hot take on 'Crime and Punishment'!! Thanks for the recs, really excited about 'too great a sky', and also i so hope you're able to get around to 'Independent People', I read it for the first time this year and it instantly became one of my favorite books ever.
hot take - C&P is long and a bit of a drag! Too Great A Sky was SO good, I found it hard to describe. So moving and insightful and devastating yet hopeful! I have complete intention of getting round to ‘Independent People’ as my next book! I’m really intrigued and eager to read it.
C & P is so incredible for so many reasons though! Martha: Do you review self-published books? I have three: a YA novel, a memoir and a suspense novel. I enjoyed your takes on the books you read recently.
I enjoyed C&P at various points - I didn’t hate it! But I didn’t love it either. And I don’t do solicited reviews or reviews by request Michael, sorry! I’m pleased to hear you’ve been enjoying my takes recently, thank you!
My Friends has been at the top of many readers' lists, I cant wait to read it!
I am only on like page 100 of C&P but I already fully agree with you. It is making me think deeper about what exactly makes me want to spend time with a novel and what doesn't, and it's surely more than themes or plot. Perhaps narrative voice, perhaps character? How do we articulate what resonates with us and why, and vice versa? I don't particularly like Rasky, but I've spent plenty of time with narrators I do not like... i will work it out by my review in like 6 weeks when I finally get through it all 😂
Interesting re: Wellness. "Hill attempting to demonstrate the insecurity of literally everything in this novel was ambitious. The narrative frequently loses its way because of the lamenting deep dives that episodically plague the prose". I read The Nix, and it will most likely be in my top ten. I don't remember it being burdened by too many side adventures but there were side characters, perhaps that works better for Hill... now I really want to read to compare!!
My Friends was SO good. Keep going with C&P you can do it… I enjoyed his characterisation and the general plot so perhaps it is the prose? They felt heavier than necessary a lot of the time. The age old question of how do we articulate what resonates with us and why is a crisis I have every time I sit down to write these 🙃 I struggle with this review because well, at times I felt a lot while reading and at times frankly I felt nothing. YouTube summary videos helped me a lot when things felt confusing!
I remember your love for The Nix! And I’m not opposed to reading more of Hill - I loved some of his writing. But I just don’t think Elizabeth & Jack were the right avenues and characters for the enormous ambition of the novel. There was just too much going on. I’d love you to read to compare! There were some absolutely beautiful moments in Wellness, but a lot of tedious ones too.. I see the vision though and I respect the attempt to pull it off. The themes Hill was trying to explore are themes that are SO prevalent and idk reading it just as the American election news happened hit different. I think you’d really like it - it’s kinda Bee Sting esc.
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed My Friends! It really is such a beautiful book. I also found myself tearing up at sections where I wasn't entirely sure why I was so moved, but I just was. I shall certainly be joining you in reading more Matar soon I hope!
I've had Notes of a Crocodile on my list for a while (partly because of that NYRB cover... I love it) and I feel like I'll go into it with slightly more realistic expectations now, so thank you!
Added Too Great a Sky and Out of the Sun straight onto my tbr!
My Friends was so beautiful that I felt like whatever I wrote would not end up doing it justice. Matar’s writing was so transportive and flowing it often felt so emotional but was hard to pin down exactly why! Especially the scenes with Khaled on holiday and everything he experienced on that trip really got me. Matar might be my new literary love!
The Notes of a Crocodile cover is incredible - I love it too! I wish I knew beforehand there was no plot rather than figuring it out as I went along as it definitely impacted the experience! In general the writing is so impressive though, even without a plot.
I look forward to hearing what you think of Too Great A Sky and Out of the Sun - they were both fantastic.
I’ve wanted to read Notes of a Crocodile for a minute and despite the shortcomings you describe, I think I’ll like it. I love experimental form and am a sucker for queer narratives I’ve never encountered before. Happy to know I shouldn’t expect a clear narrative, thank you!!
So so interested in My Friends and Out of the Sun! I’ve wanted to read Edugyan’s fiction, but might have to start with the nonfic because of your endorsement.
