Thank you Tracy! I have never heard of Angels & Demons - I like the sound of the heavy religious element though!! If you are a historic lover of speculative fiction, I am sure you will enjoy On the Calculation of Volume! It is funny seeing it everywhere, I have too. I think it might reflect how refreshing it is for a book thats captured the 'mainstream' (if you will) to be so bizarre.
I fly to my laptop and make a quick tea or coffee and find somewhere comfortable to sit the instant I see a Martha's Monthly notif pop up on my phone or in my email inbox- Love hearing your takes on the much-discussed Balle & modern classic Biography of X (both of which I hope to get to sooner or later...) as well as Cautery and On the Greenwhich line, which both have been hovering in my periphery. Back in the Day is a new title to me, but your description reminded me of a book I've recently read and have been thinking about a ton called The Passenger Seat, which is also about teen boys, aimless, who kind of spiral toward violence (and it's told from a distinct distance). Thanks as always for the many recs Martha!
Regan I love you, thank you for the love always! Honoured that the notification of my monthly reads prompts such a romantic habit of getting a drink and sitting somewhere comfortable, that is the highest of praise. I was worried people might have heard too much about Balle - but I guess throwing my opinion into the growing chorus of noise is part of the fun! I am so intrigued to see where the series goes - I haven't read a 'series' with this many novels since I was 15/16 so I am enjoying the anticipation of waiting that it brings, something special in that! I'm surprised you haven't read Biography of X, I would have assumed you would- whenever you do, I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Cautery & On the Greenwich Line were both v fab - I loved how well Lewis wrote British humour. I am very intrigued in The Passenger Seat, I do enjoy a book about adolescent boys loosing themselves to the various vices. Would you recommend?
On the Martha Scale I'd call Passenger Seat a very solid Borrow! It's lingered with me in a crazy way, although the experience of reading definitely isn't what I'd call enjoyable --frustrating, disturbing, but really successful in the way it intended I think!
Some great reads this month! Thanks for reading Biography of X with me 🫶 you've really hit the nail on the head with your review. Also I'm planning on starting Calculations on Volume next so I was delighted to see it here AND that you loved it!
Thanks for reading with me ❤️🩷 I can't wait to listen to your final thoughts voice note tomorrow hehe. I'm so pleased you feel I hit the nail on the head though - thats a big compliment! Hell yeah join the calculations of volume gang! I'd be super intrigued to hear what you think - I think you'll enjoy it!!
thrilled that you loved biography of x - one of my favourite books of the last 10 years, i think. i have thought about it a lot in the two years since i read it. the quality of the writing is just so, so good and then the worldbuilding is so unique - to reinvent the history of america to tell a completely different story !!! and on top of that, it starts feeling absurd that X did all of these things in a single life, that she was this mystical amalgam of so many real-world references. to your final question: one of my favourite lines in the book is from CM saying "there's only one widow, all the rest are just ex-wives," it reminded me a bit of rachel cusk's outline, how much of the novel is also a portrait of CM refracted through X and admiring or hating X depends so much on CM.
i have a copy of 'on the calculation of volume' waiting for me on my shelf, i hope to read it soon. glad to hear more praise for it! i am, of course, adding cautery to a pre-order list - in Martha we trust
I loved Biography of X so much. I wonder now if Lacey could write anything I didn't like because it is starting to feel like she could never... I love this comment Laurel - agree with the world building it was phenomenal. When the novel began to move away from it a bit I was so sad - those first 100ish pages were spectacular I was absolutely HOOKED. I could have read a journalistic perspective of the southern territory and interviews with the residents for hundreds of pages I think.
What a brilliant line to highlight, I remember reading that re reading several times. It IS so like Faye in outline, learning about CM through how she resents/idolises X. It was so evident that CM loved that writing endeavours of X and resented her modern art/performances much more - would you agree? CM really took me on a journey - initially loved her, then hated her for hating X so much (lol) and then felt so compassionate for her at the end. I loved how the novel ended with describing X's death - the whole read you really think it is going to be the most outlandish, theatrical death and it turns out to be so mortal and human it brought me right back to CM's grief, feeling so devastated that all she thought her life was with X, and all she thought X was, she had destroyed in the name of the 'truth' and I wondered a lot if she regretted it. So much in the novel I missed I think because the adrenaline to constantly find out what was 'next' was so compelling - I'd be very intrigued on what a re-read would bring.
Would love to hear your thoughts on 'on the calculation of volume'! i think you'd enjoy the speculative nature - I found it surprisingly lighthearted in its speculative strangeness. I am definitely on the Balle praise bandwagon! Love the cautery pre-order - again, what a lovely surprise that was. I had no expectations for it, which perhaps was part of the charm xx
I overall found X such a compelling character because she's so intense, so cruel and so memorable - I loved how complicated even their relationship is (how can you love someone who is essentially unknowable? and how much pride would you feel being that person?). You're reminding me of so many of the details of the book I'd forgotten, eg, the details of her art and CM's relationship to it. Would definitely be an amazing re-read one day.
Unexpected finds are the best -- this was Biography of X for me, actually! Did not really have any expectations but picked it up because I read a passing description that sounded interesting. Really should read her first two books as well.
X is so intense and cruel... and cool? As I said in the review idk if I hated her or wanted to be her! I was also feeding off how complicated their relationship is - CM's pride was evident in being the one that 'got' X but we watched it crumble as it went on. I'd argue CM in so many ways didn't love X at all because she was so unknowable, she just wanted to be her? Would be such an amazing reread one day.
Unexpected finds are the best - when I first saw Biography of X come out I was disinterested in it because I just didn't understand at all what it was about! A loss for the publisher teams on that, idk why they didn't lead with the dystopian more? You absolutely should read Pew - it feels very in the Biography of X universe. I need to read her debut now tho! What a time to be alive that she's got a forthcoming book this summer.
ok FINE I'll read Biography of X!!! I didn't realize it had a dystopian angle which is a fav of mine
Sad about Savage Detectives. I'm super intrigued just because now I am curious how I would react, being a lover of the chorus narration, but I might try 2666 instead.... after Solenoid, of course. I genuinely feel - and I say this with all due respect - this might be a guy's guy type of book.
I am purposefully not reading your Calculation review since I am writing mine this week but I can't wait to see if we feel the same. It's been v exciting to have so many people reading this weird novel at the same time. It's like a litmus test for personal taste rather than representing any kind of technical standard since it seems everyone can agree the writer has immense skill but reactions on enjoyment have been different.
