar before, but after reading this short story collection, I’m definitely going to add more of her books to my TBR list. The Ladies’ Lunch stories were short but sweet stories, and I wanted to read more about these nonagenarians meeting regularly and talking about anything and everything. That type of friendship, the kind that only forms when you’ve seen each other grow up and grow old, is such a beautiful thing. There are many musings about aging and loss, which feel even more poignant when you consider that the very first Ladies’ Lunch story was published in The New Yorker when Lore herself turned 90. It’s a shame that we lost a truly great writer – her works have been a gift to the world. I just hope that in my years ahead, I’ll have my own Ladies’ Lunch as well.

What I’m Currently REading

• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney – Yep, we’re still here and trying. There is a high possibility that I will DNF this in December given how I’ve talked about it for months now and still hasn’t gotten good progress on it. But we’ll see how it goes.

What I’m Looking Forward To

I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself in this last month of the year, so I’m anticipating that I won’t be reading as much. This is part of my efforts to go easier on myself. The clock just struck 12 as I was typing this, so it’s officially the first day of December—my birthday month! This month will be dedicated to looking back and processing the last few months, and I’m excited to see what I come up with or what I’ll focus on (hopefully, rest). I can feel the year slipping away, and I’m just trying to hold on to the remaining bits of it. Hopefully, the rest of my 2024 goes by smoothly (and yours too!). Happy holidays! ⛄

2024 Book Read Count as of writing: 48 /24

---

HOW ABOUT YOU? HOW WAS YOUR READING MONTH THIS November? DID YOU HAVE ANY NOTABLE FAVE? 

---

FIND ME ELSEWHERE: TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH | Substack Newsletter

IF YOU LIKED MY CONTENT, PLEASE CONSIDER BUYING ME A KOFI.