Haha I appreciate the enthusiasm & you as a reader Madeline 🩷 I always love your comments!
Two excellent book choices!! ‘What I’d Rather Not Think About’ especially was a really interesting approach to exploring grief - her writing style pulls you in from page one and you’re immediately engrossed, which I always appreciate because as readers we know some books can take a good 50 pages before you feel engaged!
The Details was so so good - but I do think ‘Crooked Plow’ is the worthy winner. I actually thought all the books from the shortlist I had read before the prize had even been announced were the better books 😬 I’m glad you agree with me on the ‘color’ and ‘colour’ discourse haha!
Martha I’d love to recommend the book Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde, it’s not translated but it’s heavily in the theme of belonging and was my favorite book I read in April, I think you’d like it! and as always this was a lovely roundup <3
Thank you Hannah <3 I always love your comments! And this is spooky because I have Vagabonds lined up to read in May!!!!! I am pleased you think I’ll like it, because I want too! I’m very excited to finally get round to it xx
Adding so many to my list! Particularly interested in Abyss!!!
I read Birnam Wood last month and I agree with the flaws you pointed out. Including a billionaire recluse, but not using him for social commentary other than his obvious nefarious nature felt like a miss for me. Can’t argue with her great writing though!
Yesss I recommend Abyss with my whole chest! I think you’d really love it.
Yeah I agree so much. It did feel like a miss - what was the point in including him?! Making him nefarious just felt so predictable and a bit boring. Even tho a non nefarious billionaire does not exist, to have a billionaire AND climate change as such core aspects of the novel and not comment or play on the relationship between the two felt lazy? The two are so inherently linked, she had a goldmine there waiting to be used!!! I was stunned that she viewed it as a political novel? Did we read the same thing? Lmao absolutely can’t argue with her great writing - she is talented!
I love love loved Birnam Wood but completely agree the billionaire was more one-dimensional (cue up evil henchmen from a '90s cartoon) than necessary--espc when the marriage portrayed in the book was given more nuance? as were other things? Anywaysss, I really enjoy all your reviews!
Haha the evil henchman comment made me laugh Tara! I’m pleased you agree too - it was good fun to read that’s for sure but he was so one dimensional. The marriage did portray more nuance I agree - so she CAN do it!?! As were the girls alot more too I thought - and even Tony to an extent. Thank you Tara I’m so pleased to hear you enjoy them - I appreciate you as a reader! ❤️
Thank you so much Susan. I appreciate your readership deeply and I’m so pleased to hear you enjoy the reviews. Let me know if you read any of the books!
I have added so many of these to my list, thank you for such descriptive reviews - you've inspired me to read birnam wood which has been on my kindle for a while... fully with you on the color/colour decision!
Thank you for reading El! Ooo come back and lmk what you thought of BW when you finish it - I’d love to know if you agree/disagree with my comments. And I am appreciative of the support on the color/colour decision x
A great choice - it was such a lovely memoir! I look forward to hearing what you think of it. Re May books - I’ll have a think but for now I am really enjoy ‘Cantoras’ by Carolina de Robertis if that sounds like you’re cup of tea & I am also planning on reading ‘Vagabonds!’ by Eloghosa Osunde if that equally sounds like something you’d enjoy. I also have a couple French translated books on the shelf and I might get round to one of those this month so I’ll let you know. I’ll DM you when I have a clearer picture and give you a couple titles xxx
I feel extremely validated right now because I tried to read Kairos and put it down and thought "I guess I'm not smart enough for this one!". Every single one of Erpenbeck's books have a premise that's very interesting to me, but I just haven't cracked the code on her writing yet.
I recently read Broughtupsy (dud) and Elena Knows (per your rec), The Bee Sting (banger, anxiety-inducing), and The End of Drum Time. The End of Drum Time was WAY less dense than many reviews I read made it out to me. This may be because I also recently read Independent People by Halldór Laxness which is the ultimate dense wall of text about animal herding in Scandinavia, so The End of Drum Time felt much more accessible in comparison.