Wait you'd love Biography of X!!!! I didn't realise it had a dystopian angle until I started reading.. and it was absolutely my favourite part of the novel. Lacey does dystopian SO well, a real master.
Savage Detectives is so sad - I considered texting you to tell you how much I hated it, but I refrained because I know you have a copy and want to read it.. I do like a chorus narration but that was too far, not very chorusy more like a collection of short stories. I still want to try 2666 - I read a lot of comments online from people who were die hard Bolaño fans saying they felt Savage Detectives was his worst work / generally not that good. Which gives me hope for trying him again! I think I just need a few months to dust off the jaded vibes I am feeling for him right now.. I laughed at 'this might be a guy's guy book' - I guess I will have to wait for the guys to prove, or disprove that 😉 You might be right - with all due respect A LOT of the online conversation (goodreads, reddit, storygraph, youtube) that was v positive about Savage Detectives was written by men. But maybe that's just one big fluke.
I respect you not reading my Calculation review if you are writing yours now! I can't wait to see what you have to say too and see if compare! It has been v exciting to all read it at such similar times, it is definitely having a moment. Haha it IS like a litmus for personal taste - I loved it and I have a sneaky suspicion there might be a chance you did not love it as much as me... but I could be wrong. I look forward to finding out.
Truly HOW did I not see the connection between Calculation and chronic illness??? It's such a perfect analogy to what you have experienced. Just another layer to make me awe at Balle's skill. I also totally missed the lack of technology - that feels huge in retrospect. I've lost/broken my phone a few times in my life and I remember feeling like a ship without anchor - that is exactly what Tara has become.
The one place that I disagree with you - the novel was monotonous and repetitive to me while also saying something different about each day. It was somehow both.
I also hated some of those sections where she made a string of weird similies (like something about her and Thomas as dancing ballerinas or something ew no lol). I wanted out of the story so bad but now that it's over I have to read Volume II
I love that you love my reflection on how it felt so similar to chronic illness! The lack of technology isn't something I initially noticed, until there was a line about how much her phone was collecting dust, and then I REALLY noticed that she did not use tech once. Then I kept thinking why is she not googling this or finding a reddit thread for being stuck in time haha. Ship without an anchor is a perfect metaphor for Tara.
I understand the feelings about the monotony - it was somehow both! I read most of it in one sitting which I think definitely makes it feel less monotonous? I think if I kept reading and putting it down, every time I picked it up again I'd feel shortchanged at the repetitiveness.
The string of weird similes were a choice hahahaha - it felt so literary and marginally pretentious. I was laughing at times about how Balle managed to make being stuck in a day artistic and romantic instead of absolutely fucking insane. Volume II is definitely a different vibe to vol I I will say that - it is less repetitive I think because there is a lot that is... different? That is all I'll say lol
Thank you Margo! Sorry it has been a while since my last email - this comment has reminded me that I haven't replied - I will soon, I promise. Health got in the way - as always. I hope you're doing okay xox
You have convinced me to finally buy Biography of X (and I see I'm not alone!) and try out On Calculation of Volume!
About The Bluest Eye (which I read earlier this year), I agree that it has a very different beat to both Jazz and Beloved, and also a quasi-fairy-tale tone to it in the possibility of suspending it from time (and even place)! Have you read Song of Solomon? It remains my favorite of Morrison's (Beloved is a close second).
I love to hear I have convinced you to read Biography of X and try out On Calculation of Volume - I can't wait to hear what you think of both! They're both great speculative fiction/literary thrillers. It felt funny to read both so close together - both very poignant!
I love your comment about the quasi-fairy-tale done - thats exactly it! It absolutely suspends it from time and place, whereas Beloved and Jazz are much more historical novels. I bought Song of Solomon alongside Bluest Eye earlier this year as I wanted to read both in 2025! Planning to read it in the coming months, I think I have been subconsciously saving it as behind Beloved, I have heard the most praise about it... and I want to LOVE a Morrison again. Her writing is remarkable, but starting her oeuvre with Beloved was perhaps retrospectively a bad idea, as the novels I have read of hers since have never quite lived 'up' to the way that made me feel.
I was looking forward to hearing your final thoughts on The Savage Detectives since you first mentioned it had over 50 narrators! I think it may be one I will gently place on my “don’t worry about ever reading this” list.
My personal favorites from this month were Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro (yes, reading it after everyone else on the internet but wow, it was better than I anticipated even after the hype) and my reread of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. This time I paired Piranesi with The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis and loved to see how the two were related in themes and characters. I feel cheesy saying this but it was a really luxurious experience. I’m now hoping to do more paired reading where I can explore how authors are directly inspired by and in conversation with each other.
Haha I like the title of your 'don't worry about ever reading this list' - very gently assertive. I hope you enjoyed hearing my final thoughts on The Savage Detectives even if they were critical. I am interested in reading There, There soon as a comparison (ish) of having more than 4 narrators.
I love that you loved Elena Knows, Piñeiro is a phenomenal writer. I am an advocate for reading a book a long time after everyone else has, I think it is fun to separate your reading from the crowd and create distance from all the commentary you have read! I am fascinated by the book pairing - have you read The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares? I read it last summer and could not stop thinking about how similar it felt to Piranesi (in themes) and I wished I had read them side by side, and I'd be interested to hear if you were interested in taking your Piranesi reading one step further?! Nothing cheesy about saying it was a luxurious experience, I think it is safe to say all readers are chasing that high! I'd love to hear more about your paired reading in the future - I am very interested in the prospect.
Regarding Piñeiro, I agree and have to restrain myself from running to the bookstore to pick up another of her works. I often get to books far after the hype and while it can be fun to participate in a big group conversation, I always tell myself that if a book is good, it will still be good 1 or 2 or 20 years after it’s published!
I’ve put The Invention of Morel on hold at my library, looking forward to it. Interested to see the prologue of my library’s edition is written by Borges when Susanna Clarke has said she was inspired by his story “The Library of Babel” in her work as well. Perhaps I need to pick up my copy of Ficciones as well! Never upset about a reason to read more Latin American work. :)
Portia you SHOULD run to pick up all of Piñerio's other work! A Little Luck is my favourite novel of hers - I'd really recommend it! And I agree about your stance on book hype - if it is good, it'll stay good all those years later! I often resit books in their 'hype' anyway, I think it massively affects the reading experience in quite a negative way? I prefer to approach books in my own time. An example of this is 'James' by Percival Everett! I waited over a year for the paperback, and now I have it, I am excited to read it sometime this year now everyone has stopped talking about it!
