I went hot and heavy (haha) with Women in Translation month last August (the highlight being My Brilliant Friend) and my plans for this month are a bit more male-heavy, it seems, totally accidentally. I'm doing a buddy read of Rock, Paper, Grenade (yay!) and also cracking on with The Bee Sting (which is okay, I know people rave about it).
I recently read The Sellout, Paul Beatty, which was brilliant, absolutely hilarious.
The last thing I read in translation? A Heart So White, Javier Marias (also a buddy read, with the same person as Rock, Paper, Grenade) - fantastic book, eager to dive into his entire oeuvre now.
I did not realize Cosmos is only out in English in the UK after adding it to my tbr last week and now I'm very upset! But *jealous sigh* glad you got to read and love it. Taiwan Traveologue is ridiculously popular at my library which I did not expect so a little stressed about getting to it for bc since it hasn't shown up but we'll see. I've wanted to read The Book of Disappearance so I'm thrilled it your your stamp of approval
My problem is that most of my WIT month recs come from YOU 🤣 I’m reading something now, when do you need the submissions by? It’s a very me rec… 😎 I’m in love with your love for Kingsolver because her books are very… thick, if that makes sense. She’s brilliant and so are you!!
First, thank you, Martha, for contributing to the Right Book at the Right time series. Your powerful story is exactly the reason I wanted to do this series.
Next, thank you for this particular list of books! I want to read Women Without Men and will be getting it somehow very soon. I also want to read 100 Guinea Pigs -- its subject and the way it appears to be handled is very on target for me right now. I remember reading The Poisonwood Bible years ago when I was distracted by work and many other things. I think I need to read it again. I remember struggling with it but also applauding Kingsolver for writing a novel that was so ambitious and far-flung.
I am retired with time to read books and Substacks about books. Yours is the BEST!!
It takes courage to comment on the Gaza/Israel horrors. Unless one piles on with the crowd, the writer can expect mountains of hate. I have been hated more for one comment of information from the Israeli view than i have been “hated” all of my life. I am struck by the irony that war is living hate, and then when one seeks to introduce a fact/view that might lead to understanding and peace - the hate increases. Concerning The Great Disappearance: I ask that all remember - when the character’s greatest sadness is displacement, almost all Israelis have been displaced. (See history). Because displacement is part of the genetic and lived experience of most Israelis, displacement does not engender deep empathy. (I am not saying displacement is good - I am introducing a fact.) On the subject of how a person’s experience can impact their empathy I highly recommend: The Memory Monster by Yishai Sarid.
I really appreciated reading your reflections on your relationship with reading and the ways it has changed. I often think about the reader I was before grief knocked me for six and, while I definitely mourn that version of myself and the relationship I had with reading, it's also interesting to see the ways it has changed for the better. Anyway, thank you for sharing. Also loved reading your reflections as usual. I scrolled past One Hundred Guinea Pigs because my copy is staring at me and I'm hoping to read it imminently. I also really appreciated The Book of Disappearance and I'm looking forward to The Sleep Thief, which is out next month (I think). I've been wanting to read The Poisonwood Bible for years and I'm constantly looking out for a decent secondhand copy so I'm very glad to see how much you liked it! Oh, and Women Without Men has been on the list for a minute as well... So many books, nowhere near enough time!
relieved you liked poisonwood bible LOL and also i've been eyeing cosmos!!! forever eyeing women without men. and as always, love your reflections on reading as an identity. makes perfect sense that you would both celebrate not being bed bound and grieve the bright spot you found during a really terrible time. to be human is to be contradictory to ourselves and i think that slays tbh
My library copy of Women without men came in last week. I’m excited to read over the next few coming days. I really enjoyed the international booker list last year.
In response to changes in your reading it’s hard accepting something that must have been a huge anchor during such a difficult time, I often find other people’s responses unless they are a reader themselves never really get it.
After having kids I knew the way I read would have to change, reading on my phone predominantly would have been something I never done before. But I’d rather read this way than not at all.
Last year I also caved and started listening to books more - again not something I initially would have enjoyed, but I find for some books it actually works well.
That settles it: I'm reading Women Without Men this month!
Yes do!!!! I really enjoyed it & I think you would too! I laughed way more than I thought I would considering the subject
Also, Martha convinced me. This book have been on and off my up next. Too committed for this month.
