Hello, book friends! I've read a slew of great books recently, so I'd love to know: what's the best book you've read lately?
The one you can't stop thinking about or have been eager to recommend to anyone who will listen. I love hearing what other folks are loving lately! š š
Hear me out š Iām not a total true crime gal but I LOVED the exploration of our general fascination as a society with true crime as a āgenreā outside of the fact that these crimes actually happen to real people. It was really refreshing and not voyeuristic to meāvery in line with I Have Some Questions For You but quieter and more literary.
The women by Kristin Hannah. Itās about the women who were involved in the Vietnam war. A part of our history that I didnāt know much about. I learnt so much, I canāt stop thinking about it and absolutely loved the writing style.
Yes it will be a great book club pick especially if your book club members are all women but also maybe if theyāre not. Itās sad how many of womenās accomplishments and experiences have been left out of history books in general.
I just finished Hello Beautiful over the weekend and I also loved it! It's what prompted me to ask folks this question ā”Ģ I'm glad you loved it too!
Oooh! I have Orbital checked out from the library right now! I'd seen it on the new books shelf and then heard an episode of NPR Book of the Day about it!
Just finished the masterpiece Piranesi - it sticks with you like a balm in this harsh world. Also just started The Ferryman by Justin Cronin and its so good already I almost got up at 6 am just to read before work (almost).
I also loved the Frozen River. And read Lady Tans circle of women back to back which has a similar theme. I highly recommend both those books together both true stories , one about a midwife set in Maine, US and the other a doctor set in China.
In Memoriam and The Covenant of Water. I had put COW down after 40 pages or so. When I picked it up this weekend I read 200 pages in one sitting and finished the next day. The craft of that book is unreal, and it's so moving. Can't imagine I'll read a better book this year. In Memoriam is definitely top 5 of the year too.
It's phenomenal! I feel I've read so many WWII novels and far fewer WWI (Maisie Dobbs is one of a few that come to mind) and this is such a good window into the time and the mentality of these young British men and what honor meant to them. It's so much more than that too. I had to keep reminding myself--they're only teenagers!
I loved The Pursuit of Love adaptation that came out on Amazon a few years ago, have you watched it? Highly recommend! And now I'm off to look up this retelling, thanks for sharing!
Well, it's a silly little book, and it's meant to be, but it's called "Bloodlust & Bonnets," and it's this fun little Victorian farce about vampires and adventures and falling in love and more adventures. Fast read, whimsical art, and vampires and adventures.
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard (came out in the US today) - it's speculative fiction meets literary fiction and one of the best time travel plots I've read!
I was skeptical of the hype about Tom Lake ā the premise and the cover didnāt really grab me ā but I gave it a try and by the first 30 pages Ann Patchett had me totally drawn in. I love her writing and sheās a new auto-buy author for me.
Just finished Looking for Jane, and wow it was powerful! Almost feels like our responsibility as women to talk about these topics and fight for our rights
So actually Long Island is separate to Long Island Compromise but confusingly they're both out at the same sort of time! I haven't actually read Fleishman yet so I don't know whether to start with that before I read her new one!
The Pursuit of love by Nancy Mitford! Sparkling bubbles of champagne, love, British aristocrats, and between-two-world-wars nothing-really-matters attitude of the main character is what the doctor ordered for the spring that will come one day (at last. I hope).
I just finished the long form, which I really enjoyed. The structure is so unique. I also read biography of X in Januaryā¦ was unsure how I felt about it, but it keeps resurfacing in my mind; which I usually consider a positiveā¦
Penance by Eliza Clark, and Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress!
Okay, I loved Sirens & Muses so now I'm going to have to give Penance a second look!
Hear me out š Iām not a total true crime gal but I LOVED the exploration of our general fascination as a society with true crime as a āgenreā outside of the fact that these crimes actually happen to real people. It was really refreshing and not voyeuristic to meāvery in line with I Have Some Questions For You but quieter and more literary.
I actually just read The Marriage Portrait by Maggie OāFarrell & loved it!
Ohhhh, so good, right?
The women by Kristin Hannah. Itās about the women who were involved in the Vietnam war. A part of our history that I didnāt know much about. I learnt so much, I canāt stop thinking about it and absolutely loved the writing style.
Yes, I love when a book does that! We're thinking about reading it for my local book club. Do you think it would be a good one for discussion?
Yes it will be a great book club pick especially if your book club members are all women but also maybe if theyāre not. Itās sad how many of womenās accomplishments and experiences have been left out of history books in general.
Itās been a couple of months now, but I was utterly captivated by All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby!
also loved this one!
I hear nothing but praise for S.A. Cosby's work, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one so much!
I loved Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones :)
I just finished Hello Beautiful over the weekend and I also loved it! It's what prompted me to ask folks this question ā”Ģ I'm glad you loved it too!
1000 Words by Jami Attenberg. If you're looking for inspiration with your writing, I highly recommend.
I'm excited for this one, I've got a copy sitting on my shelf and everyone I've seen that read it had similar praise!
Iām still thinking about Orbital by Samantha Harvey and finally read Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - both excellent.
Oooh! I have Orbital checked out from the library right now! I'd seen it on the new books shelf and then heard an episode of NPR Book of the Day about it!
Love when that happens! Such a meaningful read. I love space so was set-up to be a big fan! Style and themes reminded me of Our Wives Under the Sea!
This is selling me even more!
I've never heard of Orbital, I'm going to look it up! Homegoing is so good, definitely one of my all time favorite reads.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker- a classic for a reason, and The Future by Naomi Alderman- a not so dystopian view of when wealth corrupts
I feel like those are two classics! I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Just finished the masterpiece Piranesi - it sticks with you like a balm in this harsh world. Also just started The Ferryman by Justin Cronin and its so good already I almost got up at 6 am just to read before work (almost).