I just picked up My Antonia by Willa Cather (O Pioneers is a fave of mine) and I am slowly working my way through Moby Dick. Just added about ten books to my "to read" list though! I can always tell when your newsletter comes out because my best friend and I both add the same set of books immediately to our queue on Goodreads.
McKenzie the comment about you and your bestfriend adding the same books to your Goodreads queue when I post a newsletter is going to make me tear up! Guys!!!! I love you!!! Two besties with exceptional taste x
Lmao I am HERE to validate the ‘Kairos’ reading experience. It was hard - I also felt similarly with not understanding certain cultural/music/author references. I haven’t cracked it either - it was my first Erpenbeck but it might take a lot of encouragement to try again.
Broughtupsy being a dud!! Tell me more? I was semi interested in that new release this year! But if you say it’s a dud I more than trust you. I love you reading Elena Knows! The Bee Sting is on my TBR! I’ve been waiting for it to come out in paperback & it just has so hoping to get to it soon. I hear such good things about it, and I actually love an anxiety-inducing book every now and then. In your opinion what makes it a banger?
The End of Drum Time is a new title to me - I’ve just looked it up and slay? I want to read that! Added to be TBR - thank you! We love accessible - I haven’t read ‘Independent People’ but I have had my eye on ‘Under the Glacier’ by Halldór Laxness. Have you read anything else of Laxness? A dense wall of text about animal herding sounds.. appealing. If you enjoyed ‘The End of Drum Time’ you might like ‘Land of Snow and Ashes’ by Petra Rautiainen- idk if you have seen the review but I read it in December and it def has the scandi vibe you are giving with these reads!
How are you finding Moby Dick? One of my peers on here loved it a lot and recommended it as a classic for me to try - but I’m always a little apprehensive of the not plot just vibes writing? What are your reflections on it?
Thank you as always for your generously detailed comment - I loved it.
Ages late in responding! Yeah, I found Broughtupsy a little vague and spacy. The premise was interesting, but it just felt like a smattering of ideas and scenes rather than a cohesive novel to me.
I picked up The End of Drum Time after an interview in Ann Helen Peterson's newsletter, and I would definitely recommend (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/lose-yourself-in-this-interview). I haven't read any other Laxness, but I would definitely go back for more. I'll add Land of Snow and Ashes to the list!
I'm doing a little 2 person book-club for Moby Dick with a friend (I was reminded to come respond to this when I saw something about your East of Eden buddy read). I don't think it'll be my #1 favorite book I've ever read, but it's been really fun to discuss each week and it's funnier and easier to read than I expected. It definitely has plot momentum! We're launching our first post about it next week. Entering the book Substack world! We actually were talking about East of Eden for a potential future read, but I've already read it, so we're floating other ideas. Having someone for accountability has been a total game changer.
Wow Martha, an impressive array of reviews! I really looked forward to reading your Birnham Wood review the most because I’d been so curious about it but I know I’ll never have the right mindset to read it, and happily, thankfully, you’ll tell me exactly what I need to know about it 🥰
Thank you Amani 🥰 haha I am so honoured that you trust me - it was enjoyable to read because it is a thriller and at the end of the day the buzz of a thriller is always good fun. However - I have a lot of criticisms with it and when taking a step back about what the novel achieved/didn’t achieve with social commentary it dampened the buzz a bit. I would actually agree that BW wouldn’t be adored by you so I am happy to have done you a service. I think you’d like ‘River East River West’ or ‘Abyss’ or ‘The Swimmers’ more xxx
So happy to have found you, we have such similar reading sensibilities and I will echo the comments above about appreciating the thoughtful reviews and adding titles to my TBR list. 🤓📚🙏
I am currently reading Giovanni's Room and was already starting to plan which Baldwin to read next. My husband is currently reading Baldwin's poetry with his students, so that maybe fun to dip into... I honestly didn't even know that he wrote poetry.
