From one book buyer to another … I don’t think it’s possible to buy just the right amount of books, to be always in the clear, with a manageable backlog. It’s like a law of the universe - books beget books.
I live for these monthly roundups!! It’s *so* refreshing to find someone with such an overlap in book tastes! And I love how wide your palette is - makes me excited to try some new ones I wouldn’t have! I now have a sub list on my library holds list called “recos from ochuko” so I’ll know to credit you when I inevitably love them haha
Spy Who Came in from the Cold is one of my favorites.
I think Le Carré is as good as it gets with spy novels and if you liked that one you should read the George Smiley books -- he's a really interesting protagonist, a lot less brutal and traditionally masculine than Leamas. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is probably a good starting point, or A Murder of Quality is faster
Cherish these book reviews Ochuko! Thank YOU. Feel like we're similar in the sense books also play out like movies in my head so overly descriptive books feel like work. It's part of the reason why I didn't love The Goldfinch.
I read two new and entirely different novels in February: DEATH OF THE AUTHOR, by Nnedi Okorafor, and ISOLA, by Allegra Goodman. The end of DEATH OF THE AUTHOR was so freaky and mind-blowing and weird that it made me reconsider everything I had just read! I had quibbles with some of the plot, but it is definitely an enjoyable read that left me thinking... And ISOLA is just lovely, but also right in my wheelhouse: historical fiction about a woman in a weird/challenging/solitary situation? Yes please!
I'm pretty sure I've heard about DEATH OF THE AUTHOR. Okay just googled it the reason I probably never picked it up is because it's sci fi. I've actually never read African sci fi though so could be really cool
I'm not a sci-fi person either--I think Okorafor is known for writing sci-fi, but this one is less straightforwardly sci-fi, it is definitely more literary. It's worth a read!
I got tired of moving boxes of books across the country and fully committed to my kindle around 15 years ago - and have never looked back. I unloaded 1000+ books back when you could still sell used tomes profitably on Amazon and kept just a box of sentimental faves. Since I travel a lot for work it means I’m never without options. Do I miss the feel/smell of paper? Yes, but not as much as I love the lightness of getting my library books online. And I still get the book store fix when I buy for others.
Same, same, I moved to Berlin 14 years ago and had to get rid of 400 books before the move, and I still took hundreds with me. Switched to Kindle and haven’t bought a book since…
I read a few things, but some that stuck out: Bibliophobia (people who have relationships with books! We need to discuss). Also loved Don’t be a Stranger by Susan Minot (can someone rec more of her work, please??) and Crush by Ada Calhoun was enjoyable, even if I found the main character frustrating, at times.
Just got my first Susan Minot this month. Lust and other stories. Also I’ve seen Bibliophobioa ever here on Instagram. Might have to check it out. Thanks for the recs :)
Thanks for the Susan Minot pointer - I will go check it out. I know Bibliophobia seemed a little “hyped” in certain literary circles, if you must, but it’s really different. I’m curious what you’ll think of it if you do read it!
I love how many books you have and how you display them… the glass coffee table with stacks peeking through from underneath 😮💨 I personally can’t imagine living in a place where I’m not surrounded by books and constantly in slight danger of an overstuffed shelf falling on me.
Honestly the books are everything! I only started putting the books underneath the coffee table super recently cuz my bookshelves were bursting and I did not want a new shelf. Then one day I was like oh I can do this! And I love it!
I am so happy to have found your newsletter Ochuko! We have similar book taste and I appreciate your thoughtful reviews of them. My favorite genre is spy thrillers and still stand by believing that LeCarre is the leader of the pack (though I love some of his books more than others). An interesting side-step book for him is The Constant Gardner and it's my favorite of his. It's set in Kenya amidst the "diplomat" world. There is a husband and wife storyline but also a peek into Kenyan politics. I also very much enjoyed The Night Manager. I hope to hear of other spy recs here (took note of the ones offered!)- especially with female lead characters - we need more! Another fun recent read was The Spy Coast. Set in my home state (Maine) in a coastal town where several retired spies have retired to (and I think I know which town the Maine-based author-who also happened to write the Rizzoli and Isles series) and fictionalized in The Spy Coast - and I could totally see as a possibility! I read that one in 2 nights - entertaining and also sort-of plausible. Can't wait for your next post! And totally trying to figure out how I can incorporate a coffee table like yours with the beautiful book piles into my farmhouse situation here. I love it - the colors etc. it's like a piece of art anchoring a room (and can be changeable too!).