I wish so badly I knew beforehand that were was no plot in Notes of a Crocodile because I think going into it I would've enjoyed it much more! It is one of those novels that is so remarkable to just exist within the context it does - it is so much more than the technical shortcomings I described. It is v experimental and a queer narrative that I haven't encountered before either and I loved that. The crocodile metaphor had me down bad - so creative I loved it. All that to say - I think you'll really enjoy it.
My Friends is so wonderful with such beautiful writing. It was one of those novels where I felt such admiration and envy that I cannot write like that lol. I am intrigued by Edugyan's fiction since Out Of The Sun!!! What fiction of hers have you had your eye on? I do massively recommend - it was fascinating and so easy to read which is so needed with non-fiction sometimes. It flowed really well - very impressed!
I’ve had notes of a crocodile on my list for a while I’m glad to hear you thought it’s worth reading it, I’ll have to wait until I can really handle a bleak book though !
waiting on a hold for my friends so i’m glad to see another endorsement!!
i’ve read two of esi edugyan’s novels which i’d say are uneven but compelling, so i’m very intrigued by how she’d bring that storytelling gift to essays.
Horray for the my friends hold!! It was a really really beautiful, I enormously look forward to your take on it. It felt like one of those books where I felt so much for it that I felt like nothing I could say would remotely do it justice!! Even after I finished the review I felt like I’d done a lacklustre job. All that to say I think it’s just one of those profoundly-moving-hard-to-describe-you-just-have-to-read-it novels!
Which of Edugyan’s novels have you read? I have never come across her before this book! Compelling is absolutely a word I’d use to describe Out Of The Sun - I thought the essays were all very tight except 1! I’m interested in her fiction work now!
the way I was sooooo excited to see Too Great a Sky on your list!!!! I've been passing my copy around to just about everybody I can-- my mom, friends, classmates. I spoke with Liliana and Monica for a little interview that came out with Asymptote on Monday, and I've been desperate to keep talking about the novel, which I thought was brilliant-- the writing is so fluid and warm and transportive and open despite the violence/tragedy of the circumstances in a way that I found was outstanding & original. so glad you enjoyed it too!!
Omg I need to go and read that interview - how cool you got to speak to them, I am envious! I thought it was so so brilliant too - so much so that I found this review very intimidating to approach, how could I possibly convey the novel well enough?! The way you describe it - fluid and warm transportive writing is perfect and I wish I had thought of that phrasing myself! I was so completely enveloped in it, I read almost the entire book in one sitting I was so engrossed. I thought it was so outstanding and original too - one of the best historical fictions I have read in a long LONG time. I am desperate to read more of Liliana now - have you read any others from her?
I agree– I read Too Great and immediately thought, do I need to be reading more historical fiction?! (answer is yes, I also loved A History of the Big House by Charif Majdalani about a family in lebanon at the end of the 19th century, beginning of the 20th! some more thoughts on both of these books in a newsletter soon I hope). And yes, I read Kinderland by Liliana, too, which is shorter and less sprawling than Too Great but still so very moving, and similar in that associative/conversational narrative style --would recommend!!
Yes historical fiction is one of my favourite genres! Always so rich & expansive and I learn so much which is often what I’m looking for out of a book! Adding A History of the Big House to my tbr - it sounds right up my street & something I’d love to read. Can’t wait to see that newsletter whenever it’s ready! And thanks for the Kinderland rec - I’ll definitely add to the list as I’m really eager to read more of Liliana!!
Ok I love this interview - you've asked so many questions I had myself. I especially love the question about the cat Kot - that was my absolute favourite relationship in the book! And had such a pertinent role in the story because the cat doesn't know what is going on. I loved how she wrote among it all just about a little girls love for her cat. When that cat got turned into a hat I nearly cried - practically the most devastating thing in the novel! Well done on the interview it was fab xxx
Kot!!! I swear I was closest to tears when he became a hat, too. How is it that even amid such overwhelming and constant hardship Liliana was able to pinpoint exactly what would still be able to shock readers and break our hearts? It wasn't included in the final interview, but Liliana mentioned that when her dad would come back from Kazakhstan, he told those stories about bears, but also about the way cats with beautiful were fur being turned into hats regularly in the towns where he lived and worked </3
Kot was the most emotionally compelling character throughout - I love that cat! Lilianas weaving of his story was beautiful - I agree how was she able to do that?! Sensational. Thank you for sharing that depressing (but wonderful) anecdote about her father! It’s so interesting how people’s personal lives and experiences seep into the fictional stories they write - it’s really beautiful! (Except the animals being turned into hats, the complete opposite of beautiful) :(((
I love to hear this! I’m about to start it and I’m very intrigued. Thank you for the sheep heads up 😂 I’ve not ever read a book with so many sheep so I am open to try something new 😉
An absolute treat as always! Adding My Friends to my ever growing list of Martha recs. And Too Great a Sky. And honestly Crime and Punishment. My curiosity is piqued even with your caveats.
