Adichie with some casual transphobia.
People like Adichie really wind me up because she sounds considered and intelligent while still spouting utter guff. Very much agree that it was nice to see a journalist pushing back on her empty rhetoric. Literature in peril? Give me a break.
He/They
And we have her literature in schools?
Wait - James Norton is playing Jude? When I saw that he was attached to this production, I assumed he would be playing the Willem character. I guess they wanted the starriest name for the lead and I also can’t help thinking that they wanted to make the friendship group a bit… whiter.
Any Spanish speakers in here?
I think the time has come and I'm ready to take on reading a book in Spanish. The problem is that I don't know where to start. I feel pretty comfortable with the language, but I obviously won't start off with Cien años de soledad or Don Quijote de la Mancha. I'm not interested in translations, I'd like to read a book that was originlly written in Spanish. Any suggestions? What are some must reads the Spanish literature has to offer that are also accessible to a novice like me?
I think the time has come and I'm ready to take on reading a book in Spanish. The problem is that I don't know where to start. I feel pretty comfortable with the language, but I obviously won't start off with Cien años de soledad or Don Quijote de la Mancha. I'm not interested in translations, I'd like to read a book that was originlly written in Spanish. Any suggestions? What are some must reads the Spanish literature has to offer that are also accessible to a novice like me?
he/him
I mean I’m not a Spanish speaker but read the English translation of Los peligros de fumar en la cama and loved it. It’s a collection of gothic/horror short stories and was very easy to dip in and out of, I really enjoyed it. The English translation didn’t contain any difficult prose so hopefully the original Spanish version is the same?
Cadaver Exquisito
Anyone read Celeste Ng’s Our Missing Hearts? I had high hopes, but I’m a hundred pages in and it’s all a little … boring? The main theme is interesting and relevant, but I’m so far not convinced it warranted a whole novel.
I also can’t stand it when book covers have that “Reese’s Book Club” stamp printed on the front. At least make it a sticker so I can take it off.
I also can’t stand it when book covers have that “Reese’s Book Club” stamp printed on the front. At least make it a sticker so I can take it off.
Duh!
Crónica de una muerte anunciada and Como agua para chocolate are great (and short!) to start with.
I started Anna Burns' Milkman and while the atmosphere it sets is impressive I can't quite get into the cadence of the prose. Curious if anyone else has experience reading it?
he/him
I loved Milkman. I read it just after it won the Booker prize so a few years ago. But I remember the narration being very conversational with long, flowing sentences you’d get in a chat with your friends. The chapter where they’re discussing the colour of the sky which inspired the cover image was perfection.
I’m about a quarter of the way into Silence by Shūsaku Endō. It’s really intriguing me and I’m going to have to watch the film afterwards.
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They/Them
Proud to see I have read more books this year (37) than last year (34) even with all my crappy vision issues. I don't think I'll beat this years number next year but I might set a goal. It inspires me to properly sit and have a long reading sesh.
Just finished The Girl Who Could Move Shit With Her Mind and I adored it. Teagan Frost is my new favourite literary character (until I read the new Stephanie Plum).
Just finished The Girl Who Could Move Shit With Her Mind and I adored it. Teagan Frost is my new favourite literary character (until I read the new Stephanie Plum).
He/Him
My first Elena Ferrate read was The Days of Abandonment and it was horrible. By the end I was having physical reactions against it and wouldn't stop thinking about how unnecesarily grotesque and bleak it was. I also watched The Lost Daughter and hated it (I know I'm alone at it) so I thought she just wasn't the right author for me.
Some friends heard me complain and begged me to give My Brilliant Friend a chance and I'm glad I did - she managed to take the good parts of Abandonment and build something more solid. She's so good at describing these complex, ugly feelings that we try to avoid or pretend we don't feel when in fact they say a lot about us. Reading it in Italian made some parts of it feel a bit too close to home - sometimes it felt like I was reading about how my aunts hated each other dd.
The thing is that I'm halfway through the second book and I'm starting to lose steam. I enjoy her stream of consciousness style and how the plot points are never as important as the character's feelings and relationships, but I don't know if that will work for another 1.500 pages. At this point I desperately need Lenù to get. over. herself. and stop crying around corners.
I might try to start something new and see if I miss her.
Some friends heard me complain and begged me to give My Brilliant Friend a chance and I'm glad I did - she managed to take the good parts of Abandonment and build something more solid. She's so good at describing these complex, ugly feelings that we try to avoid or pretend we don't feel when in fact they say a lot about us. Reading it in Italian made some parts of it feel a bit too close to home - sometimes it felt like I was reading about how my aunts hated each other dd.
The thing is that I'm halfway through the second book and I'm starting to lose steam. I enjoy her stream of consciousness style and how the plot points are never as important as the character's feelings and relationships, but I don't know if that will work for another 1.500 pages. At this point I desperately need Lenù to get. over. herself. and stop crying around corners.
I might try to start something new and see if I miss her.
I've just finished reading Husband Material after reading Boyfriend Material. I enjoyed them a lot even though they're really tropey. But I liked the issues covered and didn't think it was as straight forward as it could have been. Very much in the vein of Red, White and Royal Blue but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
At Night All Blood is Black is really terrific. Absolutely unflinching and very, very powerful perspective of the World War we don’t see enough.
Finally started Hamnet!
Finally started Hamnet!
AH! Hamnet really is one of the most special things I’ve ever read, hope you enjoy!!