You’re amazing thanks for all these recs! I actually bought tinker soldier sailor spy today ! I used to love the James Bond books when I was younger so it’s like returning to an old love. Have you heard of creation lake? It has a female lead was shortlisted for last years Booker prize. Oh and constant gardener has a movie! Didn’t even know it was a book adaptation
Ditto, and I love the arrangement of the books, all horizontal. That’s probably totally a thing these days, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it done throughout an apartment.
I’ve never even thought of that! Yeah it wasn’t really well thought out decision tbh it just made sense for the way the shelf was structured. I love the ritual of finishing a book and putting it in there. It feels FINAL!
I love your prompt on "how" we enjoy books, and "why" we enjoy them as we do (going beyond the physical vs audiobook or genre preference questions). I frequented the library so often growing up, and over the years have increasingly bought my books - the rationale being "if I want to annotate, then I have that option." Though, it's funny, because often I don't annotate. It's more the feeling that I've bought the book, and it is mine. Especially if I love it, it's harder to give away because now it not only holds the story within it, but a memory - I can picture where I was when I first read it or finished it etc.
I'm often teased by my family because of the quantity of books I have (which is not very much imo, especially compared to those on #BookTok). I've often wondered why they tease, as I also fall into the category of cultivating my own library, for books to be read in their own time, and to be shared with loved ones (which maybe contradicts my earlier thought of it being harder to give away books, but perhaps it's more of doing so on my own terms vs a designated library return date). And yet, I do also want to return to the library. I think their role in building and safeguarding community is more important than ever, and I want to see how I do in resisting the urge to "annotate" a book that is "mine."
This is so beautiful. And wonderfully explains how I feel as well. I don’t annotate but I do love the idea of owning the books I read because I can also picture what my life was like when I was reading those books. They are like timestamps on my life you know? The library here doesn’t have many English options so I cant really do all that but I’m really happy where I see others supporting local libraries. Before I could afford to buy books when I still lived in the US I would borrow all the time
I love that you have such a book loving landlord!! I feel like showing him your book storage was a toss up between him admiring you or thinking you're insane 😂 (bc frankly, non readers just don't GET it)
You've really sold The Eight Life to me - I'm not sure I would have gravitated towards it initially but you've given it such high praise! and it's so long?!?!? must be... incredible.
I’m doing the 50 pages a day thing with Anna Karenina! Only way to not let an 800 page book drag. I will say some days I do not clock 50 and feel insane guilt and then crazy levels of pride when I top 50 (why! No-one cares 😂)
We are literally all the same. If I don’t make my reading goal for the day I feel like I’ve failed and then if I surpass it I feel like I’m ahead at life. Also because I allocate a specific number of days to each book so if I read faster I can add an extra book for the month!
Really looking forward to reading hunchback as well!! And for me, I read mostly on my kindle and when I really like the book I buy a physical copy - that is my system.
I find your description of how you play out the book in your head whilst reading fascinating! I can’t picture things in my brain so I have never pictured a book whilst reading it. This means I love book with a tonne of description as it allows me to understand location and character really well as I don’t physically build my own ‘movie’ of it in my head. I struggle a lot with very plotty books because I often don’t have enough info to be able to feel the story. I need more description to understand what is going on.
This is so fascinating. I honestly thought this was how everyone read. Maybe it’s why I love reading so much it’s like watching a movie I made up. I think this is why I don’t live book adaptations cuz I’m like hmmm this is not what I imagined 😂
From one book buyer to another … I don’t think it’s possible to buy just the right amount of books, to be always in the clear, with a manageable backlog. It’s like a law of the universe - books beget books.
Thanks for the validation. Books beget books. Gosh I love it
I live for these monthly roundups!! It’s *so* refreshing to find someone with such an overlap in book tastes! And I love how wide your palette is - makes me excited to try some new ones I wouldn’t have! I now have a sub list on my library holds list called “recos from ochuko” so I’ll know to credit you when I inevitably love them haha
this is adorable
this is so wholesome do you know how hard I'm smiling rn? Lmk if you ever fall in love with any of my recs. I take this job very seriously ;)
Spy Who Came in from the Cold is one of my favorites.
