Yes both great contributions to literary fiction - interested to see what both authors do next! I think Croft may have some previous works under her belt as well...
Ahh I will hear no slander for anything Bradbury 🙃. You are so right that he goes for it, and as someone who struggles with sincerity I thoroughly enjoy his. Great roundup !
I often feel like you can tell when an author is writing from a really sincere place and you're absolutely right that Bradbury is one of them. He didn't do it to be well reviewed but because he really wanted to get the point across in exactly that way!
I really enjoyed reading your Living Things reflections - I read my arc back in June in one sitting and felt completely consumed. While I agree with your slightly critical reflections, I think I was so compelled by Hachemi’s commentary of late stage capitalism that I turned a blind eye to the ways the novel faltered. I think that the novel is incorrectly described (it’s not really a horror in the sense one would assume from the blurb) however I really loved what the ‘horror’ ended up being - unexpected and brilliantly layered.
I look forward to hearing what you think of Augustown whenever you get round to it! I read it recently and it is really exceptionally plotted and told. The narrative fits together so seamlessly it’s a joy to read (also because the prose is gorgeous).
Finally, your review of The Extinction of Irena Rey is the 4th (or 5th) endorsement I have seen of the novel recently. I very much intend to read - if nothing else for the exploration about the act of translation which is something I am very interested in (as you know). I love to hear that it was the weird you were looking for - I’d agree that I often want weirder from authors in novels. Everything is much too tame sometimes.
A really interesting reading month - thank you for sharing!
Ah I'm glad you also enjoyed Living Things. A really interesting book, I'm very keen to see what he writes next. I think I just enjoyed that opening section so much (I must have highlighted like two entire pages haha) and really wanted him to stay with that instability.
I think you'll like Extinction! It's absolute chaos as I said but it does make some really interesting points about translation (and is also pretty funny about that whole world).
The opening section was incredibly strong - I agree! And I very much look forward to reading Extinction - describing as chaos & funny is really selling it to me!
Loved reading your thoughts on Living Things! I also quite enjoyed it and, while not totally perfect, like you said, there were so many moments where I felt myself nodding and just feeling like Hachemi's really got his finger on the pulse.
I haven't read Pillars of the Earth, but I have watched the show. You should look it up! It's not great, but I would classify it as a "good bad show" haha. Quite a star-studded cast, sooo much melodrama, lots of Big Acting, but also super watchable and entertaining. Some of the scenes and lines are seared into my brain!
I'd really like to start reading more poetry, so thanks for that reminder! It just feels like using a totally different reading muscle and my brain definitely struggles. I think I will try some in audio format, ideally read by the author, and then I'll be less tempted to just race through poem after poem, as I'm wont to do if reading them in physical form.
SO excited for all your secret reading to be revealed in the spec fic round-up! 👀💕
I feel like I've read a lot of writing that really 'speaks to now' but there was something really refreshing about some of Hachemi's takes that felt like new and exciting and accurate.
And yes I absolutely mean to watch Pillars of the Earth... my Wolf Hall experience has me craving more historical drama! Although I don't expect it to be quite the same quality... Sometimes you need that kinda book/tv show though.
I also find myself sometimes accidentally racing through poems. I really like reading them aloud myself! Maybe not always possible depending on where you are haha but it's actually a really nice meditative thing and makes you slow down.
i read a lot of poetry this summer and i've missed it since... something feels like it's missing from my reading. thank you for the reminder! i would also like to commit to a collection a month, this is a fab and doable idea. i highly HIGHLY recommend Danez Smith's collection HOMIE. my god it's excellent ❤️
Oo yes Danez Smith's collection is absolutely on my list - thank you for the reminder! I feel like having a collection in my eye line, wherever that might be (next to the bed, next to the coffee station) helps remind me to pick it up and read one or two.
Thank you so much for the mention, Jess! I also can’t read a Neil Astley anthology without coming away with a very long list of collections I want to read. I read his latest, Soul Feast recently and thought it was really touching. Great to read your thoughts on The Last Warner Woman too. I haven’t read it yet but I loved Augustown and I think Kei Miller’s poetry is pretty special too.
Just looked up Soul Feast and it does feel like exactly the kind of thing that would be good to have on hand for when you need it! There is something nourishing about poetry that you don't get in other forms of lit (or at least nowhere near as easily).
I definitely think The Last Warner Woman is worth reading, especially as an existing fan of his work. I believe I read one of his poetry collections a long time ago, too and really liked it! Such a rare thing to be good at novels and poetry I think. Too many poets really fall down on the storytelling element but I thought TLWW was quite successful on that front.
We overlapped on the Hachemi and Croft in October. Both really interesting reads!