I look forward to hearing what you think of The Invention of Morel! Yes my copy had a prologue by Borges too! I did not know Clarke felt inspired by his story but that makes a lot of sense retrospectively. Maybe I will add The Library of Babel to my tbr. I am with you there, I always love a reason to read more Latin American lit, it is my favourite! :)
Great diverse selection Martha. I have seen some of these books on book blogs. Only one I have read is the Toni Morrison, a long time ago. I love her work and have read most of her novels. Will be interesting to see who makes the Women's Prize shortlist tomorrow.
Thank you Lucy! Morrison is spectacular - the next that I plan to read from her is Song of Solomon in the coming months! I waited to respond to this comment after the shortlist announcement! What do you think? I preordered The Safekeep in paperback at the end of last year (coming in June), so it nice to see it there! And I guess the inclusion of The Persians and Fundamentally makes me even more interested in them than I initially was! Out of the entire longlist, I still feel the pull to read Amma the most.
Song of Solomon is my favourite Morrison book. I loved Beloved and Tar Baby, but I think Song is superb. I wasn't surprised to see July and Strout on shortlist. Have read both, and they are very different American novels. I do love Strout's books. I have ordered Safekeep in my library, it's been shortlisted for numerous prizes. And the other three all sound interesting too and have been getting good reviews elsewhere. The Persians sounds like a humorous read. Alas, the only Irish novel by O'Donnell did not make the shortlist.
This comment makes me even more excited to read Song of Solomon! I haven't read Tar Baby but I will one day. I wasn't surprised to see July either, I have never read any Strout! The other three do sound interesting - I am probably most interested in The Persians. I am surprised there was no Irish on the shortlist - the women's prize usually love an Irish author!
The Strout book has a number of characters from her previous books, they all interact with each other in this one. You could read it as a stand-alone, but it helps to have read some of the previous ones such as Olive Ketteridge, I am Lucy Barton, and the Burgess Boys.
I'm really excited to read Biography of X and Cautery based on your reviews! I haven't received Cautery yet but assume I will soon.
A few books I read this month Hunchback, Eurotrash, and Butcher's Crossing. I also DNF'd one of the Booker International longlisters, but won't say which in case you don't want me spoiling your read of it. Although at this point, the independence of your reading opinions is pretty well established! Butcher's Crossing was not as good as I was hoping it would be, with interesting themes but sometimes tedious prose. Hunchback we have previously talked about; it was great. Eurotrash was...pretty good? There's a lot of chatter from the neurotic narrator/author and some of it is meaningful and some of it is clever and some of it is searching for the moral high ground (not hard for most when there are Nazis involved, unless they're your family members and the source of your wealth), but overall the book seemed aimless, and that might have been on purpose (or might be beyond the author's ability). Like it's illustrating that we are all collectively and individually searching for catharsis or at least relief from our past, but wherever you go you still find yourself there.
I'm really excited to for you to read both Biography of X & Cautery and hear what you think! I am sure Cautery will come soon. Next month, I plan to read The World We Saw Burning - very excited!
I have a suspicion on which you DNF'd because of some commentary I have already seen, but I will not say anything yet. If it is the one I am thinking of, I have plans to read it this month, so we will see very soon if I was right haha. I'm sorry Butchers Crossing was not as good as you hoped - gutting when that happens! Thank you again for the love on the Hunchback interview. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book as well - it's wild (in a good way).
I appreciate your thoughts on Eurotrash! Interesting at it being aimless - laughed at the moral high ground/Nazi comment. I am not sure I will reach for it but lets see - the shortlist is out next Tuesday so maybe I'll be back then to discuss that with you. Will be interesting to see if Eurotrash is on there after hearing what you had to say about it!
A DNF doesn't mean it's a terrible book, it just means I don't want to read it! I mean, it could mean it's a terrible book (I've been shocked at a couple that have made long- and even shortlists the last few years), but it doesn't necessarily. For example, last year I didn't finish Kairos, and look what happened there. I recognize that Kairos had merit, but it felt so heavy and fraught with meaningful, difficult conversations and heavy silences; if I had read it at a different time I might have continued. This one was along those lines, but quite differently from Kairos it kept not quite saying what was actually happening, lots of talking around events, and I just wasn't in the mood to dedicate that much attention to it based only on it being longlisted. I have a lot of books I want to read!
I hear you - there are too many books to read and not enough time! I also DNF'd Kairos last year, but in that case I did hate it and did think it was a terrible book. I still cannot believe it won.... Anyway. Noted that if it IS the one I am thinking of, it doesn't mean it is terrible...
I didn’t know Biography of X was dystopian-y! I thought it was a romance murder based on the red cover edition haha.
I’ve heard about The Savage Detectives on Youtube (The Old Man and the Read channel). He said the same thing. The multiple narrators were offputting. He has a video where he talks about all the Bolano books he has read. Maybe that can help you.
But Martha, I got to say, your March reads newsletter = beautiful writing.
It is becoming increasingly evident that quite a few people didn't know Biography of X was dystopian - myself included when I first heard of it! I wonder why the publisher didn't lead with it more in the promo because it is a core tenant of this book...?
Will watch that youtube vid if it agrees with me so much & for help on where I should turn to next with Bolaño - thanks for the rec!
Thank you Jam <3 it means a lot - I really appreciate you saying that!
Okay girl it sounds like I really need to give Biography of X another try. Right book, wrong time, Hopefully. I love how I always come out of your reviews seeing books differently; especially books I've read before. Also cannot wait to read on the calculation of volume!!! Book 3 out soon btw
You really do need to give it another try - I hope it is right book wrong time! Thank you for the love always <3 I cannot wait for you to read On The Calculation of Volume!!! I know Book 3 is imminent, my contact at Faber told me 😉😉
I very much feel you with the unsatisfactory much hyped 'great book'. I also have not enjoyed many top 100, highly rated clever books, and have slowly started to get better at judging which ones may be very good but not for me. I sort of wish we could all accept that book quality is not actually an objective truth, identifiable by discerning readers. Instead it's a deeply personal combination of what moves us, interests us, and strikes us as beautiful.
