Martha, I am so sorry about Bruce. What a lucky old man he was! It’s really bizarre because I’m in the car with my husband and kids and my daughter just stopped crying. Every time we leave my in-laws’ house we think we’ll never see their dog, Buckley anymore. He’s ~16. Like Bruce, Buckley has been surprising us for years! But this time around it’s pretty clear we won’t see him again. I just had to watch my kids say goodbye to him and it was the most cruel kind of torture.
All this to say, I’m there with you in my own way. ❤️
As for books, a hell yes to Foster! I read that book in one sitting, flipped to page one and read the first half again. It’s so good.
Thank you Kolina! God it is so rough - your poor kids, so heartbreaking to learn the death of a pet so young. I'm with you too ❤️, Buckley sounds like he has had quite a life - 16 years is SO impressive, what a king.
Hell yes to Foster indeed! What a gorgeous little gem of a book.
Oh that makes him even more special! We are so lucky to have such wonderful pets. Twins on the puppy life!! They're so much fun but so exhausting haha.
I’m very sorry to hear about Bruce, Martha. Sending love and condolences. It was interesting to read your review of Chilco. Have you ever read or reviewed Abdulrazak Gurnah’s novels, including By the Sea or Admiring Silence? I’m on a binge of reading all of his novels; those two are brilliantly scathing and tender humanistic stories of people enduring colonialism and post-colonialism.
Thank you Margo! I had high expectations for Chilco - which perhaps contributed to the fact it didn't quite satisfy me. I have not read any (!) of Gurnah's novels but I have always really meant too. His newest, Theft, has been on my radar. Which of his is your favourite? I love a scathing book about colonialism - sign me up!
So far I’ve read By the Sea and Admiring Silence, both of which I loved. Maybe start with Admiring Silence. I’m now reading Dottie. I’m going to keep going until I’ve read them all - he is brilliant and such a poetic writer.
I'm so sorry to hear about Bruce <3 My family is having discussions right now about when to put down our 16-year-old dog, and it's the saddest thing. Even though you know it's coming, you can't completely prepare. Sending love and happy to hear there is a new addition in Morris! With books, so glad you loved Foster, what a perfect read right now. And I love Natalia Ginzburg so much, too, need to get around to reading The Dry Heart.
Thank you Grace <3 The discussions are the worst - we had to have them too, and it is very hard to balance realism with your love for them. Sending you and your family all the love - as my mum keeps saying everytime she cries, the grief just demonstrates how loved they were! Morris is keeping us very occupied and giving us that dog love we have been missing! Whats your fav Ginzburg? The Dry Heart is epic - perfect summer read too honestly.
Martha! I have been awaiting your next wrap-up and am pleased to hear you had an improved reading month from May despite the grief you’re experiencing in your personal life.
I am thick in the throes of my library’s summer bingo and decided to go for a full board which requires me to read 23 books in 3 months—and all of them must fit a prompt! While I’m a little stressed by this self-imposed homework, I’m glad to be back reading at a normal volume (compared to the 2 books I read in May). I won’t recap Scatterlings since I discussed that on your last monthly post. My favorite book of June was also the strangest, Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. The first story hit me in the gut. I am currently reading my first Toni Morrison novel and decided to start with Sula.
I fear I need to prioritize John Steinbeck soon. I read 2 of his shorter books (Of Mice and Men & The Pearl) as a young teenager at school and did not care for either. Now that I’m an adult, I hear only good things about his work, including his lengthy books. Perhaps my younger self was too quick to write him off! Are we the best judges of literary merit at age 13-14?
Portia! Yes June was so hectic it took me a minute to write these reviews - it is unlike me to be so un-punctual haha. But yes! A MUCH better reading month than May, thank god!
A library summer bingo is so fun - taxing but rewarding! I'd love to hear what books you match to certain prompts! Self-imposted homework, while a little stressful, can be the most rewarding!
Omg I love Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and have been meaning to read Friday Black for a while! Ever since I read Chain Gang All Stars, it has been on my mental list, so I am thrilled to hear how much you loved it. Sula was also my first Morrison a few years ago! I often think of rereading it because of how much more I enjoy Morrison now, I think I'd get more from the story. But still a great place to start!
I would say we are absolutely not the the best judges of literary merit aged 13-14 😂 definitely return to him! It is hard to care, as a child, for books we are made to read at school. There is always something to be said for picking a book yourself rather than being told to read it! I would co-sign your return to him - I think you'd like him. Start with East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath - longer stories to sink your teeth into!