"Abyss" sounds a little bit like my childhood of growing up in Bulgaria during the 80s and 90s, experiencing the fall of communism and the first years of democracy --> both traumatizing. 🤢
My favorite book of the month was "Clear" by Carys Davies (as you know, I have only mentioned that a thousand of times already) 😂
I am so happy to have found you too Petya!! I love how similar our reading tastes are. I am grateful for your comment - thank you! ❤️ I’m happy to have made the TBR that little bit longer!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Giovannis Room - arguably his best work. I have my eyes on ‘Another Country’ or I have been recommended ‘Going To Meet the Man’ by my friend Amara! I am equally interested in ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’ as it is semi-autobiographical and I love a memoir. I also had no idea Baldwin wrote poetry but it also doesn’t surprise me - he is so poetic in his writing.
I am so intrigued to hear about the parallels you can see in ‘Abyss’ with your childhood in Bulgaria! Experiencing the fall of communism / beginning of democracy sounds so incredibly traumatising. I have only read one translated book from Bulgaria - do you have any recommendations at all? If you get round to reading ‘Abyss’ let me know - I’d love to hear your reflections!
Hahaha ‘Clear’ is the clear favourite of the month!! I really look forward to reading it and discussing it with you 😊 you’ve given it such high praise!
Thank you so much Bethel - that is exactly how I want to come across, I am so pleased it shines through! I hope you found a book you might be interested in!
SHE READ BIRNAM WOOD!!! Ahh now I really have to read it too. I don't always like reading reviews before I read something but your analysis will make it more enjoyable to read I think because I will be on the lookout for the politicalness etc.
Martha's Monthly 100% has better translated taste.
I'm reading so many books at once right now - Lispector's Near to the Wild Heart, Wendig's Wanderers, Beam's The Garden, and I have Martyr! on pause because the substance abuse topic is too raw for me a bit still.
SHE DID! Hahaha - I understand not liking to read reviews before forming your own opinions on a book but I appreciate (and am flattered) that you allowed this one through! I would love to hear your thoughts when you’re done on whether you spotted nuanced political commentary bc you were on the lookout for it! Wonder if that will change the vibe. But I think you’ll really enjoy BW - it has all the in depth character analysis I think you love & great adrenaline build up.
Thank you for agreeing with me - I DO have the better taste 🤩
Omg how are you finding Lispector? Eager to know bc I am intending to read her for my classic goal this year! Such a great collection of books, look at you go FIVE at once! Understandable on the Martyr! front - there’s always a time and a place for heavier books. I’m sure you’ll get back to it one day!
I have to read every lispector passage twice to understand it. Very modernist and train of thought but my real struggle is that so far I don’t relate to the protagonists feelings. I’ve never felt the way she describes feeling. Still very interesting and quotes I have underlined
Interesting! Train of thought is always hard to get into but it can be so rewarding once it all clicks. Not relating to protagonists feelings can be hard sometimes I understand - sometimes I can feel the opposite and by not ever feeling the way the protagonist feels I get SO hungry for their perspective as it is one I don’t relate too!
Laura!! I can absolutely understand why this is one of your favourite novels ever - it’s wonderful. I am almost finished and I’ve just enjoyed every single second of reading it. I haven’t been able to read it in as huge blocks as I would have liked for various reasons, but everytime I’ve picked it up I have just been immediately enveloped back into the story. I’m so enamoured with it! It is full of so much nuance and depth, so funny and tragic. I am feeling all of the feels. I want to finish it today so maybe I will come back to this comment later to let you know what I thought of the ending (I’m scared it’s going to be sad)
It is so immersive - I spent all afternoon reading outside and I’ve finished! I guess my suspicious were right it was sad but I thought it was a great ending. I think to have the storyline be about a group of queer women under a dictatorship it would have been a failure to not have Malena’s story finish the way it did - because it would have been inaccurate to the terror and abuse anyone queer would have gone through in that environment. Her death made a lot of sense - her story was so horrifying. When we weren’t allowed to know anything about her I could sense the reason was because it would be horrendous. I liked the note it ended on - I thought it was utterly devastating that Malena was convinced none of them cared for her, but I guess that was her trauma just being so monumental.