I stopped reading anything much for about 15yrs after a university degree where I became convinced that I didn't love all the great books we studied because I just wasn't smart enough to 'get' the thing that was great. I still sometimes have to fight down the voice that says I'd be a better person if I read Solenoid.
Having finally rediscovered my identity as a voracious reader, I try quite hard to follow my own loves & not try to match up to anyone.
I am also working my way through Toni Morison, who is a great writer I do adore. I remember loving the Bluest Eye, though not quite as much as Beloved. I have Sula & Paradise lined up to see how they compare.
I am excited to see you loved Cautery, which seemed the most interesting of the upcoming Charcos, and I was waiting to hear more about. It sounds really promising.
I really enjoyed Amma from the women's prize long list, and was happy to see it get some recognition.
Really enjoyed reading your latest round up, many thanks again.
Sometimes I think the battle with the 'great book' will be endless - no matter how much I think I know my taste, and how much I trust my ability to judge whether a book is for me or not, there will always be another that will catch me out. That is the life of a voracious reader I guess! I agree with you about us all accepting that book quality is not actually an objective truth! I think it is hard to separate emotions from objectivity, just like the quote from Anais Nin in this newsletter! Reading is absolutely a deeply personal combination of what moves us, interests us and strikes us as beautiful - we all bring so much difference to the page! I try my best to acknowledge that even in the books I hated, but it is definitely a skill that is getting better over time.
A university degree is a sure fire way to stop reading!! I did the same - during uni I didn't read any fiction for a long time because all the texts, essays and articles exhausted me. I think not feeling smart enough to 'get' the thing is something we all struggle with, I felt that way when I read crime and punishment at the end of last year. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, and I am still not convinced I got it? And I have just made peace with it and let that feeling go - sorry Dostoevsky !
Are you referring to Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu? Because I am hoping to read that this month! Did you try to read it? And I think we all have the voice that says we'd be a better reader (or person) if we 'just' read one particular book. As you said, the more I read the more I get better at not listening to that voice!
Morrison is spectacular - even with some criticisms I have about some of her novels (like the narrative in Bluest Eye) she is still a cut above the rest, one of the best writers ever. As it stands I also love Beloved the most out of all her work - I have a copy of Song of Solomon to read soon! I have not read Paradise, so I'd be eager to hear what you think? Sula I read a long time ago and feel I didn't appreciate it at the time, so I am eager to do a reread!
I loved Cautery - I had no expectations for it which I wonder if that was half the charm of the novel for me! I got gifted the Charco 2025 subscription as a birthday gift in December, and made a conscious decision to not really look too much into any of the titles and just trust the Charco editors which, so far, have never given me a bad book! Cautery is a very easy and compelling read - funny and heartfelt! I'd love to hear what you think if you ever read it.
I want to read Amma the most out of all the titles on that longlist, so I love to hear how much you enjoyed it! It compels me to get hold of a copy even more.
Thank you for reading again Roisin and sharing your thoughts with me, I appreciate you! M x
I am running so behind on my Substack reading this week because of work-crazy but I loved this collection, Martha! I am thrilled and relieved that you loved Biography of X - I share in worshiping at the alter of CL. This book in particular is the one book that I have read in the past year that seriously made me whisper - can we do this!? Just the way she bends fact and fiction so seamlessly was absolutely fascinating and as someone who is working on a novel inspired by but not faithful to historical events and figures, this book felt like a liberation to me. It made me realize that as a writer, your one responsibility is to tell an interesting story and make your reader FEEL something they have never felt before. Your ambiguity re: X is just such a perfect example of that. Do we love X? Do we hate X's guts... why decide?!
Cautery sounds AMAZING and I will definitely look for it. What a strange choice of characters to pitch against each other. I am so intrigued!
Thank you for the love Petya! Haha I always knew I would love Biography of X after reading Pew last year, but it absolutely exceeded my expectations! I love your reflections about how it challenged you as a writer and made you feel so liberated - that is SO cool. Have you watched Lacey's interview about the novel on the Politics & Prose youtube channel? If you haven't - you should. Listening to how Lacey wrote the novel and put 'limitations' on her world building because otherwise it could've been endless was so interesting to hear. The writers one responsibility is to make you FEEL and the fact that you are so aligned with that concept, musing on it so much, makes me very very excited for the day, whenever that may be, your novel becomes something I can read. And exactly that - why decide about X!!!!! I loved how I both loved and hated her - what fun and is frankly more aligned with real life emotions anyway, because there anyone we love that we don't hate a bit and visa-versa?!
I think you'd really like Cautery - it has quite a lot of themes I know you love in a novel - NAMELY your themes of March of; women, performance and expectations! I'd love to hear what you think if you ever read it <3
Such a good round-up, as always! I've been meaning to read Catherine Lacey for ages now. I have been recommended Pew as a good starting point for her work. Would you agree with that? I've also been on the fence about On the Calculation of Volume I, but I think your review may have convinced me to give it a go! I'm a bit hesitant about the whole premise of being stuck in a cycle of repeating the same day over and over again. For some reason, I tend to not get on with those types of books. I think because most fail to actually maintain some sense of progression and keep the narrative going in some way, but it sounds like this didn't have that effect on you which is promising. Maybe it's one I should borrow from the library. Also, did not realise Cautery had been translated into English! I remember it seeing everywhere in bookshops in Spain when it came out a few years ago. I was intrigued by it but never actually picked it up.
Thank you Paula! I know you love your speculative fiction so you absolutely should read Lacey - Pew is definitely a great starting point for her work. It is where I started! It is quick, accessible and very Lacey in the themes she explores.
On the Calculation of Volume definitely doesn't suffer from not having any progression, but I can understand why you would think so! Vol I felt quite propulsive, I think the question for me is whether that propulsion will carry through 7 novels and I am so interested to find out! Definitely a borrow from the library if you are on the fence!
Cautery has only very recently been translated into English, so you are not that out of the loop - I'd be interested to hear if you pick it up now! I really loved it.
Thank you Tracy! I have never heard of Angels & Demons - I like the sound of the heavy religious element though!! If you are a historic lover of speculative fiction, I am sure you will enjoy On the Calculation of Volume! It is funny seeing it everywhere, I have too. I think it might reflect how refreshing it is for a book thats captured the 'mainstream' (if you will) to be so bizarre.
