3 books to bring you joy
Plus The Great Gatsby hits the public domain and why "Orwellian" means nothing
Hey, readers!
I feel like so many of us hit a wall this week. I’ve heard from quite a few friends that the past few days have have felt heavy and brutal—and I’m in the same boat. Even though we knew that turning the calendar to 2021 wasn’t going to instantaneously fix everything haunting us from 2020, I think many of us had hope that it would feel like a new beginning. I don’t need to rehash what January has brought us instead, but it certainly hasn’t felt like much of a fresh start.
Last week I shared my feeling of urgency in response to the breach of the Capitol and ongoing vitriol, and that’s still weighing heavy on me. But I’m also focusing on seeking moments of joy—in and out of my reading life. My husband and I can easily stay home and will (rightfully and undoubtedly) be in the last wave of vaccine distribution, which means I really need some small joys and joyful reads to last me until then.
One thing bringing me tremendous joy right now is the FictionMatters Patreon community. We’ve been having regular virtual hangouts for book club discussions, Biblio Brunch (a casual gathering for recommending books), and—most recently—discussions of the Aspen Words longlist. Talking about books with this group of thoughtful readers has helped me get so much out of my reading life and is the perfect social “gathering” in a time when finding social outlets is a challenge. I know not every can or wants to join a virtual book community, but if a group of bookish besties would make your 2021 more joyful, I definitely recommend looking into this group. If you have any questions about Patreon, patron benefits, and the community as a whole, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m happy to help you figure out if this is something that might be right for you!
Alright, let’s get into the books!
This week in books.
This week I read…
Anna K by Jenny Lee. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a YA (very grown-up YA!) retelling of Anna Karenina and it confirmed my long-held belief that the very best retellings of classics are set in high schools. It just makes sense! The rigid social rules, obsession with status, and interpersonal drama fit so well in the world of teenagers. I thought this one was particularly smart, and I also enjoyed the style of Lee’s writing. Her third person narrator kept their distance for much of the book, but we also get really interesting peeks into characters’ thoughts and backstories. I have mixed feelings about what she did with the ending, and I’m not sure if I’ll read book two, but overall this was a seriously fun reading experience! Amazon | Bookshop
Outlawed by Anna North. I really enjoy feminist twists on Westerns, and this book might become the defining book of that sub-genre. The novel follows 17-year-old Ada who is accused of witchcraft when she is unable to conceive a child. The book deals extensively with fertility and infertility as well as pregnancy loss, and I think readers should know that going in. While these can be a sensitive issues, I really admired what North does with this topic in terms of exploring gender, sexuality, and societal expectations. This story has action, adventure, memorable characters, and great writing, and I also found North’s resistance towards certain Western conventions to be fascinating. Amazon | Bookshop
Now I’m reading…
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins. Another retelling! This one is a thriller based on Jane Eyre, and while it wasn’t as good as Anna K, it was still a lot of fun. This book is set at Thornfield Estates in Birmingham, Alabama and picks up when dog walker Jane meets the wealthy—and widowed—Eddie Rochester. Yes, Hawkins uses the same names for characters and places in her book, and at first I was worried this book wouldn’t be thrilling if the reader was at all familiar with Jane Eyre. But things have taken a turn and Hawkins is keeping me on my toes, so I’m excited to see where this one goes. Amazon | Bookshop
There is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset. I’m reading this under-the-radar Harlem Renaissance classic for an upcoming episode of Novel Pairings, and I’m really liking it! It explores the interplay between three Black families one generation out of slavery. I’m loving Fauset’s writing and skillful characterization. Amazon | Bookshop
3 books to bring you joy.
If you’re also seeking joyful reads, these are a few of my favorites.
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. For bite-sized essays ranging from funny to philosophical about the small things that have delighted poet Ross Gay. Amazon | Bookshop
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kemmerer. For an utterly soothing exploration of the gifts of the natural world and the connections between all living things. Amazon | Bookshop
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. For the ideal combo of political escapism and a sweet, steamy romance—seriously now’s the time to pick this up for a first time or give it a reread. Amazon | Bookshop
Links I love.
The Millions released their most-anticipated books of the first half of 2021. This is one of those BIG DEAL lists that readers wait for, and it is fantastic.
This is one of the most widely varied anticipated books lists I’ve seen.
We hear the term “Orwellian” thrown around a lot today, and this article explains why it’s lost real meaning.
The Great Gatsby is now in the public domain. That means that we’ll be getting an onslaught of adaptations, but it also means we get new covers and new introductions courtesy of publishers who just now gained the ability to publish this classic. You can read about some of what’s available now and coming soon in this NYT article.
Sally Rooney has a new book coming out!
If you want more thoughts on Outlawed, this Vox review is really thoughtful. Full disclosure: Anna North writes for Vox.
I’d say I’m moderately into the Enneagram, and I really enjoyed this article about how each type can thrive this year.
As a former figure skater, I love entertainment featuring the sport. These two middle grade novels exploring identity through skater characters sound wonderful.
Samantha Power is Joe Biden’s pick to run the U.S. Agency for International Development. Check out Power’s 10 favorite books.
Netflix is adapting three of Ibram X. Kendi’s books for television, and I can’t wait for more people to access his ideas.
End notes.
Watching: We kicked off our next movie series rewatch with the original Jurassic Park last night and I’m very excited for the rest of this journey. We also started the show Patriot (available on Amazon Prime), and it’s a surprisingly fun watch.
Listening: I was feeling grumpy the other day and listening to this episode of Bad on Paper felt like hanging out with friends and cheered me up.
Making: Plans for some upcoming Novel Pairings projects…I’m so excited to share them with you all in the coming months! If you want to get some sneak peeks and hints, be sure to sign up for the Novel Pairings newsletter.
Loving: I finally got a reading chair for my book room and it makes me so happy. I’m also really loving my new leopard print leggings from Outdoor Voices. I find some of their leggings to be a little stiff, but these are bendy, cozy, and super cute. Also if you’re new to Outdoor Voices, they’re stuff is pretty hit or miss for me, but they do make the only tank top I ever want to work out in. I can’t recommend these highly enough.
Readers, I hope you’re able to find some joy this week. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!
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Happy reading!
Sara
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