Women in Translation and books for White Lotus fans
Plus the "wholesome romance" trend and why it's so hard to get rid of books
This week has been filled with emotion as Louise gets ready to start preschool tomorrow! She’s just going three half days a week, but she hasn’t done any type of daycare or childcare outside of our home so this is going to be a big change for all of us. I’m looking forward to having a little more consistency in our weekly schedule so that I can have a more predictable work flow. But I’m also so sad!! It’s going to be really good for her to have something that’s her own, but it’s wild to think about all of the new things she’s about to experience without me. I’m glad we have the ability to do this as a slow rollout, because I’m already looking forward to the mornings we’re keeping her home and all the fun things we’ll do together.
In the midst of all these emotions and other life business, I’ve been working hard on my fall reading guide?…project?…compendium? I’m not totally sure what to call it as the format of what I’m envisioning is evolving with every great new book I read. Regardless of what it’s called, I’m planning a meticulously chosen collection of books that will help you curate a great fall reading season…and I can’t wait to get it to you!
This week in books.
This week I read…
The Postcard by Anne Berest. This translation of a popular French historical fiction novel was the FictionMatters Buzzy Book of August and was a huge winner for our group of readers. Berest bills this as a “true novel” and it reads as a light novelization of her family’s real history during the Holocaust and after. The story is haunting. It is, of course, deeply sad, and Berest brilliantly manages to portray the atrocities of the Holocaust without lingering on suffering in a way that feels voyeuristic or over-romanticizing the story for the sake of the narrative. The book begins when Anne’s family receives a postcard with the names of their four family members who were killed at Auschwitz. The central mystery of who sent the postcard is compelling, but more impressive is the way Berest uses this inciting incident to explore the real lives of these four individuals as well as themes of buried history, inherited trauma, and the need for stories. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
The Queue by Basma Adbel Aziz. This is the FictionMatters Book Club selection of August and I’m devouring this eerie, provocative dystopian story. We’ll be discussing The Queue on Sunday, August 27th and Thursday, August 31st. It’s not too late to join our Patreon Literary Society if you’re interested in attending! Amazon | Libro.fm
If you are an international reader or just prefer UK covers, you can also order books through my Blackwell’s affiliate page!
Ask FictionMatters.
Marissa asks: I’m looking for books that are like the first season of White Lotus! We’re vacationing in Hawaii next month and I’m in the mood for a fun, tropical murder mystery
Mystery isn’t my typical genre so I’ll start with a few books I love that feel like they have vibes similar to those of the White Lotus. Deborah Levy’s books have that hazy, slightly weird vibe as the show, particularly Hot Milk and (from what I’ve heard) Swimming Home. Alexis Schaitkin’s Saint X takes the “crime in paradise” trope and turns it on its head. While not set someplace tropical, The Talented Mr. Ripley is a classic luxurious vacation thriller and Lucy Foley’s books all have a ritzy locked room mystery setup. I’ll also throw out The Castaways by Lucy Clarke and The Beach by Alex Garland as lauded examples of crime novels with idyllic settings.
Have a reading dilemma or need a book recommendation? Use this form to tell me your current reading mood, share a book you love that you want a readalike for, or pose a reading life dilemma you need help solving. I’ll select requests for responses in the regular Sunday newsletter while I’m previewing books for my fall reading guide.
Links I love.
Time’s exploration of the rise of the “wholesome romance” genre is fascinating.
Speaking of…7 charming love stories set in bakeries
Looking for more books to read during Women in Translation month? Here are some new releases to put on your radar.
3 works in translation tell tales of standing up to right wrongs
7 lyrical works about the language of the border
If you struggle to get rid of books on your shelves (I do!), this may resonate with you.
I really appreciated Maureen Corrigan’s take on The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.
I’d never heard of this audiobook original, but now I’m desperate to read it.
This interview with author Alexandra Chang gave me some new questions to consider when reading, and made me even more eager to read her work.
End notes.
This week in views, listens, eats, and moments of joy.
Louise had so much fun celebrating my mom’s birthday with hats and balloons this week. She’s now regularly asking for “little bit more birthday?”
We finished The Diplomat (that ending!) and now I’m very invested in Hijack—so invested, in fact, that I forgot to schedule this newsletter last night!
We recently got our newest Lovevery box so it’s time for me to sing their praises again. These things are pricey but I am all about taking some decision making off my plate when it comes to parenting and I love how every single box is filled with toys that delight and challenge Lou.
This is my new favorite shirt. I got the pink because pink is having a moment but I kind of want a black and white one because it’s more versatile. Having two would be absurd though right?
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 contains 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
Thanks so much for alerting me to that TIME article! This paragraph gave me chills:
“What we want instead are gentler, less stressful romances. And the more popular they become, the more that popularity looks like a red flag for society at large and female audiences in particular. Why would anyone need to escape into a story where lifestyles are comfortable, relationships are respectful, women are financially independent, and mental health is paramount if that was already their reality—or even an achievable goal? It isn’t such a wholesome thought.”
Thanks for sharing the article about getting rid of books. It definitely resonated!