I think Le Carré is as good as it gets with spy novels and if you liked that one you should read the George Smiley books -- he's a really interesting protagonist, a lot less brutal and traditionally masculine than Leamas. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is probably a good starting point, or A Murder of Quality is faster
I've heard great things about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I heard its challenging but the payoff is superb
Yep the plot is hard to follow but comes together beautifully. But mostly the vibe is just so consistently amazingly tense but elegant
Ordered it this morning. Thanks for the rec !
Amazing!
Cherish these book reviews Ochuko! Thank YOU. Feel like we're similar in the sense books also play out like movies in my head so overly descriptive books feel like work. It's part of the reason why I didn't love The Goldfinch.
Thank YOU Dominique :) Wait girl I also didnt love The Goldfinch! I read it a while ago but I remember just being able to get sucked into the story.
I read two new and entirely different novels in February: DEATH OF THE AUTHOR, by Nnedi Okorafor, and ISOLA, by Allegra Goodman. The end of DEATH OF THE AUTHOR was so freaky and mind-blowing and weird that it made me reconsider everything I had just read! I had quibbles with some of the plot, but it is definitely an enjoyable read that left me thinking... And ISOLA is just lovely, but also right in my wheelhouse: historical fiction about a woman in a weird/challenging/solitary situation? Yes please!
I'm pretty sure I've heard about DEATH OF THE AUTHOR. Okay just googled it the reason I probably never picked it up is because it's sci fi. I've actually never read African sci fi though so could be really cool
I'm not a sci-fi person either--I think Okorafor is known for writing sci-fi, but this one is less straightforwardly sci-fi, it is definitely more literary. It's worth a read!
noted! thank you :)
I got tired of moving boxes of books across the country and fully committed to my kindle around 15 years ago - and have never looked back. I unloaded 1000+ books back when you could still sell used tomes profitably on Amazon and kept just a box of sentimental faves. Since I travel a lot for work it means I’m never without options. Do I miss the feel/smell of paper? Yes, but not as much as I love the lightness of getting my library books online. And I still get the book store fix when I buy for others.
May I get to this level of wisdom and maturity some day 😂😂. I can’t imagine letting go of so many books you’re so brave !!!!
I’m not mature, just lazy 😂
Same, same, I moved to Berlin 14 years ago and had to get rid of 400 books before the move, and I still took hundreds with me. Switched to Kindle and haven’t bought a book since…
I read a few things, but some that stuck out: Bibliophobia (people who have relationships with books! We need to discuss). Also loved Don’t be a Stranger by Susan Minot (can someone rec more of her work, please??) and Crush by Ada Calhoun was enjoyable, even if I found the main character frustrating, at times.
Just got my first Susan Minot this month. Lust and other stories. Also I’ve seen Bibliophobioa ever here on Instagram. Might have to check it out. Thanks for the recs :)
Thanks for the Susan Minot pointer - I will go check it out. I know Bibliophobia seemed a little “hyped” in certain literary circles, if you must, but it’s really different. I’m curious what you’ll think of it if you do read it!
I just read Bibliophobia too, gave me so much to think about it.
Same here. Beyond thought-provoking - really turned a lot of things upside down for me, in a fascinating way.
Do you rec??
Absolutely!
An absolute honour to be included!!!
I love how many books you have and how you display them… the glass coffee table with stacks peeking through from underneath 😮💨 I personally can’t imagine living in a place where I’m not surrounded by books and constantly in slight danger of an overstuffed shelf falling on me.
Also send me pics of your book collection!
Honestly the books are everything! I only started putting the books underneath the coffee table super recently cuz my bookshelves were bursting and I did not want a new shelf. Then one day I was like oh I can do this! And I love it!
I am so happy to have found your newsletter Ochuko! We have similar book taste and I appreciate your thoughtful reviews of them. My favorite genre is spy thrillers and still stand by believing that LeCarre is the leader of the pack (though I love some of his books more than others). An interesting side-step book for him is The Constant Gardner and it's my favorite of his. It's set in Kenya amidst the "diplomat" world. There is a husband and wife storyline but also a peek into Kenyan politics. I also very much enjoyed The Night Manager. I hope to hear of other spy recs here (took note of the ones offered!)- especially with female lead characters - we need more! Another fun recent read was The Spy Coast. Set in my home state (Maine) in a coastal town where several retired spies have retired to (and I think I know which town the Maine-based author-who also happened to write the Rizzoli and Isles series) and fictionalized in The Spy Coast - and I could totally see as a possibility! I read that one in 2 nights - entertaining and also sort-of plausible. Can't wait for your next post! And totally trying to figure out how I can incorporate a coffee table like yours with the beautiful book piles into my farmhouse situation here. I love it - the colors etc. it's like a piece of art anchoring a room (and can be changeable too!).
