A variety of speculative fiction and a classic essay
Plus YA ghost stories and an autumn reading quiz
Readers, I did indeed keep Instagram off my phone all week. If you missed it, last week I wrote about my untenable struggle with the app and screen time. I’m a much happier person for it and I fit in some really good reading time.
This is the time of the year when I start to think about all the books I want to fit in before the calendar turns, and I shared my best tip for combating that anxious feeling in a recent Reading in Public. Now that I’m feeling more at peace about not being able to squeeze in everything I want to, I’ve chosen a handful of 2023 books I’m going to prioritize in the final months of the year. I’m currently very excited about my end-of-year reading and looking forward to re-engaging with some book buzz.
This week in books.
This week I read…
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link. I’ve read one other collection from Kelly Link (Stranger Things Happen) and after loving this one as much, if not more, I’m ready to become a Link completist. I don’t think I have the words to accurately describe what she does so well. While Link’s debut STH covered a wider range of genres, in White Cat, Black Dog she offers seven exquisite stories that are all retellings of fairytales. There’s still variety here—they range a great deal tonally and some of the original tales are well-known while others are more obscure—but the focus of this collection allows for some really interesting cohesive themes and shows-off just how talented Link is. If you enjoy genre mash-ups, visceral world-building, fairytale retellings, and stories that surprise, please do pick this up! It’s definitely a contender for a top book of the year for me and it felt like great preparation for Link’s first novel, releasing next February. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf. November is all about Woolf on the Novel Pairing podcast. Our main book is To the Lighthouse, but we decided a discussion of Woolf’s classic manifesto would be worthwhile as well. I always love immersing myself in Woolf’s words, and this reread was no different. While this essay has always been limited in terms of who and what it addresses, there’s still so much in it that feels relevant—even revolutionary—today. I had a great time discussing this with Chelsey and we’re looking forward to releasing that episode in mid-November. Amazon | Bookshop
The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck. This was the FictionMatters Book Club selection for October and I think it made for a great book club book, if I do say so myself. The story follows one woman’s life across most of the 20th century—but there’s a catch. In each of the five sections making up this novel, the protagonist dies, first in infancy then later and later with each structural shift. I love Erpenbeck’s writing and her ability to capture so much history in a story that still feels intimate and human is astounding. I think with any project like this, it’s likely that some narrative arcs resonate more than other, and that was the case for my reading experience. This is a wonderful pairing for Erpenbeck’s Visitation as well as Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. As for myself, I’ll be adding more of Erpenbeck’s backlist to my 2024 reading projects. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. I started this on audio based on
’s recommendation, and I’m so glad I did! After Fourth Wing just didn’t work for me, I was craving something romantic and fantastical, and this hit the spot. Ross builds a wonderful historical fantasy setting that feels like early 20th-century London but with a touch of magic and a war being waged between two gods, but fought primarily by mortals. The story follows Iris and Roman—two rivals competing for a position as columnist at a newspaper. Both of their lives become increasingly complicated as they vie for the promotion while a growing attraction blooms. The story includes a magical You’ve Got Mail element that I loved and the level of mythology and world-building I need to get invested. While this ends in a major cliff-hanger, the next installment will be out in December so there’s not long to wait! This is a great read for anyone who loved Lovely War. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
I’m trying to fit in a few reader favorite 2023 releases before the end of the year. This week I started In Ascension (very into it) and Hello Beautiful (I’m not sure this is for me but so many people raved about it).
If you are an international reader or just prefer UK covers, you can also order books through my Blackwell’s affiliate page!
Links I love.
I haven’t decided if I’ll read the Britney memoir, but this review was compelling.
Scholastic reversed course on separating out and making “diverse books” optional, but I think the damage has been done for a lot of book people and educators.
The covers on these YA ghost stories are gorgeous.
Quiz: choose your own autumnal reading adventure.
I always appreciate the level of nuance Ezra Klein brings to the conversation he hosts, and this episode—the first in an ongoing series on Israel and Palestine—was no exception.
This is a hilarious and spot essay on what the death of the author means today.
Booker short list authors on the writers who inspire them.
This is one of my favorite novels of the year and I loved learning more about the author.
End notes.
This week in views, listens, eats, and moments of joy.
It snowed here this weekend, which did not bring me joy until I got to witness my two-year-old eat snow and try her first hot chocolate.
Speaking of snow, I turned on my candle warmer while writing this newsletter and I love the cozy vibe it adds to my desk.
This sweater is so comfy, cute, and affordable, that it’s likely to be my “I need this in multiples” purchase of the season.
I have been really down on online book discourse recently, finding the way many people critique books to be frustrating, unhelpful, and a little problematic. That feeling has made me all the more grateful for my FictionMatters Book Club. This group is so thoughtful and nuanced—we have fantastic conversations about books and are readers who can appreciate the reading experience even when we don’t enjoy a book. If that sounds nice to you, we’d love to have you join us over on Patreon. In November we’re reading Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang and Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee. And in December we’ll discuss Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice and The Fraud by Zadie Smith.
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Happy reading!
Sara
I am so excited about Soup Season! Also, you and Chelsey have piqued my interest in Divine Rivals. I had been avoiding it because Fourth Wing was a DNF for me but now I’m considering giving it a go!
Thanks for sharing. the "The End of Days" by Jenny Erpenbeck sound really intriguing. Adding it to my my Goodreads list!