Thank you Eve!! I think you'd really like Too Great A Sky with all the poetry and lyrics dotted throughout. My Friends is equally fab. I love that your C & P curiosity has piqued despite some slander from me haha. Look - I am glad I read it because I have intended to forever. I enjoyed parts of it, I really loved the beginning and the end, but in a recommendation stance I just wouldn't go too hard because I didn't love all of it. I also read it when I was feeling quite ill and I am aware that might have made it a harder reading experience (things were a bit feverish haha). I would've loved to have read it in a classroom scenario ngl tho - guidance and discussion about it would be so fruitful and would (I assume) might me like the book a bit more!
Thank you for the link - I don't think I can do Dostoevsky two months in a row haha but I will save whatever posts they share on it for when I get round to White Nights myself. If you join them to read it I really look forward to hearing what you think! xxx
(and feeling a little better! hope it continues to improve because it is birthday month (for us both) and I'd like to feel well for that!!)
This made me laugh out loud: "has reaffirmed that I am my own (flawless) tastemaker". This is how I feel anytime I read something as part of a book club. I love looking at a book and just knowing if I'm going to vibe with it or not. Don't get me wrong, I love to be surprised, but also, my taste is supreme, and everyone else is wrong. Oops! (kidding! ((ish!))). I read Wellness as well (and it IS a book for which I am the target market) and it didn't land at all with me. It felt like a poor imitation of Jonathan Franzen, who, despite everyone's varied feelings about him, does this specific genre extraordinarily well.
I am particularly excited about the nonfiction essays you have on the list this month - I have a goal to read more about reading next year (I've got Haley Larsen's Closer Reader series bookmarked to dive into in Jan), and this sounds like it'll be a great addition to that goal. Have you ever read How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo? (did you recommend this originally??) Your description of Out of the Sun gave me the same energy as Elaine's essays.
I also loved your note with C&P: "At the end of the day, it is just a book." That is how I felt when I read Moby Dick earlier this year (my recurring example, as I've read exactly one (1) tough classic this calendar year). I've earmarked my December as "time to read big books that have sat on my shelf for too long". I started a new one last night, and thought of your comment as I began it. Oh yeah - this is... just a book. I've got a good grasp on the English language, therefore I can read hard things! I've actually never read any Russian literature before - I'm not feeling inspired to pick up Crime and Punishment to start now, haha, but I'm considering starting with Anna Karenina, as many people have told me it's not very challenging of a read. Have you tackled much other classic Russian lit before this year?
I thoroughly enjoyed Independent People, though I have an affinity for the pastoral (was influenced early by Little House on the Prairie), so I was inclined to like it from the start. It's a bit of a trudge in parts, but I think that is sort of the point. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. My current December read is 11/22/63, which has been on my Goodreads "Want to Read" list since about 2016. High time! Beyond that, my December is a blank slate. I'm doing an Instagram detox this month and am hoping to funnel all that junk time straight into reading time.
McKenzie you know I love to see you in my comments again with an essay!!! I’ve missed you!!
I’m glad I made you laugh out loud - and I’m also glad we know our own reading tastes SO well. I can just look at a book and know if I’ll like it or not - such a special skill. I agree my own taste is supreme and everyone else is wrong lmao (not kidding!) Wellness was so impressive in many ways but just feel flat in so many others. I didn’t feel it landed with me either - I don’t think E&J were the right characters for what Hill was obviously trying to explore. Could’ve been great but it was below average imo. I haven’t read any Franzen (YET - I have The Corrections on my shelf to read soon) so I pleased to see you make that comparison. Bc I liked Hills ambition and ideas but not the execution. So I’m looking forward to Franzen perhaps delivering what I did not get from Wellness!
