November ushers in many of the Canadian fiction awards, including the Giller Prize, the Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Awards. But while you’re catching up with those nominees, there are still plenty of new releases fighting for a spot in your TBR pile. Here are our picks to kick off your winter reading.
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9 Must Reads for November
Our favourite books this month include page-turners from Mary Lawson, Nick Harkaway and the Internet’s favourite Swedish author Fredrik Backman
1Stationsby Louise KennedyThe author’s debut Trespasses (2022) was a breakout novel adapted into a prestige TV series with Gillian Anderson – and it made professional-chef-turned-novelist Louise Kennedy into an overnight literary success at 55. This sophomore release charts the fierce friendship between prickly Róisín and damaged school chum Red over a 25-year period starting in 1982 and as they make their separate ways from Northern Ireland to London – in a story that draws on Kennedy’s own life experiences. Full of the emotional complexities of youth – not to mention decades of grotty flats – this read is compelling. (Nov. 3)
The author’s debut Trespasses (2022) was a breakout novel adapted into a prestige TV series with Gillian Anderson – and it made professional-chef-turned-novelist Louise Kennedy into an overnight literary success at 55. This sophomore release charts the fierce friendship between prickly Róisín and damaged school chum Red over a 25-year period starting in 1982 and as they make their separate ways from Northern Ireland to London – in a story that draws on Kennedy’s own life experiences. Full of the emotional complexities of youth – not to mention decades of grotty flats – this read is compelling. (Nov. 3)
2Beyond the Baths of Starsby Schneider K. Rancy For his novel debut, Haitian American surgeon and poet SK Rancy reimagines The Odyssey, trading Homer’s Ancient Greek setting for that of a first-generation American in Florida who’s disenchanted with his life of poverty and systemic struggle. After Eurick Ulysse rescues a young woman from the ocean, he sets off on a rollicking journey through South Miami, confronting the same questions of fate, destiny, defiance and expectation posed in the original epic. (Nov. 3)
For his novel debut, Haitian American surgeon and poet SK Rancy reimagines The Odyssey, trading Homer’s Ancient Greek setting for that of a first-generation American in Florida who’s disenchanted with his life of poverty and systemic struggle. After Eurick Ulysse rescues a young woman from the ocean, he sets off on a rollicking journey through South Miami, confronting the same questions of fate, destiny, defiance and expectation posed in the original epic. (Nov. 3)
3Wolves of Summerby Donna Freitas A quiet Rhode Island beach town is the setting for this missing-person suspense thriller, a follow-up to the author’s Her One Regret. It’s the summer of 1979 and break-ins are rampant, when the close-knit community must come together to search for a child who’s disappeared. Meanwhile, a group of local women and young girls conduct their own investigation, amid the undercurrent of casual misogyny and predatory men – the wolves referenced in the title. It’s a fast-paced mystery, offering up engaging, topical social commentary. (Nov. 3)
A quiet Rhode Island beach town is the setting for this missing-person suspense thriller, a follow-up to the author’s Her One Regret. It’s the summer of 1979 and break-ins are rampant, when the close-knit community must come together to search for a child who’s disappeared. Meanwhile, a group of local women and young girls conduct their own investigation, amid the undercurrent of casual misogyny and predatory men – the wolves referenced in the title. It’s a fast-paced mystery, offering up engaging, topical social commentary. (Nov. 3)
4Solace in Winterby Mary Lawson In her fifth novel, the U.K.-based Canadian author (Crow Lake) returns to the Northern Ontario community of her Booker-longlisted A Town Called Solace. It’s here, in 1969 with Vietnam in the backdrop, that a widowed photographer living at the edge of town sees his life unexpectedly turned upside down due to some surprise – but welcome – guests, of both the canine and human variety. Like the landscape, it’s a beautifully drawn and deceptively simple story of family bonds, empathy and newfound friendship. (Nov. 10)
In her fifth novel, the U.K.-based Canadian author (Crow Lake) returns to the Northern Ontario community of her Booker-longlisted A Town Called Solace. It’s here, in 1969 with Vietnam in the backdrop, that a widowed photographer living at the edge of town sees his life unexpectedly turned upside down due to some surprise – but welcome – guests, of both the canine and human variety. Like the landscape, it’s a beautifully drawn and deceptively simple story of family bonds, empathy and newfound friendship. (Nov. 10)
5The Man Who Read Booksby Rachid Benzine, trans. Sam Taylor In this award-winning international sensation from France (sold in 16 countries and counting), young French war photographer Julien travels to present-day Gaza to cover a ceasefire with Israel. Once there, he encounters elderly bookseller Nabil, who shares his life story. Deeply influenced by Jean Giono’s ecological fable The Man Who Planted Trees, Benzine anchors chapters with writers like Primo Levi and Shakespeare to show how literature has been Nabil’s solace through conflict and displacement – and there in joyous moments as well. Says Giller Prize-winner Madeleine Thien: “I hope that every person who has found shelter in reading, who has been saved by the words of another will open this book.” (Nov. 10)
In this award-winning international sensation from France (sold in 16 countries and counting), young French war photographer Julien travels to present-day Gaza to cover a ceasefire with Israel. Once there, he encounters elderly bookseller Nabil, who shares his life story. Deeply influenced by Jean Giono’s ecological fable The Man Who Planted Trees, Benzine anchors chapters with writers like Primo Levi and Shakespeare to show how literature has been Nabil’s solace through conflict and displacement – and there in joyous moments as well. Says Giller Prize-winner Madeleine Thien: “I hope that every person who has found shelter in reading, who has been saved by the words of another will open this book.” (Nov. 10)
