Becky Chambers’s novellas, Psalm for the Wild-Built and follow up, Prayer for the Crown Shy were both fantastic……though, I think Psalm was the better of the two.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is perhaps one of the most bizarre books I’ve read in quite some time. I don’t love it, but am highly intrigued by how unique Tamsyn’s world building is.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the book, The Phoenix and the Firebird by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford. YA historical fiction, seasoned with magical realism…. What’s not to like. And, the authors are good friends of mine, so there’s that.
Claire keegan yesss, discovered her writing from your recommendation about the Irish movie foster. I have found a similar voice in writer elizabeth story with Olive kittredge. Just enjoyed Rules of Civilty by amor towles. His love of Fitzgerald is evident in his writing.
Finally got around to John Green’s Anthropocene Reviewed this week and I really enjoyed it. While I’d love the distraction of a plot right now, I’m finding the whole fall of democracy a little too distracting and the essay format was more digestible. It made me cry (I’m a tender heart so that’s a low bar) but in the sweet and hopeful sorta way.
Thank you, as always, Colin. I absolutely loved Tulathimutte's brilliant Rejection and couldn't agree more with your assessment. Lately, I've been on a short stories kick. Two collections have really stood out to me: How Long 'Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin and Table for Two by Amor Towles.
Thanks for some reading suggestions as our democracy crumbles for the reasons you stated at the outset of your post.
I have a few suggested readings that I read/re-read following the results of the November election:
1) Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; probably most of you have read this but I feel that the burning of books and knowledge along with the worship of the banal "friends" on the wall are upon us.
2) Confederacy of Dunces by the late John Kennedy Toole. This was one of my favorite books as an undergraduate student back in the dark ages of the 1980's. I was inclined to re-read this novel as our newly elected "leader" whose name I shall always refrain from writing or uttering, started to put his new administration together...it was as if he was trying to bring this title to life. As the introduction will inform you, the tragedy is that this book was not published until after the author had committed suicide - becoming despondent from the failure of his masterpiece to be recognized by the publishing world. His early departure from this world because his work fell in the hands of what I would like to call the misguided/risk-averse literary establishment robbed us of potentially many other engaging and thought provoking (not to mention humorous) follow up novels.
In short, I feel that both these books ask us to think, critique, debate, converse, share ideas, offer counterpoint to those ideas (both positive and negative*) so that we can advance our understanding of the world and ourselves. Our current governing bodies, I feel, are trying to squash anything related to these endeavors.
*Confederacy does make fun of academia navel gazing/self righteousness similar to the words of our dear blog scribe:
"Eighteen academy chairs Out of which only seven really even care"
Another of my favorites is Blessed are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch. It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I remember laughing aloud. It may be a bit dated with its treatment of young, pregnant women and their relationship with cows, but it’s delightful and well-written. It begins with a personification of a cheese gone bad in someone’s fridge; so vivid I could smell it!
Red Orm (aka The Long Ships) is amazing—possibly the best novel about 10th century Vikingr fara i viking. It’s a fantastic adventure. I read it as part of my research before meeting my Swedish family in Göteborg. Classic! P.S. Skål!
When I read this I was like, where have I heard about Train Dreams recently? It was definitely ringing a bell.... Turns out, the film adaptation just premiered at Sundance (sadly, not one of the ones I got a ticket to) and it also got picked up by Netflix.... in case you didn't know!
yeah, I saw they were making a movie of it -- but that scares me a little. I'm not sure it's filmable -- or at least in a way that gets to the heart of the story. I have a feeling that any attempt to make a film adaptation will just come away with a historical fiction film -- which is such a small part of the book
I don't think I've ever seen a movie that did justice to a book (except maybe The Shawshank Redemption...). That said, one film I *did* see at Sundance that I thought was wonderful was The Ballad of Wallis Island. Set for a limited release in the Spring....definitely check it out if you can!
I keep dropping The Name Of The Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin because I have some library books that I have to finish more urgently, but I've read about half of it and it's a very fun book.
Colin- your timing is impeccable! I was just looking for my next escape from reality. Also- have you all read Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders? Gorgeous, haunting, sublime.
Ever since you recommended Bleak House, I’ve been on a Charles Dickens kick. After Bleak, I read Nicholas Nickleby and Great Expectations. Currently on Oliver Twist, learning about pickpockets, and it made me wonder….will a Decemberists song ever feature that profession? Seems fitting. 😊
Becky Chambers’s novellas, Psalm for the Wild-Built and follow up, Prayer for the Crown Shy were both fantastic……though, I think Psalm was the better of the two.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is perhaps one of the most bizarre books I’ve read in quite some time. I don’t love it, but am highly intrigued by how unique Tamsyn’s world building is.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the book, The Phoenix and the Firebird by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford. YA historical fiction, seasoned with magical realism…. What’s not to like. And, the authors are good friends of mine, so there’s that.
