Talked to myself and said YES, YES, YES when I read this sentence. "If you ever get a chance to live alone in your twenties, you absolutely should." YES
I can't with EH. I can't. If you'd like to try listening to a Romantasy without the ick, I suggest you try listening to the very entertaining and "Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Færies" as a palate cleanser.
A very interesting noir / mythological/archeological thriller from the Basque country, written by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi- an IRL optometrist turned into lauded writer "The Silence of the White City"
I've seen this book around a bunch but always wrote it off because of the title. Now I'm intrigued. The Silence of the White City sounds like everything I'm looking for in a thriller. It's in my basket. Thank you!
It is really VERY well written & interesting. Love anything, specially a noir based on myth, archeology and lore. Has kept me glued. The Basque landscape and the city of Vitoria become one of the characters. Hope you enjoy it. An optometrist turned lauded author? My kind of jam.
I don't if you read or saw the Netflix adaptation of a similar thematic in 2017 that became so popular in the Basque region & town where the happenings took place that there were organized tours to visit Elizondo. Here is that Trilogy: https://a.co/d/0nQGpqH
"The man I’ll be living with understands my soul but not my aesthetic vision, so compromises will have to be made I suppose." - I feel this in my BONES
When I'm doing a bookshelf purge I like to ask myself "If someone saw this on the shelf and asked me about it, would I want to talk to them about it?" If I'm not interested in chatting with someone about it, it gets donated.
"If someone saw this on the shelf and asked me about it, would I want to talk to them about it?" I LOVE THIS! Because for me it's not just about books I completely loved but also books I felt strongly about, you know?
Really need to read Kitchen and My Death! That Sarah J Mass reviewed has killed me hahaha - the math ain't mathing for you to listen to a 27 hour audio book in 12 hours!?!??!?! Glad you got it out your system and can return to a more refined palate xo Also you buying a new Hjorth makes me want to read Is Mother Dead this month!
girl the math was not matching. It was an insane day. A wasted day. Girl you do need to read Is Mother Dead haha. I'm not 100% sure what you'd make of it though. I can see it going either way.
can i just say thank you for linking to goodreads... aah making my life easier! and oh girl... moving overseas (esp with books) is so tough. sending peace in a time of deep organization logistics and hustle.
I read 7 books in April whilst prepping for shoulder surgery, and then Beautyland in the first part of May before I went under the knife. Eight books written by women! Most satisfying, even though I hated two of them (one of them a lot)
The one I hated most was Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) because it was really good about 80% through and then fell apart into a soggy mess IN MY OPINION. The other one that really disappointed me was The Bog Wife (Kay Chronister) which similarly gets bogged down (see what I did there) but I liked the characters better.
this wrap-up is so thoughtful and impressive!! i’ve been eyeing Kitchen for a few weeks now… might be the perfect remedy to get me back into reading this summer.
Japanese fiction truly is elite! I've seen the Murata profile but haven't read it, so bookmarking that. Also haven't read The Idiot which has been on my shelf for ages, but saving that for the fall.
Let me know what you think of Mina's Matchbox! Sounds absolutely magical
Returning to give you an update—Mina’s Matchbox is gorgeous!! It was a quick read, different in that “nothing happens” but I loved the relationship of the two girls at the center of the novel—which is what led me to read The God of the Woods afterwards bc of a similar friendship between two girls around the same age. Both were lovely and have me feeling nostalgic about being 13…. which was a truly awful time, lmao. God bless fiction writers 😭
Those covers together are SO gorgeous, I can't get over it. I've had Girl Woman Other on my shelf since like the pandemic, I really need to get on that.
Talked to myself and said YES, YES, YES when I read this sentence. "If you ever get a chance to live alone in your twenties, you absolutely should." YES
I'm glad we're all on the same page. truly has been such a formative experience!
All aboard the Deborah Levy train!!! 🤓📚🥰
thanks for inspiring the best kind of FOMO ;)
I can't with EH. I can't. If you'd like to try listening to a Romantasy without the ick, I suggest you try listening to the very entertaining and "Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Færies" as a palate cleanser.
A very interesting noir / mythological/archeological thriller from the Basque country, written by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi- an IRL optometrist turned into lauded writer "The Silence of the White City"
I've seen this book around a bunch but always wrote it off because of the title. Now I'm intrigued. The Silence of the White City sounds like everything I'm looking for in a thriller. It's in my basket. Thank you!
It is really VERY well written & interesting. Love anything, specially a noir based on myth, archeology and lore. Has kept me glued. The Basque landscape and the city of Vitoria become one of the characters. Hope you enjoy it. An optometrist turned lauded author? My kind of jam.
I don't if you read or saw the Netflix adaptation of a similar thematic in 2017 that became so popular in the Basque region & town where the happenings took place that there were organized tours to visit Elizondo. Here is that Trilogy: https://a.co/d/0nQGpqH
Honoured to be included ❤️
Love your May picks. I loved Happiness Forever; and currently reading Consider Yourself Kissed. It reminds me of how I felt about Sorrow and Bliss!