I fly to my laptop and make a quick tea or coffee and find somewhere comfortable to sit the instant I see a Martha's Monthly notif pop up on my phone or in my email inbox- Love hearing your takes on the much-discussed Balle & modern classic Biography of X (both of which I hope to get to sooner or later...) as well as Cautery and On the Greenwhich line, which both have been hovering in my periphery. Back in the Day is a new title to me, but your description reminded me of a book I've recently read and have been thinking about a ton called The Passenger Seat, which is also about teen boys, aimless, who kind of spiral toward violence (and it's told from a distinct distance). Thanks as always for the many recs Martha!
Regan I love you, thank you for the love always! Honoured that the notification of my monthly reads prompts such a romantic habit of getting a drink and sitting somewhere comfortable, that is the highest of praise. I was worried people might have heard too much about Balle - but I guess throwing my opinion into the growing chorus of noise is part of the fun! I am so intrigued to see where the series goes - I haven't read a 'series' with this many novels since I was 15/16 so I am enjoying the anticipation of waiting that it brings, something special in that! I'm surprised you haven't read Biography of X, I would have assumed you would- whenever you do, I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Cautery & On the Greenwich Line were both v fab - I loved how well Lewis wrote British humour. I am very intrigued in The Passenger Seat, I do enjoy a book about adolescent boys loosing themselves to the various vices. Would you recommend?
On the Martha Scale I'd call Passenger Seat a very solid Borrow! It's lingered with me in a crazy way, although the experience of reading definitely isn't what I'd call enjoyable --frustrating, disturbing, but really successful in the way it intended I think!
Ok fascinating evaluation - I am intrigued! I love a disturbing book.
Some great reads this month! Thanks for reading Biography of X with me 🫶 you've really hit the nail on the head with your review. Also I'm planning on starting Calculations on Volume next so I was delighted to see it here AND that you loved it!
Thanks for reading with me ❤️🩷 I can't wait to listen to your final thoughts voice note tomorrow hehe. I'm so pleased you feel I hit the nail on the head though - thats a big compliment! Hell yeah join the calculations of volume gang! I'd be super intrigued to hear what you think - I think you'll enjoy it!!
thrilled that you loved biography of x - one of my favourite books of the last 10 years, i think. i have thought about it a lot in the two years since i read it. the quality of the writing is just so, so good and then the worldbuilding is so unique - to reinvent the history of america to tell a completely different story !!! and on top of that, it starts feeling absurd that X did all of these things in a single life, that she was this mystical amalgam of so many real-world references. to your final question: one of my favourite lines in the book is from CM saying "there's only one widow, all the rest are just ex-wives," it reminded me a bit of rachel cusk's outline, how much of the novel is also a portrait of CM refracted through X and admiring or hating X depends so much on CM.
i have a copy of 'on the calculation of volume' waiting for me on my shelf, i hope to read it soon. glad to hear more praise for it! i am, of course, adding cautery to a pre-order list - in Martha we trust
I loved Biography of X so much. I wonder now if Lacey could write anything I didn't like because it is starting to feel like she could never... I love this comment Laurel - agree with the world building it was phenomenal. When the novel began to move away from it a bit I was so sad - those first 100ish pages were spectacular I was absolutely HOOKED. I could have read a journalistic perspective of the southern territory and interviews with the residents for hundreds of pages I think.
What a brilliant line to highlight, I remember reading that re reading several times. It IS so like Faye in outline, learning about CM through how she resents/idolises X. It was so evident that CM loved that writing endeavours of X and resented her modern art/performances much more - would you agree? CM really took me on a journey - initially loved her, then hated her for hating X so much (lol) and then felt so compassionate for her at the end. I loved how the novel ended with describing X's death - the whole read you really think it is going to be the most outlandish, theatrical death and it turns out to be so mortal and human it brought me right back to CM's grief, feeling so devastated that all she thought her life was with X, and all she thought X was, she had destroyed in the name of the 'truth' and I wondered a lot if she regretted it. So much in the novel I missed I think because the adrenaline to constantly find out what was 'next' was so compelling - I'd be very intrigued on what a re-read would bring.
Would love to hear your thoughts on 'on the calculation of volume'! i think you'd enjoy the speculative nature - I found it surprisingly lighthearted in its speculative strangeness. I am definitely on the Balle praise bandwagon! Love the cautery pre-order - again, what a lovely surprise that was. I had no expectations for it, which perhaps was part of the charm xx
I overall found X such a compelling character because she's so intense, so cruel and so memorable - I loved how complicated even their relationship is (how can you love someone who is essentially unknowable? and how much pride would you feel being that person?). You're reminding me of so many of the details of the book I'd forgotten, eg, the details of her art and CM's relationship to it. Would definitely be an amazing re-read one day.
Unexpected finds are the best -- this was Biography of X for me, actually! Did not really have any expectations but picked it up because I read a passing description that sounded interesting. Really should read her first two books as well.
X is so intense and cruel... and cool? As I said in the review idk if I hated her or wanted to be her! I was also feeding off how complicated their relationship is - CM's pride was evident in being the one that 'got' X but we watched it crumble as it went on. I'd argue CM in so many ways didn't love X at all because she was so unknowable, she just wanted to be her? Would be such an amazing reread one day.
Unexpected finds are the best - when I first saw Biography of X come out I was disinterested in it because I just didn't understand at all what it was about! A loss for the publisher teams on that, idk why they didn't lead with the dystopian more? You absolutely should read Pew - it feels very in the Biography of X universe. I need to read her debut now tho! What a time to be alive that she's got a forthcoming book this summer.
ok FINE I'll read Biography of X!!! I didn't realize it had a dystopian angle which is a fav of mine
Sad about Savage Detectives. I'm super intrigued just because now I am curious how I would react, being a lover of the chorus narration, but I might try 2666 instead.... after Solenoid, of course. I genuinely feel - and I say this with all due respect - this might be a guy's guy type of book.
I am purposefully not reading your Calculation review since I am writing mine this week but I can't wait to see if we feel the same. It's been v exciting to have so many people reading this weird novel at the same time. It's like a litmus test for personal taste rather than representing any kind of technical standard since it seems everyone can agree the writer has immense skill but reactions on enjoyment have been different.
Wait you'd love Biography of X!!!! I didn't realise it had a dystopian angle until I started reading.. and it was absolutely my favourite part of the novel. Lacey does dystopian SO well, a real master.
