I'm nearing the end of I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself, by Glynnis MacNicol, which has been wonderful. She's way more bold in life than I could ever be.
Next up on deck, Sandra Gail Lambert's latest essay collection, My Withered Legs. Her substack's excellent, too. I admire her forthrightness.
I just finished up Sanctuary by Emily Rapp Black and was absolutely floored at how beautifully it was written. The book itself was so heartbreaking, but the craft in the writing was really phenomenal. Currently halfway through The Beautiful Unseen by Kyle Boelte now and loving the metaphor fog plays in memory and forgetting.
I'm reading A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin. I'm entranced by her writing style. I'm reading and getting lost in these short stories and at the same time trying to analyse how she does it, how she builds these worlds and these characters in such a short space of time.
I have been in a bit of a reading slump to start the year, although this year I am making a concerted effort to read less because last year I prioritized reading at the expense of other hobbies and I have a lot of yarn and a new Lego obsession. I may have overcorrected. Anyway, I am reading Us Fools by Nora Lange on paper and Soldiers and Kings by Jason DeLeon on audio, and I try to always have a poetry book to dip into, which is currently The River Twice by Kathleen Graber.
I'm ashamed to say that all that's turning my brain on right now are books with titles like Decluttering at the Speed of Life, How to Declutter Your Home in Ten Days, Organize Your Home in a Year or Less!, One-Minute Organizer, and A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home. All of the authors claim to be disorganized and sloppy by nature--if they can do it, so can you, they write. I am not convinced. February will be better, I tell myself. My February list includes Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces, the latest Elizabeth Strout, the one Milan Kundera novel I haven't read, and How to Save Money.
I bought a copy of Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu yesterday at an event. My plan was to just ‘see how it starts,’ but how it starts is so droll and funny that I have to see how the rest of it goes. I love a workplace novel and a high school as a workplace feels fresh.
I’m also reading The Annotated Bel Canto by Ann Patchett which is proving to be the most effective $28 I’ve spent in recent memory to cut the unnecessary junk out of my own draft.
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (ebook) and Your Absence is a Darkness by Jón Kalman, translated from the Icelandic by Philip Roughton (physical book). Highly recommend both!
Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home, memoir/essays by Chris La Tray. He’s on substack and publishes periodic collections of daily sentences, which inspired me to start that writing practice and it’s amazing.
I'm nearing the end of I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself, by Glynnis MacNicol, which has been wonderful. She's way more bold in life than I could ever be.
Next up on deck, Sandra Gail Lambert's latest essay collection, My Withered Legs. Her substack's excellent, too. I admire her forthrightness.
I just finished up Sanctuary by Emily Rapp Black and was absolutely floored at how beautifully it was written. The book itself was so heartbreaking, but the craft in the writing was really phenomenal. Currently halfway through The Beautiful Unseen by Kyle Boelte now and loving the metaphor fog plays in memory and forgetting.
I'm reading A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin. I'm entranced by her writing style. I'm reading and getting lost in these short stories and at the same time trying to analyse how she does it, how she builds these worlds and these characters in such a short space of time.
A GATE AT THE STAIRS by Lorrie Moore
I just finished listening to The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. It is a wonderful family memoir.
I just finished The Favorites by Layne Fargo. It's Daisy Jones and the Six meets Carrie Soto Is Back. I can't recommend it enough!
I have been in a bit of a reading slump to start the year, although this year I am making a concerted effort to read less because last year I prioritized reading at the expense of other hobbies and I have a lot of yarn and a new Lego obsession. I may have overcorrected. Anyway, I am reading Us Fools by Nora Lange on paper and Soldiers and Kings by Jason DeLeon on audio, and I try to always have a poetry book to dip into, which is currently The River Twice by Kathleen Graber.
Fayne, by Ann-Marie MacDonald.
I'm ashamed to say that all that's turning my brain on right now are books with titles like Decluttering at the Speed of Life, How to Declutter Your Home in Ten Days, Organize Your Home in a Year or Less!, One-Minute Organizer, and A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home. All of the authors claim to be disorganized and sloppy by nature--if they can do it, so can you, they write. I am not convinced. February will be better, I tell myself. My February list includes Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces, the latest Elizabeth Strout, the one Milan Kundera novel I haven't read, and How to Save Money.
no shame!!
I'm reading Big Swiss and laughing so damn hard
I bought a copy of Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu yesterday at an event. My plan was to just ‘see how it starts,’ but how it starts is so droll and funny that I have to see how the rest of it goes. I love a workplace novel and a high school as a workplace feels fresh.
https://www.jennifermathieu.com/
I’m also reading The Annotated Bel Canto by Ann Patchett which is proving to be the most effective $28 I’ve spent in recent memory to cut the unnecessary junk out of my own draft.
Lily King’s “Father of the Rain” — really good so far. Classic fucked up family vibes which I’m sure people who appreciate Jami’s work might enjoy!
Anyone picking up ANY Lily King book is in for a treat.
I’m looking forward to reading more!
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (ebook) and Your Absence is a Darkness by Jón Kalman, translated from the Icelandic by Philip Roughton (physical book). Highly recommend both!
Loved Disappearing Earth!
I just finished it, between last night and this morning! Loved it! I couldn't put it down.
Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home, memoir/essays by Chris La Tray. He’s on substack and publishes periodic collections of daily sentences, which inspired me to start that writing practice and it’s amazing.
North Woods by Daniel Mason, and on audio, Horse by Geraldine Brooks. I love both, but North Woods will be on my all time favorite list.
Loved both!
I’m reading All Fours by Miranda July. Sososososo good!
I read All Fours this weekend. It wasn't what I expected, but it gave me a lot to think about!