The reading list is wonderful but I am here to say that I co-sign to every word you wrote at the top. I left Bulgaria at 17 to go to college in the South. It was my first plane ride and my first American meal was at The Waffle House. How I survived my Eastern European accent is beyond me even still. How I survived losing my personality for the first 2 years on a small liberal arts campus because even though I did amazing in class I had no clue why people were talking about the things they were talking about socially... is my biggest achievement.
I am thinking about this immigrant life a lot lately, the political shitshow we live with has a lot to do with it. I feel my life is so much richer for having left but there is so much loneliness to it, too. You put it so aptly... because for a lot of it, there is only one witness - ourselves.
Loved this! Commenting with a recommendation: there are a few more books by Elizabeth Strout that continue Lucy Barton's story that I really recommend reading. There are (in order of publication, though personally I read them in a random order and that was fine) Anything is Possible, Oh William, and Lucy by the Sea. I love them so much, they are really similar in vibe to the first one and expand on that world. Elizabeth Strout has just published a novel where Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge interact called Tell Me Everything - I need to read it!
I am making my way through this collection. After I read Olive I’ll make my way back to Lucy. I am so in love already. Lmk what you think when you read tell me everything
You are very right: Rumaan Alam is underrated (Leave the World Behind--the book--was great), and Wyoming is no good (my husband is from there, so ok, one great thing came out of that state, but that's it!)
Loved the Erika & Ochuko transcript - and so glad you hear you loved the book! I wouldn’t have gravitated towards it but maybe it’s time to eat my words
So many of my faves in here. I want to re-read One Day since I loved the Netflix series so much. Totally agree about how Sally Rooney writes love!!! She is the best. I used to love Catcher In The Rye and And Then There Were None as a kid. Keen to hear your thoughts on Thirst For Salt. I was lucky enough to take a workshop with Madelaine (she is so lovely!) and her prose is gorgeous.
Really recommend Towards Zero by Agatha Christie! It's brilliant psychologically and is one of my favourite plots by her. She's so good with plot I can reread her books over and over even knowing who did it.
So funny I bought it but I hated the size and returned it. So I’m going to wait till it comes out in normal paperback size and buy it but I’ve heard only good things. And there’s a movie coming out!
I love your thoughts on THE REHEARSAL. I loved it for further getting into Eleanor Catton’s mind and world but totally agree that I left it scratching my head. And I will be so curious about your and Martha’s thoughts on WELLNESS. I adored that book…on of my absolute favorites of last year! But it also reads a bit like a novelization of viral millennial thinkpieces and I’m curious how it will strike you.
100 pages left for wellness but I’ll save my review for next month ;) have you read any other books by Catton? I think I’m going to have to re read this one. It was so weird
Yes I’ve read all of her books! There are only three so far so last year was my year of Catton and I read them all. I think THE LUMINARIES is the most impressive but BIRNAM WOOD is my favorite. I used to teach at an all girls high school so I loved what REHEARSAL was doing but feel like I missed a lot because it took so much focus just to figure out what was happening. And Catton also wrote the script for the 2020 film version of EMMA which I loved!
Oh interesting to hear how much you adored Wellness, Sara!! The line ‘it reads like a novelisation of viral millennial think pieces’ made me laugh bc… yes. Those are the vibes I have been getting. As two gen z’s it’ll be interesting to see how it strikes us too. It’s nice to know another friend has read it! Maybe I’ll see you in your inbox with some thoughts
call me elena ferrante over here because look at my brilliant friends!
We love the little references 😂😂♥️
I thought it was fun and cute ❤️🔥
so sorry, that was the corniest joke i've made in a long time, but this felt like the only appropriate place to do it
A horrendous but wonderful joke all at once - it made me laugh
It has my approval fr
i love you
The reading list is wonderful but I am here to say that I co-sign to every word you wrote at the top. I left Bulgaria at 17 to go to college in the South. It was my first plane ride and my first American meal was at The Waffle House. How I survived my Eastern European accent is beyond me even still. How I survived losing my personality for the first 2 years on a small liberal arts campus because even though I did amazing in class I had no clue why people were talking about the things they were talking about socially... is my biggest achievement.
I am thinking about this immigrant life a lot lately, the political shitshow we live with has a lot to do with it. I feel my life is so much richer for having left but there is so much loneliness to it, too. You put it so aptly... because for a lot of it, there is only one witness - ourselves.
Wow you so get me! Also went to a small liberal arts college. Also had several identity crises 🥲
Loved this! Commenting with a recommendation: there are a few more books by Elizabeth Strout that continue Lucy Barton's story that I really recommend reading. There are (in order of publication, though personally I read them in a random order and that was fine) Anything is Possible, Oh William, and Lucy by the Sea. I love them so much, they are really similar in vibe to the first one and expand on that world. Elizabeth Strout has just published a novel where Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge interact called Tell Me Everything - I need to read it!
