I just finished a murder mystery by Ruth Ware and am starting a memoir by a professional dominatrix. What books or essays have caught your attention this week? 😊
Read 10:04 by Ben Lerner this week—nice and charming, but maybe we don't need more Brooklyn-based authors doing autofiction. Also working on "Invisible Users", which is an ethnography of internet cafe users in Ghana—sorta submerged in a bit too much / not good enough theory, but with some nice anecdotes.
"A Man, A Village, A Museum." Really interesting diary-esque account of a chinese artist recreating work by folks like sol lewitt and dan flavin in his small hometown village in the countryside.
"Azadi" by Arundhati Roy. Prior to this, I'd only read her fiction work, but her essays are even better! Poignant, political, philosophical, and powerful.
I just finished "Delivering Happiness" by Tony Hsieh. It's incredible how much things change when the focus moves from what can I get to, how can I build this relationship.
I'm reading "How Ike Led" which is a book about Dwight D. Eisenhower's decision-making during WWII as a General, and of course during his presidency. He had to make some very difficult choices that impacted thousands and eventually millions of lives. It's very interesting to read about how this stuff went down. It's one of these books I am taking my time reading, stopping and starting, and digesting.
Just finished the Annie Dillard collection The Abundance and fell in love with her writing all over again, all kinds of beautiful. Just started Ministry for the Future and enjoying so far…good long novel to get absorbed in :)
Cakes and Ale by Maugham and the new Keynes bio by Zach Carter. Seem to be in an early 20th century England phase. Still early but enjoying them both. More in common with your reading list than you might think haha.
Tana French! I've finished The Searcher and In the Woods (very different) & am now reading The Likeness. If you enjoy cop novels and books that emphasize place check them out.
Just finished Severance by Ling Ma. Timely and lucky and funny but not exactly cheery.
Read 10:04 by Ben Lerner this week—nice and charming, but maybe we don't need more Brooklyn-based authors doing autofiction. Also working on "Invisible Users", which is an ethnography of internet cafe users in Ghana—sorta submerged in a bit too much / not good enough theory, but with some nice anecdotes.
The Splendid and the Vile.
Still have no idea what the title means 500 pages in, but great book.
"A Man, A Village, A Museum." Really interesting diary-esque account of a chinese artist recreating work by folks like sol lewitt and dan flavin in his small hometown village in the countryside.
https://www.onomatopee.net/exhibition/a-man-a-village-a-museum/
"Azadi" by Arundhati Roy. Prior to this, I'd only read her fiction work, but her essays are even better! Poignant, political, philosophical, and powerful.
Letters to Véra! and Pale Fire
I just finished reading a short essay in The Walrus called "The Case for Affordable Childcare". (https://thewalrus.ca/the-case-for-affordable-child-care/#.X8wS4WxgNps.twitter). It's from a Canadian perspective, but it's a compelling read and may be useful for American readers too!
The Overstory: "Richard Powers’s climate-themed epic, The Overstory, embraces a dark optimism about the fate of humanity."
Prose is beautiful. Reminds me a bit of Steinbeck. Just getting into it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/06/richard-powers-the-overstory/559106/
I just finished "Delivering Happiness" by Tony Hsieh. It's incredible how much things change when the focus moves from what can I get to, how can I build this relationship.
Reading "The White Album" by Joan Didion. Actually she reminds me of your writing!
I'm reading "How Ike Led" which is a book about Dwight D. Eisenhower's decision-making during WWII as a General, and of course during his presidency. He had to make some very difficult choices that impacted thousands and eventually millions of lives. It's very interesting to read about how this stuff went down. It's one of these books I am taking my time reading, stopping and starting, and digesting.
recently read Brigade de Cuisine by McPhee and absolutely loved it!
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1979/02/19/brigade-de-cuisine
Just finished the Annie Dillard collection The Abundance and fell in love with her writing all over again, all kinds of beautiful. Just started Ministry for the Future and enjoying so far…good long novel to get absorbed in :)
I'm reading the 16th dresden files book that was released a few months ago. extremely pulpy, just what i need
Cakes and Ale by Maugham and the new Keynes bio by Zach Carter. Seem to be in an early 20th century England phase. Still early but enjoying them both. More in common with your reading list than you might think haha.
Tana French! I've finished The Searcher and In the Woods (very different) & am now reading The Likeness. If you enjoy cop novels and books that emphasize place check them out.
Just finished reading Piranesi and it was a delight. So much to unpack...