Definitely give Friday Black a read! It was pitched to me as a commentary on consumerism and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was so much more. I really love the imagination of short stories; they can pack such a punch. I have another collection (Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri) waiting for me as well which will fill the “recommended by a librarian” bingo prompt and am planning to do The Memory Police for the “censorship” bingo prompt.
I finished Sula last night and I knew halfway through it was a book I will need to reread to fully appreciate. I was recently gifted a lovely used copy of Songs of Solomon for my birthday, so I plan to explore more of Morrison’s work throughout the rest of the year. A couple years ago I read all 6 of Jane Austen’s novels in 1 year and I really liked the focused exploration of one author’s writing in a condensed period of time although I don’t think I can commit to reading all of Morrison’s books in a single calendar year!
Thank you for the further encouragement to give Steinbeck another try!
Hi Martha. Agree with your passion for Grapes of Wrath. I remember reading following the Okie Trail one summer while pulling a trailer and feeling literature couldn't get any better. A shorter Steinbeck I liked was the audiobook of Cannery Row which was just a lot of fun. Favorite book for June: Spooner by John Williams. You've heard about it, so just read it already. He slays, such a good sad read.
Hi! Passion is exactly what I have for Grapes of Wrath - I had no idea there was such a thing as the Okie Trail, how cool to read the book alongside it! Will make not of the Cannery Row - thank you! And I am going to (boldly) assume you mean Stoner by John Williams, which I continue to hear such great things about! I do intend to read it, I just haven't got myself a copy yet.
My condolences for Bruce; it is a special type of pain, of grief.
My reading has been slower this year too, but in the slowness there is a persistence. I read at a steady pace with not a lot of need for a longer break (which hasn’t always been the case). This steadiness also helps balance out reading with other hobbies (I wish being a hobbyist would be a paid profession!).
A slower but more consistent reading year is impressive! I wish being a hobbyist would be a paid profession too - I have more than enough ways to fill my time with hobbies 😂 my reading definitely suffered when I started new hobbies last year (most prominent being pottery) but I am not complaining, I have space in my heart for both!
'The good you see in others is also in you' -- and the comment section you enjoy so much also has you in it. It wouldn't be what it is without you; it wouldn't even exist! And of course the more of your recommendations the rest of us read, the more we wouldn't be who we are without you. We are all made up of pieces of people we love, the places, the pets, the books we love, in reflection and in refraction. All these pieces of ourselves that we scatter and sow with our words and our acts in the world, that tether us all together in ways we will mostly never see. I'm really sorry about your dog. I'm grateful for your improving health. I'm excited and nervous about the excited and nervous steps two of my children are taking outside their childhood homes this weekend. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
You asked about reading pace: for me this year has been a very good year, on pace for about five books a month, a bit more than the last few years. I think we all ebb and flow with our reading; I often read more in the beginning of a year, a bit less in spring and early summer, then quite a bit in November and December (largely to do with the ebb and flow of my work), but your column has kept me more interested and focused on reading this year, so no spring slowdown!
Like you, I have read Small Things Like These and loved it, and my mom gave me Foster a few months ago, which I now have to read this summer thanks to your review. I'm also intrigued by Dry Heart and I Gave You Eyes... and happy to see my library has both. And Chilco, like all Charco I haven't read yet, is waiting for me to get to it. I'm eager to see what I think of the non-linear narrative. You seem to prize clarity and honesty of emotion in your reading, along with important social themes, and the narrative form has to serve those ends instead of obstructing them for you to really enjoy a book. I'm often interested in books that push the envelope of narrative form, that leave me wondering or leave me with a lot to figure out on my own, and only sometimes mind if it obscures other aspects, so I'm curious whether my reaction to Chilco will be different from yours. Most likely you'll be right again!
Another commenter suggested Gurnah, who I was also thinking about while reading your column. It must be a sign. I've read two of his novels, Gravel Heart and Desertion. Desertion is the more highly lauded of the two, and I understand why, but I was really taken with Gravel Heart, especially the way the emotional tenor of the book did not develop the way I expected. Both were excellent and I'm looking forward to reading more of him in the future.
For me this month, the books I finished worth mentioning are The Tenth Man by Graham Green (a great little book exploring an original and emotionally complex situation, but which would have benefited from more development before ending, not surprising given the book's provenance), and the Count of Monte Cristo, which fully deserves its classic status despite some flaws common to many classics. I read two nonfiction books(!), including one about the peasant revolt of 1381. It was written in English about actual events, but since primary records are so sparse and the past is a foreign country, maybe it counts as translated fiction?