Excited to keep reading your thoughts on books and beyond ☺️
Yes both great contributions to literary fiction - interested to see what both authors do next! I think Croft may have some previous works under her belt as well...
I have Homesick by Croft on my bedside table! It’s an experimental memoir. I have high hopes for it!
Ahh I will hear no slander for anything Bradbury 🙃. You are so right that he goes for it, and as someone who struggles with sincerity I thoroughly enjoy his. Great roundup !
I often feel like you can tell when an author is writing from a really sincere place and you're absolutely right that Bradbury is one of them. He didn't do it to be well reviewed but because he really wanted to get the point across in exactly that way!
I really enjoyed reading your Living Things reflections - I read my arc back in June in one sitting and felt completely consumed. While I agree with your slightly critical reflections, I think I was so compelled by Hachemi’s commentary of late stage capitalism that I turned a blind eye to the ways the novel faltered. I think that the novel is incorrectly described (it’s not really a horror in the sense one would assume from the blurb) however I really loved what the ‘horror’ ended up being - unexpected and brilliantly layered.
I look forward to hearing what you think of Augustown whenever you get round to it! I read it recently and it is really exceptionally plotted and told. The narrative fits together so seamlessly it’s a joy to read (also because the prose is gorgeous).
Finally, your review of The Extinction of Irena Rey is the 4th (or 5th) endorsement I have seen of the novel recently. I very much intend to read - if nothing else for the exploration about the act of translation which is something I am very interested in (as you know). I love to hear that it was the weird you were looking for - I’d agree that I often want weirder from authors in novels. Everything is much too tame sometimes.
A really interesting reading month - thank you for sharing!
Ah I'm glad you also enjoyed Living Things. A really interesting book, I'm very keen to see what he writes next. I think I just enjoyed that opening section so much (I must have highlighted like two entire pages haha) and really wanted him to stay with that instability.
I think you'll like Extinction! It's absolute chaos as I said but it does make some really interesting points about translation (and is also pretty funny about that whole world).
The opening section was incredibly strong - I agree! And I very much look forward to reading Extinction - describing as chaos & funny is really selling it to me!
Loved reading your thoughts on Living Things! I also quite enjoyed it and, while not totally perfect, like you said, there were so many moments where I felt myself nodding and just feeling like Hachemi's really got his finger on the pulse.
I haven't read Pillars of the Earth, but I have watched the show. You should look it up! It's not great, but I would classify it as a "good bad show" haha. Quite a star-studded cast, sooo much melodrama, lots of Big Acting, but also super watchable and entertaining. Some of the scenes and lines are seared into my brain!
I'd really like to start reading more poetry, so thanks for that reminder! It just feels like using a totally different reading muscle and my brain definitely struggles. I think I will try some in audio format, ideally read by the author, and then I'll be less tempted to just race through poem after poem, as I'm wont to do if reading them in physical form.
SO excited for all your secret reading to be revealed in the spec fic round-up! 👀💕
I feel like I've read a lot of writing that really 'speaks to now' but there was something really refreshing about some of Hachemi's takes that felt like new and exciting and accurate.
And yes I absolutely mean to watch Pillars of the Earth... my Wolf Hall experience has me craving more historical drama! Although I don't expect it to be quite the same quality... Sometimes you need that kinda book/tv show though.
I also find myself sometimes accidentally racing through poems. I really like reading them aloud myself! Maybe not always possible depending on where you are haha but it's actually a really nice meditative thing and makes you slow down.
i read a lot of poetry this summer and i've missed it since... something feels like it's missing from my reading. thank you for the reminder! i would also like to commit to a collection a month, this is a fab and doable idea. i highly HIGHLY recommend Danez Smith's collection HOMIE. my god it's excellent ❤️
Oo yes Danez Smith's collection is absolutely on my list - thank you for the reminder! I feel like having a collection in my eye line, wherever that might be (next to the bed, next to the coffee station) helps remind me to pick it up and read one or two.
not sure why it defaulted to my never have i ever used account, but this is joce from discord!
Thank you so much for the mention, Jess! I also can’t read a Neil Astley anthology without coming away with a very long list of collections I want to read. I read his latest, Soul Feast recently and thought it was really touching. Great to read your thoughts on The Last Warner Woman too. I haven’t read it yet but I loved Augustown and I think Kei Miller’s poetry is pretty special too.
Just looked up Soul Feast and it does feel like exactly the kind of thing that would be good to have on hand for when you need it! There is something nourishing about poetry that you don't get in other forms of lit (or at least nowhere near as easily).
I definitely think The Last Warner Woman is worth reading, especially as an existing fan of his work. I believe I read one of his poetry collections a long time ago, too and really liked it! Such a rare thing to be good at novels and poetry I think. Too many poets really fall down on the storytelling element but I thought TLWW was quite successful on that front.