What we're reading: Geoff Dyer, Andrew Michael Hurley, Marcia Hutchinson and Guardian readers on the books they enjoyed in November

The Books that Captivated This Month: A Diverse Range of Titles Emerge as Favorites.

Among those who have discovered new heights with their literary output are notable authors such as Geoff Dyer, whose "Thoreau's Journal" proved to be a captivating read. The journal is described as "determinedly down-to-earth and soaring, lyrical and belligerent, humane and cantankerous." This juxtaposition of contrasting elements has garnered significant praise from literary circles.

Another notable title that has gained attention in recent times is Xiaolou Guo's "My Battle of Hastings." In this book, the author recounts her decision to buy a flat by the sea in Hastings, resulting in a humorous yet serious exploration of Britain and Brexit. The historical roots of these decisions are also scrutinized in depth.

The publication of Meghan Daum's "The Catastrophe Hour" has also garnered considerable attention from readers and critics alike. This collection of essays showcases the author's wittiness and scathing critiques, solidifying her position as one of America's finest writers.

In contrast to these titles, Sarah's recommendations highlight the enduring appeal of classic campus-set coming-of-age novels featuring romance as a central theme. Her suggestions for "Heart the Lover," "My Last Innocent Year," and "The Marriage Plot" demonstrate her enthusiasm for stories that explore complex relationships and personal growth.

Meanwhile, author Marcia Hutchinson has offered an alternative perspective with her novel "Act Normal." This book is described as "a butterfly musings of the genius Peter Kalu," whose narrative defies traditional chronology in favor of a more fluid approach. The result is a deeply humane and engaging exploration of identity, community, and history.

In addition to these titles, Hutchinson has also recommended Kit de Waal's "The Best of Everything" and Lisa Smith's debut novel "Jamaica Road." Both novels showcase themes of family, love, and resilience in the face of adversity.

For readers seeking something darker and more introspective, Kate Griffin's gothic tale "Fyneshade" is an excellent choice. This gripping page-turner tells the story of a governess who becomes embroiled in a sinister plot.

In contrast to these dark undertones, Alice Zeniter's "The Art of Losing" offers a more elegiac tone. The novel chronicles the author's attempts to piece together her family's history and navigate the complexities of colonialism and racism.

Finally, authors Andrew Michael Hurley and Tim have shared their own recommendations with readers. Hurley has suggested Bora Chung's surreal and sinister "Midnight Timetable" as well as John McGahern's classic novel "The Leavetaking." Both books showcase Hurley's appreciation for literary fiction that explores the human condition in depth.

Andrew Michael Hurley has also recommended Sarah Hall's "Helm," a narrative that delves into our relationship with the elements and the elementals. The result is a profound and playful exploration of humanity's place within the natural world.

The final title to be mentioned is James Muldoon, Mark Graham, and Callum Cant's "Feeding the Machine." This collection of essays offers a sharp analysis of digital labor and AI infrastructures, providing readers with a grounded perspective on the impact of technology on our daily lives.

I'm loving these book recs ! It's so great to see authors like Geoff Dyer and Meghan Daum pushing boundaries and exploring new perspectives. I mean, who wouldn't want to read about someone's decision to buy a flat by the sea in Hastings? "My Battle of Hastings" sounds hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time.

But what really caught my eye is Sarah's love for classic campus-set coming-of-age novels. There's something so timeless about those stories, you know? The themes of romance, identity, and personal growth are just as relevant today as they were back in the day .

And then there's Marcia Hutchinson's "Act Normal", which sounds like a real game-changer. I love how she's redefining traditional storytelling with her non-linear approach. It's so refreshing to see authors taking risks and pushing the boundaries of what we expect from a novel .

Lastly, I'm intrigued by Kit de Waal's "The Best of Everything". Family, love, and resilience in the face of adversity are always powerful themes, and I'm excited to dive into this one .

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s really cool how this list has all these different authors and books from around the world . Like, you've got Geoff Dyer from the UK, Xiaolou Guo from China, Meghan Daum from America... it's amazing to see how literature can bring people together even when they're from different places .

