Novella November is Upon Us

Tomorrow is November 1st and that means it is time to appreciate all of the short novels out there. It's also a great time to catch up on your reading.  There are so many novellas out there and both Kindle and Nook have specific areas on their sites where you can search for titles.

Kindle Singles

Kindle Short Reads

Nook Snaps 

I usually take this month to read some short historical non-fiction as well as my usual go-to genres.  This month, I'm planning to start with the books below:

I would love to hear any novella recommendations from other readers so please feel free to comment with titles and opinions about what you are reading this month. 

Happy reading!

Novella November Wrap Up

I didn't have a chance to post this week until today but I did have a chance to read two more novellas before November officially ended on Monday.  I quite enjoyed this month of short novels.  I felt like I caught up on my reading goal a bit and I was able to experience some really wonderful stories that I may not otherwise have had the opportunity to read.  So, my final two novellas were...

 

The first one, Ninja at first Sight, is part of the Knitting in the City series which I love.  It was a quick fun read about how two of the characters in the series first met back in college and sets us up for their full story which comes out in 2016.  I think I smiled throughout almost all of the story, except for when Fiona's mother was around, when I cringed instead.  I would have liked the book to continue.  It could have easily been a full length novel.

The second and last novella of the month was an old favorite that I first read years ago to my class when I taught 4th grade.  Walter, The Story of a Rat, is a story about friendship plain and simple and beautiful.  It is a book that gives you hope, and leaves you with a overwhelming feeling of contentment.  I read it at least once a year and it never loses its appeal.
                                                                                                                                        

Novella November Continues...

This week, I have added four more novella's to my Novella November challenge. Two in the cozy mystery genre and two more suspense stories a bit on the darker side.

I started my weekend with the cozy mysteries. First, The Mutt and the Matchmaker, which I think is my favorite of the four books read this week.  It's a sweet little mystery with a bit of humor and some furry friends to add to the appeal.  It was fun and ended on a happy note.  There are two more books in this series but they aren't novellas so I will add them to my TBR list for future reading. The second book, The Saint Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre was also fun and had some humor to it but for some reason, I just didn't connect to the characters or feel invested in the plot.  It was enjoyable, but just didn't quite keep my attention as the first book did.

The two darker books were quite engaging.  I began with The Man on the Bench, which I thought was going to be a straight forward murder mystery.  Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story was very much like one Stephen King or John Saul might write.  It had just a bit of fantasy to it but wasn't overdone. I really liked it and read it in one sitting.  I highly recommend it.  Finally, Blackwater Lake was a murder mystery where a man finds out that his parents had quite a sordid past and investigates a murder they might have been involved in.  I did figure out the ending before it happened but the author kept me guessing for a while. Also worth the read if you are looking for a quick murder mystery.

I have one week left and several novellas left on my list. Hopefully the holiday weekend will give me some added reading time so I can get to them all.  Click on any of the photos above to see the books on Amazon.

                                                                                                                                       

Novella November Review: The Uncommon Reader

This is my second book for Novella November and certainly a good choice! My mother is from England and, although I have yet to visit, I have always loved everything English, especially the Queen and the late Queen Mum, who shared my birthday which made it extra special each year.  

This book was a joy to read from beginning to end.  As soon as the Queen's badly behaved dogs ran into the traveling library and she discovered it's existence, I was hooked.  Her transformation from nonreader, to passionate reader, to writer was truly beautiful to read.  One of the most delightful parts of the book was how the Queen's advisors tried to secretly sabotage her reading and her reaction to their attempts.  

One of my favorite parts was when she hid her book behind the cushion in her carriage during an event. When she returned, the book was gone.  When she found out that her security had thought the book might be a "device" and destroyed it (really it was just hidden from her), she simply declared that a new copy had better find its way to her desk by morning and continued her journey, leaving behind a very unhappy staff member. It was a perfect moment.

I often found myself chuckling out loud as I read some of Her Majesty's responses to her staff and their bumbling attempts to discourage her reading. I will not give away any more of the story but I highly recommend picking this book up.  I may even read it a second time!

Synopsis from Amazon:
When her corgis stray into a mobile library parked near Buckingham Palace, the Queen feels duty-bound to borrow a book. Discovering the joy of reading widely (from J. R. Ackerley, Jean Genet, and Ivy Compton-Burnett to the classics) and intelligently, she finds that her view of the world changes dramatically. Abetted in her newfound obsession by Norman, a young man from the royal kitchens, the Queen comes to question the prescribed order of the world and loses patience with the routines of her role as monarch. Her new passion for reading initially alarms the palace staff and soon leads to surprising and very funny consequences for the country at large.

                                                                                                                                      

Novella November

This will be my first year dabbling in the world of the novella.  I was kindly given one a while back in exchange for a review and it opened my mind to a whole new world of reading.  So, starting today, I am going to spend my November looking for and devouring as many novellas as I can find.  Have suggestions? Please share them! Let's see what engaging new authors and stories I can discover.

I'm including the novella I read last month even though it wasn't really November and my list will grow from there. Happy reading to all those participating!

1. Crazy, Sexy, Ghoulish by G.G. Andrew
2. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett