I was lucky enough to go to the library without kids, which gave me the time to peruse the new books and see the latest one from FSG Originals—Termush by Sven Holm. Hadn’t heard of it at all, but I love that press and will read whatever they publish. Discovery!
Also if you want to go into Jamison’s career I promise I won’t be bored
Oh my goodness, I relate to this so hard! It took me 12 years to get around to reading ABSURDISTAN even though I bought it hardcover at the Brooklyn Book Festival. I think I'm allergic to reading things currently buzzed about. I love The Understudy, Heirloom Books, and Exile in Bookville, three bookstores in Chicago that are wildly different from one another. But I can't luxuriate in browsing if I have my three-year-old in tow!
AH! It's so hard to just loaf about when you're like wait don't pull those 297 books down, wait for me for the escalator, wait wait wait. LOL. I am also allergic! I wish I knew the cause and I could just get over it. I also love thinking a book is like perfect time and place FOR ME and that's never an option with buzzed about books. The "I read this at the perfect time" scenario.
My husband encouraged me to read some bestselling literary fiction from last year just so I can be in the know; I picked up DEMON COPPERHEAD. The writing was phenomenal, but there was a scene of violence around 50 pages in that was exactly the wrong time for me and I had to give up on it. Oh well! No guilt when plenty of people have read it.
yes! i've taken to not reading reviews or interviews until i've had a chance to read the book (even often skipping the jacket synopsis). probably not an option for you since your whole job is understanding literary trends, but god i just want to be surprised/tickled by a book!
The books I've read and LOVED these past few months are: ALL-NIGHT PHARMACY by Ruth Madievsky, THE ENGLISH PATIENT by Michael Ondaatje, STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel, and, it's not out until next year, but Isaac Fellman's novel NOTES FROM A REGICIDE.
The English Patient--I don't think I could do it again. And Station Eleven, WOOOOOOOOOF. I love that all these books are heartbreaking. You're in your heartbreak reads (I'm looking for hints of the new book everywhere, truly).
I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday for the first time in such long time. It's out of the way for me, but I had a gift card. I meant to run in and out with one book—obviously ended up perusing for like 45 mins. Still, I kept going to my phone to look up what I should be reading, I guess. I finally forced myself to stop, because I remembered how much fun it used to be to have a cover or a spine catch your eye, and spend an hour reading book flaps.
Yes! It’s so hard to be like … what should I spend my precious gift card on in a bookstore too. I always want to make the “right” call as if there is one? I hope you found something great!
This is such an interesting discussion, Cassie. I know that bookstore feeling you describe. It's how I used to find all my favorite books. Is it possible to still find a book that way when you work in the industry--hypothetically speaking?
Penny!!! Congratulations on your book deal(s)! I can’t wait to read!
I honestly am not sure? I think when I enter a bookstore I sort of enter work mode sometimes in a weird way. And that makes it difficult. (It makes reading for pleasure difficult too!)
Thank you so much! I'm still trying to process everything. And I agree about entering the bookstore in a different mode, more as a writer than a reader for me. It's got me thinking!
Ou that’s interesting too. I think I was the same way for a while, reading mostly books I thought were similar to my writing style or themes, which in thinking about it now isn’t as helpful as the way I thought it was.
You always were looking for the undiscovered or the "used to be". Almost all your prom dresses came from thrift stores. No one would be showing up in your vintage dress.
I was lucky enough to go to the library without kids, which gave me the time to peruse the new books and see the latest one from FSG Originals—Termush by Sven Holm. Hadn’t heard of it at all, but I love that press and will read whatever they publish. Discovery!
Also if you want to go into Jamison’s career I promise I won’t be bored
It’s true an FSG Original is almost always worth the buy / borrow! They have great taste.
Maybe I’ll get into it, makes me nervous, she’s so beloved! But thank you for the encouragement, Adam!
Oh my goodness, I relate to this so hard! It took me 12 years to get around to reading ABSURDISTAN even though I bought it hardcover at the Brooklyn Book Festival. I think I'm allergic to reading things currently buzzed about. I love The Understudy, Heirloom Books, and Exile in Bookville, three bookstores in Chicago that are wildly different from one another. But I can't luxuriate in browsing if I have my three-year-old in tow!
AH! It's so hard to just loaf about when you're like wait don't pull those 297 books down, wait for me for the escalator, wait wait wait. LOL. I am also allergic! I wish I knew the cause and I could just get over it. I also love thinking a book is like perfect time and place FOR ME and that's never an option with buzzed about books. The "I read this at the perfect time" scenario.
My husband encouraged me to read some bestselling literary fiction from last year just so I can be in the know; I picked up DEMON COPPERHEAD. The writing was phenomenal, but there was a scene of violence around 50 pages in that was exactly the wrong time for me and I had to give up on it. Oh well! No guilt when plenty of people have read it.
yes! i've taken to not reading reviews or interviews until i've had a chance to read the book (even often skipping the jacket synopsis). probably not an option for you since your whole job is understanding literary trends, but god i just want to be surprised/tickled by a book!
SAME!!!! Just let me feel like it’s my little secret, PLEASE. I would love to know what you’ve read and loved recently!
The books I've read and LOVED these past few months are: ALL-NIGHT PHARMACY by Ruth Madievsky, THE ENGLISH PATIENT by Michael Ondaatje, STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel, and, it's not out until next year, but Isaac Fellman's novel NOTES FROM A REGICIDE.
The English Patient--I don't think I could do it again. And Station Eleven, WOOOOOOOOOF. I love that all these books are heartbreaking. You're in your heartbreak reads (I'm looking for hints of the new book everywhere, truly).
one of these may have been a book i was reading so we include it on the comps list...
WEEEEEEEE!!!!
I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday for the first time in such long time. It's out of the way for me, but I had a gift card. I meant to run in and out with one book—obviously ended up perusing for like 45 mins. Still, I kept going to my phone to look up what I should be reading, I guess. I finally forced myself to stop, because I remembered how much fun it used to be to have a cover or a spine catch your eye, and spend an hour reading book flaps.
Yes! It’s so hard to be like … what should I spend my precious gift card on in a bookstore too. I always want to make the “right” call as if there is one? I hope you found something great!
Now I can’t help but think of it as my one wild and precious gift card
In your Mary Oliver era
Now I do want to hear your thoughts on Leslie Jamison’s career!
Aside of that though, really interesting points. Discovery is hard to do now
Haha! Maybe I’ll write them down. I find it really interesting how people become THE blah blah blah, for her THE personal essayist.
Please do!
This is such an interesting discussion, Cassie. I know that bookstore feeling you describe. It's how I used to find all my favorite books. Is it possible to still find a book that way when you work in the industry--hypothetically speaking?
Penny!!! Congratulations on your book deal(s)! I can’t wait to read!
I honestly am not sure? I think when I enter a bookstore I sort of enter work mode sometimes in a weird way. And that makes it difficult. (It makes reading for pleasure difficult too!)
Thank you so much! I'm still trying to process everything. And I agree about entering the bookstore in a different mode, more as a writer than a reader for me. It's got me thinking!
Ou that’s interesting too. I think I was the same way for a while, reading mostly books I thought were similar to my writing style or themes, which in thinking about it now isn’t as helpful as the way I thought it was.
You always were looking for the undiscovered or the "used to be". Almost all your prom dresses came from thrift stores. No one would be showing up in your vintage dress.
<33 I do love making something old new again.