Hahaha, almost. I haven't heard of that one, so I'll have to look it up. Piranesi is def a masterpiece, I couldn't stop thinking about it either!
The Frozen River
The Vulnerables
How to Say Babylon
The Kamogawa Food Detectives
I also loved the frozen river!!
I would love to see a screen adaptation of the book in the future!
I've been hearing lots of good things about The Frozen River!
Itās beyond amazing!!! And it takes place in Maine, before it was a state.
I also loved the Frozen River. And read Lady Tans circle of women back to back which has a similar theme. I highly recommend both those books together both true stories , one about a midwife set in Maine, US and the other a doctor set in China.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
I hear good things about this one, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!
They're Going to Love You by Meg Howrey!
So many of my reader friends whose taste I align with have loved this, I really should get a copy! I'm glad you mentioned it!
In Memoriam and The Covenant of Water. I had put COW down after 40 pages or so. When I picked it up this weekend I read 200 pages in one sitting and finished the next day. The craft of that book is unreal, and it's so moving. Can't imagine I'll read a better book this year. In Memoriam is definitely top 5 of the year too.
That sounds like a delightful reading experience ā”Ģ I have In Memoriam on my shelf and am quite excited for it, I'm glad to hear you loved it.
It's phenomenal! I feel I've read so many WWII novels and far fewer WWI (Maisie Dobbs is one of a few that come to mind) and this is such a good window into the time and the mentality of these young British men and what honor meant to them. It's so much more than that too. I had to keep reminding myself--they're only teenagers!
I loved In Memoriam ā and am not typically into war books! So beautifully written.
The Book of Doors is my favorite book in a loooooooooong time
I keep seeing this one around but don't know much about it! I'll have to check it out more closely.
Darling by India Knight. Itās a modern retelling of The Pursuit of Love and itās a banger, cannot recommend enough
I loved The Pursuit of Love adaptation that came out on Amazon a few years ago, have you watched it? Highly recommend! And now I'm off to look up this retelling, thanks for sharing!
Absolution, The Book of Goose (!!!!)
You're inspiring me to give these both a go!
Donāt look up what the Book of Goose is about - I was very surprised by the novel!
Loved Book of Goose! Have you read My Brilliant Friend by Ferrante or The Forbidden Notebook by Alba? They both have a similar vibe IMO.
My Brilliant Friend has been on my list forever - your comparison just moved it up!
The Yield, by Tara June Winch. And I'm going to second In Memorium. So good!
Everyone who reads In Memoriam sings it's praises, I'm glad you do too!
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Nice, what a classic!
One of my all time favs! I reread it every few years and it just never gets old.
I just finished The Most Fun We Ever Had and absolutely loved it. My other favourite this year so far is The Great Believers
Two great ones!
My Murder by Katie Williams was quite good: suspenseful, thought-provoking, and (one of my highest compliments) consistently unexpected!
I really enjoyed My Murder too!
Ahhh My Murder!! One of my favorites from last year - totally agree. It was great on audio too!
Youāre selling me on it!
Well, it's a silly little book, and it's meant to be, but it's called "Bloodlust & Bonnets," and it's this fun little Victorian farce about vampires and adventures and falling in love and more adventures. Fast read, whimsical art, and vampires and adventures.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5787887391
So fun!
I guess Iām in my Ali Hazelwood era because I LOVED Check & Mate and Bride this month.
I love how much youāve been loving Ali Hazelwood!
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard (came out in the US today) - it's speculative fiction meets literary fiction and one of the best time travel plots I've read!
Intriguing!
Iām loving The Bloomsbury Girls (and the Jane Austin Society which preceded it, but this one even more).
A great cast of characters and intertwining stories in post WW2 England, fabulous strong women.
Iāve heard lovely things about that one!
I was skeptical of the hype about Tom Lake ā the premise and the cover didnāt really grab me ā but I gave it a try and by the first 30 pages Ann Patchett had me totally drawn in. I love her writing and sheās a new auto-buy author for me.
Isnāt she the best?? I just love all her books Iāve read.
Love, Me by debut author Jessica Saunders. Everyone knows a Dan in their life and it's a light read that's thought provoking!
Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies is one I will never stop recommending.
Just finished Looking for Jane, and wow it was powerful! Almost feels like our responsibility as women to talk about these topics and fight for our rights
Piglet by Lottie Hazell and Green Dot by Madeleine Gray! Both out now. And Long Island by Colm Toibin (out in May)
I am so excited for Long Island Compromise!
So actually Long Island is separate to Long Island Compromise but confusingly they're both out at the same sort of time! I haven't actually read Fleishman yet so I don't know whether to start with that before I read her new one!
Things Don't Break On Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins
Hagstone by Sinead Gleeson
Meet Me At The Surface by Jodie Matthews
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis
Off to look all these up because I love your recs š Iām so excited for the new Coco Mellors!
DEF Black Cake by Charlene Wilkerson. I loved The Bee Sting, too! but Black Cake is one of my new favorites!
The Frozen River! I know itās early to make the call, but it really might be my favorite book of 2024 š®āšØšš¼
The Pursuit of love by Nancy Mitford! Sparkling bubbles of champagne, love, British aristocrats, and between-two-world-wars nothing-really-matters attitude of the main character is what the doctor ordered for the spring that will come one day (at last. I hope).
Have you watched the Amazon adaptation yet!? It came out in 2021 or 2022 and it is so delightful š
I just finished the long form, which I really enjoyed. The structure is so unique. I also read biography of X in Januaryā¦ was unsure how I felt about it, but it keeps resurfacing in my mind; which I usually consider a positiveā¦