i’ve read hot wax, gave up on bunny sequel 20 pages in, and purchased a signed copy of minor black figures. oddly enough i also read 18 books. my best books of october were: family matter, we are all guilty here, king of ashes, and coffin moon. worst: disco witches of fire island (queer book club burned me on this one) and hot wax.
i love that if we both had to be disappointed by these highly anticipated sequels we can at least do it together. family matter is so very good, and yay for more bests than worsts!
Personally I’m starting to think Mona Awad writes the same book over and over so you get one good read with her before you realize. Mine was All’s Well (which happens to resonate the most based on my personal experiences). Didn’t love Bunny and couldn’t even get through her like Snow White one with the cool cover? Forget the title.
I am reading The Wilderness myself right now and really struggling with it … I’ve heard it praised to the skies but I don’t find the friendships as compelling as they’re meant to be, partly because of the chapters and perspective issues you mentioned. I honestly think the book is just trying to do way too much! I don’t know if I’ll finish it.
Also, the Iliad being better than the Odyssey is a bold claim, and one I can’t verify because I haven’t read the Iliad myself! This gives me the motivation to finally pick up my copy of Emily Wilson’s translation.
i felt the same way! it was hard to connect, and when i did find emotional moments i was invested in they were quickly over never to be seen again. i wouldn’t say it’s worth finishing sadly.
i read intermittent chapters of emily wilson’s translation on this reread and did really enjoy them! i just found the iliad to be a much richer and better paced story to my surprise
I just finished 'Bunny, We Love You' and feel similar. It being the same story from different perspectives was disappointing, but I had anticipated that going into it. 'Bunny' was great as a standalone, and I feel like publishers pressured Awad into building upon it. I did still enjoy being in that universe again, but it was definitely a disappointment, though I didn't hate it.
I read The Gales of November by John U Bacon. Excellent read about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Well written and researched. My family lived in a suburb of Milwaukee Wisconsin when this happened. I was a junior in high school. Very tragic event and November 10th is the 50 year anniversary. The freighter sunk in Lake Superior in Canadian waters.
This October I read Helen Garner’s autobiographical Yellow Notebook and One Day I’lI Remember This. These books are a compilation of a series of diary entries. One reason they are really interesting for me is that I am familiar with all the places she mentions in Melbourne and Sydney. It’s fascinating the way in which this first-hand way of writing can enable the development of complex plots and evolved characters. Garner’s third volume of diaries is titled How To End a Story which, predictably, would also be a good read.
i’ve read hot wax, gave up on bunny sequel 20 pages in, and purchased a signed copy of minor black figures. oddly enough i also read 18 books. my best books of october were: family matter, we are all guilty here, king of ashes, and coffin moon. worst: disco witches of fire island (queer book club burned me on this one) and hot wax.
i love that if we both had to be disappointed by these highly anticipated sequels we can at least do it together. family matter is so very good, and yay for more bests than worsts!
Personally I’m starting to think Mona Awad writes the same book over and over so you get one good read with her before you realize. Mine was All’s Well (which happens to resonate the most based on my personal experiences). Didn’t love Bunny and couldn’t even get through her like Snow White one with the cool cover? Forget the title.
rouge? i’m with you on beginning to wonder if she writes the same book again and again, but it took me more examples to start to think so!
I am reading The Wilderness myself right now and really struggling with it … I’ve heard it praised to the skies but I don’t find the friendships as compelling as they’re meant to be, partly because of the chapters and perspective issues you mentioned. I honestly think the book is just trying to do way too much! I don’t know if I’ll finish it.
Also, the Iliad being better than the Odyssey is a bold claim, and one I can’t verify because I haven’t read the Iliad myself! This gives me the motivation to finally pick up my copy of Emily Wilson’s translation.
i felt the same way! it was hard to connect, and when i did find emotional moments i was invested in they were quickly over never to be seen again. i wouldn’t say it’s worth finishing sadly.
i read intermittent chapters of emily wilson’s translation on this reread and did really enjoy them! i just found the iliad to be a much richer and better paced story to my surprise
It’s probably going to be one of those books I finish so I can properly complain about it lol
i know the type well
im currently crawling out of my reading slump hole by bingeing agatha christie mysteries
great solution love that
I just finished 'Bunny, We Love You' and feel similar. It being the same story from different perspectives was disappointing, but I had anticipated that going into it. 'Bunny' was great as a standalone, and I feel like publishers pressured Awad into building upon it. I did still enjoy being in that universe again, but it was definitely a disappointment, though I didn't hate it.
i agree! it didn’t feel like there was much purpose to adding on. i am glad you had moments of enjoyment!
I was already looking forward to reading Minor Black Figures and now I’m REALLY looking forward to reading it!
i’m excited for you!!! enjoy!
I read The Gales of November by John U Bacon. Excellent read about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Well written and researched. My family lived in a suburb of Milwaukee Wisconsin when this happened. I was a junior in high school. Very tragic event and November 10th is the 50 year anniversary. The freighter sunk in Lake Superior in Canadian waters.
how interesting! i’d never heard of this!
This October I read Helen Garner’s autobiographical Yellow Notebook and One Day I’lI Remember This. These books are a compilation of a series of diary entries. One reason they are really interesting for me is that I am familiar with all the places she mentions in Melbourne and Sydney. It’s fascinating the way in which this first-hand way of writing can enable the development of complex plots and evolved characters. Garner’s third volume of diaries is titled How To End a Story which, predictably, would also be a good read.
i had never heard of these but they sound lovely! i hope the third and final is also a great read for you.
As if I wasn’t BUZZING for Heart the Lover already!!!
it’s SO good
C’mon Emma, let me see Flicking The Bic on your December reads…
https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/flicking-the-bic-1