Singular narrative perspectives and jaw-dropping finales

Plus the best reviewed fiction of June and buzzy books of July

Hey readers!

I managed to finish two books this week, but I’m still feeling like I’m in a slump. I might need to accept that I’ll probably feel that way until I finish reading and recording recaps for Les Misérables. Each section of that beast is about 300 (dense) pages so it’s absolutely consumed my reading time. I’m loving it though!!

In other reading news, I’ve started prepping for my Fall Fiction Compendium reading spree. For the last two years, I’ve put together a smaller fall guide for my favorite new release fiction because fall has historically been literary fiction season. This week, I started compiling my spreadsheet of books I’d like to try and there are some seriously exciting books coming out this fall—big names, little weird books, excellent sounding debuts, books in translation! I was concerned that the election in the U.S. would be a very slow publishing calendar for fall, and while that might be true, there’s still plenty of good reading ahead of us in the back half of the year!

This week in books.

This week I read…

• My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. I adored this book and I’m so glad my friend Tara inspired its selection as the FictionMatters Book Club selection for June. Generally, it felt good to be immersed in a modern classic after primarily focusing on new releases for June and this story about art and faith and family is the kind of book I’m often looking for. The story follows Asher Lev, a Hasidic boy and the son of an important member of the Hasidic community, from childhood through young adulthood. From a young age, Asher feels a powerful impulse to create art, which is a pursuit his family does not approve of and cannot understand—especially when the style of art Asher is passionate about begins to emerge. This book felt real to the point where I was tempted to Google Asher’s paintings and see what he was doing now. The characters not so much leapt off the page as slowly and methodically morphed from rough black and white sketches to vibrant technicolor images. The writing style was singular and—for me—extremely effective and I was interested throughout in the themes and moral dilemmas Potok was exploring. As always, my appreciation for this book was greatly enhanced by discussing with the FM Book Club crew even though (or more likely because) there were strong differing opinions about this novel. Amazon | Bookshop

• Bear by Julia Phillips. In this hazy, mysterious novel, two sisters living on an island in the Pacific Northwest are struggling to survive economically while they care for their ailing mother. They encounter a bear who approaches their home and irrevocably alters their lives. I’m glad I didn’t know more about the plot going into this so I’m not going to say more. While it sounds like the story could wade into magical realism, Phillips deftly toes the line, playing with folklore and fairy tales while still keeping her story firmly grounded in reality. This was a very well done book with many things I loved a few things I struggled with. I loved the way the story itself was highly original while clearly being influence by a vast storytelling tradition. I loved the setting and the way Phillips described the woods including the wildlife encounters. And I loved the way the book used the conceit of the bear to explore generational trauma and entrapment and the cycles we find ourselves repeating. I struggled a bit with the heavy handedness of the economic themes. I think they were depicted well enough that we didn’t need so much commentary about it from our narrator Sam, though I understand why she would continuously notice and think about such things. Her narration also frustrated me for its complete lack of self-awareness. I grew annoyed with her unwavering conclusions about how people perceived her when she was so clearly wrong about it all. I think Phillips wrote that style of narration effectively, but it grated on me which is simply a matter of taste. All that being said, the ending of this novel is spectacular and it almost feels as if Phillips saved the writing she is truly capable of for the final third. It helped me to forgive many of my quibbles and made the entire reading experience worth it. Amazon | Bookshop

Now I’m reading…

• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. Still reading, still liking. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

• The Coin by Yasmin Zaher. I might abandon this because I just feel stuck behind it. I like it while I’m reading it but I never what to pick it up. Amazon | Bookshop

• Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. We’re planning to record our final recap on July 8th so I’m in the home stretch! Amazon

New on my TBR…

• The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman. I’ve been dying to read this since I heard about it! I love Grossman’s Magicians series and am also very into Arthurian legends. I finally got access to an early copy of this one (it’s out soon though, July 16th) and I think I’ll dive into it soon! Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm

Links I love.

The best reviewed fiction of June. (Lit Hub)

16 new books coming out in July. (NYT, gift link)

33 books to sink your teeth into this summer. (Town & Country)

Maureen Corrigan shares 4 crime and suspense novels to read this summer. (NPR)

Elif Shafak on why 1984 is more relevant than ever. (Lit Hub)

I love this piece on All Fours, The Idea of You, and May-December fantasies. (Vox)

Why authors are forced to become brands (and why that’s bad). (Lit Hub)

6 picture books with silly sounds for fun readalouds. (NYT)

Julia Phillips on the writing lessons in fairy tales. (Lit Hub)

Andrea Long Chu on Rachel Cusk’s new novel. (Vulture)

End notes.

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

• This episode was almost unlistenable because of Douthat and Cottle, but I always appreciate Ezra’s thoughtful takes and he summed up (much more eloquently) exactly how I’m feeling after that debate.

• I logged out of my personal Instagram account and have been spending less time on the app overall and much less time going down Insta rabbit holes that make me feel crappy.

• I’m watching The Bear and Presumed Innocent, and I’m so excited to be in the middle of a couple shows I’m loving.

• This jumpsuit (available in size XS-XL) has been my number one worn item of summer for the past four years and I just bought it in a second color!

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Happy reading!

Sara