I'm most of the way through Biography of X and, assuming Lacey keeps the quality down the homestretch, it's likely to be one of the best books I've read, so thank you for the recommendation! Really phenomenal stuff. I also came across Pew in a used book store last weekend, so that is shooting up the to-read list.
A Spring of Love just arrived in the mail, which I believe is the first book I ever added to my to-read list on your suggestion. That order was supposed to include The Little I Knew, but instead had Miss Marple's Final Cases. None of us is perfect, and The Little I Knew should be shipped soon. And I do enjoy a little Agatha Christie from time to time. I started Anna Karenina, which I expect to read slowly over a couple months. I have several other books, all of which I think I'm going to read next, or immediately after that, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?
So sorry to hear about Bruce. Pets are such a big part of the fabric of our daily lives, it’s such a devastating loss.
As always, so many thoughtful insights here. Grapes of Wrath is an all-time read, so memorable even 10 years later for me. I’m looking forward to Foster, I’ve been meaning to get to it for ages.
Thanks Laurel <3 They are such a big part of the fabric of daily life and it is such a tragedy to move through the day and be reminded at every turn they are not there.
Grapes of Wrath was so good - 10 year staying power is impressive. Enjoy Foster when you get to it! Its fab
I’m so sorry to hear about Bruce. I hope this new chapter with Morris brings comfort and laughter after your loss ❤️🩹 As for books, I will be adding Reinbou and The Dry Heart to my list. And yes to Foster! Such a wonderful book
Thank you Juliana 🩷 Morris is bringing laughter and exhaustion after the loss but it is nice to have a dog around again - they bring such joy! I look forward to hearing what you think of both Reinbou and The Dry Heart! Honestly every seems to absolutely love Foster - a testament to Keegan's writing!
I definitely feel this seasonal reading… I’m currently in a bookclub reading Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen and it’s such a winter book that though I’m enjoying it, I don’t ever think to bring it on an outdoor outing in this heat! I’m inspired to find my copy of Grapes of Wrath to reread!
Seasonal reading is so real... I hear you! Franzen to me comes across as such a winter author, I have The Connections on my shelf but am saving it for the depths of winter for no other reason than my gut says so. Yesss to the Grapes of Wrath reread! It is the kind of novel you could continually get so much from with every reread.
Martha, I enjoyed reading Chilco with you even though our discussion was brief. But it was understandable. So sorry again about Bruce but I hope he is watching over you, your family, and little Morris!
I Gave You Eyes And You Looked Toward Darkness caught my eye and I've added it to my list!
I enjoyed reading it with you too! And your own reflections - very interesting. Thank you for the love <3 I Gave You Eyes And You Looked Toward Darkness is so fascinatingly weird - I would LOVE to hear what you think!
Omg, I loved The Friend! I really want to watch the movie adaptation with Naomi Watts too. I read an interview about how the dog was such a good actor. I am so, so sorry to hear about Bruce, and also teared up reading your story. Dogs are such gentle creatures. They love in such an unselfish way, they are so loyal, and so forgiving.
Very interesting June reads! I wonder if you've ever considered editing other writers. I love Irish fiction (English majors are obsessed with James Joyce!). Claire Keegan's writing is a master class in the novella, and I have read every single novel of Sally Rooney. Intermezzo is really her best! (I really enjoyed your review of her book). I think that the Irish are the best minority writers in UK English, and then it's a tie between Indians and Sri Lankans (so underrated) afterwards. I have not read enough African minority writers in English though. And then you go into the layers with translation of African minority writers in French, translated into English, Algerian writer in French, translated into English, etc.
I find it interesting how minority Filipino writing in US English compares to those writers and what I might learn from them. I've read John Steinbeck's East of Eden, and a lot of Filipino writers were trained to learn and write in English by reading Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, and Faulkner - including my great, great grand uncle Nick Joaquin, but also Tagalog writers like Edgardo M. Reyes who wrote Sa Kuko Ng Mga Liwanag (In the Claws of Brightness), which if there is ever an English translation of the book, I recommend and think you'll enjoy.
I can't wait to read The Friend in a few months!! I have heard such brilliant things. I love to hear how the dog was such a good actor - such professionalism! Dogs do love in the most unselfish way - I think that is why grieving them is so hard because you have the purest relationship with them, something you could never ever have with another human (so the grief is so different).
Haha I have not considered editing other writers - I am not very good at editing my own work, but I guess it is different when it is someone elses writing. Irish fiction is the best - they are the best writers in the UK I would wholeheartedly agree. They have such good systems in place there for librarys/grants and general support and encouragement for writing, something we do not have in England (nor am I aware of in Wales or Scotland).
