I love this format, breaks things up and it makes me happy to hear you're working successfully on your novel! Of course very much looking forward to reading it
I read Bleak House, per your recommendation, and got so excited when I came across this sentence: “….and I saw how beautiful and grave it was, and how the old stone balustrades and parapets, and wide flights of shallow steps…”
Mayhap this inspired a lyric or two regarding architects and wandering ghost children?
I hadn't actually read Bleak House till 2017 or whenever that was... prior to that, I'd always said I was more of a Hardy guy than a Dickens guy. I might still be. I think I appreciate Hardy's bleakness over Dickens's. But I should revisit that...
I finally read David Copperfield this past winter and I'm trying to decide on my next Dickens for this winter. I tried Bleak House a long time ago, maybe it's time to give it another go.
Bleak House is excellent but slower to warm up than Nicholas Nickleby….so maybe try that next? I decided to re-read Great Expectations next - it’s been so long I don’t remember any of it. 😊
It's good to know that other human beings suffer from the same ongoing addiction to Le Carré that I do, the only part that sucks is the knowledge that, unless I can make a quick hop, skip and jump over to Blighty, I can't get The Night Manager with that cover. I would reread the book for the cover alone. And at the risk of suggesting a related bit of reading, if you're not familiar with Mick Herron, almost anything by him is worth immersing yourself in, especially the Slow Horses series. Warning: he's quite addictive.
Gretel is the one that you hooked me with, with your description. Vienna, after the Great War (and probably before it as well)... what a great dark complex setting. Plus a combination of obtuse + puzzle + folk tales (and I'm guessing some subtext of twisted psychological subtext, given that this was Freud's stomping ground)... I'm in.
Your description of Gretel and the Great War had me wondering if you’ve read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke? I haven’t read Gretel, so I don’t know if they are directly comparable, but everything you described that you liked about it heavily reminded me of Piranesi. I read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Clarke and adored it, had to immediately read Piranesi and also was very taken by it. Both books really seem like worlds you would also like so I’m dying to know if you have tried them!
In our reading room we just read Whiz Mob as a read-aloud with the kids and we all really enjoyed it! We didn’t see the twist coming at all - there was a collective family gasp!
i adore both those books by Clarke, very different but both beautiful in their own ways. the setting of piranesi continues to haunt me, in a good way. i reread it often.
Enjoyed this thanks. It made me reminiscent of the last time I saw you live on your 2009 Colin Meloy Sings Live! tour. And just saying, it would be amazing if you came to Victoria, BC Canada for a show.
I love this video format. I can put it on in the background as I putter around on the computer and listen. It's like a friend catching me up on what he's been up to and what he's reading. Thank you, friend! 🙂
I really enjoyed your sharing of books you have recently read via your Reading Room video. I would recommend a microphone that would stay in the same place as your voice sometimes faded a little bit a few times. I think you should do a few like this. Best of luck on your novel.
Colin! Fascinating selection. I was deeply gratified to see one of my favorite creepy novels The Ice Palace selected. The Norwegians have such a particular and darkly seductive take on the world. Have you delved into Knut Hamsun’s work at all? He’s a known antisemite but a great writer. And then there’s the magnificent feminist novel Kristin Lavransdatter if you want a long read to grok the heart of a woman.
One of my favorites is the non-fiction We Die Alone. Worth scouring the net for a copy. Unforgettable.
During my UK tour, they ended up moving one of my events from a Waterstones to a different venue—but I am still what you might call a Waterstones Fan. I have an online account with them and am always ordering books—yes, you’ve guessed it—because UK covers are, as you said, so much nicer most of the time than US covers, and that’s how I end up with, like, four versions of the same book. Galley, book I pre-ordered to support the author, finished copy from the publisher, and book I bought at the event to support the bookstore. Maybe it's no mystery why C and I have infinite books but never enough space...
Whoa -- it had never occurred to me to order *directly through Waterstones*. Thanks for the tip! I did end up re-buying Bring Up the Bodies because the British design was so much better. And went straight to the Brits for The Mirror and the Light
Ordering directly from Waterstones is one of my favorite bookish hacks. I’m so glad I could share it with you. And I’m also working on my (second) adult novel. 🙌🏽 Hope the words are flowing well for you!
I LOVE EAGLE HARBOR BOOKS IN BAINBRIDGE ITS AMAZING
I love this format, breaks things up and it makes me happy to hear you're working successfully on your novel! Of course very much looking forward to reading it
I read Bleak House, per your recommendation, and got so excited when I came across this sentence: “….and I saw how beautiful and grave it was, and how the old stone balustrades and parapets, and wide flights of shallow steps…”
Mayhap this inspired a lyric or two regarding architects and wandering ghost children?
