It’s Novellas in November time! #NovNov
It’s 1 November and that can only mean one thing – it’s time for our inaugural Novellas in November reading event, hosted by myself and Rebecca at Bookish Beck.
Over the next four weeks we can going to celebrate the short novel in all its forms. The definition of a novella is loose – it’s based on word count rather than number of pages – but we suggest aiming for 150 pages or under, with a firm upper limit of 200 pages.
Each Monday we’ll be introducing a theme:
2–8 November: Contemporary fiction (Cathy)
9–15 November: Nonfiction novellas (Rebecca)
16–22 November: Literature in translation (Cathy)
23–29 November: Short classics (Rebecca)
Remember when you post a review to tag myself or Rebecca on Twitter (@cathy746books & @bookishbeck) or Instagram ( @bookishbeck & @cathy_746books) and use the hashtag #NovNov
Add the links to your novella-related reviews on this post, or Rebecca’s main post and we’ll keep them updated throughout the month!
Novellas in November posts so far:
Mrs Caliban by Rachel Ingalls reviewed by Cathy at 746books
The Spare Room by Helen Garner reviewed by Cathy at 746books
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson reviewed by Hopewell’s Library of Life
Three Novellas – Bythell, Carey and Diop reviewed by Rebecca at Bookish Beck
Dark Wave by Lana Guineay reviewed by Lisa at ANZ LitLovers
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson reviewed by Cathy at 746books
The Man From London by George Simenon reviewed by Helen at She Reads Novels
The Swallowed Man by Edward Carey reviewed by Susan at A Life in Books
Cyclone by Vance Palmer reviewed by Lisa at ANZ LitLovers
Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson reviewed by Kim at Reading Matters
Short Fiction from Steinbeck and Triolet reviewed by Carol at cas d’intere
Contemporary Novellas reviewed by Monika at Lovely Bookshelf
Wendy McGrath’s Trilogy reviewed by Marcie at Buried in Print
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraida reviewed by Margaret at Books Please
A selection of favourite Non-Fiction Novellas from Rebecca at Bookish Beck
Three Novellas – Simenon, Greg & Moss reviewed by Annabel at Annabookbel
Surfacing by Margaret Atwood reviewed by Ali at HeavenAli
300 Arguments by Sarah Manguso reviewed by Cathy at 746books
The Poisoning by Maria Lazar reviewed by Juliana at The Black Garden
The Invisible Land by Hubert Mingarelli reviewed by Susan at A Life In Books
Summerwater by Sarah Moss reviewed by Lisa at ANZ LitLovers
Two novellas for Nonfiction Week (Riley & Despentes) reviewed by Cathy at 746books
The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck reviewed by Lisa at ANZ LitLovers
A Month in Siena by Hisham Matar reviewed by Imogen at Reading and Viewing the World
Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson reviewed by Juliana at The Blanck Garden
Four Short Nonfiction Books reviewed by Rebecca at Bookish Beck
Novellas in Translation a post by Grant at 1streading
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante reviewed by Radhika’s Reading Retreat
The Man Behind Narnia by AN Wilson reviewed by Margaret at Books Please
Fall On Me by Nigel Featherstone reviewed by Nancy at NancyElin
Bill Bailey’s Guide to Happiness reviewed by Annabel at Annabookbel
Chess by Stefan Zweig reviewed by Cathy at 746 Books
The Transmigration of Bodies by Yuri Herrera reviewed by Imogen at Reading and Watching the World
An interview with Cath Barton, author of novella The Plankton Collector by Kathryn at Nut Press
Popcorn by Cornelia Otis Skinner reviewed by Ali at HeavenAli
The Legend of the Holy Drinker by Joseph Roth reviewed by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings
The Great Escape Girl by Emma Gingerich reviewed by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates reviewed by Kim at Reading Matters
An interview with Cath Barton, author of novella The Plankton Collector, by Kathryn at Nut Press
Three Novellas reviewed by Laura Tisdall
Happiness, As Such by Natalia Ginzberg reviewed by Jacqui at JacquiWine’s Journal
The Taiga Syndrome by Cristina Garza Rivera reviewed by Cathy at 746 Books
Dolores by Lauren Aimee Curtis reviewed by Nancy at NancyElin
A Meal in Winter by Hubert Mingarelli reviewed by Karen at Booker Talk
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben reviewed by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
Novellas in Translation by Grant at 1st Reading
The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind reviewed by Cathy at 746 Books
A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio reviewed by Ali at HeavenAli
The Provincial Lady Goes Further by EM Delafield reviewed by Hopewell’s Public Library of Life
Sweet Days of Discipline by Fleur Jaeggy reviewed by Cathy at 746books