The layers of translation for African writers is so real! It is something I think about a lot - most of the translated books from Africa I am able to read are unfortunately only accessible because of the lasting impact of French/Portuguese/Spanish spoken because of colonialism. And the chain of translation from French, to English etc like you said. I would recommend Co Wives, Co Widows to you though! I read it in April https://marthasmonthly.substack.com/p/april-2025-reads and I was just brilliant! I have a few other translated titles from Africa to read this year so keep your eye out for when they get reviewed (because they will this year!) Lots from Sudan, one from Togo, Mauritius and Morocco.
It is so interesting to hear how some English writers are used to instruct and teach how others write - it is in many ways a devastation because mimicking is rarely the best way to learn or write! I will keep an eye out for In The Claws of Brightness if I ever see a translation! Thank you for all the detail in this comment and sharing about your great, great grand uncle - how cool!! Who are your favourite Filipino writers?
Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm so excited and definitely going to read Co Wives, Co Widows for July! I haven't read anything by authors from Sudan, Togo, and Mauritius. Very excited for this!
Because you mentioned that you liked Steinbeck, my favorite African American reads are Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, anything in Jesmyn Ward's oeuvre and one non-fic rec: The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom.
Book Recommendations for Grieving a Beloved Pet:
-The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (a very comforting read, for when you're in the mood to remember and to cry... also the best book told from the pov of a dog)
-Dogs by Sandra Boynton (for a good laugh, children's book, brilliant poetry)
I agree on your point about using some English writers to teach non-speakers English. I had to read a paper about that in school. We have a very interesting poet named Jose Garcia Villa who kinda thought he was "white". (He moved to Greenwich Village in New York and wrote A LOT of criticism about how bad "other Filipino writers" were at writing in English. To be fair, I enjoy his poems, even if in hindsight he was kind of a jerk to other Filipino writers). The good ones don't mimic and manage to find their own voice :)
Favorite Filipino Writers and Books:
-Insurrecto by Gina Apostol (US colonial period)
-Gagamba: The Spider Man by F. Sionil Jose (US colonial period, aftermath of World War II)
-Ermita by F. Sionil Jose (Japanese occupation, highly recommend!!!)
-May Day Eve and Other Stories by Nick Joaquin (Spanish colonial period to US colonial period)
Martha, I’m so sorry about your loss and thank you for sharing Bruce’s story. Pets are such a special gift to us humans.
Good luck with the little guy! With our puppy (now 2) it was like having a toddler and also the work is never done 😅
Congratulations on Martha’s Monthly 2nd anniversary! I look forward to your reading report every month.
I also enjoy Clare Keegan’s writing. I read through all of her work last year. While I feel that Small Things Like These and Foster are my favorite (her best?) work I think she’s a very talented writer and will read anything she puts out. If you want to read more of her So Late in The Day (the short story as well as the short story collection) is a good progression. I personally enjoyed The Forester’s Daughter.
I have The Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginsburg on my summer tbr as well as East of Eden. I’m even more motivated to pick those up after reading your reviews of the two authors’ adjacent works.
I just finished Silk by Alessandro Barrico. It’s now sitting on my favorites of the year list. Have you read it?
Thank you Magda! Pets are such a special gift - and thank you for the luck 😅 it'll be easier when we can take him on walks, at least thats what we keep telling ourselves... I think we forgot how exhausting a puppy can be (because 14 years has passed since we last had one)
And I always look forward to your comments - thank you for being a reader! I have heard a lot of great things about So Late in The Day so I think I will reach for it next!
Ooo let me know what you think of The Family Lexicon! I intend to read it one day (alongside everything she has written). And I am so envious of you that you have not read East of Eden yet - enjoy! It is such a wonderful book. My mum is reading my copy right now and is absolutely enamoured.
I have not read, or heard of, Silk by Alessandro Barrico but I will take a look at it if you rate it so highly!!
Martha, I am so sorry about Bruce. What a lucky old man he was! It’s really bizarre because I’m in the car with my husband and kids and my daughter just stopped crying. Every time we leave my in-laws’ house we think we’ll never see their dog, Buckley anymore. He’s ~16. Like Bruce, Buckley has been surprising us for years! But this time around it’s pretty clear we won’t see him again. I just had to watch my kids say goodbye to him and it was the most cruel kind of torture.
All this to say, I’m there with you in my own way. ❤️
As for books, a hell yes to Foster! I read that book in one sitting, flipped to page one and read the first half again. It’s so good.