I am making my way through this collection. After I read Olive I’ll make my way back to Lucy. I am so in love already. Lmk what you think when you read tell me everything
I love Elizabeth Strout's books so much. I want to live inside that world!
haha same
Eva, did you watch the Olive Kitteridge mini-series with Frances McDormand? Dark and moody. I loved it.
I haven’t! I actually only heard about it within the past few weeks. Can’t wait to watch!
I'm reading it now and it's making me very happy.
I am so excited to
You are very right: Rumaan Alam is underrated (Leave the World Behind--the book--was great), and Wyoming is no good (my husband is from there, so ok, one great thing came out of that state, but that's it!)
Taking your word about Wyoming. It just gives all the wrong vibes! And I need to get more into Alam !
I relate to this so much. So well articulated.
“I believe in the power of self-narrative, rigorously audited for falsehoods, ever vigilant for delusions.”
I'm glad you relate. means you're smart ;) and vigilant!!
So jealous you only just started Elizabeth Stroudt! The whole Lucy series is amazing, she’s my favorite writer of all time. So simple and so moving.
I am so in love. The simplicity of it omg!
This is the key!!! The simplicity!! A Trojan horse in itself
Loved the Erika & Ochuko transcript - and so glad you hear you loved the book! I wouldn’t have gravitated towards it but maybe it’s time to eat my words
I think you might really like it. I did lol. And can’t wait for ours !
<3
I would love to read a Martha review of it! I did not like it at all but I wonder if I missed something
maybe one day!
You read so many books! In October, I read six.
Still a lot of books! I was on a roll last month lol
I’ve had an eye of Thirst for Salt for a while now so I’m excited to see what you end up thinking about it. Maybe that’ll make me finally tap in 😭
You should! Haven’t read yet but I’ve seen some great reviews. Always here for a literary love story
I can attest that it’s absolutely gorgeous.
So many of my faves in here. I want to re-read One Day since I loved the Netflix series so much. Totally agree about how Sally Rooney writes love!!! She is the best. I used to love Catcher In The Rye and And Then There Were None as a kid. Keen to hear your thoughts on Thirst For Salt. I was lucky enough to take a workshop with Madelaine (she is so lovely!) and her prose is gorgeous.
im jealous of you!!!! I never meet any authors lol. excited for all these as well :)
Really recommend Towards Zero by Agatha Christie! It's brilliant psychologically and is one of my favourite plots by her. She's so good with plot I can reread her books over and over even knowing who did it.
just ordered! thanks for the rec
Amazing hope you love it!
So impressed you read all of these books! Added a bunch to my Goodreads! Thank you
You’re welcome! This is the thing that makes me the most happy 😊
I'm curious if you've read Margo Has Money Problems. I finished it last week and loved it.
So funny I bought it but I hated the size and returned it. So I’m going to wait till it comes out in normal paperback size and buy it but I’ve heard only good things. And there’s a movie coming out!
You know, as I read it, I thought someone should option it for a series or movie. It’s so different than anything I’ve read the past couple of years.
I think it's already in the works as a TV show starring Elle Fanning who also read the audiobook narration.
I loveddddddd it and since I know more about Ochuko's taste now I agree she would too
It is so good!! And Rufi if amazing in person
You had me at “This reminded me of Luster a little bit”
Controversial but I did not like this book. I new to give it another try I don’t think I finished it
I love your thoughts on THE REHEARSAL. I loved it for further getting into Eleanor Catton’s mind and world but totally agree that I left it scratching my head. And I will be so curious about your and Martha’s thoughts on WELLNESS. I adored that book…on of my absolute favorites of last year! But it also reads a bit like a novelization of viral millennial thinkpieces and I’m curious how it will strike you.
But yes. The author is like sharing his manifestos through this book. It sure is something 👀
100 pages left for wellness but I’ll save my review for next month ;) have you read any other books by Catton? I think I’m going to have to re read this one. It was so weird
Yes I’ve read all of her books! There are only three so far so last year was my year of Catton and I read them all. I think THE LUMINARIES is the most impressive but BIRNAM WOOD is my favorite. I used to teach at an all girls high school so I loved what REHEARSAL was doing but feel like I missed a lot because it took so much focus just to figure out what was happening. And Catton also wrote the script for the 2020 film version of EMMA which I loved!
Oh interesting to hear how much you adored Wellness, Sara!! The line ‘it reads like a novelisation of viral millennial think pieces’ made me laugh bc… yes. Those are the vibes I have been getting. As two gen z’s it’ll be interesting to see how it strikes us too. It’s nice to know another friend has read it! Maybe I’ll see you in your inbox with some thoughts
No spoilers!
Yes! I’m looking forward to it!
The love songs is a phenomenal read
So good. Worth all those pages