This is so very fun, I'm going to have to participate in some way. THOSE WATERS COVERS. And so glad to hear you loved Flashlight since Abra is sending me her copy 😂also the support for Samurai is next level I can't wait to get to it in 3-5 business years
I could answer “Patricia Lockwood” for about half of these prompts. Favorite new to me author? Patricia Lockwood. Favorite book of the year, book that made me laugh, book that made me cry: No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. Most anticipated release: Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood. Ok I’ll stop now. 😂
I can say without a doubt a book that made me weep was Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt, I actually couldn’t see the words on the page I was crying so hard 🫠
Fave new to me author is DEFINITELY Iris Murdoch - of course I knew her and her books but I’d never read her before this year, I think I’d been a bit intimidated by her - now I’ve read two of her books in 3 months and am a newly devoted fan.
These prompts are so fun! I'm very intrigued by The Last Samurai, I really loved The English Understand Wool. I recently finished Toni Morrison's Tar Baby and loved the sharp dialogue. This line made me laugh: "She looked at her husband with the complete dislike of a natural late-sleeper for a cheerful early-riser."
The Last Samurai is definitely one of those books that I wish I could read again for the first time! However, I know the next time I read it I will have forgotten some of it and be enchanted all over again. Sigh, I love that book (and it was def on my best of the 21st century NYT ballot!). I also have that Laurie Colwin book on my shelf waiting to be read; in fact I already let someone borrow it and read it and return it in the time I've owned it, haha. Got to get to it...
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Happy All the Time! It was one of my favorite reading experiences of last year, and it was so fun to then attack her catalog.
I didn’t “get” Fish Tales either though I did feel like I wasn’t the audience for it in a lot of ways (that I won’t go into here). I did read a GREAT interview with her that made me appreciate her a lot. The book about Toni Morrison’s work as an editor was much more satisfying than this novel, to me. (She didn’t work on it much, it was right at the end of her tenure.)
Not sure what Petry you’ve read but I highly recommend The Narrows — I read The Street first and then did this one a couple years ago and I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I love Shaka from Hunchback too. She’s a perfect example of “my disability doesn’t define me but it sure as hell shapes my existence.” I also think you should read Laurie Colwin immediately. I haven’t been able to stop reading her all year. She’s like a more generous version of Nora Ephron, or if Jane Austen were a 20th century New Yorker, but mostly she’s herself.
I have to admit I was assigned Paradise Lost … and I never finished it. This is a big deal, too, because I was that kind of geeky student who ALWAYS finished things. I was swamped with work, and also I found it boring as all-get-out back then. I’ve had to realize this year that I was wrong about Middlemarch from back then, though, so maybe I’ll be wrong about Paradise Lost too!
Everyone I've talked to about Laurie Colwin says they read one and then immediately read them all. I can't think of higher praise!
I'm glad I read PARADISE LOST now...I had the time, I wanted to read it, and I think I appreciated it more with a little more life experience lol. There are definitely some books I didn't finish in school that I should probably go back to for these reasons...
Laurie Colwin, the potato chip of authors! I’ve gone through about 4 of her books now — found one that was meh and all the rest are great. She has some lovely essays on cooking in addition to her novels. Hmm maybe I’ll go back to Paradise Lost someday … but I think I need to tackle the Iliad first!
omg i loooooove this so much!! i just did my mid year check in but i may copy this format next year— i love seeing the way everyone approaches the check in and how they reflect on their reading. this was so fun to read!
I love seeing your picks, Sara! And ty for the shoutout. I have been meaning to read The Last Samurai and now even more so after your rec. Flashlight was also the one that made me cry. And those Sarah Waters editions may finally be what get me to read her work!
This is so very fun, I'm going to have to participate in some way. THOSE WATERS COVERS. And so glad to hear you loved Flashlight since Abra is sending me her copy 😂also the support for Samurai is next level I can't wait to get to it in 3-5 business years
Absolutely same Natalie re Samurai
3-5 business years. Haha. I am glad to see some love for Flashlight too. My expectations were problematic!
3-5 business years - the truth! 😆
I could answer “Patricia Lockwood” for about half of these prompts. Favorite new to me author? Patricia Lockwood. Favorite book of the year, book that made me laugh, book that made me cry: No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. Most anticipated release: Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood. Ok I’ll stop now. 😂
I love this for you and I'm praying the new one is everything you want and need!
OMG ME TOO. I just filled out the Riverhead July request form on Instagram to try and get a copy of the new one 😂
I can say without a doubt a book that made me weep was Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt, I actually couldn’t see the words on the page I was crying so hard 🫠
Fave new to me author is DEFINITELY Iris Murdoch - of course I knew her and her books but I’d never read her before this year, I think I’d been a bit intimidated by her - now I’ve read two of her books in 3 months and am a newly devoted fan.
Last samurai is on my list for 2025!
LOVED AND MISSED!! What a book! I have still never read Iris Murdoch, but your comment made me more curious for sure.