Hang in there, Bruce is watching over you 🐾🪽
Thank you Kolina! God it is so rough - your poor kids, so heartbreaking to learn the death of a pet so young. I'm with you too ❤️, Buckley sounds like he has had quite a life - 16 years is SO impressive, what a king.
Hell yes to Foster indeed! What a gorgeous little gem of a book.
Buckley was rescued from a kill shelter too so every single day has been an extra day for him. We’re lucky to have such wonderful pets!
We just got a puppy 3 weeks ago so at least the kids have him to smother with love now.
As expected, your wrap-up was worth the wait 👏🏽👏🏽
Also I love that we’re currently chatting in two different apps. Give me your address and I’ll send a pigeon 🤣
Oh that makes him even more special! We are so lucky to have such wonderful pets. Twins on the puppy life!! They're so much fun but so exhausting haha.
Lmao a pigeon would be well received by me x
I’m very sorry to hear about Bruce, Martha. Sending love and condolences. It was interesting to read your review of Chilco. Have you ever read or reviewed Abdulrazak Gurnah’s novels, including By the Sea or Admiring Silence? I’m on a binge of reading all of his novels; those two are brilliantly scathing and tender humanistic stories of people enduring colonialism and post-colonialism.
Thank you Margo! I had high expectations for Chilco - which perhaps contributed to the fact it didn't quite satisfy me. I have not read any (!) of Gurnah's novels but I have always really meant too. His newest, Theft, has been on my radar. Which of his is your favourite? I love a scathing book about colonialism - sign me up!
So far I’ve read By the Sea and Admiring Silence, both of which I loved. Maybe start with Admiring Silence. I’m now reading Dottie. I’m going to keep going until I’ve read them all - he is brilliant and such a poetic writer.
Ok thank you for the direction - that is where I'll start! I am excited I read him, I have heard such great things!!
You won’t be disappointed!
I'm so sorry to hear about Bruce <3 My family is having discussions right now about when to put down our 16-year-old dog, and it's the saddest thing. Even though you know it's coming, you can't completely prepare. Sending love and happy to hear there is a new addition in Morris! With books, so glad you loved Foster, what a perfect read right now. And I love Natalia Ginzburg so much, too, need to get around to reading The Dry Heart.
Thank you Grace <3 The discussions are the worst - we had to have them too, and it is very hard to balance realism with your love for them. Sending you and your family all the love - as my mum keeps saying everytime she cries, the grief just demonstrates how loved they were! Morris is keeping us very occupied and giving us that dog love we have been missing! Whats your fav Ginzburg? The Dry Heart is epic - perfect summer read too honestly.
Happiness, as Such, I think, though I also loved Family Lexicon. Excited to get to dry heart!
Sending so much love your way!!!
<3 <3 <3
Martha! I have been awaiting your next wrap-up and am pleased to hear you had an improved reading month from May despite the grief you’re experiencing in your personal life.
I am thick in the throes of my library’s summer bingo and decided to go for a full board which requires me to read 23 books in 3 months—and all of them must fit a prompt! While I’m a little stressed by this self-imposed homework, I’m glad to be back reading at a normal volume (compared to the 2 books I read in May). I won’t recap Scatterlings since I discussed that on your last monthly post. My favorite book of June was also the strangest, Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. The first story hit me in the gut. I am currently reading my first Toni Morrison novel and decided to start with Sula.
I fear I need to prioritize John Steinbeck soon. I read 2 of his shorter books (Of Mice and Men & The Pearl) as a young teenager at school and did not care for either. Now that I’m an adult, I hear only good things about his work, including his lengthy books. Perhaps my younger self was too quick to write him off! Are we the best judges of literary merit at age 13-14?
Portia! Yes June was so hectic it took me a minute to write these reviews - it is unlike me to be so un-punctual haha. But yes! A MUCH better reading month than May, thank god!
A library summer bingo is so fun - taxing but rewarding! I'd love to hear what books you match to certain prompts! Self-imposted homework, while a little stressful, can be the most rewarding!
Omg I love Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and have been meaning to read Friday Black for a while! Ever since I read Chain Gang All Stars, it has been on my mental list, so I am thrilled to hear how much you loved it. Sula was also my first Morrison a few years ago! I often think of rereading it because of how much more I enjoy Morrison now, I think I'd get more from the story. But still a great place to start!
I would say we are absolutely not the the best judges of literary merit aged 13-14 😂 definitely return to him! It is hard to care, as a child, for books we are made to read at school. There is always something to be said for picking a book yourself rather than being told to read it! I would co-sign your return to him - I think you'd like him. Start with East of Eden or Grapes of Wrath - longer stories to sink your teeth into!
