The best books of November 2020, according to Amazon's editors
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Amazon; Gilbert Espinoza/Business Insider
- November is here, and with it comes 10 exciting and captivating selections from Amazon's book editors.
- This month's list includes an ode to the human brain, a murder mystery set in the Irish countryside, and a collection of personal stories from actor and Parkinson's advocate Michael J. Fox.
- All of November's picks are detailed below, with short summaries provided by Amazon's book editor, Erin Kodicek.
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In a month that's practically bursting at the seams with uncertainty, one thing is for sure: books are as important as ever. Whether you view reading as an act of self-care and escapism or are turning to new reads as a means of education and empowerment, Amazon's book editors have curated a list of titles sure to satisfy a wide range of bibliophiles.
Among November's selections is former NFL player Emmanuel Acho's "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," which powerfully discusses the need to address systemic racism across America — inspired by Acho's video series of the same name. Additional picks include a historical fiction novel set in World War II-era England, a slow-burn mystery, and more.
Here are Amazon's top 10 books of November 2020:
Captions have been provided by Erin Kodicek, editor of books, and Kindle at Amazon.com.
Amazon
In this affecting debut, a mixed race couple in Houston, estranged from their families, and increasingly from each other, confront their relationship and familial fractures when the father of one of them falls ill.
"White Ivy" by Susie YangAmazon
Ivy Lin is a skilled grifter, but her mother foiled her plan to further insinuate herself into the life of an influential family. Years later Ivy gets a second chance, and she'll stop at nothing to reclaim what she thinks is rightfully hers, including golden boy Gideon Speyer.
"The Cold Millions" by Jess WalterAmazon
Set in Spokane in 1909, and seamlessly integrating a motley crew of fictional and real-life characters, Walter spins a raucous tale of two orphaned brothers, trying to have and to hold onto their dreams in a have not world.
"The Butchers' Blessing" by Ruth GilliganAmazon
Why was a member of a special group of butchers, who roam the Irish countryside slaughtering animals in an ancient, ritualistic way, found strung up like one of his unfortunate prey? This slow-burn mystery explores the tension between the old and the new.
"The Law of Innocence" by Michael ConnellyAmazon
After a dead body is discovered in his trunk, Mickey Haller — aka the Lincoln Lawyer — ends up in the clink with some of his former clients, where he is forced to mount his own defense.
"Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man" by Emmanuel AchoAmazon
In this enlightening book adapted from a video series that was a viral hit, former NFL player Emmanuel Acho fields questions from white people about racism and Black culture.
"Pappyland" by Wright ThompsonAmazon
The story of the steward of one of Kentucky's most beloved bourbons, "Pappyland" is a roller coaster ride of a formidable legacy built, lost, and resurrected through sheer force of will and a whiskey barrel miracle.
"Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain" by Lisa Feldman BarrettAmazon
In this witty pop-science read, noted neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett offers an ode to our brains, elucidating on why we have one, and how this miraculous organ processes information and emotions.
"Miss Benson's Beetle" by Rachel JoyceAmazon
From the bestselling author of "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry," a story about another kind of quest, one which finds two delightfully unlikely explorers and friends on a madcap and moving adventure to find a rare insect.
"No Time Like the Future" by Michael J. FoxAmazon
Celebrated actor and advocate for those with Parkinson's disease, Michael J. Fox returns to writing once again in a rousing collection of personal stories and observations about illness, aging, mortality, and emotional resilience.