Getting back into a (reading) rhythm
Plus delving into an author's backlist, a surprising romance, and new YA fantasy
Hey, readers!
After a weekend away, a reflux resurgence, and a sleep regression, I’m back and ready to commit to making this newsletter weekly again. I’ve actually been reading quite a bit lately! We’re not talking pre-baby levels of books by any means, but certainly more than I have in the last 5 or so months. Three things that have helped are Louise starting the night in her own room (yay for reading a physical book in bed!), getting back into audiobooks after a couple months of heavy podcast listening, and relying more on my library. I’ve primarily been deciding what to read based on recommendations from other readers, and I’m now going straight into my Libby app and request anything that interests me either on audio or digital loan. It’s a great way to keep track of what I want to read. Plus having to read on a library hold deadline seems to help me pick up my books with greater regularity. Of course I still love my paper books and the nights I get to curl up with one are the absolute best. But if I wait until I can read everything I want to on paper, I may never read again. So here’s what I’ve had in my ears and on my Kindle lately.
This week in books.
This week I read…
The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel. This is the FictionMatters Book Club selection for March, and it was fascinating to read from Mandel’s backlist after having read Station Eleven (twice!), The Glass Hotel, and Sea of Tranquility. I don’t think I loved this book, but I did love seeing the roots of her style and thematic interests. I’ll save the rest of my thoughts for book club later this week! Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. This debut novel follows the unnamed wife of a college English professor (she’s a prof too) who’s recently been accused of using his position of power to have affairs with students. The wife’s perspective is completely fascinating as she grapples with whether or not she thinks what her husband did was really wrong and what she wants from her marriage now. I particularly enjoyed the connections I saw to classic works of literature by women authors…but I’m not going to say which ones because that would include some spoilers! Overall, I liked this book and I’m sad for Julia May Jonas that her team decided to wrap this in the cover art that it did. I get it…and I think that it works after reading it, but I worry that people who would actually enjoy this one will intentionally avoid it because of that cover! Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbetson. So far this is the charming, witty, chaste historical romance that I didn’t know I needed. Amazon | Bookshop
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. This little novel is a favorite of some trusted readers and twenty pages in it has me hooked. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
*You can get two LIBRO.FM audiobooks for the price of one by using code FICTIONMATTERS.
Links I love.
A (totally unnecessary) but wonderfully written defense of romance novel tropes.
20 spring releases to get excited about.
I enjoyed reading Constance Grady’s thoughtful unpacking of the current book banning trends.
Some thoughts on the Booker Prize International Longlist.
Three brand new YA fantasy novels that are impressing critics and readers.
This is a wonderful list of African American children’s literature from pre Brown vs. The Board of Education.
17 books to read before they make it to your screen.
The ultimate list of must-read books 😉
End notes.
Watching:
The Dropout. Amanda Seyfried is excellent as Elizabeth Holmes, but it’s a little boring to watch a story where you know exactly what’s going to happen.
But mostly we’re thrilled about the return of Top Chef! Season 19…do we think we’re going to get a tournament of champions for Season 20?!
Listening:
The Trojan Horse Affair. It’s the newest series from the Serial team and it’s excellent.
Also a lot of Sandra Boynton’s Frog Trouble, which is Lou’s current favorite.
Making:
Purées for Louise! So far we’ve only done banana and sweet potato, but it’s been fun to slowly start trying solids. We’ve been using the Beabe Babycook and while it’s completely unnecessary, it does turn making baby food into an absolute breeze.
Loving:
Our new Baby Bjorn Free. I’ve been putting Louise in the mini for the last 5 months and decided I need the extra back support—totally worth it.
Lovevery for their amazing toys and even better customer service. Our 5-6 month box was delivered to the wrong address and they sent us a replacement free of charge!
I’m also shopping the Madewell sale in the hopes that I won’t be covered in quite as much spit-up in the next 1-2 months and can start wearing cute clothes again.
Readers, thanks for being patient with me as I get this newsletter back up and running. 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