Definitely give Friday Black a read! It was pitched to me as a commentary on consumerism and I was pleasantly surprised to find it was so much more. I really love the imagination of short stories; they can pack such a punch. I have another collection (Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri) waiting for me as well which will fill the “recommended by a librarian” bingo prompt and am planning to do The Memory Police for the “censorship” bingo prompt.
I finished Sula last night and I knew halfway through it was a book I will need to reread to fully appreciate. I was recently gifted a lovely used copy of Songs of Solomon for my birthday, so I plan to explore more of Morrison’s work throughout the rest of the year. A couple years ago I read all 6 of Jane Austen’s novels in 1 year and I really liked the focused exploration of one author’s writing in a condensed period of time although I don’t think I can commit to reading all of Morrison’s books in a single calendar year!
Thank you for the further encouragement to give Steinbeck another try!
Hi Martha. Agree with your passion for Grapes of Wrath. I remember reading following the Okie Trail one summer while pulling a trailer and feeling literature couldn't get any better. A shorter Steinbeck I liked was the audiobook of Cannery Row which was just a lot of fun. Favorite book for June: Spooner by John Williams. You've heard about it, so just read it already. He slays, such a good sad read.
Hi! Passion is exactly what I have for Grapes of Wrath - I had no idea there was such a thing as the Okie Trail, how cool to read the book alongside it! Will make not of the Cannery Row - thank you! And I am going to (boldly) assume you mean Stoner by John Williams, which I continue to hear such great things about! I do intend to read it, I just haven't got myself a copy yet.
Foster really is such a beautiful story & I think you have beautifully its essence here!
It really is! Thank you Peachy <3
My condolences for Bruce; it is a special type of pain, of grief.
My reading has been slower this year too, but in the slowness there is a persistence. I read at a steady pace with not a lot of need for a longer break (which hasn’t always been the case). This steadiness also helps balance out reading with other hobbies (I wish being a hobbyist would be a paid profession!).
Thank you Barbara! It is a special time of grief.
A slower but more consistent reading year is impressive! I wish being a hobbyist would be a paid profession too - I have more than enough ways to fill my time with hobbies 😂 my reading definitely suffered when I started new hobbies last year (most prominent being pottery) but I am not complaining, I have space in my heart for both!
Aw Bruce is lucky to have had such a good life with you and your family 💖 sorry lovely
He was a very lucky boy! Thanks Amani 💖 pet grief is awful
'The good you see in others is also in you' -- and the comment section you enjoy so much also has you in it. It wouldn't be what it is without you; it wouldn't even exist! And of course the more of your recommendations the rest of us read, the more we wouldn't be who we are without you. We are all made up of pieces of people we love, the places, the pets, the books we love, in reflection and in refraction. All these pieces of ourselves that we scatter and sow with our words and our acts in the world, that tether us all together in ways we will mostly never see. I'm really sorry about your dog. I'm grateful for your improving health. I'm excited and nervous about the excited and nervous steps two of my children are taking outside their childhood homes this weekend. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
You asked about reading pace: for me this year has been a very good year, on pace for about five books a month, a bit more than the last few years. I think we all ebb and flow with our reading; I often read more in the beginning of a year, a bit less in spring and early summer, then quite a bit in November and December (largely to do with the ebb and flow of my work), but your column has kept me more interested and focused on reading this year, so no spring slowdown!
Like you, I have read Small Things Like These and loved it, and my mom gave me Foster a few months ago, which I now have to read this summer thanks to your review. I'm also intrigued by Dry Heart and I Gave You Eyes... and happy to see my library has both. And Chilco, like all Charco I haven't read yet, is waiting for me to get to it. I'm eager to see what I think of the non-linear narrative. You seem to prize clarity and honesty of emotion in your reading, along with important social themes, and the narrative form has to serve those ends instead of obstructing them for you to really enjoy a book. I'm often interested in books that push the envelope of narrative form, that leave me wondering or leave me with a lot to figure out on my own, and only sometimes mind if it obscures other aspects, so I'm curious whether my reaction to Chilco will be different from yours. Most likely you'll be right again!
Another commenter suggested Gurnah, who I was also thinking about while reading your column. It must be a sign. I've read two of his novels, Gravel Heart and Desertion. Desertion is the more highly lauded of the two, and I understand why, but I was really taken with Gravel Heart, especially the way the emotional tenor of the book did not develop the way I expected. Both were excellent and I'm looking forward to reading more of him in the future.
