Novellas in November

Novellas in November is hosted by Cathy of 746 Books and Beck of Bookish Beck.

I have been on a trip to South Korea and Japan in October/November so I did start a little bit earlier with a few novellas.

• Völsungasagan by Katarina Harrison Lindbergh (168 pages) - The Völsunga saga takes place in a colorful ancient time with warriors, gods and dragons. The story revolves around Andvar's treasure, which has been cursed. When the young Völsung Sigurd gets his hands on the treasure, he is drawn into the merciless tragedy of gold. It is a thrilling and exciting story that takes you back to the old times in Iceland. Wonderfully written in a modern take on the old Iceland sagas.
  

• Epic of Gilgamesh (71 pages) is an epic from ancient Mesopotamia, and one of the oldest known works of literature. Gilgamesh is the powerful but arrogant king of Uruk. The gods create a wild man, Enkidu, to challenge him; the two become close friends. Together they undertake heroic adventures, defeating beasts like Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. When Enkidu dies as punishment from the gods, Gilgamesh is devastated and sets out on a quest for immortality. He ultimately learns that humans cannot escape death and returns to Uruk wiser, realising that one’s legacy comes through human achievements and compassion rather than eternal life. Like all religious writings it teaches you of the right path, even if not everyone is able to follow that path. It was an interesting account of a very old story.
  

• We have always lived in the castle by Shirley Jackson (176 pages) - a classic gothic horror, follows Merricat Blackwood, who lives in isolation with her sister Constance and their elderly Uncle Julian after most of their family died from poisoning years earlier. The people in town fear and resent them, thinking that one of them killed the rest of the family. One day their cousin Charles arrives, and disrupts the balance of peace in the house. Their secluded life is suddenly threatened. As tensions escalate and unexpected occurence leave destruction in its wake. A dark, scary undertone is lingering all through the story, with a surprising revelation in the end. A classic tale, and although I don't read a lot of horror stories, I did like this one.
  

• The Vegetarian by Han Kang (160 pages) - is a three-part novel set in modern-day Seoul and tells the story of Yeong-hye, a part-time graphic artist and home-maker, whose decision to stop eating meat after a bloody nightmare about human cruelty leads to devastating consequences in her personal and familial life. This is not an easy book to read, and I must admit I did not take to it, or really understood Yeong-hye. It is not so much about vegetarianism, as finding a place in our time. I wanted to read this one while I was travelling around South Korea. I have to try a few other books by authors from this country.

These are the novellas I have read so far this month. What comes next? I will probably start with the two first ones, since I have them on my shelves. The other four are on my Nextory app.

Thirst for Love by Yukio Mishima (200 pages)

Perdu by Paride Rombi (165 pages)

Den sista vargen by Laszlo Krasznahorkai (127 pages) - I should try another Nobel Prize winner, or will it be too much?

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin (95 pages)

Água Viva by Clarice Lispector (79 pages)