That's so funny you say that, because I felt the exact same way (re: Psalm being better than Prayer)!
Claire keegan yesss, discovered her writing from your recommendation about the Irish movie foster. I have found a similar voice in writer elizabeth story with Olive kittredge. Just enjoyed Rules of Civilty by amor towles. His love of Fitzgerald is evident in his writing.
Elizabeth stout
Finally got around to John Green’s Anthropocene Reviewed this week and I really enjoyed it. While I’d love the distraction of a plot right now, I’m finding the whole fall of democracy a little too distracting and the essay format was more digestible. It made me cry (I’m a tender heart so that’s a low bar) but in the sweet and hopeful sorta way.
Also, if you have not read it, run don't walk to Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.
Thank you, as always, Colin. I absolutely loved Tulathimutte's brilliant Rejection and couldn't agree more with your assessment. Lately, I've been on a short stories kick. Two collections have really stood out to me: How Long 'Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin and Table for Two by Amor Towles.
Thanks for some reading suggestions as our democracy crumbles for the reasons you stated at the outset of your post.
I have a few suggested readings that I read/re-read following the results of the November election:
1) Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury; probably most of you have read this but I feel that the burning of books and knowledge along with the worship of the banal "friends" on the wall are upon us.
2) Confederacy of Dunces by the late John Kennedy Toole. This was one of my favorite books as an undergraduate student back in the dark ages of the 1980's. I was inclined to re-read this novel as our newly elected "leader" whose name I shall always refrain from writing or uttering, started to put his new administration together...it was as if he was trying to bring this title to life. As the introduction will inform you, the tragedy is that this book was not published until after the author had committed suicide - becoming despondent from the failure of his masterpiece to be recognized by the publishing world. His early departure from this world because his work fell in the hands of what I would like to call the misguided/risk-averse literary establishment robbed us of potentially many other engaging and thought provoking (not to mention humorous) follow up novels.
In short, I feel that both these books ask us to think, critique, debate, converse, share ideas, offer counterpoint to those ideas (both positive and negative*) so that we can advance our understanding of the world and ourselves. Our current governing bodies, I feel, are trying to squash anything related to these endeavors.
*Confederacy does make fun of academia navel gazing/self righteousness similar to the words of our dear blog scribe:
"Eighteen academy chairs Out of which only seven really even care"
Another of my favorites is Blessed are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch. It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I remember laughing aloud. It may be a bit dated with its treatment of young, pregnant women and their relationship with cows, but it’s delightful and well-written. It begins with a personification of a cheese gone bad in someone’s fridge; so vivid I could smell it!
Thank you for the Train Dreams recommendation! Just started and I’m loving it. Began at midnight in a work night and had to put it down.
Red Orm (aka The Long Ships) is amazing—possibly the best novel about 10th century Vikingr fara i viking. It’s a fantastic adventure. I read it as part of my research before meeting my Swedish family in Göteborg. Classic! P.S. Skål!
When I read this I was like, where have I heard about Train Dreams recently? It was definitely ringing a bell.... Turns out, the film adaptation just premiered at Sundance (sadly, not one of the ones I got a ticket to) and it also got picked up by Netflix.... in case you didn't know!
yeah, I saw they were making a movie of it -- but that scares me a little. I'm not sure it's filmable -- or at least in a way that gets to the heart of the story. I have a feeling that any attempt to make a film adaptation will just come away with a historical fiction film -- which is such a small part of the book
I don't think I've ever seen a movie that did justice to a book (except maybe The Shawshank Redemption...). That said, one film I *did* see at Sundance that I thought was wonderful was The Ballad of Wallis Island. Set for a limited release in the Spring....definitely check it out if you can!
I’m reading “The Coming of the Third Reich” by Richard J. Evans. It’s the first in his Third Reich Trilogy.
It’s, uh, something. And not the least bit incredibly terrifying.
I keep dropping The Name Of The Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin because I have some library books that I have to finish more urgently, but I've read about half of it and it's a very fun book.
I love that you are working through appendix N.
Colin- your timing is impeccable! I was just looking for my next escape from reality. Also- have you all read Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders? Gorgeous, haunting, sublime.
I love Lincoln in the Bardo -- one of my faves of all time. About time I read it again...
Don’t Skip Out On Me by Willie Vlautin rocked my world for a bit when I read it. Have you read that one by him? I’ll check out Horse for sure!
Ever since you recommended Bleak House, I’ve been on a Charles Dickens kick. After Bleak, I read Nicholas Nickleby and Great Expectations. Currently on Oliver Twist, learning about pickpockets, and it made me wonder….will a Decemberists song ever feature that profession? Seems fitting. 😊
No song, really, but I did write a book about pickpockets...