For me this month, the books I finished worth mentioning are The Tenth Man by Graham Green (a great little book exploring an original and emotionally complex situation, but which would have benefited from more development before ending, not surprising given the book's provenance), and the Count of Monte Cristo, which fully deserves its classic status despite some flaws common to many classics. I read two nonfiction books(!), including one about the peasant revolt of 1381. It was written in English about actual events, but since primary records are so sparse and the past is a foreign country, maybe it counts as translated fiction?
I'm most of the way through Biography of X and, assuming Lacey keeps the quality down the homestretch, it's likely to be one of the best books I've read, so thank you for the recommendation! Really phenomenal stuff. I also came across Pew in a used book store last weekend, so that is shooting up the to-read list.
A Spring of Love just arrived in the mail, which I believe is the first book I ever added to my to-read list on your suggestion. That order was supposed to include The Little I Knew, but instead had Miss Marple's Final Cases. None of us is perfect, and The Little I Knew should be shipped soon. And I do enjoy a little Agatha Christie from time to time. I started Anna Karenina, which I expect to read slowly over a couple months. I have several other books, all of which I think I'm going to read next, or immediately after that, but who knows what tomorrow will bring?
So sorry to hear about Bruce. Pets are such a big part of the fabric of our daily lives, it’s such a devastating loss.
As always, so many thoughtful insights here. Grapes of Wrath is an all-time read, so memorable even 10 years later for me. I’m looking forward to Foster, I’ve been meaning to get to it for ages.
Thanks Laurel <3 They are such a big part of the fabric of daily life and it is such a tragedy to move through the day and be reminded at every turn they are not there.
Grapes of Wrath was so good - 10 year staying power is impressive. Enjoy Foster when you get to it! Its fab
I’m so sorry to hear about Bruce. I hope this new chapter with Morris brings comfort and laughter after your loss ❤️🩹 As for books, I will be adding Reinbou and The Dry Heart to my list. And yes to Foster! Such a wonderful book
Thank you Juliana 🩷 Morris is bringing laughter and exhaustion after the loss but it is nice to have a dog around again - they bring such joy! I look forward to hearing what you think of both Reinbou and The Dry Heart! Honestly every seems to absolutely love Foster - a testament to Keegan's writing!
I definitely feel this seasonal reading… I’m currently in a bookclub reading Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen and it’s such a winter book that though I’m enjoying it, I don’t ever think to bring it on an outdoor outing in this heat! I’m inspired to find my copy of Grapes of Wrath to reread!
Seasonal reading is so real... I hear you! Franzen to me comes across as such a winter author, I have The Connections on my shelf but am saving it for the depths of winter for no other reason than my gut says so. Yesss to the Grapes of Wrath reread! It is the kind of novel you could continually get so much from with every reread.
It’s a winter book for sure! I also recently heard about the East of Eden miniseries in production & think I want to read that before watching -
Oh yeah I am so excited for that! Florence Pugh will be an excellent Cathy. Always worth knowing the primary text before watching an adaptation!
Martha, I enjoyed reading Chilco with you even though our discussion was brief. But it was understandable. So sorry again about Bruce but I hope he is watching over you, your family, and little Morris!
I Gave You Eyes And You Looked Toward Darkness caught my eye and I've added it to my list!
I enjoyed reading it with you too! And your own reflections - very interesting. Thank you for the love <3 I Gave You Eyes And You Looked Toward Darkness is so fascinatingly weird - I would LOVE to hear what you think!
Omg, I loved The Friend! I really want to watch the movie adaptation with Naomi Watts too. I read an interview about how the dog was such a good actor. I am so, so sorry to hear about Bruce, and also teared up reading your story. Dogs are such gentle creatures. They love in such an unselfish way, they are so loyal, and so forgiving.
Very interesting June reads! I wonder if you've ever considered editing other writers. I love Irish fiction (English majors are obsessed with James Joyce!). Claire Keegan's writing is a master class in the novella, and I have read every single novel of Sally Rooney. Intermezzo is really her best! (I really enjoyed your review of her book). I think that the Irish are the best minority writers in UK English, and then it's a tie between Indians and Sri Lankans (so underrated) afterwards. I have not read enough African minority writers in English though. And then you go into the layers with translation of African minority writers in French, translated into English, Algerian writer in French, translated into English, etc.
I find it interesting how minority Filipino writing in US English compares to those writers and what I might learn from them. I've read John Steinbeck's East of Eden, and a lot of Filipino writers were trained to learn and write in English by reading Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, and Faulkner - including my great, great grand uncle Nick Joaquin, but also Tagalog writers like Edgardo M. Reyes who wrote Sa Kuko Ng Mga Liwanag (In the Claws of Brightness), which if there is ever an English translation of the book, I recommend and think you'll enjoy.