Icefall by Stephanie Gunn reviewed by Nancy at NancyElin
Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses by Georges Simenon reviewed by Margaret at Books Please
The Silence by Don DeLillo reviewed by Kim at Reading Matters
Five Novellas in Translation reviewed by Rebecca at Bookish Beck
10 Favourite Classic Novellas posted by Rebecca at Bookish Beck
The Spare Room by Helen Garner reviewed by Brona at Brona’s Books
My favourite Classic Novellas posted by Cathy at 746 Books
Good Morning Midnight by Jean Rhys reviewed by Imogen at Reading and Viewing the World
What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez reviewed by Kim at Reading Matters
The Jew’s Beech Tree by Annette von Droste-Hulshoff reviewed by Juliana at The Blank Garden
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reviewed by Cathy at 746 Books
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey reviewed by Radhika’s Reading Retreat
In the Sweep of the Bay by Cath Barton reviewed by Chris at Calmgrove
Novellas in November: Short Classics reviewed by Monika at Lovely Bookshelf
Daughters by Lucy Frike reviewed by Lizzy at Lizzy’s Literary Life
The Weight of Things by Marianne Fritz reviewed by J. C. Greenway at 10 million hardbacks
The Mystery of the Enchanted Crypt by Eduardo Mendoza reviewed by Reese Warner at Typings
Short Classics for Novellas in November reviewed by Margaret at Books Please
The Lifted Veil & Silly Novels by Lady Novelists by George Eliot reviewed by Helen at She Reads Novels
Girl Reporter by Tansy Roberts reviewed by Nancy at NancyElin
Follies by Rory Fraser and The Power of Privilege by June Sarpong reviewed by Liz Dexter
Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Armin reviewed by Brona at Brona’s Books
Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks reviewed by Juliana at The Black Garden
The Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer reviewed by Annabel at Annabookbel
Writers on Writers: Josephine Rowe on Beverley Farmer reviewed by Brona at Brona’s Books
Three Short Classics from the 746 reviewed by Cathy at 746books
Miscellaneous Novellas reviewed by Rebecca at Bookish Beck
The House of Dolls by Barbara Comyns reviewed by Ali at HeavenAli
Simpson Returns by Wayne Macauley reviewed by Nancy at NancyElin
Novellas in November posted by Market Garden Reader
Three Novellas by Turgenev reviewed by Emma at Book Around the Corner
Theo: A Novella by Paul Torday reviewed by Davida at The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog
Utz by Bruce Chatwin reviewed by Chris at Calmgrove
Novellas in November: Featuring Bog People, Insomnia and the Disappearance of the Moon reviewed by Naomi at Consumed by Ink
Brona at Brona’s Books has put together a great list of Australian novellas to celebrate Aus Literature Reading Month!
Jacqui at JacquiWine’s Journal is tweeting a novella recommendation every day during November for #NovNov
We do hope you can take part throughout the month and look forward to all your novella recommendations!
Happy (short) reading!
Novellas in November Reading Challenge #NovNov novellas Novellas in November reading challenge
Cathy746books View All →
I am a 40 something book buying addict trying to reduce the backlog one book at a time!
Love the hashtag!
I’m looking forward to combining #novnov with my Australian reading, non-fic reading, German lit & Margaret Atwood.
I wrote a sign up post about all 5 events here – http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/10/november-reading-challenge-sign-up-post.html?m=1
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Thanks Brona – I think combining challenges is the way to get through this busy month! I’ll have a review up on Wednesday for Aus Reading Month x
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I’m going to put in a plug for one of the books in your stack. West by Carys Davies is a fabulous read.
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That’s good to know – thank you!
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I’ve already begun. I’m reading Cyclone by Vance Palmer from 1947!
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Excellent! Look forward to hearing what you thinkm
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Fabulous! I do love a novella. I won’t be joining in as my reading is sloth-like at the moment but I can’t wait to see what everyone reads 🙂
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Although a 200 page book isn’t necessarily a novella since many juvie and YA titles are 150-200 words. Is novella then referring to adult novels?
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We tried to set an upper limit but obviously there isn’t a definitive rule on what is or isn’t a novella. Rebecca and I read adult fiction so that’s what we had in mind, but we are open to any genre!
