A brief PSRG update and a great book I wish that I had read better

Plus Pulitzer predictions and a new children's book museum

Hi readers!

Things are coming along well with my Paperback Summer Reading Guide. I’m at the point where I have enough books I really like to fill out the guide nicely, but I’m still reading more to see if there’s anything I want to swap out or if I want to rethink and fiddle with my categories. Because of PSRG work and some travel—I’m in DC for Passover and then heading to NYC for the Aspen Lit Prize ceremony—I’m going to take this week and the next couple of Tuesdays off from newsletters. I’ll be back next Sunday with my regular content and paid subscribers can expect my May anticipated release newsletter in your inboxes the last Friday of April followed by regular scheduled weekly Friday Mood Recs. While I’m not ready to commit to an exact date for my PSRG, it will be ready mid-May and available to all paid newsletter subscribers and Patreon members. Thanks for bearing with me as I work on this big project! I promise you it will be worth the wait!

This week in books.

This week I read…

• Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange. Do you ever read a book and somehow still feel like you didn’t read the book? That’s what happened to me with Tommy Orange’s Wandering Stars. This is completely a me problem—I just didn’t do this book justice with my reading approach. To start, I wish I had reread There, There before picking it up. As much as the publishers assured us this was a standalone, I know that reminding myself of the characters in There, There would have helped me settling into this book quicker and more seamlessly. Second, I listened to this on audio and I really should have picked it up on the page. I knew this was the case because I had tried to listen earlier this year and found myself not paying attention the way I had wanted to. Unfortunately, I didn’t budget enough time to finish a print copy before our Buzzy Book of the Month Club meeting. While I was able to pay closer attention to the audio on my second attempt, I know I would have gotten more out of Orange’s gorgeous writing and intricately connected characters if I’d read it on the page. So I don’t have much of anything to say about Wandering Stars. I wanted to share all of this because even as a professional book reviewer, occasionally I recognize that I just don’t have an opinion about a particular book—in this case that’s because I didn’t read it carefully enough. It’s not always the book’s fault for not grabbing me or pulling me in. In some cases, like in this one, I really believe I failed the book and if I revisit it in the future, I hope to show up as a better reader. I am very much looking forward to unpacking Wandering Stars with the FM Patreon crew, and I know I’ll get a lot more out of it through that discussion. I’ll also refer anyone who’s interested in Wandering Stars to this episode of The Stacks Podcast—I loved learning more about Orange’s writing process and his thinking about this book. I will continue to eagerly read and champion Orange’s work, and I’d urge anyone who wants to read Wander Stars to read it when you have a decent about of focus and attention to grant it. I wish I had done the same! Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

Now I’m reading…

• Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah. This is the FictionMatters Book Club selection for April and I’m taking my own advice from above to read it slowly, carefully, and in print. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

Links I love.

I don’t know about this Pulitzer prediction list—a Big Swiss win would be wild to me. But their number four is my number one and there are quite a few titles there I could get behind. (Electric Lit)

I was fascinated by this essay about why modern novels won’t explore questions of money. (Lit Hub)

I’m dying to take Louise to this new immersive children’s book museum. I guess I’ll have to plan a trip to Kansas City! (NPR)

I really like Romantic poetry and this take on why Byron still matters is a great read. (NYT)

Five new mysteries and thrillers to read this spring. (NPR)

In Emily Henry’s “By the Book,” she shares why it’s important for her to claim and celebrate the title of “romance writer.” (NYT)

New novels that explore our anxiety over human-robot relationships. (New Yorker)

Cookbooks worth reading cover to cover. (The Atlantic)

End notes.

This week in views, listens, eats, and moments of joy.

• We used the duffle bag for Louise’s first sleepover and for our family trip to the east coast…now I’m even more obsessed. This is the best piece of luggage I have ever purchased.

• I bought this top for a couple of fancy events I have coming up and I love it. It feels a little bit Tortured Poets Department.

• Seeing Louise swoon over her big cousins gets better and better every time we get together.

FictionMatters Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. If you’d prefer to support my work with a one-time “tip,” consider visiting my Buy Me a Coffee page.

---

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!

This email may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please forward it to a book-loving friend. That’s a great way to spread bookish cheer and support the newsletter!

Happy reading!

Sara