And just like that it was November. I don't think I am alone in saying where has the year gone, in fact I know I am not. Perplexed feelings about the passage of time aside, this month's going to be a good one for books with new releases around every corner and more time to devote to the art of reading in general. This month I am picking up books about beauty and the associations we make with clothes, a tale of two dancers and a collection of short stories, exploring undercover feminist book clubs among other things. It's a good mix and I cannot wait to get started with these...

Women in Clothes by Sheila Heti-After being persuaded by a few different people to track down this book, I finally acquired it from the library this month. It's bulky and I may regret carrying it around the airport tomorrow but it is intriguing me too much to not travel out of the country with it. Fashion and clothing are mulled over by women of note like Lena Dunham and Tavi Gevinson but are also poignantly considered by women from various backgrounds and beliefs. If you love fashion and want something a bit meatier than your average style guide, this is for you.

Swing Time* by Zadie Smith, out November 15th-Zadie Smith is one of those writers who has made her way onto my radar and looks set to be firmly placed there for some time yet. Swing Time, her latest novel is a tale of two dancers and former friends. One becomes successful in her pursuits while the other has her sights set on the power of dance, rhythm and tribes. In their twenties the friendship takes a hit and is 'never to be revisited'. I started reading this a few days ago and I am already immersed in it. There's something powerful about Smith's writing and I know I will race through this book.

What is not yours is not yours by Helen Oyeyemi-Technically I do not own this yet but I am hoping to change that very soon. I'm sure some literary critic will dislike my comparison here but this sounds like the Love Actually of stories. This series of short stories contain a wide variety of characters who make appearances in other tales throughout. There's an undercover book club, students from a puppet school and the exchanging of books and roses on St Jordis Day among other things. This sounds right up my street and like an absolutely exquisite literary delight.

Pretty Iconic by Sali Hughes-The follow up to Sali's successful book Pretty Honest is here and it looks equally as fantastic. In Pretty Iconic, Hughes looks at over two hundred beauty products that have been real game-changers. From the nostalgic Johnson's Baby Wipes, through to the iconic Chanel No. 5. No beauty stone, or coveted palette is left unturned. This is truly one for the beauty obsessives.

-What are you reading in November?

It's been a while since I did a book haul, although really I use my secondary Instagram for that. I've just not filmed one for a while and honestly I just don't want to force myself to film for the sake of it, lest it become...forced. Anyway, in the interim I will be compiling book hauls here instead. This is the first part, there's a lot of books to get through. Here we have some novels, a book of essays and an unexpectedly inspiring read...

Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith-This book is my most recent purchase. I nabbed it last weekend in Wellington from Unity Books. I really enjoy reading writer's essays, they just really appeal to me. I love great writing in general but more so longer form essays about people's lives and experiences. Anyway, Zadie Smith's book spoke to me. There's essays on books, film, an excellent one on the Oscars and a bunch of others. This book will be coming with me on my travels next month. It's the perfect size for taking on the plane and slipping under my arm with a morning cup of coffee. Pre-romanticising my holiday, obviously..

Autumn* by Ali Smith-Here we have November's book club read. It's actually a novel, although I think I am the only one who seemed to think it was a collection of short stories. Like any of Smith's novels, this one sounds really intriguing. "Ali Smith's new novel is a meditation on a world growing ever more bordered and exclusive, on what richness and worth are, on what harvest means. This first in a seasonal quartet casts an eye over our own time. Who are we? What are we made of? " Keep an eye out for my review next month. Oh, and if you want to know what December's book is, we will be reading this book. 

Bloom* by Estee Lalonde-I'm not going to say much about this book because it's featuring quite heavily in a post next month. What I will say though is I really liked it and it did not disappoint. Estee's done an amazing job.

Swing Time* by Zadie Smith, available November 15th-The second of my Zadie Smith haulings is her latest novel which is out next month and I imagine will be on many a Christmas wishlist. This book is the story of two women who want to be dancers, only one has the talent to take it to the next level. It's a "close but complicated childhood friendship that ends abruptly in their early twenties, never to be revisited but never quite forgotten." I'm sure we can all relate to the breakdown or ending of a relationship for whatever reason. It sucks, on a side note. So I'm sure this book's going to draw a lot of people in and in turn inspire a lot of discussion. 

Two By Two* by Nicholas Sparks-It has been a while since I've read a Nicholas Sparks book. If you are familiar with the books or screen adaptations of his work, you'll know they have the tendency to rip your heart out and smash your emotions to shreds. Okay, maybe they aren't as dramatic as that, but the few I have read seem to have that effect. Going off the plot summary for this one it sounds like it perhaps may not be as heavy-hitting as something like The Notebook or The Last Song but that assumption may end up being totally wrong. We shall see..

-What have you read lately?

*Review copy