I think she represented well the experience of living under a dictatorship, of living in such a repressed state for so long and for it to suddenly all change - the impact that trying to adjust to that has on those who lived through it. It’s incomprehensible the impact that would have. Paz was my favourite.
I love the ending too. And for me I think it worked so well because it’s not written for the edification of straight people. No one learns a lesson. It’s devastating, but then the final scene is the women honoring their friend, telling her story. And to me that is so beautiful. A way to honor those who didn’t survive (for all the reasons you mention) and also those who did. So glad you loved it!
That is such a good way of describing it - and I would absolutely agree. Absolutely no edification here! Holding space both for those who did and didn't survive is so important. It was so beautiful - speaking so much to the sentiment that a lot of things can be true and exist all at the same time. Honestly, I'm gutted its over.
Looking forward to your thoughts on Cantoras! I’ve read it in both English and Spanish, and it’s one of my all-time favorites. Highly recommend The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri as a book that speaks to the sentiment of belonging
I look forward to giving them! Which language did you prefer reading in? Where there large differences in any language or the way the story was presented? I finished it the other day and I loved it. I have not heard of 'The Namesake' but I will add it to my list, thank you for the recommendation Juliana!
Haha I appreciate the enthusiasm & you as a reader Madeline 🩷 I always love your comments!
Two excellent book choices!! ‘What I’d Rather Not Think About’ especially was a really interesting approach to exploring grief - her writing style pulls you in from page one and you’re immediately engrossed, which I always appreciate because as readers we know some books can take a good 50 pages before you feel engaged!
I loved The Details too!! Also, hear you on the UK / USA ´color’ and ‘colour’ discourse and I offer you ‘maths’ and ‘MATH’ 😂
The Details was so so good - but I do think ‘Crooked Plow’ is the worthy winner. I actually thought all the books from the shortlist I had read before the prize had even been announced were the better books 😬 I’m glad you agree with me on the ‘color’ and ‘colour’ discourse haha!
Martha I’d love to recommend the book Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde, it’s not translated but it’s heavily in the theme of belonging and was my favorite book I read in April, I think you’d like it! and as always this was a lovely roundup <3
Thank you Hannah <3 I always love your comments! And this is spooky because I have Vagabonds lined up to read in May!!!!! I am pleased you think I’ll like it, because I want too! I’m very excited to finally get round to it xx
Adding so many to my list! Particularly interested in Abyss!!!
I read Birnam Wood last month and I agree with the flaws you pointed out. Including a billionaire recluse, but not using him for social commentary other than his obvious nefarious nature felt like a miss for me. Can’t argue with her great writing though!
Yesss I recommend Abyss with my whole chest! I think you’d really love it.
Yeah I agree so much. It did feel like a miss - what was the point in including him?! Making him nefarious just felt so predictable and a bit boring. Even tho a non nefarious billionaire does not exist, to have a billionaire AND climate change as such core aspects of the novel and not comment or play on the relationship between the two felt lazy? The two are so inherently linked, she had a goldmine there waiting to be used!!! I was stunned that she viewed it as a political novel? Did we read the same thing? Lmao absolutely can’t argue with her great writing - she is talented!
It was so strange to have him be full evil like mining the earth, but never address it other than him hiding it.....
Literally!!! He was full evil. At least he knew it was wrong enough to hide it x
I love love loved Birnam Wood but completely agree the billionaire was more one-dimensional (cue up evil henchmen from a '90s cartoon) than necessary--espc when the marriage portrayed in the book was given more nuance? as were other things? Anywaysss, I really enjoy all your reviews!
