Two drastically different seaside reads
Plus the best best of the year list and a handful of deals
Hey, readers!
We celebrated Thanksgiving here this week and it was busy, but also really lovely. We had a couple of friends over along with my dad and my husband’s uncle, and it was the perfect small gathering for us as first time hosts.
I found a really great reading groove this week as well—not necessarily because of what I read, but because of how I read. Thanks to a wonderful podcast episode (see the End Notes for details) I slowed down my reading pace and found that I not only read more than I have been lately, but I enjoyed the experience itself immensely. I might make slow reading my 2023 reading goal, because it’s really working for me.
This week in books.
This week I read…
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout. I wasn’t sure what I would make of a pandemic book, but this novel was utter perfection. It’s a difficult one to review because it’s the fourth of Strout’s Lucy Barton books and, while you don’t have to read them in order, each builds beautifully on the last. In Lucy by the Sea, Strout’s titular character Lucy Barton finds herself leaving New York to quarantine with her ex-husband William at a remote cabin in Maine at the start of the Covid pandemic. What follows is a quiet but moving story that perfectly captures the uncertainty, anxiety, grief, and loss that has followed. While I think you could jump in with this book and appreciate Strout’s craft and storytelling, for me, it was particularly special to view the pandemic through the eyes of a narrator I already new and loved. I’d particularly recommend this to anyone who has read Strout’s Lucy books, whether or not you’ve loved them in the past. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
The Night Singer by Johanna Mo. This Nordic Noir novel is the first in a planed series and was the FictionMatters Book Club selection for November. I’ve been struggling to enjoy mysteries lately, but I found this one to be compelling and absorbing. I’m still not 100% sure what my mystery taste is but I think I prefer procedurals to other mystery forms—I suppose I want the people solving the crimes to be the people who are supposed to be solving the crimes. It wasn’t a perfect book by any means, but I appreciated the experience of reading it and have loved discussing it with the FictionMatters Patreon community. Join the FictionMatters Book Club | Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
The Long Answer by Anna Hogeland. Anna graciously sent me a copy of her novel, which came out earlier this year and it’s really something special. This is a book about motherhood, loss, grief, and friendship, and the way women make sense of experiences in relation to other women. It’s profound and moving, but I did have to take a break about halfway through because it’s also sad! There are major trigger warnings here for pregnancy loss, but I also think this could be a wonderful book to read at some point if you are seeking connection around these experiences. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett. My library hold of Unlikely Animals came in right when I decided to take a little break from The Long Answer. While it too deals with the subject of loss and grief, the wry tone couldn’t be more different and I’m finding it to be a delightfully quirky story with real heart. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
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 (Cyber Week Edition).
The New York Times’ Notable Book List is out, as is, my personal favorite, the NPR Books We Love list (formerly known as the Book Concierge).
Bookshop.org is offering free shipping through the end of the day tomorrow. Support your favorite local indie and stock up on books for yourself and everyone on your holiday shopping list.
The Kindle Paperwhite is on super sale right now. I use mine a lot more now that a lot of my reading is done while holding a sleeping baby, but I think it’s an item almost any reader ought to have. I don’t buy a lot of ebooks for it, and owning one has helped me make frequent use of my library’s ebook catalog!
AirPods Pro are also on sale today. They are definitely my secret weapon when it comes to reading so much—I have audiobooks in my ears constantly these days.
Speaking of audiobooks, this weekend is a great time to purchase a bundle of credits from Libro.fm. Save 10% on bundles for yourself or the audiophiles on your list. When you purchase these bundles as a gift, you get to support any indie bookstore of your choosing and your recipient can pick out any audiobook they like—win, win, win!
Everything at my beloved Rifle Paper Co. is on sale this weekend. I bought myself this pretty to-go mug and this adorable To Do, or Not To Do notepad.
Lovevery Play Kits are $30 off. These are our favorite toys and I rarely see them go on sale. A single kit or a subscription would be an amazing gift for any kiddos in your life 4 or younger.
My two favorite beauty brands, Merit and Ilia, are offering 20% off through the end of the day. My favorite Merit products are the blush and the bronzer. At Ilia, I love the skin tint, mascara, and multi-stick.
End notes.
Three things making me happy this week:
We hosted Thanksgiving for the first time this year, and it was really lovely. It was a small gathering with a couple friends and family members and the whole day was lovely and relaxing.
This interview with Maryanne Wolf on the Ezra Klein podcast was a balm to my reading soul.
Scheming and dreaming about growing FictionMatters. So much felt on hold while we anticipated our move, but now that we’re in a new space (with an office for me!) and we have some childcare help starting next week, I can finally start making plans for what I want to do next with this wonderful space. I’m excited to share more soon!
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Happy reading!
Sara
Sara! Thank you so much for sharing that episode of the Ezra Klein podcast with Maryanne Wolf. I just listened and...wow! I completely agree; a total balm for my soul. It was such an enlightening and interesting conversation to tune into and I learned a lot while also being re-inspired to be more purposeful with my reading habits.