I have not read How to Read Now but someone recommended it to me this week!!!! And I really want to read it - maybe we can read at a similar time? Out Of The Sun was a v strong essay collection I think you’d really love it!
I remember the Moby Dick challenge, so huge you did it! I’m continually impressed. December is a great big book month. ‘I’ve got a good grasp on the English language, therefore I can read hard things’ made me smile because same. I have to say those things to myself too! They are JUST books. I have been wanting to read Anna Karenia next year!!! A friend of mine read it this year and said it was v good. I wouldn’t overly recommend C&P unless you were dying to give it a go. And no this was my first year tackling Russian classics! I’d like to try and read more contemporary translated Russian next year. I’ve read a lot of Russian classics this year, but nothing after the 19th century! I’d like that to change.
I am reading Independent People on your recommendation McKenzie!!!!! I remember you telling me about it this January (?) and I made a note to read it this winter! I’m about to start it - I’m really looking forward to it, even if it sometimes trudges. I can’t WAIT to hear what you think of 11/22/63 pls can you feedback to me on it. And you can do that Instagram detox! I deleted Instagram a few years ago now and not a day goes by where I miss it. We love maximising more time to read! Xx
I agree that Wellness was *impressive* - I'm often wooed by books that are ambitious in scope and form. But you're right - it wasn't the right medium for the points Hill wanted to make. JUST the other day I read this lovely essay on Substack about modern literature's obsession with telling instead of showing, and that's what I thought about through the last 20% of Wellness - I kept thinking "you are explicitly telling me the thesis right now instead of letting me infer it". I've actually never read The Corrections (aghast) but I am a massive fan of his most recent release, actually, Crossroads. It was a real tour de force of a book. It's up in my pantheon of dense multigenerational expansive novels alongside the likes of Barbara Kingsolver, Ann Patchett, Jeffrey Eugenides, etc. Maybe this is a sign *I* need to finally get to The Corrections.
So serendipitous re: How to Read Now! Yes, please lmk when it floats up in your reading queue! Likewise with Anna Karenina!
Wow no wonder I read that you were reading Independent People and thought "wow, excellent choice". Haha! I just actually finished 11/22/63 - it's very fast-paced, super easy consumable read, more thriller energy than deep literature, but I was totally hooked by it. I can't say the ending wowed me, but I'm thrilled I read it and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. To quote you, at the end of the day, it was just a [chunky] book. Not intimidating once I got going. Now to pick my next read!
Ahh always happy to talk Bake Off!! I wanted Dylan to win but totally get why he didn’t after the final - I was so gutted for him :( With that said I think Christiaan should have won! Although Nelly will always be my winner 🤣 What were your thoughts?
Yeah Dylan's final was the most painful thing to watch!!!! I felt soooo gutted for him that he had such a bad week and it coincided with the final. I can't imagine how stressed he must has felt lmao. I also agree that Christiaan was robbed!!! They kept saying it's down the final bake and I thought..... no? Christiaan has done so well on the past two challenges?!?!!?! I think Paul just felt victimised by Christiaan's flavours at times and thats why he didn't give it to him! Nelly was such a joy - I love her 4eva <3
It was definitely soooo painful! I was so sad for him!
I totally disagree with it coming down to the final bake tbh, it’s just not fair on those who are so consistent throughout!! Think you might be right about Paul tbh!
hot take on 'Crime and Punishment'!! Thanks for the recs, really excited about 'too great a sky', and also i so hope you're able to get around to 'Independent People', I read it for the first time this year and it instantly became one of my favorite books ever.
hot take - C&P is long and a bit of a drag! Too Great A Sky was SO good, I found it hard to describe. So moving and insightful and devastating yet hopeful! I have complete intention of getting round to ‘Independent People’ as my next book! I’m really intrigued and eager to read it.
C & P is so incredible for so many reasons though! Martha: Do you review self-published books? I have three: a YA novel, a memoir and a suspense novel. I enjoyed your takes on the books you read recently.
I enjoyed C&P at various points - I didn’t hate it! But I didn’t love it either. And I don’t do solicited reviews or reviews by request Michael, sorry! I’m pleased to hear you’ve been enjoying my takes recently, thank you!
My Friends has been at the top of many readers' lists, I cant wait to read it!
I am only on like page 100 of C&P but I already fully agree with you. It is making me think deeper about what exactly makes me want to spend time with a novel and what doesn't, and it's surely more than themes or plot. Perhaps narrative voice, perhaps character? How do we articulate what resonates with us and why, and vice versa? I don't particularly like Rasky, but I've spent plenty of time with narrators I do not like... i will work it out by my review in like 6 weeks when I finally get through it all 😂
Interesting re: Wellness. "Hill attempting to demonstrate the insecurity of literally everything in this novel was ambitious. The narrative frequently loses its way because of the lamenting deep dives that episodically plague the prose". I read The Nix, and it will most likely be in my top ten. I don't remember it being burdened by too many side adventures but there were side characters, perhaps that works better for Hill... now I really want to read to compare!!
Hope you are feeling better this week 🖤
My Friends was SO good. Keep going with C&P you can do it… I enjoyed his characterisation and the general plot so perhaps it is the prose? They felt heavier than necessary a lot of the time. The age old question of how do we articulate what resonates with us and why is a crisis I have every time I sit down to write these 🙃 I struggle with this review because well, at times I felt a lot while reading and at times frankly I felt nothing. YouTube summary videos helped me a lot when things felt confusing!
I remember your love for The Nix! And I’m not opposed to reading more of Hill - I loved some of his writing. But I just don’t think Elizabeth & Jack were the right avenues and characters for the enormous ambition of the novel. There was just too much going on. I’d love you to read to compare! There were some absolutely beautiful moments in Wellness, but a lot of tedious ones too.. I see the vision though and I respect the attempt to pull it off. The themes Hill was trying to explore are themes that are SO prevalent and idk reading it just as the American election news happened hit different. I think you’d really like it - it’s kinda Bee Sting esc.
Thank you 🥺🖤 honestly me too
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed My Friends! It really is such a beautiful book. I also found myself tearing up at sections where I wasn't entirely sure why I was so moved, but I just was. I shall certainly be joining you in reading more Matar soon I hope!
I've had Notes of a Crocodile on my list for a while (partly because of that NYRB cover... I love it) and I feel like I'll go into it with slightly more realistic expectations now, so thank you!
Added Too Great a Sky and Out of the Sun straight onto my tbr!
My Friends was so beautiful that I felt like whatever I wrote would not end up doing it justice. Matar’s writing was so transportive and flowing it often felt so emotional but was hard to pin down exactly why! Especially the scenes with Khaled on holiday and everything he experienced on that trip really got me. Matar might be my new literary love!
The Notes of a Crocodile cover is incredible - I love it too! I wish I knew beforehand there was no plot rather than figuring it out as I went along as it definitely impacted the experience! In general the writing is so impressive though, even without a plot.
I look forward to hearing what you think of Too Great A Sky and Out of the Sun - they were both fantastic.
Just about to sit down for lunch and i get to read this!! What a treat!!
I’ve wanted to read Notes of a Crocodile for a minute and despite the shortcomings you describe, I think I’ll like it. I love experimental form and am a sucker for queer narratives I’ve never encountered before. Happy to know I shouldn’t expect a clear narrative, thank you!!
So so interested in My Friends and Out of the Sun! I’ve wanted to read Edugyan’s fiction, but might have to start with the nonfic because of your endorsement.
I wish so badly I knew beforehand that were was no plot in Notes of a Crocodile because I think going into it I would've enjoyed it much more! It is one of those novels that is so remarkable to just exist within the context it does - it is so much more than the technical shortcomings I described. It is v experimental and a queer narrative that I haven't encountered before either and I loved that. The crocodile metaphor had me down bad - so creative I loved it. All that to say - I think you'll really enjoy it.
My Friends is so wonderful with such beautiful writing. It was one of those novels where I felt such admiration and envy that I cannot write like that lol. I am intrigued by Edugyan's fiction since Out Of The Sun!!! What fiction of hers have you had your eye on? I do massively recommend - it was fascinating and so easy to read which is so needed with non-fiction sometimes. It flowed really well - very impressed!
Washington Black is her novel I keep seeing! It won a Canadian book prize and a few other things.
*adding Washington Black to tbr*
I knew you needed a lunchtime read, what can I say!!!
