This took a little longer to come together than we would have liked. Still, we hope this rundown of notable November books gives readers some ideas for a post-cold snap reading session. There’s a lot of ground covered here, from deftly reported nonfiction to essential fiction in translation. Read on for a look at what’s piqued our interest this month.
Sharmini Aphrodite, The Unrepentant
(Nov. 1, Gaudy Boy)
This collection of stories by Sharmini Aphrodite spans decades in the history of Malaya, chronicling a wide range of lives to powerful effect. Last month at Electric Literature, Preeta Samarasan observed that “the crowning achievement of Sharmini’s collection The Unrepentant is that it confronts historical territory that is virtually absent from both official records and the literary canon.”
Shane Kowalski, Are People Out There
(Nov. 1, Future Tense)
It’s always a pleasure to see new writing from Shane Kowalski out in the world. Three years ago, his flash fiction collection Small Moods caught our attention. Now, he’s returned to the form with a follow-up collection which another writer on this list — Sebastian Castillo — has compared to the work of Donald Bartheleme.
Ronald M. Schernikau (tr. Lucy Jones), SMALLTOWNNOVELLA
(Nov. 1, Ugly Duckling Presse)
The translation of this novella was crowdfunded, with its boosters including Jonathan Lethem. Set in Cold War-era West Germany, this book finds its protagonist contemplating desire, sexuality, and politics at a time where perceptions of all three were changing dramatically.
Thomas Beller, Degas at the Gas Station
(Nov. 4, Duke University Press)
Both as a writer and as one of the founders of Open City, Thomas Beller has had a significant impact on the literary generations that followed. This new collection of essays focuses on different elements of Beller’s life; Publishers Weekly called it “a penetrating meditation on the human condition.”
Anika Jade Levy, Flat Earth
(Nov. 4, Catapult)
“[T]he main thing about this book is that I wrote the only good book I knew how to write,” Anika Jade Levy told Halle Butler earlier this fall. It’s a story about politics, art, and relationships both social and sexual in New York City, told with a blend of attention to detail and a reckoning with big ideas.
Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, Terry Dactyl
(Nov. 11, Coffee House Press)
We’re longtime admirers of Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore’s writing, and as such we’re looking forward to sitting down with. Sycamore’s new novel tells the story of its title character moving through crucial moments in history, from the effects of AIDS on queer communities to the pandemic lockdowns of the 2020s.
Sarah Weinman, Without Consent
(Nov. 11, Ecco)
In a review of Sarah Weinman’s Without Consent, Rachel Louise Snyder noted that the trial chronicled in this book “marked the start of a national movement to recognize a married woman’s right to bodily autonomy.” The story told here is gripping one, as well as a chronicle of events that continue to reverberate through the present day.
Sebastian Castillo, 49 Venezuelan Novels
(Nov. 18, La Barba Metafísica)
One of our favorite books thus far this year was Sebastian Castillo’s novel Fresh, Green Life. We’re thrilled, then, to see an earlier book by the same writer — 49 Venezuelan Novels — getting reissued in a new bilingual edition. Do you like your novels very, very short? Well, you can find dozens within this slim volume.
Marc Meyer (ed.), Voices from the Kitchen
(Nov. 18, Beacon Press)
The subtitle of this book — “Personal Narratives from New York’s Immigrant Restaurant Workers” — gives readers a good sense of what to expect. If you’re looking for an insightful look at the crucial role immigrants play in the restaurant industry, this book will give you plenty of — pardon the expression — food for thought.
Note: all cover art and release dates are subject to change.