Savage Detectives is so sad - I considered texting you to tell you how much I hated it, but I refrained because I know you have a copy and want to read it.. I do like a chorus narration but that was too far, not very chorusy more like a collection of short stories. I still want to try 2666 - I read a lot of comments online from people who were die hard Bolaño fans saying they felt Savage Detectives was his worst work / generally not that good. Which gives me hope for trying him again! I think I just need a few months to dust off the jaded vibes I am feeling for him right now.. I laughed at 'this might be a guy's guy book' - I guess I will have to wait for the guys to prove, or disprove that 😉 You might be right - with all due respect A LOT of the online conversation (goodreads, reddit, storygraph, youtube) that was v positive about Savage Detectives was written by men. But maybe that's just one big fluke.
I respect you not reading my Calculation review if you are writing yours now! I can't wait to see what you have to say too and see if compare! It has been v exciting to all read it at such similar times, it is definitely having a moment. Haha it IS like a litmus for personal taste - I loved it and I have a sneaky suspicion there might be a chance you did not love it as much as me... but I could be wrong. I look forward to finding out.
Truly HOW did I not see the connection between Calculation and chronic illness??? It's such a perfect analogy to what you have experienced. Just another layer to make me awe at Balle's skill. I also totally missed the lack of technology - that feels huge in retrospect. I've lost/broken my phone a few times in my life and I remember feeling like a ship without anchor - that is exactly what Tara has become.
The one place that I disagree with you - the novel was monotonous and repetitive to me while also saying something different about each day. It was somehow both.
I also hated some of those sections where she made a string of weird similies (like something about her and Thomas as dancing ballerinas or something ew no lol). I wanted out of the story so bad but now that it's over I have to read Volume II
I love that you love my reflection on how it felt so similar to chronic illness! The lack of technology isn't something I initially noticed, until there was a line about how much her phone was collecting dust, and then I REALLY noticed that she did not use tech once. Then I kept thinking why is she not googling this or finding a reddit thread for being stuck in time haha. Ship without an anchor is a perfect metaphor for Tara.
I understand the feelings about the monotony - it was somehow both! I read most of it in one sitting which I think definitely makes it feel less monotonous? I think if I kept reading and putting it down, every time I picked it up again I'd feel shortchanged at the repetitiveness.
The string of weird similes were a choice hahahaha - it felt so literary and marginally pretentious. I was laughing at times about how Balle managed to make being stuck in a day artistic and romantic instead of absolutely fucking insane. Volume II is definitely a different vibe to vol I I will say that - it is less repetitive I think because there is a lot that is... different? That is all I'll say lol
Thank you, Martha! These look fantastic!
Thank you Margo! Sorry it has been a while since my last email - this comment has reminded me that I haven't replied - I will soon, I promise. Health got in the way - as always. I hope you're doing okay xox
You have convinced me to finally buy Biography of X (and I see I'm not alone!) and try out On Calculation of Volume!
About The Bluest Eye (which I read earlier this year), I agree that it has a very different beat to both Jazz and Beloved, and also a quasi-fairy-tale tone to it in the possibility of suspending it from time (and even place)! Have you read Song of Solomon? It remains my favorite of Morrison's (Beloved is a close second).
I love to hear I have convinced you to read Biography of X and try out On Calculation of Volume - I can't wait to hear what you think of both! They're both great speculative fiction/literary thrillers. It felt funny to read both so close together - both very poignant!
I love your comment about the quasi-fairy-tale done - thats exactly it! It absolutely suspends it from time and place, whereas Beloved and Jazz are much more historical novels. I bought Song of Solomon alongside Bluest Eye earlier this year as I wanted to read both in 2025! Planning to read it in the coming months, I think I have been subconsciously saving it as behind Beloved, I have heard the most praise about it... and I want to LOVE a Morrison again. Her writing is remarkable, but starting her oeuvre with Beloved was perhaps retrospectively a bad idea, as the novels I have read of hers since have never quite lived 'up' to the way that made me feel.
I was looking forward to hearing your final thoughts on The Savage Detectives since you first mentioned it had over 50 narrators! I think it may be one I will gently place on my “don’t worry about ever reading this” list.
My personal favorites from this month were Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro (yes, reading it after everyone else on the internet but wow, it was better than I anticipated even after the hype) and my reread of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. This time I paired Piranesi with The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis and loved to see how the two were related in themes and characters. I feel cheesy saying this but it was a really luxurious experience. I’m now hoping to do more paired reading where I can explore how authors are directly inspired by and in conversation with each other.
Haha I like the title of your 'don't worry about ever reading this list' - very gently assertive. I hope you enjoyed hearing my final thoughts on The Savage Detectives even if they were critical. I am interested in reading There, There soon as a comparison (ish) of having more than 4 narrators.
I love that you loved Elena Knows, Piñeiro is a phenomenal writer. I am an advocate for reading a book a long time after everyone else has, I think it is fun to separate your reading from the crowd and create distance from all the commentary you have read! I am fascinated by the book pairing - have you read The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares? I read it last summer and could not stop thinking about how similar it felt to Piranesi (in themes) and I wished I had read them side by side, and I'd be interested to hear if you were interested in taking your Piranesi reading one step further?! Nothing cheesy about saying it was a luxurious experience, I think it is safe to say all readers are chasing that high! I'd love to hear more about your paired reading in the future - I am very interested in the prospect.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on There There!
Regarding Piñeiro, I agree and have to restrain myself from running to the bookstore to pick up another of her works. I often get to books far after the hype and while it can be fun to participate in a big group conversation, I always tell myself that if a book is good, it will still be good 1 or 2 or 20 years after it’s published!
I’ve put The Invention of Morel on hold at my library, looking forward to it. Interested to see the prologue of my library’s edition is written by Borges when Susanna Clarke has said she was inspired by his story “The Library of Babel” in her work as well. Perhaps I need to pick up my copy of Ficciones as well! Never upset about a reason to read more Latin American work. :)
Portia you SHOULD run to pick up all of Piñerio's other work! A Little Luck is my favourite novel of hers - I'd really recommend it! And I agree about your stance on book hype - if it is good, it'll stay good all those years later! I often resit books in their 'hype' anyway, I think it massively affects the reading experience in quite a negative way? I prefer to approach books in my own time. An example of this is 'James' by Percival Everett! I waited over a year for the paperback, and now I have it, I am excited to read it sometime this year now everyone has stopped talking about it!