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I’m thinking novella fits best for adult fiction. Billy Budd is a prime example.
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I love a good novella at the best of times so I may see what I have on my shelves and try to fit some in throughout the month 😊
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I do hope you can take part Callum – I do love novellas too!
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Looking forward to it though I may not stick to the schedule!
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No pressure to do that at all! Can’t wait to see what you read.
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This sounds like a lot of fun! I’m already participating in two readathons this month, so I’m going to have to skip this one, but perhaps I’ll be able to squeeze in a novella in honour of #NovNov! Have fun 🙂
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Nothing on my shelves but I will enjoy watching everyone take part! Hope it goes really well.
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Thank you Liz!
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This is the challenge I am concentrating on this month. I have just started Surfacing by Margaret Atwood.
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I’m hope to have some time to read novellas with you!
As I have seen on your Veen-diagram….November is a busy challenge month!
I would like to add add some novella’s in the speculative fiction and fantasy!
to my reading list…..if that is oke!
I will upload my sign-up post today or tomorrow!
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I have just noticed that there is a Sci-Fi Reading Month running on Instagram! November really is the month of all the challenges!
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Woo hoo, I loved The Penelopiad – all sassy and heartbreaking, just what I wanted to say to Homer!
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I know it’s not contemporary, but I’ve reviewed The Man from London by Georges Simenon:
https://shereadsnovels.com/2020/11/05/the-man-from-london-by-georges-simenon-novnov/
I’m hoping to read some more novellas before the end of the month!
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I have now compiled a list of Australian novellas to help those wanting to combine challenges 🙂
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/11/australian-novellas.html
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This is brilliant Brona – thanks so much!
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Here’s my first review (Cyclone, as promised, is still to come)
https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/11/06/dark-wave-by-lana-guineay/
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Here’s my review of Cyclone – not a contemporary novella because it was published in 1947, but it doesn’t fit into any of the other categories, so here it is!
https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/11/08/cyclone-by-vance-palmer/
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Thanks Lisa, I’ve added that into my links post x
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I’ve just posted my first review for Novellas in November: The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide – https://booksplease.org/2020/11/09/the-guest-cat-by-takashi-hiraide-a-novella/
Just checking is this where we post links to all our Novellas in November reviews?
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Yes Margaret, that’s perfect! It you just tag me or Rebecca in post, or comment on this post, then I’ll add your review to the master list. Thanks so much for taking part!
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Novella by Australian author Nigel Featherstone
Fall On Me (2011)
My Thoughts
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I’ve just posted my second review – a nonfiction novella, The Man Behind Narnia – https://booksplease.org/2020/11/14/the-man-behind-narnia-by-a-n-wilson/
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Brilliant Margaret, thank you!
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Novella by new Australian writer Lauren A. Curtis
Dolores (2019)
My Thoughts
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Many thanks for the links, Cathy – very kind. I’m off to find another novella for my Twitter thread now…
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Icefall (Stephanie Gunn)
Australia’s Best SF novella 2018 Aurealis Award @aurealisawards
My Thoughts
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And here is my third post for Literature in translation – one of Georges Simenon’s Maigret books.
https://booksplease.org/2020/11/21/maigret-and-the-reluctant-witnesses-by-georges-simenon/
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I’ve finally completed my review for Helen Garner’s The Spare Room. I hope to squeeze in one more novella in before the end of the month!
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-spare-room-helen-garner-aww.html
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Excellent! Thanks Brona. I’m currently reading Stasiland by Anna Funder for Aus reading Month
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One more novella – the classic Elizabeth and Her German Garden & a discussion about whether I can really claim her as an Australian, or part-Australian!
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/11/elizabeth-and-her-german-garden.html
Will hopefully get my review of The Penelopiad done before the end of the month for you and for #MARM, if Blogger doesn’t accidentally delete my draft again!!
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Thanks Brona! Hoping to do the same!
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I’ve just posted my short review of Animal Farm – https://booksplease.org/2020/11/25/novellas-in-november-short-classics/
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Thanks Margaret!
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A non-fiction novella just in time! Josephine Rowe on Beverley Farmer: Writers on Writers
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/11/writers-on-writers-josephine-rowe-on.html
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Yay!
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My final novella for November – The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-penelopiad-margaret-atwood-novella.html
Thanks for hosting Cathy and Beck, this has been a great way to discover just how many wonderful novellas there are out there!
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A pleasure Brona! And thank you for Aus Reading Month. It’s been great!
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