I’ve had notes of a crocodile on my list for a while I’m glad to hear you thought it’s worth reading it, I’ll have to wait until I can really handle a bleak book though !
It’s a good book and definitely worth reading! It is a little bleak but also so deeply romantic and a little funny at times - it has it all!
my favorite reading recaps! also yes I was massively disappointed with wellness :/
the wellness disappointment is real :( not as disappointing as autumn though…. 😪
waiting on a hold for my friends so i’m glad to see another endorsement!!
i’ve read two of esi edugyan’s novels which i’d say are uneven but compelling, so i’m very intrigued by how she’d bring that storytelling gift to essays.
Horray for the my friends hold!! It was a really really beautiful, I enormously look forward to your take on it. It felt like one of those books where I felt so much for it that I felt like nothing I could say would remotely do it justice!! Even after I finished the review I felt like I’d done a lacklustre job. All that to say I think it’s just one of those profoundly-moving-hard-to-describe-you-just-have-to-read-it novels!
Which of Edugyan’s novels have you read? I have never come across her before this book! Compelling is absolutely a word I’d use to describe Out Of The Sun - I thought the essays were all very tight except 1! I’m interested in her fiction work now!
Thanks Martha! Look forward to going through this
Thank you Carrie! (and for the kindness on my note a few days ago - I appreciate you!) I hope you enjoy reading xo
And I hope you're feeling better - or at least getting the rest and care you need xx
the way I was sooooo excited to see Too Great a Sky on your list!!!! I've been passing my copy around to just about everybody I can-- my mom, friends, classmates. I spoke with Liliana and Monica for a little interview that came out with Asymptote on Monday, and I've been desperate to keep talking about the novel, which I thought was brilliant-- the writing is so fluid and warm and transportive and open despite the violence/tragedy of the circumstances in a way that I found was outstanding & original. so glad you enjoyed it too!!
Omg I need to go and read that interview - how cool you got to speak to them, I am envious! I thought it was so so brilliant too - so much so that I found this review very intimidating to approach, how could I possibly convey the novel well enough?! The way you describe it - fluid and warm transportive writing is perfect and I wish I had thought of that phrasing myself! I was so completely enveloped in it, I read almost the entire book in one sitting I was so engrossed. I thought it was so outstanding and original too - one of the best historical fictions I have read in a long LONG time. I am desperate to read more of Liliana now - have you read any others from her?
I agree– I read Too Great and immediately thought, do I need to be reading more historical fiction?! (answer is yes, I also loved A History of the Big House by Charif Majdalani about a family in lebanon at the end of the 19th century, beginning of the 20th! some more thoughts on both of these books in a newsletter soon I hope). And yes, I read Kinderland by Liliana, too, which is shorter and less sprawling than Too Great but still so very moving, and similar in that associative/conversational narrative style --would recommend!!
Yes historical fiction is one of my favourite genres! Always so rich & expansive and I learn so much which is often what I’m looking for out of a book! Adding A History of the Big House to my tbr - it sounds right up my street & something I’d love to read. Can’t wait to see that newsletter whenever it’s ready! And thanks for the Kinderland rec - I’ll definitely add to the list as I’m really eager to read more of Liliana!!
Ok I love this interview - you've asked so many questions I had myself. I especially love the question about the cat Kot - that was my absolute favourite relationship in the book! And had such a pertinent role in the story because the cat doesn't know what is going on. I loved how she wrote among it all just about a little girls love for her cat. When that cat got turned into a hat I nearly cried - practically the most devastating thing in the novel! Well done on the interview it was fab xxx
Kot!!! I swear I was closest to tears when he became a hat, too. How is it that even amid such overwhelming and constant hardship Liliana was able to pinpoint exactly what would still be able to shock readers and break our hearts? It wasn't included in the final interview, but Liliana mentioned that when her dad would come back from Kazakhstan, he told those stories about bears, but also about the way cats with beautiful were fur being turned into hats regularly in the towns where he lived and worked </3
Kot was the most emotionally compelling character throughout - I love that cat! Lilianas weaving of his story was beautiful - I agree how was she able to do that?! Sensational. Thank you for sharing that depressing (but wonderful) anecdote about her father! It’s so interesting how people’s personal lives and experiences seep into the fictional stories they write - it’s really beautiful! (Except the animals being turned into hats, the complete opposite of beautiful) :(((
I’ve been dying to read White Nights but it’s always sold out where I’m from.