I look forward to hearing what you think of The Invention of Morel! Yes my copy had a prologue by Borges too! I did not know Clarke felt inspired by his story but that makes a lot of sense retrospectively. Maybe I will add The Library of Babel to my tbr. I am with you there, I always love a reason to read more Latin American lit, it is my favourite! :)
Great diverse selection Martha. I have seen some of these books on book blogs. Only one I have read is the Toni Morrison, a long time ago. I love her work and have read most of her novels. Will be interesting to see who makes the Women's Prize shortlist tomorrow.
Thank you Lucy! Morrison is spectacular - the next that I plan to read from her is Song of Solomon in the coming months! I waited to respond to this comment after the shortlist announcement! What do you think? I preordered The Safekeep in paperback at the end of last year (coming in June), so it nice to see it there! And I guess the inclusion of The Persians and Fundamentally makes me even more interested in them than I initially was! Out of the entire longlist, I still feel the pull to read Amma the most.
Song of Solomon is my favourite Morrison book. I loved Beloved and Tar Baby, but I think Song is superb. I wasn't surprised to see July and Strout on shortlist. Have read both, and they are very different American novels. I do love Strout's books. I have ordered Safekeep in my library, it's been shortlisted for numerous prizes. And the other three all sound interesting too and have been getting good reviews elsewhere. The Persians sounds like a humorous read. Alas, the only Irish novel by O'Donnell did not make the shortlist.
This comment makes me even more excited to read Song of Solomon! I haven't read Tar Baby but I will one day. I wasn't surprised to see July either, I have never read any Strout! The other three do sound interesting - I am probably most interested in The Persians. I am surprised there was no Irish on the shortlist - the women's prize usually love an Irish author!
The Strout book has a number of characters from her previous books, they all interact with each other in this one. You could read it as a stand-alone, but it helps to have read some of the previous ones such as Olive Ketteridge, I am Lucy Barton, and the Burgess Boys.
Sorry....My Name is Lucy Barton.
I'm really excited to read Biography of X and Cautery based on your reviews! I haven't received Cautery yet but assume I will soon.
A few books I read this month Hunchback, Eurotrash, and Butcher's Crossing. I also DNF'd one of the Booker International longlisters, but won't say which in case you don't want me spoiling your read of it. Although at this point, the independence of your reading opinions is pretty well established! Butcher's Crossing was not as good as I was hoping it would be, with interesting themes but sometimes tedious prose. Hunchback we have previously talked about; it was great. Eurotrash was...pretty good? There's a lot of chatter from the neurotic narrator/author and some of it is meaningful and some of it is clever and some of it is searching for the moral high ground (not hard for most when there are Nazis involved, unless they're your family members and the source of your wealth), but overall the book seemed aimless, and that might have been on purpose (or might be beyond the author's ability). Like it's illustrating that we are all collectively and individually searching for catharsis or at least relief from our past, but wherever you go you still find yourself there.
I'm really excited to for you to read both Biography of X & Cautery and hear what you think! I am sure Cautery will come soon. Next month, I plan to read The World We Saw Burning - very excited!
I have a suspicion on which you DNF'd because of some commentary I have already seen, but I will not say anything yet. If it is the one I am thinking of, I have plans to read it this month, so we will see very soon if I was right haha. I'm sorry Butchers Crossing was not as good as you hoped - gutting when that happens! Thank you again for the love on the Hunchback interview. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book as well - it's wild (in a good way).
I appreciate your thoughts on Eurotrash! Interesting at it being aimless - laughed at the moral high ground/Nazi comment. I am not sure I will reach for it but lets see - the shortlist is out next Tuesday so maybe I'll be back then to discuss that with you. Will be interesting to see if Eurotrash is on there after hearing what you had to say about it!
A DNF doesn't mean it's a terrible book, it just means I don't want to read it! I mean, it could mean it's a terrible book (I've been shocked at a couple that have made long- and even shortlists the last few years), but it doesn't necessarily. For example, last year I didn't finish Kairos, and look what happened there. I recognize that Kairos had merit, but it felt so heavy and fraught with meaningful, difficult conversations and heavy silences; if I had read it at a different time I might have continued. This one was along those lines, but quite differently from Kairos it kept not quite saying what was actually happening, lots of talking around events, and I just wasn't in the mood to dedicate that much attention to it based only on it being longlisted. I have a lot of books I want to read!
I hear you - there are too many books to read and not enough time! I also DNF'd Kairos last year, but in that case I did hate it and did think it was a terrible book. I still cannot believe it won.... Anyway. Noted that if it IS the one I am thinking of, it doesn't mean it is terrible...
I read Kairos too. I think there were about three different stories in the one book. It may have been over-hyped.
Definitely overhyped and didn't make sense in my opinion.
Ah I love historical fiction, so it sounds like Cautery is right up my alley! As always, I deeply appreciate the care you make these recaps with.
Thank you Izzy! I'd love to hear what you think of Cautery - it was so fun.
I didn’t know Biography of X was dystopian-y! I thought it was a romance murder based on the red cover edition haha.
I’ve heard about The Savage Detectives on Youtube (The Old Man and the Read channel). He said the same thing. The multiple narrators were offputting. He has a video where he talks about all the Bolano books he has read. Maybe that can help you.
But Martha, I got to say, your March reads newsletter = beautiful writing.
It is becoming increasingly evident that quite a few people didn't know Biography of X was dystopian - myself included when I first heard of it! I wonder why the publisher didn't lead with it more in the promo because it is a core tenant of this book...?
Will watch that youtube vid if it agrees with me so much & for help on where I should turn to next with Bolaño - thanks for the rec!
Thank you Jam <3 it means a lot - I really appreciate you saying that!
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Okay girl it sounds like I really need to give Biography of X another try. Right book, wrong time, Hopefully. I love how I always come out of your reviews seeing books differently; especially books I've read before. Also cannot wait to read on the calculation of volume!!! Book 3 out soon btw
You really do need to give it another try - I hope it is right book wrong time! Thank you for the love always <3 I cannot wait for you to read On The Calculation of Volume!!! I know Book 3 is imminent, my contact at Faber told me 😉😉
I very much feel you with the unsatisfactory much hyped 'great book'. I also have not enjoyed many top 100, highly rated clever books, and have slowly started to get better at judging which ones may be very good but not for me. I sort of wish we could all accept that book quality is not actually an objective truth, identifiable by discerning readers. Instead it's a deeply personal combination of what moves us, interests us, and strikes us as beautiful.
