I totally eat up all the writing about writers but I see your husband’s point! I hate to give the disgruntled lit bro-y “we used to have Cool Guy Writers who Did Things” argument any credence but I do think our modern society herds people into doing just one thing way too much — people of all genders! I would love more writing about people who do other stuff
Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next and Nursery Crime series are wonderfull lit fic series where classic fictional characters can jump in and out of their books - the central premise in the first book of the series is that someone kidnaps Jane Eyre and the heroine has to save her to restore the novel's original manuscript lest it be irrevocably changed, and there's an omniscient evil mega-corp behind it all. The series is scattered with references to a broad range of literary classics and each book is a bit looper than the last, in the best way. Fford's world building is skillful and so detailed. I was utterly absorbed and devoured them ravenously. It's books about books about books about books!
Please forgive my grammatical errors, I wrote with excitement, haste, and in a state of sleep deprivation thanks to a newborn sleep schedule. I meant to say omnipresent, not omniscient (although they are that, too) 😂
I looooved his Shades of Grey and have been wanting to read some more of his work, but have been busy tackling my TBR. His mind is whizz-bonkers brilliant. Thank you for the rec! I've requested the first Thursday Next from the library!
Shades of Grey is still languishing in my TBR, I had hesitated in case it didn't live up to the Thursday Next series - I hope you love it! Whizz-bonkers brilliant is so apt, I'm so glad to have found another Fforde fan!
I’ve been on a kick to read books that came out when I was a kid and read Inkheart the other month. I remember not getting past the 50% mark when I was little but thoroughly enjoyed it this time round (at 25 lol)
ahh i remember trying to read inkheart when i was a kid and also not being able to get through it! i came back to it a few years later and loved it too
I've read several of these and enjoyed! This may also serve to convince me to move others up my queue. I love books about books, though I may have a higher tolerance for the occasionally saccharine choice. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is one of my bookish choices though I read it so long ago I may be due for a re-read. Heartburn by Nora Ephron feels adjacent as the fmc is an author of cookbooks. I also recently read The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams and cried big ugly tears, even though it was predictable, even though. One of my fable friends has made an indiscriminate list of books featuring books that I believe is cresting 200 🙃 so apparently readers abound in their bibliophilia.
me taking notes of the ones i haven’t read yet 📝📝
🫡
I love Writers and Lovers and Less! Great writing about writers.
two of my very favorites!
If Upon a Winters Night a Travel by Calvino was destined for this list (also I highly recommend it if you’ve never read)
it’s on my tbr and now i’m extra excited!
I totally eat up all the writing about writers but I see your husband’s point! I hate to give the disgruntled lit bro-y “we used to have Cool Guy Writers who Did Things” argument any credence but I do think our modern society herds people into doing just one thing way too much — people of all genders! I would love more writing about people who do other stuff
this is a very good point! now you’re compelling me towards his side of the argument…
Added at least 6 to my towering TBR 🫡 thank you for your service 🩷
honored 🫡
Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next and Nursery Crime series are wonderfull lit fic series where classic fictional characters can jump in and out of their books - the central premise in the first book of the series is that someone kidnaps Jane Eyre and the heroine has to save her to restore the novel's original manuscript lest it be irrevocably changed, and there's an omniscient evil mega-corp behind it all. The series is scattered with references to a broad range of literary classics and each book is a bit looper than the last, in the best way. Fford's world building is skillful and so detailed. I was utterly absorbed and devoured them ravenously. It's books about books about books about books!
you have completely and totally convinced me! this sounds incredible
oh this is just the coolest thing i've ever heard.
Please forgive my grammatical errors, I wrote with excitement, haste, and in a state of sleep deprivation thanks to a newborn sleep schedule. I meant to say omnipresent, not omniscient (although they are that, too) 😂
All that to say, I think borrowed character fiction, as a genre, can be pretty lazy, and this is not that.
I looooved his Shades of Grey and have been wanting to read some more of his work, but have been busy tackling my TBR. His mind is whizz-bonkers brilliant. Thank you for the rec! I've requested the first Thursday Next from the library!
Shades of Grey is still languishing in my TBR, I had hesitated in case it didn't live up to the Thursday Next series - I hope you love it! Whizz-bonkers brilliant is so apt, I'm so glad to have found another Fforde fan!
I can't recommend it enough; it's one of the most bizarre and fantastical books I've ever read. Get stuck in hun, you will love!
Ditto about the Thursday Next books, let's swap notes!
Mister Pip!
📝
I recently read An Academic Affair, which is a romance between two book lovers, and thoroughly enjoyed it
that sounds lovely!
A few of my favorite books about books:
The Library Book by Susan Orleans (non-fiction)
Once Upon a Time by Oliver Darkshire (memoir)
Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane (Contemporary fiction, feels like fantasy)
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (also fiction that feels like fantasy)
i'll have to read the two i haven't!!
I’ve been on a kick to read books that came out when I was a kid and read Inkheart the other month. I remember not getting past the 50% mark when I was little but thoroughly enjoyed it this time round (at 25 lol)
ahh i remember trying to read inkheart when i was a kid and also not being able to get through it! i came back to it a few years later and loved it too
ooh yes, i love Commonwealth and Yellowface. Bitter Sweet is waiting on my shelf!
i think you'll like that one too!!
I would add The Cat Who Saved Books !! Such a delight.
i think i've read that one!! but i will be sure to if i haven't
I've read several of these and enjoyed! This may also serve to convince me to move others up my queue. I love books about books, though I may have a higher tolerance for the occasionally saccharine choice. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is one of my bookish choices though I read it so long ago I may be due for a re-read. Heartburn by Nora Ephron feels adjacent as the fmc is an author of cookbooks. I also recently read The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams and cried big ugly tears, even though it was predictable, even though. One of my fable friends has made an indiscriminate list of books featuring books that I believe is cresting 200 🙃 so apparently readers abound in their bibliophilia.