Truly adored Table for One :) I'm really looking forward to Consider Yourself Kissed, and especially now with that Sorrow and Bliss comparison!
I LOVED Sorrow and Bliss!!!
a truly stunning book
I totally second that CYK gave me big Sorrow and Bliss vibes!!
I loved Happiness forever! Consider yourself kissed I seem to disagree with the majority on
more reason to read it soon 😂
"The man I’ll be living with understands my soul but not my aesthetic vision, so compromises will have to be made I suppose." - I feel this in my BONES
When I'm doing a bookshelf purge I like to ask myself "If someone saw this on the shelf and asked me about it, would I want to talk to them about it?" If I'm not interested in chatting with someone about it, it gets donated.
"If someone saw this on the shelf and asked me about it, would I want to talk to them about it?" I LOVE THIS! Because for me it's not just about books I completely loved but also books I felt strongly about, you know?
Really need to read Kitchen and My Death! That Sarah J Mass reviewed has killed me hahaha - the math ain't mathing for you to listen to a 27 hour audio book in 12 hours!?!??!?! Glad you got it out your system and can return to a more refined palate xo Also you buying a new Hjorth makes me want to read Is Mother Dead this month!
girl the math was not matching. It was an insane day. A wasted day. Girl you do need to read Is Mother Dead haha. I'm not 100% sure what you'd make of it though. I can see it going either way.
can i just say thank you for linking to goodreads... aah making my life easier! and oh girl... moving overseas (esp with books) is so tough. sending peace in a time of deep organization logistics and hustle.
thank you! I really need that peace rn. just thinking of all the packing and details is doing my head in
This made me lol:
“The man I’ll be living with understands my soul but not my aesthetic vision, so compromises will have to be made I suppose.”
1/2 is pretty solid…and ofc he’ll have to be the one to make the aesthetic compromises 😂
Excited for your next chapter and to see what you’re up to next! ❤️
😂😂😂
I'm ust glad I got this opportunity to live on my own and do what I please with this space. And thank you girl!
Okay I have to read God of the Woods!! Don't know how I've waited this long!
no you really need to read it. its really engrossing so you'll be done quickly too
The range!!!!!
Need to get my hands on My Death asap
the range!!!! I do try my best ;)
Added so many from this issue to my Goodreads shelf. How dare I? I read Biography of X recently and My Death feels like an amazing follow on to it!
ooooo yes yes yes. My Death has slightly similar vibes. If you loved Biography of X you'd probably also enjoy it, but be prepared for the ambiguity
I read 7 books in April whilst prepping for shoulder surgery, and then Beautyland in the first part of May before I went under the knife. Eight books written by women! Most satisfying, even though I hated two of them (one of them a lot)
I hope your surgery went well and that you're feeling better :)
8 is impressive but pleaseee tell me the ones you hated haha
The one I hated most was Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) because it was really good about 80% through and then fell apart into a soggy mess IN MY OPINION. The other one that really disappointed me was The Bog Wife (Kay Chronister) which similarly gets bogged down (see what I did there) but I liked the characters better.
thank you for sharing our catalog, and best of luck with your move!
thanks for putting it together :)
this wrap-up is so thoughtful and impressive!! i’ve been eyeing Kitchen for a few weeks now… might be the perfect remedy to get me back into reading this summer.
also, Mina’s Matchbox is great! i got it as a gift last christmas and read it soo quick. can’t wait to hear what you think :)
so many people in the comments have read it. I'm excited
and let this be your sign to buy Kitchen. We need to pick a book to read for when I'm back in Portland though. Have you read Butter by Asako Yuzuki?
Kitchen is one of my favorites! I love Japanese fiction so instantly added that Shimada book to my TBR list.
Elif Batuman (The Idiot, Either/Or) profiled Murata for The New Yorker a few weeks ago—now that’s an interesting read.
A friend gifted me God of the Woods a month ago, and I’m starting Mina’s Matchbox with some friends in a Discord server this week.
Your reading recaps never miss!
Japanese fiction truly is elite! I've seen the Murata profile but haven't read it, so bookmarking that. Also haven't read The Idiot which has been on my shelf for ages, but saving that for the fall.
Let me know what you think of Mina's Matchbox! Sounds absolutely magical
Returning to give you an update—Mina’s Matchbox is gorgeous!! It was a quick read, different in that “nothing happens” but I loved the relationship of the two girls at the center of the novel—which is what led me to read The God of the Woods afterwards bc of a similar friendship between two girls around the same age. Both were lovely and have me feeling nostalgic about being 13…. which was a truly awful time, lmao. God bless fiction writers 😭
Those covers together are SO gorgeous, I can't get over it. I've had Girl Woman Other on my shelf since like the pandemic, I really need to get on that.
they really are! and yeah you need to read it. its AMAZING.