November is an interesting and challenging month for readers. On one hand, the weather is cooling down, and it’s the perfect time to grab a good book, sit by a cozy fire, and read. On the other hand, several holidays are coming up, and there’s so much to do it can be hard to find the time to read.
I found some great books to convince you it’s not just okay to allow yourself some down time; it should be required. After Halloween, we get so busy we burn out before the year is over and miss a lot of the fun. Let’s make a pact to slow down, and treat ourselves to a few good books.
We found an eclectic mix of fiction, non-fiction, and memoir to tempt you. Enjoy!
1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin – The story of the most infamous stock crash in history that triggered the Great Depression. Sorkin unravels the blind optimism, unbridled greed, and arrogance/hubris that led to the collapse of the stock market in 1929, and the startling parallels to our present day economy.
Dead and Alive: Essays by Zadie Smith – Smith’s essays comment on the loss of some of our literary giants, the art word, movies, and the quiet moments we often take for granted.
Why Fascists Fear Teachers by Randi Weingarten – A rousing defense of the public school system and the importance of educating children and teaching them critical thinking skills.
We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat – Noisecat is the director of the Academy Award nominated documentary, Sugarcane. He tells his story of coming to terms with his identity and heritage as an Indigenous American by weaving in history, politics, and culture.
The Assist by Elizabeth Meitzler (Book 2 of the Ballentine Boys series) – Zoey Griffin is getting nowhere with her college crush Leo, so she hatches a plan to get her brother’s best friend Jace, a popular hockey player, to teach her the art of flirting. Unknown to Zoey, Jace has been harboring a secret crush of his own. What could possibly go wrong?
November 9 by Colleen Hoover – Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist and they begin a bizarre arrangement. Though they are attracted to each other, they will only meet once a year. No other contact. At first, it seemed edgy and mysterious, but as the years pass the line between truth and lies becomes more distorted. Can you love someone who only wants to see you once a year?
Trust by Hernan Diaz – A Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a wealthy Wall Street couple’s rise to power in the 1920s. If you do the math, you know what’s coming for them. How strong will the pull of money and privilege become before it deserts them?
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie – Noriko is the product of a liaison between a married Japanese aristocrat and an African American soldier. She’s hidden away by her grandparents after being abandoned by her mother. Noriko endures daily chemical baths to try to lighten her skin. When she accidentally meets her half-brother, they develop a strong bond. For the first time in her life, she feels like there is a path to acceptance, but will her grandparents allow it?
A Killing in November by Simon Mason – A DI Ryan Wilkins Mystery – Ryan, a scrappy detective inspector raised in a trailer park with a disdain for wealth and privilege is paired with Ray, an affluent Nigerian-Londoner to solve the murder of a young woman in the provost’s office at an elite college. Will “chalk and cheese” be able to put their differences aside and find the killer?
The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope by José Andrés – stories and recipes from renowned chefs, local cooks, and celebrity friends of his beloved World Central Kitchen (WCK) that feeds communities around the world impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises. All proceeds from the sale of this book are used to support WCK’s emergency response efforts.