I hadn't actually read Bleak House till 2017 or whenever that was... prior to that, I'd always said I was more of a Hardy guy than a Dickens guy. I might still be. I think I appreciate Hardy's bleakness over Dickens's. But I should revisit that...
I finally read David Copperfield this past winter and I'm trying to decide on my next Dickens for this winter. I tried Bleak House a long time ago, maybe it's time to give it another go.
Bleak House is excellent but slower to warm up than Nicholas Nickleby….so maybe try that next? I decided to re-read Great Expectations next - it’s been so long I don’t remember any of it. 😊
That's the great thing about getting older, you can re-read books and it's all new again lol
Thanks I'll put Nicholas on the list =)
Love the video format for book reviews! Extremely engaging. Perfect length. Thank you!
It's good to know that other human beings suffer from the same ongoing addiction to Le Carré that I do, the only part that sucks is the knowledge that, unless I can make a quick hop, skip and jump over to Blighty, I can't get The Night Manager with that cover. I would reread the book for the cover alone. And at the risk of suggesting a related bit of reading, if you're not familiar with Mick Herron, almost anything by him is worth immersing yourself in, especially the Slow Horses series. Warning: he's quite addictive.
Gretel is the one that you hooked me with, with your description. Vienna, after the Great War (and probably before it as well)... what a great dark complex setting. Plus a combination of obtuse + puzzle + folk tales (and I'm guessing some subtext of twisted psychological subtext, given that this was Freud's stomping ground)... I'm in.
Gracias for the recommendations!
Your description of Gretel and the Great War had me wondering if you’ve read Piranesi by Susanna Clarke? I haven’t read Gretel, so I don’t know if they are directly comparable, but everything you described that you liked about it heavily reminded me of Piranesi. I read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Clarke and adored it, had to immediately read Piranesi and also was very taken by it. Both books really seem like worlds you would also like so I’m dying to know if you have tried them!
In our reading room we just read Whiz Mob as a read-aloud with the kids and we all really enjoyed it! We didn’t see the twist coming at all - there was a collective family gasp!
Yeah, I really liked Piranesi! I was psyched to learn that Laika had actually just optioned it for a film: https://deadline.com/2024/06/piranesi-movie-travis-knight-laika-in-works-1235978218/
😱
i adore both those books by Clarke, very different but both beautiful in their own ways. the setting of piranesi continues to haunt me, in a good way. i reread it often.
Cool
Loved this video format, more please and thank you!
Enjoyed this thanks. It made me reminiscent of the last time I saw you live on your 2009 Colin Meloy Sings Live! tour. And just saying, it would be amazing if you came to Victoria, BC Canada for a show.
Victoria also has an amazing book store called Munro’s books that is worth checking out.
Love the video format, especially for book reviews where the covers played a role in your initial selection. Added several to my list, in fact.
I love this video format. I can put it on in the background as I putter around on the computer and listen. It's like a friend catching me up on what he's been up to and what he's reading. Thank you, friend! 🙂
This was fun! I really enjoyed the video format.
I really enjoyed your sharing of books you have recently read via your Reading Room video. I would recommend a microphone that would stay in the same place as your voice sometimes faded a little bit a few times. I think you should do a few like this. Best of luck on your novel.
Colin! Fascinating selection. I was deeply gratified to see one of my favorite creepy novels The Ice Palace selected. The Norwegians have such a particular and darkly seductive take on the world. Have you delved into Knut Hamsun’s work at all? He’s a known antisemite but a great writer. And then there’s the magnificent feminist novel Kristin Lavransdatter if you want a long read to grok the heart of a woman.
One of my favorites is the non-fiction We Die Alone. Worth scouring the net for a copy. Unforgettable.
Enjoy.
Thanks!! Really enjoyed your synopses. I’m always looking for book recommendations, especially from people whose intellect I admire.
During my UK tour, they ended up moving one of my events from a Waterstones to a different venue—but I am still what you might call a Waterstones Fan. I have an online account with them and am always ordering books—yes, you’ve guessed it—because UK covers are, as you said, so much nicer most of the time than US covers, and that’s how I end up with, like, four versions of the same book. Galley, book I pre-ordered to support the author, finished copy from the publisher, and book I bought at the event to support the bookstore. Maybe it's no mystery why C and I have infinite books but never enough space...
Whoa -- it had never occurred to me to order *directly through Waterstones*. Thanks for the tip! I did end up re-buying Bring Up the Bodies because the British design was so much better. And went straight to the Brits for The Mirror and the Light
Ordering directly from Waterstones is one of my favorite bookish hacks. I’m so glad I could share it with you. And I’m also working on my (second) adult novel. 🙌🏽 Hope the words are flowing well for you!