Astrid and Veronika-Linda Olsson- a beautiful story of heartbreak and friendship. It's a short book and you'll want more.
How To Say Babylon- Safiya Sinclair-A memoir of this woman's childhood in Jamaica with her Rasatafari family. She is an incredible poet and her words are lyrical. I have read 4 books since and still am thinking about it.
The Guest List-Lucy Foley- This is what happens when a wedding is held on a remote island in Ireland and everyone has secrets. My niece and I read it this month for our book club of 2.
I loved Station Eleven. Haven't read Sea of Tranquility yet, but you just moved it to the top of my fiction list. Have you read The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman? So so good. If you're looking for a mindbender, "S" by Doug Dorst & JJ Abrams is also wonderful. It's a project, though.
Claire, always love such conversations as we get to discover such a variety of fascinating books. Funnily, I find whenever discussions such as this occur, I lean to my early reading of the British classics: Great Expectations, Mill on the Floss and Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, to name simply three. I could keep listing them. I probably haven't re-read these 3 for over 30 years , having read them multiple times through school and university and each time discovered new wonder and beauty, even in the most barren of settings.
I loved The Poisonwood Bible when I read it years ago (it's on my list to listen to sometime soon). I listened to Demon Copperhead last year and enjoyed it too. I haven't read anything by Emily St. John but I did watch and enjoy Station Eleven.
I just finished #31 of the year yesterday and I'm listening to Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry today (John Ortberg mentioned it on his podcast today saying it was one of his favorite novels so I thought I would give it a listen).
Have you read The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu (book 1 of a trilogy and a series released today on Netflix which is an adaptation of the first two books I believe)? I thought it was very good.
Well, this post caused me $22 and change to get two of your reads. (I trust your voice.)
"Demon Copperhead" does involve drugs, yes. But next to Meryl Streep doing "Tom Lake," it was my favorite audiobook last year. I generally would read the print version, but sitting and listening (not driving or walking or doing Tai Chi ) to these two wonderful stories was Homeric.
More recs from a subscriber via email:
My suggestions:
Astrid and Veronika-Linda Olsson- a beautiful story of heartbreak and friendship. It's a short book and you'll want more.
How To Say Babylon- Safiya Sinclair-A memoir of this woman's childhood in Jamaica with her Rasatafari family. She is an incredible poet and her words are lyrical. I have read 4 books since and still am thinking about it.
The Guest List-Lucy Foley- This is what happens when a wedding is held on a remote island in Ireland and everyone has secrets. My niece and I read it this month for our book club of 2.
More recommendations from a subscriber via email:
I loved Station Eleven. Haven't read Sea of Tranquility yet, but you just moved it to the top of my fiction list. Have you read The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman? So so good. If you're looking for a mindbender, "S" by Doug Dorst & JJ Abrams is also wonderful. It's a project, though.
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward!!!!!!!
Claire, always love such conversations as we get to discover such a variety of fascinating books. Funnily, I find whenever discussions such as this occur, I lean to my early reading of the British classics: Great Expectations, Mill on the Floss and Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, to name simply three. I could keep listing them. I probably haven't re-read these 3 for over 30 years , having read them multiple times through school and university and each time discovered new wonder and beauty, even in the most barren of settings.
Loved SOT so much. You must have recommended?
I loved The Poisonwood Bible when I read it years ago (it's on my list to listen to sometime soon). I listened to Demon Copperhead last year and enjoyed it too. I haven't read anything by Emily St. John but I did watch and enjoy Station Eleven.
I just finished #31 of the year yesterday and I'm listening to Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry today (John Ortberg mentioned it on his podcast today saying it was one of his favorite novels so I thought I would give it a listen).
Have you read The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu (book 1 of a trilogy and a series released today on Netflix which is an adaptation of the first two books I believe)? I thought it was very good.
Well, this post caused me $22 and change to get two of your reads. (I trust your voice.)
"Demon Copperhead" does involve drugs, yes. But next to Meryl Streep doing "Tom Lake," it was my favorite audiobook last year. I generally would read the print version, but sitting and listening (not driving or walking or doing Tai Chi ) to these two wonderful stories was Homeric.
I went to a reading party here in NYC this week and was so moved by how many people arrived to reread their favorites!