I love that there are so many different types of books on here too - romances, historical fiction, essays, sci-fi... something for everyone . And I'm intrigued by the fact that all these authors have recommended other books that they really love, like Marcia Hutchinson's "Act Normal" and Alice Zeniter's "The Art of Losing"... it feels like a big ol' book club !

I'm totally hyped about these new book releases ! Geoff Dyer's "Thoreau's Journal" sounds like such an incredible read - I love how it combines the down-to-earth with the soaring and lyrical . And Xiaolou Guo's "My Battle of Hastings" is literally so funny but also really serious, you know? It's all about finding your place in life and making big decisions .

I'm also loving Meghan Daum's "The Catastrophe Hour", her essays are just so witty and insightful . And Sarah's recs for classic campus novels are giving me all the feels - who doesn't love a good coming-of-age story? Marcia Hutchinson's "Act Normal" is also really interesting, I love how it defies traditional chronology .

For something a bit darker and more introspective, Kate Griffin's "Fyneshade" is a total must-read . And Alice Zeniter's "The Art of Losing" is so elegiac and beautiful - I'm obsessed with the way she explores colonialism and racism .

Finally, Bora Chung's "Midnight Timetable" sounds like such a wild ride ! And Sarah Hall's "Helm" is all about our relationship with nature, which I think is so important right now .

I'm so excited about these new book releases ! Geoff Dyer's "Thoreau's Journal" sounds like an amazing read – I love how it combines everyday life with more philosophical thoughts . Xiaolou Guo's "My Battle of Hastings" is also super intriguing, who wouldn't want to explore the connection between Brexit and finding a new home by the sea?

I've been meaning to check out Meghan Daum's essays in "The Catastrophe Hour", I've heard great things about her writing style . And Sarah's classic campus-set coming-of-age novels are always a good choice – there's something so nostalgic about those stories, right?

On the other hand, Marcia Hutchinson's novel "Act Normal" sounds like a really unique and thought-provoking read . Kit de Waal's "The Best of Everything" is also on my radar now – I love books that explore family and love in the face of adversity .

For something darker and more introspective, Kate Griffin's "Fyneshade" sounds like a must-read . And Alice Zeniter's "The Art of Losing" has piqued my interest with its exploration of colonialism and racism – it's so important to keep having these conversations in literature .

Lastly, I'm curious about Bora Chung's surreal novel "Midnight Timetable", Andrew Michael Hurley's appreciation for literary fiction is always spot on !

omg i'm loving this month's book picks its like, so cool to see all these different perspectives and styles coming together - Geoff Dyer's "Thoreau's Journal" is def on my list now, love how it combines the mundane with the profound meanwhile, Marcia Hutchinson's "Act Normal" is giving me all the feels like, have you guys read this one? its so beautifully written and explores some really deep themes...

Love how diverse this month's reads are ! I'm all about exploring different perspectives, whether it's Xiaolou Guo's Brexit journey or Alice Zeniter's complex colonialism issues . And can't wait to dive into #TheCatastropheHour by Meghan Daum - her wit is always on point! Meanwhile, I'm also excited about #ActNormal by Marcia Hutchinson - a butterfly musings of Peter Kalu? That sounds like an interesting read . Anyone else got any faves from this list? Let's chat and share our thoughts

I gotta say, some of these books sound really interesting but, like, how did Geoff Dyer's "Thoreau's Journal" go from being just a collection of notes to this full-on captivating read? I mean, I'm all for lyrical and belligerent descriptions, but I need to see more substance beneath the surface.

I gotta say, most of these books are pretty cool, but I think Geoff Dyer's "Thoreau's Journal" is way overhyped . I mean, it's got some nice quotes and all, but is it really that deep? It sounds like a bunch of ramblings to me . And don't even get me started on the historical inaccuracies . I've read Thoreau's original journal and trust me, it's not as exciting as people make it out to be .

And what's up with all these authors recommending classic coming-of-age novels? It's like they're trying to cling to the past or something . Don't get me wrong, I love a good romance novel as much as the next person, but can't we move on from that genre for once?

I'm actually really intrigued by Marcia Hutchinson's "Act Normal", though . The idea of defying traditional chronology is super interesting and I love how it explores themes of identity and community .

