Would love to hear what you think of the Room with a View movie! I actually liked it better than the book, which was weirdly uninterested in actually developing the main romance, and I know it’s supposed to lean more satirical but that choice definitely detracted from my reading experience. (Just get you a girl who can do both, aka Jane Austen.) Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands basically start a fire within their first two minutes onscreen though, so problem solved!
the comments on that post made me SO eager to watch the movie! maybe i'll take advantage of my holiday weekend to do so. i thought it was so funny how hard the book veered away from having our actual romantic leads talk to each other. definitely another point for austen — why are so few authors able to be effectively sardonic AND romantic??
ooo so many interesting ones, I'd be keen to read God of Small Things, Girls Girl and They All Fall in Love at the End. Realistically, though these will be on my TBR list for a while with the huge list I have right now.
I finished Wind In The Willows in June. It was very quait and rather sweet at times. I do love the relationship between Ratty and Mole. I started to love it more after I read about academic, Peter Hunt's theory that it is a kind of 'gay manifesto".
Quote:
"Indeed, Hunt ventures to call the book “a gay manifesto”, reading it as a gay allegory heavy with suppressed desire and latent homoeroticism. In one scene, for example, Mole and Rat “shake off their garments” and “tumble in-between the sheets in great joy and contentment”.
Earlier, while sharing a bed in the open air, Mole “reaches out from under his blanket, feels for the Rat’s paw in the darkness, and gives it a squeeze.” “I’ll do whatever you like, Ratty,” he whispers."
i would highly recommend all three! but that’s extremely relatable on the huge tbr front — when i add a book i don’t get to it for ages.
ah when i was a kid i was always getting recommended the wind in the willows and i built up so much resentment bc i hated talking animal books — so i refused to read it! now i think i should
Omg the list just kept going! You are a reading machine—and I mean that as the highest compliment. I absolutely cannot wait to read They All Fall In Love At The End. Glad to see that you enjoyed it :)
the comment about who you’re rooting for in the world cup & the beach read adaptation nightmare had me ACTUALLY lol. 😂 needed that. best book of the month was lost lambs
Best: East of Eden by John Steinbeck & Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkowski (a surprise for me that I literally bought for the cover)
Worst: Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian (bickering is not a cute substitute for banter) and Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian (marketing did me dirty here and if I went in expecting more memoir and less nature queerness it might have worked better).
If you approach Forest Euphoria as “musings from a queer scientist” it might be more enjoyable. I did really love some of the more science-y parts than her musings though 🤷🏼♀️
Ordinary love is a wonderful sapphic literary romance with some lovely depth of character 🩷
I'd be interested if you read Halfborn Woman by V. Diane Woodbrown. I picked it up at a thrift store because I grew up where it takes place and felt it to be a very visceral experience reading it for me. I considered it close to A Good Animal, which I read because of your post, and also loved.
Ive been waiting my whole adult life to hear ‘Queen of substack’ lol thank you for reading and featuring my book!!! 😭
i enjoyed it so much! i don’t know how you nailed the balance between silliness and seriousness that is life in this time but you truly did
Remind me to not take a massive gulp of water while I read your posts. “Down to earth relatable queen” had me spit it right out again. Classy me. 🙌🏻😉
sorry but i have never been more honored in my life. a spit take! blessed
Would love to hear what you think of the Room with a View movie! I actually liked it better than the book, which was weirdly uninterested in actually developing the main romance, and I know it’s supposed to lean more satirical but that choice definitely detracted from my reading experience. (Just get you a girl who can do both, aka Jane Austen.) Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands basically start a fire within their first two minutes onscreen though, so problem solved!
the comments on that post made me SO eager to watch the movie! maybe i'll take advantage of my holiday weekend to do so. i thought it was so funny how hard the book veered away from having our actual romantic leads talk to each other. definitely another point for austen — why are so few authors able to be effectively sardonic AND romantic??
ooo so many interesting ones, I'd be keen to read God of Small Things, Girls Girl and They All Fall in Love at the End. Realistically, though these will be on my TBR list for a while with the huge list I have right now.
I finished Wind In The Willows in June. It was very quait and rather sweet at times. I do love the relationship between Ratty and Mole. I started to love it more after I read about academic, Peter Hunt's theory that it is a kind of 'gay manifesto".
Quote:
"Indeed, Hunt ventures to call the book “a gay manifesto”, reading it as a gay allegory heavy with suppressed desire and latent homoeroticism. In one scene, for example, Mole and Rat “shake off their garments” and “tumble in-between the sheets in great joy and contentment”.
Earlier, while sharing a bed in the open air, Mole “reaches out from under his blanket, feels for the Rat’s paw in the darkness, and gives it a squeeze.” “I’ll do whatever you like, Ratty,” he whispers."
https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-the-wind-in-the-willows-a-tale-of-wanderlust-male-bonding-and-timeless-delight-151091
i would highly recommend all three! but that’s extremely relatable on the huge tbr front — when i add a book i don’t get to it for ages.
ah when i was a kid i was always getting recommended the wind in the willows and i built up so much resentment bc i hated talking animal books — so i refused to read it! now i think i should
Omg the list just kept going! You are a reading machine—and I mean that as the highest compliment. I absolutely cannot wait to read They All Fall In Love At The End. Glad to see that you enjoyed it :)
thank you! i hope you love it too!!!
the comment about who you’re rooting for in the world cup & the beach read adaptation nightmare had me ACTUALLY lol. 😂 needed that. best book of the month was lost lambs
i’m really speaking my truth this month. lost lambs so good!!!
June was also a great month for me (19 books)!
Best: East of Eden by John Steinbeck & Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkowski (a surprise for me that I literally bought for the cover)
Worst: Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian (bickering is not a cute substitute for banter) and Forest Euphoria: The Abounding Queerness of Nature by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian (marketing did me dirty here and if I went in expecting more memoir and less nature queerness it might have worked better).
yay for east of eden! this has convinced me to look into ordinary love also.
and oh no…i HATE bickering and i am nervous bc an unrequested copy of forest euphoria arrived at my door today!
that sounds like a great month!
If you approach Forest Euphoria as “musings from a queer scientist” it might be more enjoyable. I did really love some of the more science-y parts than her musings though 🤷🏼♀️
Ordinary love is a wonderful sapphic literary romance with some lovely depth of character 🩷
fabulous! thank you for both of these details
i'm glad i'm not the only one who thought the lyrics on phoebe's new song were a step below her usual lol
theyre a bit…Elementary, shall we say
I've heard so many great things about Girl's Girl and this was my sign to take the plunge.
i am so glad to be that sign for you
I'd be interested if you read Halfborn Woman by V. Diane Woodbrown. I picked it up at a thrift store because I grew up where it takes place and felt it to be a very visceral experience reading it for me. I considered it close to A Good Animal, which I read because of your post, and also loved.
very interesting…i will have to check it out!
I aspire to read 25 books a month wowie!!
i am a firm believer in quality over quantity, but this was a good month for me!