6The Taper Manby Nick Harkaway The youngest son of John le Carré is carrying on his father’s legacy. He’s consulting on Kill Jackie (the new Catherine Zeta-Jones TV series based on his 2018 novel The Price You Pay) and executive producing a TV series adaptation of his father’s 2017 book A Legacy of Spies, which sees older brother Stephen Cornwall as showrunner. (Le Carré’s real name was David John Moore Cornwell, and Harkaway is also a nom de plum). And Nick is now releasing The Taper Man, his second book in the George Smiley continuation series to come out since his father’s death in 2020. It’s set in the shadow world of the Circus, circa 1965, as Smiley and his team hunt for the traitor in a counter-intelligence operation before their double agent in Moscow is exposed. (Nov. 17)
The youngest son of John le Carré is carrying on his father’s legacy. He’s consulting on Kill Jackie (the new Catherine Zeta-Jones TV series based on his 2018 novel The Price You Pay) and executive producing a TV series adaptation of his father’s 2017 book A Legacy of Spies, which sees older brother Stephen Cornwall as showrunner. (Le Carré’s real name was David John Moore Cornwell, and Harkaway is also a nom de plum). And Nick is now releasing The Taper Man, his second book in the George Smiley continuation series to come out since his father’s death in 2020. It’s set in the shadow world of the Circus, circa 1965, as Smiley and his team hunt for the traitor in a counter-intelligence operation before their double agent in Moscow is exposed. (Nov. 17)
7Amazonsby Cleo BirdwellThe success of Heated Rivalry seems to have renewed interest in Don DeLillo’s smutty hockey novel. Written as a pseudonymous sports memoir in 1980, the book quickly went out of print and despite being immediately outed by literary critics, DeLillo famously distanced himself from it – even as many fans sought it out. Now, the fictional memoir is being republished in time for his 90th birthday. In it, Cleo, a teacher’s daughter from Ohio and the first woman to play in the National Hockey League, recounts the misadventures of her first season with the New York Rangers. Like HR, hockey is merely the backdrop. It’s equal parts ribald fun and satire of modernity as would be expected from one of America’s greatest living novelists. (Nov. 17)
The success of Heated Rivalry seems to have renewed interest in Don DeLillo’s smutty hockey novel. Written as a pseudonymous sports memoir in 1980, the book quickly went out of print and despite being immediately outed by literary critics, DeLillo famously distanced himself from it – even as many fans sought it out. Now, the fictional memoir is being republished in time for his 90th birthday. In it, Cleo, a teacher’s daughter from Ohio and the first woman to play in the National Hockey League, recounts the misadventures of her first season with the New York Rangers. Like HR, hockey is merely the backdrop. It’s equal parts ribald fun and satire of modernity as would be expected from one of America’s greatest living novelists. (Nov. 17)
8All the Little Secretsby May Cobb Mean girls grow up to be mean moms in this juicy thriller from bestselling author May Cobb. Following All the Little Houses, Cobb’s new novel (which is getting made into a series by Apple) takes readers to a wealthy enclave of 1980s Longview, Texas, where an incoming family with “traditional values” is about to disrupt Charleigh Anderson’s role as queen bee of the filthy rich, new-money crowd. Think: Rivals, but make it southern Gothic. It’s delectably soapy escapism, with a twang; just like Cobb’s early book-turned-Netflix-guilty-pleasure, The Hunting Wives. (Nov. 17)
Mean girls grow up to be mean moms in this juicy thriller from bestselling author May Cobb. Following All the Little Houses, Cobb’s new novel (which is getting made into a series by Apple) takes readers to a wealthy enclave of 1980s Longview, Texas, where an incoming family with “traditional values” is about to disrupt Charleigh Anderson’s role as queen bee of the filthy rich, new-money crowd. Think: Rivals, but make it southern Gothic. It’s delectably soapy escapism, with a twang; just like Cobb’s early book-turned-Netflix-guilty-pleasure, The Hunting Wives. (Nov. 17)
9And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longerby Fredrik BackmanIn this anniversary edition of his 2016 story about how to say goodbye, the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove visualizes the mind of an elderly man living with dementia as a park bench shrinking every day. Over the course of a scant 100 pages, the grandfather is aware he is losing memories, while trying to hold on to the happy ones that are left. It examines the facets of the uneasy relationship between him and his adult son, who bond over their love of grandson Noah. It’s a short, sweet and sadder story than the Swedish feel-good author’s previous work, but just as perceptive of human nature and full of humour and goodness, and with heartfelt sentimentality. Have tissues at hand. (Nov. 10)
In this anniversary edition of his 2016 story about how to say goodbye, the New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove visualizes the mind of an elderly man living with dementia as a park bench shrinking every day. Over the course of a scant 100 pages, the grandfather is aware he is losing memories, while trying to hold on to the happy ones that are left. It examines the facets of the uneasy relationship between him and his adult son, who bond over their love of grandson Noah. It’s a short, sweet and sadder story than the Swedish feel-good author’s previous work, but just as perceptive of human nature and full of humour and goodness, and with heartfelt sentimentality. Have tissues at hand. (Nov. 10)