I do have other Martha recs ahead of this. 😞
I went hot and heavy (haha) with Women in Translation month last August (the highlight being My Brilliant Friend) and my plans for this month are a bit more male-heavy, it seems, totally accidentally. I'm doing a buddy read of Rock, Paper, Grenade (yay!) and also cracking on with The Bee Sting (which is okay, I know people rave about it).
I recently read The Sellout, Paul Beatty, which was brilliant, absolutely hilarious.
The last thing I read in translation? A Heart So White, Javier Marias (also a buddy read, with the same person as Rock, Paper, Grenade) - fantastic book, eager to dive into his entire oeuvre now.
You just reminded me that I have A Heart So White in my shelf.
Splendid! Have you read any Marias before? This was my first of his.
Yes. I read All Souls. Some factual background within and an interesting look at a "campus novel"
That’s the one I want to read next.
I did not realize Cosmos is only out in English in the UK after adding it to my tbr last week and now I'm very upset! But *jealous sigh* glad you got to read and love it. Taiwan Traveologue is ridiculously popular at my library which I did not expect so a little stressed about getting to it for bc since it hasn't shown up but we'll see. I've wanted to read The Book of Disappearance so I'm thrilled it your your stamp of approval
My problem is that most of my WIT month recs come from YOU 🤣 I’m reading something now, when do you need the submissions by? It’s a very me rec… 😎 I’m in love with your love for Kingsolver because her books are very… thick, if that makes sense. She’s brilliant and so are you!!
First, thank you, Martha, for contributing to the Right Book at the Right time series. Your powerful story is exactly the reason I wanted to do this series.
Next, thank you for this particular list of books! I want to read Women Without Men and will be getting it somehow very soon. I also want to read 100 Guinea Pigs -- its subject and the way it appears to be handled is very on target for me right now. I remember reading The Poisonwood Bible years ago when I was distracted by work and many other things. I think I need to read it again. I remember struggling with it but also applauding Kingsolver for writing a novel that was so ambitious and far-flung.
I am retired with time to read books and Substacks about books. Yours is the BEST!!
It takes courage to comment on the Gaza/Israel horrors. Unless one piles on with the crowd, the writer can expect mountains of hate. I have been hated more for one comment of information from the Israeli view than i have been “hated” all of my life. I am struck by the irony that war is living hate, and then when one seeks to introduce a fact/view that might lead to understanding and peace - the hate increases. Concerning The Great Disappearance: I ask that all remember - when the character’s greatest sadness is displacement, almost all Israelis have been displaced. (See history). Because displacement is part of the genetic and lived experience of most Israelis, displacement does not engender deep empathy. (I am not saying displacement is good - I am introducing a fact.) On the subject of how a person’s experience can impact their empathy I highly recommend: The Memory Monster by Yishai Sarid.
And now to read The Great Displacement.
I really appreciated reading your reflections on your relationship with reading and the ways it has changed. I often think about the reader I was before grief knocked me for six and, while I definitely mourn that version of myself and the relationship I had with reading, it's also interesting to see the ways it has changed for the better. Anyway, thank you for sharing. Also loved reading your reflections as usual. I scrolled past One Hundred Guinea Pigs because my copy is staring at me and I'm hoping to read it imminently. I also really appreciated The Book of Disappearance and I'm looking forward to The Sleep Thief, which is out next month (I think). I've been wanting to read The Poisonwood Bible for years and I'm constantly looking out for a decent secondhand copy so I'm very glad to see how much you liked it! Oh, and Women Without Men has been on the list for a minute as well... So many books, nowhere near enough time!
relieved you liked poisonwood bible LOL and also i've been eyeing cosmos!!! forever eyeing women without men. and as always, love your reflections on reading as an identity. makes perfect sense that you would both celebrate not being bed bound and grieve the bright spot you found during a really terrible time. to be human is to be contradictory to ourselves and i think that slays tbh
My library copy of Women without men came in last week. I’m excited to read over the next few coming days. I really enjoyed the international booker list last year.
In response to changes in your reading it’s hard accepting something that must have been a huge anchor during such a difficult time, I often find other people’s responses unless they are a reader themselves never really get it.
After having kids I knew the way I read would have to change, reading on my phone predominantly would have been something I never done before. But I’d rather read this way than not at all.
Last year I also caved and started listening to books more - again not something I initially would have enjoyed, but I find for some books it actually works well.