Haha the evil henchman comment made me laugh Tara! I’m pleased you agree too - it was good fun to read that’s for sure but he was so one dimensional. The marriage did portray more nuance I agree - so she CAN do it!?! As were the girls alot more too I thought - and even Tony to an extent. Thank you Tara I’m so pleased to hear you enjoy them - I appreciate you as a reader! ❤️
I so enjoy your reviews. More thoughtful discussion….more to read. Thank you
Thank you so much Susan. I appreciate your readership deeply and I’m so pleased to hear you enjoy the reviews. Let me know if you read any of the books!
I have added so many of these to my list, thank you for such descriptive reviews - you've inspired me to read birnam wood which has been on my kindle for a while... fully with you on the color/colour decision!
Thank you for reading El! Ooo come back and lmk what you thought of BW when you finish it - I’d love to know if you agree/disagree with my comments. And I am appreciative of the support on the color/colour decision x
Definitely adding 'The Colour of Water' to the TBR list.
Any suggestion for upcoming May reads ?
A great choice - it was such a lovely memoir! I look forward to hearing what you think of it. Re May books - I’ll have a think but for now I am really enjoy ‘Cantoras’ by Carolina de Robertis if that sounds like you’re cup of tea & I am also planning on reading ‘Vagabonds!’ by Eloghosa Osunde if that equally sounds like something you’d enjoy. I also have a couple French translated books on the shelf and I might get round to one of those this month so I’ll let you know. I’ll DM you when I have a clearer picture and give you a couple titles xxx
I feel extremely validated right now because I tried to read Kairos and put it down and thought "I guess I'm not smart enough for this one!". Every single one of Erpenbeck's books have a premise that's very interesting to me, but I just haven't cracked the code on her writing yet.
I recently read Broughtupsy (dud) and Elena Knows (per your rec), The Bee Sting (banger, anxiety-inducing), and The End of Drum Time. The End of Drum Time was WAY less dense than many reviews I read made it out to me. This may be because I also recently read Independent People by Halldór Laxness which is the ultimate dense wall of text about animal herding in Scandinavia, so The End of Drum Time felt much more accessible in comparison.
I just picked up My Antonia by Willa Cather (O Pioneers is a fave of mine) and I am slowly working my way through Moby Dick. Just added about ten books to my "to read" list though! I can always tell when your newsletter comes out because my best friend and I both add the same set of books immediately to our queue on Goodreads.
McKenzie the comment about you and your bestfriend adding the same books to your Goodreads queue when I post a newsletter is going to make me tear up! Guys!!!! I love you!!! Two besties with exceptional taste x
Lmao I am HERE to validate the ‘Kairos’ reading experience. It was hard - I also felt similarly with not understanding certain cultural/music/author references. I haven’t cracked it either - it was my first Erpenbeck but it might take a lot of encouragement to try again.
Broughtupsy being a dud!! Tell me more? I was semi interested in that new release this year! But if you say it’s a dud I more than trust you. I love you reading Elena Knows! The Bee Sting is on my TBR! I’ve been waiting for it to come out in paperback & it just has so hoping to get to it soon. I hear such good things about it, and I actually love an anxiety-inducing book every now and then. In your opinion what makes it a banger?
The End of Drum Time is a new title to me - I’ve just looked it up and slay? I want to read that! Added to be TBR - thank you! We love accessible - I haven’t read ‘Independent People’ but I have had my eye on ‘Under the Glacier’ by Halldór Laxness. Have you read anything else of Laxness? A dense wall of text about animal herding sounds.. appealing. If you enjoyed ‘The End of Drum Time’ you might like ‘Land of Snow and Ashes’ by Petra Rautiainen- idk if you have seen the review but I read it in December and it def has the scandi vibe you are giving with these reads!
How are you finding Moby Dick? One of my peers on here loved it a lot and recommended it as a classic for me to try - but I’m always a little apprehensive of the not plot just vibes writing? What are your reflections on it?
Thank you as always for your generously detailed comment - I loved it.
Ages late in responding! Yeah, I found Broughtupsy a little vague and spacy. The premise was interesting, but it just felt like a smattering of ideas and scenes rather than a cohesive novel to me.
