the november review

finding inspiration again & a ramble about life

Hello friends,

I hope you’re holding up okay and that autumn has been treating you well. It’s been truly gorgeous here in Edinburgh — not too cold and surprisingly sunny most days. I’m pretty sure we’ve had more sun this autumn than we did all summer. No complaints on my end, except for the days getting shorter and the nights creeping in way too quickly. With the sun rising at 8:30 am and setting by 3:30 pm, it can feel a bit bleak. But with only 20ish days left until the solstice, the days will slowly start getting longer again — something to look forward to!

To be honest, November has never been my favourite (the same goes for February). These two months always feel a bit... meh. They’re the in-between. October is my birthday month and when autumn is in full bloom, while December is filled with festive excitement. By the time November rolls around, everything seems to slow down — like the calm before the festive storm. But, surprisingly, this November was a good one. While I embraced my homebody tendencies whenever I felt like it, I also managed to get up to quite a few things (well, by introvert standards).

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Before starting my Substack journey, I posted a poll on Instagram to see what my internet friends enjoy reading here. While inspiration and musings came up repeatedly, there were also plenty of curious minds who just love catching up on people’s lives (and honestly, I’m the same). So, while I find my footing on this new platform, I thought I’d ease in with a short post—a little ramble about life.

let’s catch up!

This November, I filled my days with coffee dates with friends, attended two book talks, took plenty of autumnal walks, and enjoyed endless bowls of soup. Butternut, pumpkin, peas, cauliflower… it’s officially hot girls drinking soup season, babe! What’s your go-to soup? I’m looking for inspiration for my next batch! But anyway, you’re probably not here for soup recipes (or maybe you are?).

I also made it to the cinema twice and caught some interesting films — a rare occurrence for me. Not because I don’t enjoy going to the movies, but because what’s been on screen lately hasn’t really been my vibe.

Every year, I attend the Scotland Loves Anime film festival that celebrates Japanese animation in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I pick the movie that speaks to me the most and head to the retro Cameo Picturehouse for a cosy night. I’m a homebody through and through, but spending an afternoon in a cinema when it’s cold outside is one of my favourite activities. This year, I saw The Colors Within — a heartwarming story about a trio of teens who form a band to escape the challenges of daily life. It’s cute, simple, and exactly the warm hug I needed.

The other movie I saw was the quiet and moving Small Things Like These, based on Claire Keegan’s book and starring the exceptional Cillian Murphy (is there anything this man can’t do?). I remember finishing the book last April and feeling unsure about how I felt. At just 116 pages, it’s a short read, but it unpacks so much. The ending left me wanting more, and the story lingered in my mind for days. Now, the film adaptation seems to have had the same effect.

I really liked what Cillian Murphy said on The Culture Show: “I think art is a gentler way of having that interrogation, and I think if a book or film can be entertaining but also gently provocative, I think it’s probably a healthier way to look at it.” That sentiment really resonated with me.

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finding inspiration again

I felt particularly inspired this month. First, I launched my Substack — something I’d been mulling over for months. Writing has been cathartic, but just as rewarding has been reading others’ posts and feeling inspired by their words to pick up a pen or start typing myself.

I also visited the Stills Salon photography exhibition at the Stills Centre for Photography, which motivated me to pick up my film camera again.

And I’ve been having so much fun documenting my days on YouTube. Having a vlog channel has, in a way, made me more aware of the little things around me. I find myself noticing beauty in the everyday, like shadows dancing on the wall thanks to the blasting wind or something equally fleeting that brightens my day.

I know it’s the end of the year, and perhaps my subconscious is panicking, urging me to do all the things. But honestly, I don’t mind. We’ve finally had our first snow in Edinburgh, a little later than the rest of the UK. The next few months will undoubtedly be cold, and I’ll likely spend most days cosy at home. As I’m certainly not immune to seasonal depression, I’m ready to embrace inspiration whenever it strikes.

November is the month of poets, artists, thinkers, lovers and wanderers.

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I promise my next post will be a bit more engaging and less self-indulgent. I’m thinking of sharing my reading recap. I had planned to include it here, but Substack kept warning me I was nearing the email length limit. Maybe it’s a sign to pace myself and not share everything all at once. What do you think?

What do you enjoy reading here? And which are your favourite publications?

Speak soon ♡

— Amandine

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If you’re looking for more content, I have a YouTube channel where I share weekly vlogs about my life in Edinburgh. Check out my latest video below ☻