I stopped reading anything much for about 15yrs after a university degree where I became convinced that I didn't love all the great books we studied because I just wasn't smart enough to 'get' the thing that was great. I still sometimes have to fight down the voice that says I'd be a better person if I read Solenoid.
Having finally rediscovered my identity as a voracious reader, I try quite hard to follow my own loves & not try to match up to anyone.
I am also working my way through Toni Morison, who is a great writer I do adore. I remember loving the Bluest Eye, though not quite as much as Beloved. I have Sula & Paradise lined up to see how they compare.
I am excited to see you loved Cautery, which seemed the most interesting of the upcoming Charcos, and I was waiting to hear more about. It sounds really promising.
I really enjoyed Amma from the women's prize long list, and was happy to see it get some recognition.
Really enjoyed reading your latest round up, many thanks again.
R
Sometimes I think the battle with the 'great book' will be endless - no matter how much I think I know my taste, and how much I trust my ability to judge whether a book is for me or not, there will always be another that will catch me out. That is the life of a voracious reader I guess! I agree with you about us all accepting that book quality is not actually an objective truth! I think it is hard to separate emotions from objectivity, just like the quote from Anais Nin in this newsletter! Reading is absolutely a deeply personal combination of what moves us, interests us and strikes us as beautiful - we all bring so much difference to the page! I try my best to acknowledge that even in the books I hated, but it is definitely a skill that is getting better over time.
A university degree is a sure fire way to stop reading!! I did the same - during uni I didn't read any fiction for a long time because all the texts, essays and articles exhausted me. I think not feeling smart enough to 'get' the thing is something we all struggle with, I felt that way when I read crime and punishment at the end of last year. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, and I am still not convinced I got it? And I have just made peace with it and let that feeling go - sorry Dostoevsky !
Are you referring to Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu? Because I am hoping to read that this month! Did you try to read it? And I think we all have the voice that says we'd be a better reader (or person) if we 'just' read one particular book. As you said, the more I read the more I get better at not listening to that voice!
Morrison is spectacular - even with some criticisms I have about some of her novels (like the narrative in Bluest Eye) she is still a cut above the rest, one of the best writers ever. As it stands I also love Beloved the most out of all her work - I have a copy of Song of Solomon to read soon! I have not read Paradise, so I'd be eager to hear what you think? Sula I read a long time ago and feel I didn't appreciate it at the time, so I am eager to do a reread!
I loved Cautery - I had no expectations for it which I wonder if that was half the charm of the novel for me! I got gifted the Charco 2025 subscription as a birthday gift in December, and made a conscious decision to not really look too much into any of the titles and just trust the Charco editors which, so far, have never given me a bad book! Cautery is a very easy and compelling read - funny and heartfelt! I'd love to hear what you think if you ever read it.
I want to read Amma the most out of all the titles on that longlist, so I love to hear how much you enjoyed it! It compels me to get hold of a copy even more.
Thank you for reading again Roisin and sharing your thoughts with me, I appreciate you! M x
I am running so behind on my Substack reading this week because of work-crazy but I loved this collection, Martha! I am thrilled and relieved that you loved Biography of X - I share in worshiping at the alter of CL. This book in particular is the one book that I have read in the past year that seriously made me whisper - can we do this!? Just the way she bends fact and fiction so seamlessly was absolutely fascinating and as someone who is working on a novel inspired by but not faithful to historical events and figures, this book felt like a liberation to me. It made me realize that as a writer, your one responsibility is to tell an interesting story and make your reader FEEL something they have never felt before. Your ambiguity re: X is just such a perfect example of that. Do we love X? Do we hate X's guts... why decide?!
Cautery sounds AMAZING and I will definitely look for it. What a strange choice of characters to pitch against each other. I am so intrigued!
Thank you for the love Petya! Haha I always knew I would love Biography of X after reading Pew last year, but it absolutely exceeded my expectations! I love your reflections about how it challenged you as a writer and made you feel so liberated - that is SO cool. Have you watched Lacey's interview about the novel on the Politics & Prose youtube channel? If you haven't - you should. Listening to how Lacey wrote the novel and put 'limitations' on her world building because otherwise it could've been endless was so interesting to hear. The writers one responsibility is to make you FEEL and the fact that you are so aligned with that concept, musing on it so much, makes me very very excited for the day, whenever that may be, your novel becomes something I can read. And exactly that - why decide about X!!!!! I loved how I both loved and hated her - what fun and is frankly more aligned with real life emotions anyway, because there anyone we love that we don't hate a bit and visa-versa?!
I think you'd really like Cautery - it has quite a lot of themes I know you love in a novel - NAMELY your themes of March of; women, performance and expectations! I'd love to hear what you think if you ever read it <3
Such a good round-up, as always! I've been meaning to read Catherine Lacey for ages now. I have been recommended Pew as a good starting point for her work. Would you agree with that? I've also been on the fence about On the Calculation of Volume I, but I think your review may have convinced me to give it a go! I'm a bit hesitant about the whole premise of being stuck in a cycle of repeating the same day over and over again. For some reason, I tend to not get on with those types of books. I think because most fail to actually maintain some sense of progression and keep the narrative going in some way, but it sounds like this didn't have that effect on you which is promising. Maybe it's one I should borrow from the library. Also, did not realise Cautery had been translated into English! I remember it seeing everywhere in bookshops in Spain when it came out a few years ago. I was intrigued by it but never actually picked it up.
Thank you Paula! I know you love your speculative fiction so you absolutely should read Lacey - Pew is definitely a great starting point for her work. It is where I started! It is quick, accessible and very Lacey in the themes she explores.
On the Calculation of Volume definitely doesn't suffer from not having any progression, but I can understand why you would think so! Vol I felt quite propulsive, I think the question for me is whether that propulsion will carry through 7 novels and I am so interested to find out! Definitely a borrow from the library if you are on the fence!
Cautery has only very recently been translated into English, so you are not that out of the loop - I'd be interested to hear if you pick it up now! I really loved it.
Right, Pew it is then!
I think I'll jot On the Calculation of Volume I and Cautery on my 'borrow from the library list' for when they have them available.