I can't wait to read The Friend in a few months!! I have heard such brilliant things. I love to hear how the dog was such a good actor - such professionalism! Dogs do love in the most unselfish way - I think that is why grieving them is so hard because you have the purest relationship with them, something you could never ever have with another human (so the grief is so different).
Haha I have not considered editing other writers - I am not very good at editing my own work, but I guess it is different when it is someone elses writing. Irish fiction is the best - they are the best writers in the UK I would wholeheartedly agree. They have such good systems in place there for librarys/grants and general support and encouragement for writing, something we do not have in England (nor am I aware of in Wales or Scotland).
The layers of translation for African writers is so real! It is something I think about a lot - most of the translated books from Africa I am able to read are unfortunately only accessible because of the lasting impact of French/Portuguese/Spanish spoken because of colonialism. And the chain of translation from French, to English etc like you said. I would recommend Co Wives, Co Widows to you though! I read it in April https://marthasmonthly.substack.com/p/april-2025-reads and I was just brilliant! I have a few other translated titles from Africa to read this year so keep your eye out for when they get reviewed (because they will this year!) Lots from Sudan, one from Togo, Mauritius and Morocco.
It is so interesting to hear how some English writers are used to instruct and teach how others write - it is in many ways a devastation because mimicking is rarely the best way to learn or write! I will keep an eye out for In The Claws of Brightness if I ever see a translation! Thank you for all the detail in this comment and sharing about your great, great grand uncle - how cool!! Who are your favourite Filipino writers?
Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm so excited and definitely going to read Co Wives, Co Widows for July! I haven't read anything by authors from Sudan, Togo, and Mauritius. Very excited for this!
Because you mentioned that you liked Steinbeck, my favorite African American reads are Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, anything in Jesmyn Ward's oeuvre and one non-fic rec: The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom.
Book Recommendations for Grieving a Beloved Pet:
-The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (a very comforting read, for when you're in the mood to remember and to cry... also the best book told from the pov of a dog)
-Dogs by Sandra Boynton (for a good laugh, children's book, brilliant poetry)
I agree on your point about using some English writers to teach non-speakers English. I had to read a paper about that in school. We have a very interesting poet named Jose Garcia Villa who kinda thought he was "white". (He moved to Greenwich Village in New York and wrote A LOT of criticism about how bad "other Filipino writers" were at writing in English. To be fair, I enjoy his poems, even if in hindsight he was kind of a jerk to other Filipino writers). The good ones don't mimic and manage to find their own voice :)
Favorite Filipino Writers and Books:
-Insurrecto by Gina Apostol (US colonial period)
-Gagamba: The Spider Man by F. Sionil Jose (US colonial period, aftermath of World War II)
-Ermita by F. Sionil Jose (Japanese occupation, highly recommend!!!)
-May Day Eve and Other Stories by Nick Joaquin (Spanish colonial period to US colonial period)
Martha, I’m so sorry about your loss and thank you for sharing Bruce’s story. Pets are such a special gift to us humans.
Good luck with the little guy! With our puppy (now 2) it was like having a toddler and also the work is never done 😅
Congratulations on Martha’s Monthly 2nd anniversary! I look forward to your reading report every month.
I also enjoy Clare Keegan’s writing. I read through all of her work last year. While I feel that Small Things Like These and Foster are my favorite (her best?) work I think she’s a very talented writer and will read anything she puts out. If you want to read more of her So Late in The Day (the short story as well as the short story collection) is a good progression. I personally enjoyed The Forester’s Daughter.
I have The Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginsburg on my summer tbr as well as East of Eden. I’m even more motivated to pick those up after reading your reviews of the two authors’ adjacent works.
I just finished Silk by Alessandro Barrico. It’s now sitting on my favorites of the year list. Have you read it?
Wishing you a great reading month!
Thank you Magda! Pets are such a special gift - and thank you for the luck 😅 it'll be easier when we can take him on walks, at least thats what we keep telling ourselves... I think we forgot how exhausting a puppy can be (because 14 years has passed since we last had one)
And I always look forward to your comments - thank you for being a reader! I have heard a lot of great things about So Late in The Day so I think I will reach for it next!
Ooo let me know what you think of The Family Lexicon! I intend to read it one day (alongside everything she has written). And I am so envious of you that you have not read East of Eden yet - enjoy! It is such a wonderful book. My mum is reading my copy right now and is absolutely enamoured.
I have not read, or heard of, Silk by Alessandro Barrico but I will take a look at it if you rate it so highly!!
Wishing you a great reading month too my friend x