I picked up The End of Drum Time after an interview in Ann Helen Peterson's newsletter, and I would definitely recommend (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/lose-yourself-in-this-interview). I haven't read any other Laxness, but I would definitely go back for more. I'll add Land of Snow and Ashes to the list!
I'm doing a little 2 person book-club for Moby Dick with a friend (I was reminded to come respond to this when I saw something about your East of Eden buddy read). I don't think it'll be my #1 favorite book I've ever read, but it's been really fun to discuss each week and it's funnier and easier to read than I expected. It definitely has plot momentum! We're launching our first post about it next week. Entering the book Substack world! We actually were talking about East of Eden for a potential future read, but I've already read it, so we're floating other ideas. Having someone for accountability has been a total game changer.
Wow Martha, an impressive array of reviews! I really looked forward to reading your Birnham Wood review the most because I’d been so curious about it but I know I’ll never have the right mindset to read it, and happily, thankfully, you’ll tell me exactly what I need to know about it 🥰
Thank you Amani 🥰 haha I am so honoured that you trust me - it was enjoyable to read because it is a thriller and at the end of the day the buzz of a thriller is always good fun. However - I have a lot of criticisms with it and when taking a step back about what the novel achieved/didn’t achieve with social commentary it dampened the buzz a bit. I would actually agree that BW wouldn’t be adored by you so I am happy to have done you a service. I think you’d like ‘River East River West’ or ‘Abyss’ or ‘The Swimmers’ more xxx
Great as always! Loving these recommendations!
Thank you Leanna!
So happy to have found you, we have such similar reading sensibilities and I will echo the comments above about appreciating the thoughtful reviews and adding titles to my TBR list. 🤓📚🙏
I am currently reading Giovanni's Room and was already starting to plan which Baldwin to read next. My husband is currently reading Baldwin's poetry with his students, so that maybe fun to dip into... I honestly didn't even know that he wrote poetry.
"Abyss" sounds a little bit like my childhood of growing up in Bulgaria during the 80s and 90s, experiencing the fall of communism and the first years of democracy --> both traumatizing. 🤢
My favorite book of the month was "Clear" by Carys Davies (as you know, I have only mentioned that a thousand of times already) 😂
I am so happy to have found you too Petya!! I love how similar our reading tastes are. I am grateful for your comment - thank you! ❤️ I’m happy to have made the TBR that little bit longer!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Giovannis Room - arguably his best work. I have my eyes on ‘Another Country’ or I have been recommended ‘Going To Meet the Man’ by my friend Amara! I am equally interested in ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’ as it is semi-autobiographical and I love a memoir. I also had no idea Baldwin wrote poetry but it also doesn’t surprise me - he is so poetic in his writing.
I am so intrigued to hear about the parallels you can see in ‘Abyss’ with your childhood in Bulgaria! Experiencing the fall of communism / beginning of democracy sounds so incredibly traumatising. I have only read one translated book from Bulgaria - do you have any recommendations at all? If you get round to reading ‘Abyss’ let me know - I’d love to hear your reflections!
Hahaha ‘Clear’ is the clear favourite of the month!! I really look forward to reading it and discussing it with you 😊 you’ve given it such high praise!
What an extensive list with such detailed descriptions! Your passion for reading and writing shine through in these recommendations!
Thank you so much Bethel - that is exactly how I want to come across, I am so pleased it shines through! I hope you found a book you might be interested in!
SHE READ BIRNAM WOOD!!! Ahh now I really have to read it too. I don't always like reading reviews before I read something but your analysis will make it more enjoyable to read I think because I will be on the lookout for the politicalness etc.
Martha's Monthly 100% has better translated taste.