These prompts are so fun! I'm very intrigued by The Last Samurai, I really loved The English Understand Wool. I recently finished Toni Morrison's Tar Baby and loved the sharp dialogue. This line made me laugh: "She looked at her husband with the complete dislike of a natural late-sleeper for a cheerful early-riser."
What a line!! Toni is just the best.
The Last Samurai is definitely one of those books that I wish I could read again for the first time! However, I know the next time I read it I will have forgotten some of it and be enchanted all over again. Sigh, I love that book (and it was def on my best of the 21st century NYT ballot!). I also have that Laurie Colwin book on my shelf waiting to be read; in fact I already let someone borrow it and read it and return it in the time I've owned it, haha. Got to get to it...
I love those Sarah Waters covers!!
I am loving THE LAST SAMURAI so much. I don't want it to end!! And I will be picking up the Colwin this year. I'm determined!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Happy All the Time! It was one of my favorite reading experiences of last year, and it was so fun to then attack her catalog.
That's what Elizabeth M said too!! I can't wait to finally give her a go!
Those Virago Editions are soooooo good
I am obsessed! I have three, but I think I need them all.
I do not need the Sarah Waters. I do not need the Sarah Waters. 🤣
You need the Sarah Waters.
I should say that I already have several Sarah Waters 🤣…just not these editions. I just need to continue to look away.
I mean look I also have older editions of all her books…but it’s taking a lot of restraint not to snap these up regardless!
💯
They are stunning!!!!
💯
Sorry for the temptation!!
🤣
The cover of Intemperance is almost identical to the cover of the Middlemarch edition of the Norton Critical Edition!
Oh how strange! I find cover overlap infinitely fascinating!
I didn’t “get” Fish Tales either though I did feel like I wasn’t the audience for it in a lot of ways (that I won’t go into here). I did read a GREAT interview with her that made me appreciate her a lot. The book about Toni Morrison’s work as an editor was much more satisfying than this novel, to me. (She didn’t work on it much, it was right at the end of her tenure.)
Not sure what Petry you’ve read but I highly recommend The Narrows — I read The Street first and then did this one a couple years ago and I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
So enjoyed this list!
I'll have to read an interview with Nettie Jones. I think I'm maybe also not the audience and I'm just perplexed, but I WANT to get it!!
THE NARROWS is what I read. It was phenomenal!!! I can't wait to read more.
I love Shaka from Hunchback too. She’s a perfect example of “my disability doesn’t define me but it sure as hell shapes my existence.” I also think you should read Laurie Colwin immediately. I haven’t been able to stop reading her all year. She’s like a more generous version of Nora Ephron, or if Jane Austen were a 20th century New Yorker, but mostly she’s herself.
I have to admit I was assigned Paradise Lost … and I never finished it. This is a big deal, too, because I was that kind of geeky student who ALWAYS finished things. I was swamped with work, and also I found it boring as all-get-out back then. I’ve had to realize this year that I was wrong about Middlemarch from back then, though, so maybe I’ll be wrong about Paradise Lost too!
Everyone I've talked to about Laurie Colwin says they read one and then immediately read them all. I can't think of higher praise!
I'm glad I read PARADISE LOST now...I had the time, I wanted to read it, and I think I appreciated it more with a little more life experience lol. There are definitely some books I didn't finish in school that I should probably go back to for these reasons...
Laurie Colwin, the potato chip of authors! I’ve gone through about 4 of her books now — found one that was meh and all the rest are great. She has some lovely essays on cooking in addition to her novels. Hmm maybe I’ll go back to Paradise Lost someday … but I think I need to tackle the Iliad first!
omg i loooooove this so much!! i just did my mid year check in but i may copy this format next year— i love seeing the way everyone approaches the check in and how they reflect on their reading. this was so fun to read!
I love a check-in in any form!! Going to check yours out now!
I love seeing your picks, Sara! And ty for the shoutout. I have been meaning to read The Last Samurai and now even more so after your rec. Flashlight was also the one that made me cry. And those Sarah Waters editions may finally be what get me to read her work!
There's nothing like a pretty edition to make me prioritize a book!!
Agree with fish tales !! I think it’s all the publishers fault - they marketed that book wildly differently!!!!
YES! I'm still not over it.
Great prompts! I need to do some reflection when I can get a moment to myself. Summer throws me off my game every year.
Best book so far: Live Fast by Brigette Giraud (devastating)
Made me laugh: You Can Never Die by Harry Bliss (I love his cartoons)
Made me cry: Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (our world...)
New to you author: John Dufresne (Florida author I had never read before)
Favorite Debut: Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados (loved it!)
Disappointment: Dream State by Eric Puchner (so much hype)
Surprise: Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico (weirdly engaging)
Next up 2025 book: So Far Gone by Jess Walter
These responses are so good!! And I really want to read SO FAR GONE. I've heard great things!