Oh no - that’s so annoying!?! Fingers crossed for it being available soon 🤞
I adored Independent People! Will be curious to know what you think of it. There are a lot of sheep. 😂
I love to hear this! I’m about to start it and I’m very intrigued. Thank you for the sheep heads up 😂 I’ve not ever read a book with so many sheep so I am open to try something new 😉
An absolute treat as always! Adding My Friends to my ever growing list of Martha recs. And Too Great a Sky. And honestly Crime and Punishment. My curiosity is piqued even with your caveats.
Not sure if you subscribe, but The Classical Book Club on here is reading White Nights this month! I think I might join them. Here's their recent post about it: https://open.substack.com/pub/theclassicalbookclub/p/and-decembers-book-is-white-nights?r=l8pya&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I hope you're feeling a bit better!! Xx
Thank you Eve!! I think you'd really like Too Great A Sky with all the poetry and lyrics dotted throughout. My Friends is equally fab. I love that your C & P curiosity has piqued despite some slander from me haha. Look - I am glad I read it because I have intended to forever. I enjoyed parts of it, I really loved the beginning and the end, but in a recommendation stance I just wouldn't go too hard because I didn't love all of it. I also read it when I was feeling quite ill and I am aware that might have made it a harder reading experience (things were a bit feverish haha). I would've loved to have read it in a classroom scenario ngl tho - guidance and discussion about it would be so fruitful and would (I assume) might me like the book a bit more!
Thank you for the link - I don't think I can do Dostoevsky two months in a row haha but I will save whatever posts they share on it for when I get round to White Nights myself. If you join them to read it I really look forward to hearing what you think! xxx
(and feeling a little better! hope it continues to improve because it is birthday month (for us both) and I'd like to feel well for that!!)
This made me laugh out loud: "has reaffirmed that I am my own (flawless) tastemaker". This is how I feel anytime I read something as part of a book club. I love looking at a book and just knowing if I'm going to vibe with it or not. Don't get me wrong, I love to be surprised, but also, my taste is supreme, and everyone else is wrong. Oops! (kidding! ((ish!))). I read Wellness as well (and it IS a book for which I am the target market) and it didn't land at all with me. It felt like a poor imitation of Jonathan Franzen, who, despite everyone's varied feelings about him, does this specific genre extraordinarily well.
I am particularly excited about the nonfiction essays you have on the list this month - I have a goal to read more about reading next year (I've got Haley Larsen's Closer Reader series bookmarked to dive into in Jan), and this sounds like it'll be a great addition to that goal. Have you ever read How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo? (did you recommend this originally??) Your description of Out of the Sun gave me the same energy as Elaine's essays.
I also loved your note with C&P: "At the end of the day, it is just a book." That is how I felt when I read Moby Dick earlier this year (my recurring example, as I've read exactly one (1) tough classic this calendar year). I've earmarked my December as "time to read big books that have sat on my shelf for too long". I started a new one last night, and thought of your comment as I began it. Oh yeah - this is... just a book. I've got a good grasp on the English language, therefore I can read hard things! I've actually never read any Russian literature before - I'm not feeling inspired to pick up Crime and Punishment to start now, haha, but I'm considering starting with Anna Karenina, as many people have told me it's not very challenging of a read. Have you tackled much other classic Russian lit before this year?
I thoroughly enjoyed Independent People, though I have an affinity for the pastoral (was influenced early by Little House on the Prairie), so I was inclined to like it from the start. It's a bit of a trudge in parts, but I think that is sort of the point. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. My current December read is 11/22/63, which has been on my Goodreads "Want to Read" list since about 2016. High time! Beyond that, my December is a blank slate. I'm doing an Instagram detox this month and am hoping to funnel all that junk time straight into reading time.
McKenzie you know I love to see you in my comments again with an essay!!! I’ve missed you!!