And have you guys read any of these books? What did you think?

I think its kinda cool how diverse these book recommendations are . I mean, you've got literary journals that blend poetry and philosophy, coming-of-age stories about love and relationships, historical explorations of Brexit, classic novels about campus life... it's like a big ol' literary smorgasbord . And then there are the ones that tackle darker themes like colonialism and racism, but still manage to be super thought-provoking and engaging .

But what really catches my eye is how these authors are pushing boundaries with their writing styles and approaches – using unconventional narrative structures, blending genres, and experimenting with language . It's like they're trying to capture the complexity of human experience in all its messy glory .

I'm so done with all these classic coming-of-age novels ! I mean, don't get me wrong, romance is lovely and all that jazz, but can't we move on to something more...substantial? You know, like the complexities of human existence in the digital age ? "Feeding the Machine" just blew my mind, it's like, so relevant to our times . I need more essays on how technology is literally changing us into machines .

And what's with all these light-hearted books about buying flats by the sea? Don't get me wrong, Xiaolou Guo's "My Battle of Hastings" was hilarious , but can't we tackle some real issues for once? Like Brexit and its impact on our society? It's time to shift gears from feel-good stories to something that truly resonates with us .

I'm loving the diversity in this list though, it's like, so refreshing to see authors from different backgrounds sharing their perspectives . And Marcia Hutchinson's "Act Normal" is giving me all the feels , it's like, this beautifully crafted narrative that defies traditional chronology and just...wow. I need more books like that in my life .

But what really caught my eye was Kate Griffin's "Fyneshade", oh my goodness ! It's like, this dark, gothic tale that had me hooked from the very beginning . I mean, who doesn't love a good sinister plot? And Alice Zeniter's "The Art of Losing" is giving me all these emotions ...it's like, this beautiful, elegiac tone that just...tugged at my heartstrings .

Anyway, I'm so glad there are authors out there who understand the complexity of human existence and are willing to explore it in their work . More books like "Feeding the Machine" and "Fyneshade" please !

I'm loving how diverse this list is, but some people might think that it's a bit too 'preachy' about classic campus-set coming-of-age novels . Like, what's wrong with something new and experimental? Xiaolou Guo's "My Battle of Hastings" is hella funny, but shouldn't we be encouraging more authors to take risks like that instead of just rehashing the same old tropes?

omg i'm so obsessed with geoff dyer right now! his thoreau's journal is literally the most captivating read ever i mean what else can you say about a book that has both down-to-earth and soaring elements at the same time? i've been reading nonstop and i need to get more of geoff's books ASAP. and honestly, how did i miss out on xiaolou guo's battle of hastings till now?! it sounds hilarious and serious all at once. i need that book in my life stat!

think geoff dyer's thoreau's journal is pretty cool how he takes this american guy and turns him into a british philosopher that makes sense to people who don't even know anything about american history

I'm loving how diverse this month's book list is . While I get why people are obsessing over Geoff Dyer's "Thoreau's Journal", I think some of the other titles are getting overlooked . For example, have you guys read "The Catastrophe Hour" by Meghan Daum? It's like a masterclass in witty writing and scathing critiques . And can we talk about how under-the-radar Sarah's recommendations are? I mean, classic campus-set coming-of-age novels featuring romance as a central theme are still totally relevant and need more love .

But what really caught my eye is how the book list highlights the struggle to find balance between light and dark . Like, on one hand, we've got Kate Griffin's gothic tale "Fyneshade" which is all about sinister plots and darkness . And then on the other hand, we've got Alice Zeniter's elegiac tone in "The Art of Losing" which explores colonialism and racism in a really thoughtful way .

I'm also loving how some authors are pushing boundaries with their storytelling approaches . Like, Marcia Hutchinson's novel "Act Normal" defies traditional chronology in favor of a more fluid approach, and it sounds SO captivating . And then there's Bora Chung's surreal and sinister "Midnight Timetable" which is like a dream (or nightmare) come true .

Anyway, I think this book list is giving me all the feels and reminding me that there's so much amazing literature out there to discover .