I'm reading so many books at once right now - Lispector's Near to the Wild Heart, Wendig's Wanderers, Beam's The Garden, and I have Martyr! on pause because the substance abuse topic is too raw for me a bit still.
also I'll take Friendship Bookmarks for 100 please 😄
I’ll look into the production of those bookmarks immediately 😊
SHE DID! Hahaha - I understand not liking to read reviews before forming your own opinions on a book but I appreciate (and am flattered) that you allowed this one through! I would love to hear your thoughts when you’re done on whether you spotted nuanced political commentary bc you were on the lookout for it! Wonder if that will change the vibe. But I think you’ll really enjoy BW - it has all the in depth character analysis I think you love & great adrenaline build up.
Thank you for agreeing with me - I DO have the better taste 🤩
Omg how are you finding Lispector? Eager to know bc I am intending to read her for my classic goal this year! Such a great collection of books, look at you go FIVE at once! Understandable on the Martyr! front - there’s always a time and a place for heavier books. I’m sure you’ll get back to it one day!
I have to read every lispector passage twice to understand it. Very modernist and train of thought but my real struggle is that so far I don’t relate to the protagonists feelings. I’ve never felt the way she describes feeling. Still very interesting and quotes I have underlined
Interesting! Train of thought is always hard to get into but it can be so rewarding once it all clicks. Not relating to protagonists feelings can be hard sometimes I understand - sometimes I can feel the opposite and by not ever feeling the way the protagonist feels I get SO hungry for their perspective as it is one I don’t relate too!
These look fabulous, can’t wait to check them out. The Color of Water is fantastic, so happy to see it here!
Thank you Margo! Yess it was such a fantastic memoir, I was so happy to have read it! I enjoyed it a lot.
Cantoras is one of my favorite novels ever! I hope you love it.
Laura!! I can absolutely understand why this is one of your favourite novels ever - it’s wonderful. I am almost finished and I’ve just enjoyed every single second of reading it. I haven’t been able to read it in as huge blocks as I would have liked for various reasons, but everytime I’ve picked it up I have just been immediately enveloped back into the story. I’m so enamoured with it! It is full of so much nuance and depth, so funny and tragic. I am feeling all of the feels. I want to finish it today so maybe I will come back to this comment later to let you know what I thought of the ending (I’m scared it’s going to be sad)
Oh yay I’m so glad you are loving it. Enveloping is a good word, it’s just so immersive. Would love to hear what you think of the ending!
It is so immersive - I spent all afternoon reading outside and I’ve finished! I guess my suspicious were right it was sad but I thought it was a great ending. I think to have the storyline be about a group of queer women under a dictatorship it would have been a failure to not have Malena’s story finish the way it did - because it would have been inaccurate to the terror and abuse anyone queer would have gone through in that environment. Her death made a lot of sense - her story was so horrifying. When we weren’t allowed to know anything about her I could sense the reason was because it would be horrendous. I liked the note it ended on - I thought it was utterly devastating that Malena was convinced none of them cared for her, but I guess that was her trauma just being so monumental.
I think she represented well the experience of living under a dictatorship, of living in such a repressed state for so long and for it to suddenly all change - the impact that trying to adjust to that has on those who lived through it. It’s incomprehensible the impact that would have. Paz was my favourite.
I love the ending too. And for me I think it worked so well because it’s not written for the edification of straight people. No one learns a lesson. It’s devastating, but then the final scene is the women honoring their friend, telling her story. And to me that is so beautiful. A way to honor those who didn’t survive (for all the reasons you mention) and also those who did. So glad you loved it!
That is such a good way of describing it - and I would absolutely agree. Absolutely no edification here! Holding space both for those who did and didn't survive is so important. It was so beautiful - speaking so much to the sentiment that a lot of things can be true and exist all at the same time. Honestly, I'm gutted its over.
Looking forward to your thoughts on Cantoras! I’ve read it in both English and Spanish, and it’s one of my all-time favorites. Highly recommend The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri as a book that speaks to the sentiment of belonging
I look forward to giving them! Which language did you prefer reading in? Where there large differences in any language or the way the story was presented? I finished it the other day and I loved it. I have not heard of 'The Namesake' but I will add it to my list, thank you for the recommendation Juliana!