I’m glad I made you laugh out loud - and I’m also glad we know our own reading tastes SO well. I can just look at a book and know if I’ll like it or not - such a special skill. I agree my own taste is supreme and everyone else is wrong lmao (not kidding!) Wellness was so impressive in many ways but just feel flat in so many others. I didn’t feel it landed with me either - I don’t think E&J were the right characters for what Hill was obviously trying to explore. Could’ve been great but it was below average imo. I haven’t read any Franzen (YET - I have The Corrections on my shelf to read soon) so I pleased to see you make that comparison. Bc I liked Hills ambition and ideas but not the execution. So I’m looking forward to Franzen perhaps delivering what I did not get from Wellness!
I have not read How to Read Now but someone recommended it to me this week!!!! And I really want to read it - maybe we can read at a similar time? Out Of The Sun was a v strong essay collection I think you’d really love it!
I remember the Moby Dick challenge, so huge you did it! I’m continually impressed. December is a great big book month. ‘I’ve got a good grasp on the English language, therefore I can read hard things’ made me smile because same. I have to say those things to myself too! They are JUST books. I have been wanting to read Anna Karenia next year!!! A friend of mine read it this year and said it was v good. I wouldn’t overly recommend C&P unless you were dying to give it a go. And no this was my first year tackling Russian classics! I’d like to try and read more contemporary translated Russian next year. I’ve read a lot of Russian classics this year, but nothing after the 19th century! I’d like that to change.
I am reading Independent People on your recommendation McKenzie!!!!! I remember you telling me about it this January (?) and I made a note to read it this winter! I’m about to start it - I’m really looking forward to it, even if it sometimes trudges. I can’t WAIT to hear what you think of 11/22/63 pls can you feedback to me on it. And you can do that Instagram detox! I deleted Instagram a few years ago now and not a day goes by where I miss it. We love maximising more time to read! Xx
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I agree that Wellness was *impressive* - I'm often wooed by books that are ambitious in scope and form. But you're right - it wasn't the right medium for the points Hill wanted to make. JUST the other day I read this lovely essay on Substack about modern literature's obsession with telling instead of showing, and that's what I thought about through the last 20% of Wellness - I kept thinking "you are explicitly telling me the thesis right now instead of letting me infer it". I've actually never read The Corrections (aghast) but I am a massive fan of his most recent release, actually, Crossroads. It was a real tour de force of a book. It's up in my pantheon of dense multigenerational expansive novels alongside the likes of Barbara Kingsolver, Ann Patchett, Jeffrey Eugenides, etc. Maybe this is a sign *I* need to finally get to The Corrections.
So serendipitous re: How to Read Now! Yes, please lmk when it floats up in your reading queue! Likewise with Anna Karenina!
Wow no wonder I read that you were reading Independent People and thought "wow, excellent choice". Haha! I just actually finished 11/22/63 - it's very fast-paced, super easy consumable read, more thriller energy than deep literature, but I was totally hooked by it. I can't say the ending wowed me, but I'm thrilled I read it and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. To quote you, at the end of the day, it was just a [chunky] book. Not intimidating once I got going. Now to pick my next read!
Such a great review!
Thank you!
Other than Crime and Punishment I'd not heard of any of these books! This is why I loooove Substack!!
Have a lovely December Martha and enjoy the break <3
I’m happy to be sharing so many new titles with you Soph! Have a lovely December too - thank you Soph 🥺
Ps I MUST ask bc I lost the comment where we were talking about this - thoughts on GBBO final? I also loved Nelly & i definitely wanted Dylan to win!
Ahh always happy to talk Bake Off!! I wanted Dylan to win but totally get why he didn’t after the final - I was so gutted for him :( With that said I think Christiaan should have won! Although Nelly will always be my winner 🤣 What were your thoughts?
Yeah Dylan's final was the most painful thing to watch!!!! I felt soooo gutted for him that he had such a bad week and it coincided with the final. I can't imagine how stressed he must has felt lmao. I also agree that Christiaan was robbed!!! They kept saying it's down the final bake and I thought..... no? Christiaan has done so well on the past two challenges?!?!!?! I think Paul just felt victimised by Christiaan's flavours at times and thats why he didn't give it to him! Nelly was such a joy - I love her 4eva <3
It was definitely soooo painful! I was so sad for him!
I totally disagree with it coming down to the final bake tbh, it’s just not fair on those who are so consistent throughout!! Think you might be right about Paul tbh!
I love Nelly 4evs too - a total icon x