November 2025 Reading Wrap-Up
Photo by Andreea Avramescu on Unsplash
Another month in the books—though it’s funny to say that, because for most of November I felt like I should have read more. I tried to read more. But the first two weeks dragged, and reading felt like a slog. I’ve written elsewhere about why this month was unusually tough, so I won’t rehash all that here. The short version: work was heavy, stress was high, and my mind was everywhere except on the page.
But then Thanksgiving arrived here in the U.S., and with it came something I hadn’t felt in a while: room. A few extra hours here and there. Just enough breathing space to sit with a book and remember why this ritual matters so much to me. Not because of any reading challenge or competition, but because reading lets me disappear into other people’s lives, cultures, worlds—and come back better.
Here’s what I managed to finish in November, in the order I read them.
Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted
by Suleika Jaouad — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I picked this up thanks to a Substack recommendation. It’s a memoir about surviving leukemia as a young woman—what the diagnosis did to her sense of self, her family, her relationships, and her future.
This isn’t one of those “inspirational triumph” memoirs; it’s more grounded, more intimate, and sometimes heavy. I’m grateful I read it, though the timing required the right mental frame. It’s beautifully written, but emotionally demanding in its honesty.
The Art of War
by Sun Tzu — ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book has been sitting on my to-read shelf forever. I finally decided to give it a go, mostly because I thought it might help me re-center myself during a rough stretch at work.
The edition I own… let’s just say it was a bargain-bin find, and the translation shows it. Even so, the core lessons came through, and I was surprised by how applicable many of them are to team dynamics, decision-making, and navigating conflict. It helped me shift my perspective at a moment when I really needed a mental reset.
If you’re thinking about reading it, get a modern translation with footnotes —it makes a world of difference.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
by Mark Manson — ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I won’t repeat myself here since I wrote a full post analyzing this on, but in short:
I think the message is worthwhile.
I think there are better books that deliver it with more nuance.
This version has the advantage of being blunt, entertaining, and quick to read—but your mileage may vary.
Skinbreaker #3
by Robert Kirkman — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The third installment was a nice rebound after a slower Issue #2. More energy, more action, and some compelling foreshadowing for what’s coming next. At ~30 pages, these issues fly by, and I often find myself wanting more depth or emotional build-up—but that might just be me being new to serialized comics.
Still, I’m enjoying the ride and already pre-ordered Issue #4.
American War
by Omar El Akkad — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book has been on my list for years, and the author’s recent National Book Award win nudged it back to the top.
It’s a speculative, post-apocalyptic story about a second American civil war—north vs. south again—and it explores displacement, power, radicalization, and the human toll of politics. What struck me most is its focus on the people caught in the crossfire , not the ones pulling the political strings.
It’s harsh, thoughtful, and uncomfortably plausible. It lingered with me.
On the Calculation of Volume I
by Solvej Balle — ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I kept seeing this book on Substack but didn’t know what it was. Then I read a New York Times piece about the author and finally picked it up. At 160 pages, it’s a quick read.
Imagine Groundhog Day , but instead of a comedy, it’s a quiet, unsettling meditation on marriage, time, and the emotional weight of remembering when everyone else forgets. The main character relives November 18th again and again—365 times—and only she notices. Her husband resets each morning as if nothing happened.
The tension isn’t plot-driven; it’s psychological.
The question that hooked me is:
If one partner carries all the weight of a shared experience… what happens to the marriage?
This is Book 1 of a seven-part series. I’ll read Book 2 because I’m invested in the emotional core, even if this first installment didn’t yet feel powerful enough for a higher rating.
There were several books I started but paused—some halfway, some a third of the way through. Not because they were bad, but because nothing was gripping me the way I hoped. I’m still working through a fantasy novel I began in October, and while it hasn’t hooked me yet, I’m giving it time.
Reading during heavy months always feels different—slower, more effortful, more fragile. But even then, it’s still one of the best parts of my day.
A few things on deck:
Skinbreaker #4 (already pre-purchased)
A couple lighter, palate-cleansing books
Maybe finishing some of the ones I’ve already started
If you’ve read anything great lately, please share it in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s been keeping you turning pages.
Here’s to December, to calmer days, and to more time spent inside good books.