You’re amazing thanks for all these recs! I actually bought tinker soldier sailor spy today ! I used to love the James Bond books when I was younger so it’s like returning to an old love. Have you heard of creation lake? It has a female lead was shortlisted for last years Booker prize. Oh and constant gardener has a movie! Didn’t even know it was a book adaptation
I know this is about books, but I love your interiors, especially that green side board!
It’s about the books AND the interiors ;) so thank you!
Ditto, and I love the arrangement of the books, all horizontal. That’s probably totally a thing these days, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it done throughout an apartment.
I’ve never even thought of that! Yeah it wasn’t really well thought out decision tbh it just made sense for the way the shelf was structured. I love the ritual of finishing a book and putting it in there. It feels FINAL!
Long story long:
I love your prompt on "how" we enjoy books, and "why" we enjoy them as we do (going beyond the physical vs audiobook or genre preference questions). I frequented the library so often growing up, and over the years have increasingly bought my books - the rationale being "if I want to annotate, then I have that option." Though, it's funny, because often I don't annotate. It's more the feeling that I've bought the book, and it is mine. Especially if I love it, it's harder to give away because now it not only holds the story within it, but a memory - I can picture where I was when I first read it or finished it etc.
I'm often teased by my family because of the quantity of books I have (which is not very much imo, especially compared to those on #BookTok). I've often wondered why they tease, as I also fall into the category of cultivating my own library, for books to be read in their own time, and to be shared with loved ones (which maybe contradicts my earlier thought of it being harder to give away books, but perhaps it's more of doing so on my own terms vs a designated library return date). And yet, I do also want to return to the library. I think their role in building and safeguarding community is more important than ever, and I want to see how I do in resisting the urge to "annotate" a book that is "mine."
This is so beautiful. And wonderfully explains how I feel as well. I don’t annotate but I do love the idea of owning the books I read because I can also picture what my life was like when I was reading those books. They are like timestamps on my life you know? The library here doesn’t have many English options so I cant really do all that but I’m really happy where I see others supporting local libraries. Before I could afford to buy books when I still lived in the US I would borrow all the time
I love that you have such a book loving landlord!! I feel like showing him your book storage was a toss up between him admiring you or thinking you're insane 😂 (bc frankly, non readers just don't GET it)
You've really sold The Eight Life to me - I'm not sure I would have gravitated towards it initially but you've given it such high praise! and it's so long?!?!? must be... incredible.
Girl I think you’d love that book. Actually you would. Do it do it!
Spy book recs- American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson and Northern Spy by Flynn Berry. Both are female centered and excellent reads!
Hot. We love female spy. You should also check out Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. I have that on my physical tbr I’ve head good things
I’m doing the 50 pages a day thing with Anna Karenina! Only way to not let an 800 page book drag. I will say some days I do not clock 50 and feel insane guilt and then crazy levels of pride when I top 50 (why! No-one cares 😂)
We are literally all the same. If I don’t make my reading goal for the day I feel like I’ve failed and then if I surpass it I feel like I’m ahead at life. Also because I allocate a specific number of days to each book so if I read faster I can add an extra book for the month!
Really looking forward to reading hunchback as well!! And for me, I read mostly on my kindle and when I really like the book I buy a physical copy - that is my system.
Lmk what you think about hunchback b. And I definitely see you as a kindle girl 😉
I find your description of how you play out the book in your head whilst reading fascinating! I can’t picture things in my brain so I have never pictured a book whilst reading it. This means I love book with a tonne of description as it allows me to understand location and character really well as I don’t physically build my own ‘movie’ of it in my head. I struggle a lot with very plotty books because I often don’t have enough info to be able to feel the story. I need more description to understand what is going on.
This is so fascinating. I honestly thought this was how everyone read. Maybe it’s why I love reading so much it’s like watching a movie I made up. I think this is why I don’t live book adaptations cuz I’m like hmmm this is not what I imagined 😂