This book is called November because the story takes place during the month of November. It sits at a short 185 pages, but oh so good!
November is about a tragedy involving a family of four—the mom, the dad, and their adult children Olivier and Laure. Laure is the narrator of the story.
Olivier and Laure’s mother is a bitter alcoholic who is physically ugly and hates the way she looks. Their father chases after the family’s Spanish maid Manuela, who also happens to be Olivier’s object of affection.
As the narrator, Laure regales us about how her brother and father have an affair with the maid while her mom drowns herself in alcohol. Meanwhile, Laure is having an affair of her own with a married professor at work.
At one point, Manuela goes missing, and Laura speculates about what happened to her.
Simenon has a quirky, blunt, and matter-of-fact style. It’s predictable, but that’s okay, because this book is great for its prose.
One thing I do really appreciate about Georges Simenon is that all his books are timeless. It doesn’t matter how old they are, all his books are gems.
I’ve also read and reviewed Across the Street.
What do you think about November, or about Georges Simenon in general?
Last Updated on December 2, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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