the number of times I've thought to myself "well I have a book" when encountering a situation that might be less than ideal... a book can get us through quite a lot.
My book club read Prose’s ‘The Maid’ several months back and overall the group enjoyed it for the light, cozy read that it was. As you mention though, I did have a few head-tilt moments of question regarding the neurodivergent characteristics of the main character. As I recall, my biggest sticking point was the arc of her transformation throughout the book. I found her initial presentation endearing and relatable with her anxious, quiet, detail-oriented, rigid and conversationally awkward traits. As the story progressed however, the character radically altered her persona, in a sense she OVERCAME those perceived weaknesses and emerged at the end as a confident, sometimes confrontational, savvy, quick-thinking and even quicker-acting problem solver. I would have liked to see the character remain true to her initially established traits while amplifying the strength of those traits throughout the story instead of undergoing a complete flip as if those deeply ingrained characteristics were things to be ‘fixed.’ That being said, we all very much enjoyed the book and I may have been the outlier who was analyzing the psychological ramifications of the character transformation when we met to review.
I loved this Kolina! Books can get us through anything, as Natalie says. I love the book space on Substack, it’s such a lovely place to be! When a day passes and I don’t get a chance to read, I really feel out of sorts!
A day I don't read honestly throws me off the rails! Reading is centering, so when I don't make time for it (those days are rare at this point), I feel very disoriented.
I loved Natalie's note, too, about books getting us through anything. Waiting while your face numbs so you can get a root canal? Thankfully you have a book. 🤣
I also feel so disoriented when I don’t read in a day!! It’s just such a part of my routine, it feels alien when it doesn’t happen - like I haven’t had time to imagine?
Hahahah books at the dentist are SO key, I was just at mine reading last week!!! Any waiting room experience is made sweeter with a book!
I love this piece so much. I really felt the part where you said: "Reading closes the gap between our mismatched energy levels, allowing us to focus on something outside ourselves. So now, rather than it being my son versus me, it’s us two and a jungle and a superhero." Whenever my kids (who are 3 and almost 2) are unsettled, I love sitting down on the floor and reading to them. I can see the way it instantly calms them and brings us all back to the same level 🤎
Thanks Peggy! I read The Maid in like 2 days, I didn’t dislike it per se. I just think she could have handled it differently and it would have been more powerful. I’m not going to read the sequel either unfortunately.
Reading your post brought back my own childhood memories of my mother and her books. She worked in a bookstore, she volunteered at the library so books were always a big part of my world. My own love of books came from watching her total absorption in whatever book she was reading, and my natural curiosity of something I wasn’t privy to. :)
I’m only 1/4 through, and feel a little ambivalent right now. But the bar is high, I’ve had the BEST reading summer so far - Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan, The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin, Piglet by Lottie Hazell, We All want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman. Seriously, I’ve been spoiled.
Kolina, as always, this is spot on and I wholeheartedly agree! Books are a balm, and I love what you say at the end about them being best used daily ◡̈
I read Trust Exercise a few years ago and felt similarly to you; it took a lot of 'studying' afterward to make sense of what I read. I haven't felt drawn to try any of Choi's other books since but I see them recommended often.
Yes Nicole you said it perfectly! Why did she need to overcome those “flaws?” They weren’t flaws to begin with! They were just her idiosyncrasies that made her endearing to us. I think she just said something about how she’s different one too many times too. It’s great that she’s different, I loved that, but pointing it out in such an on-the-nose way made her seem like “other,” but really she’s just another person like the rest of us!
I breezed through it and thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it, but yes, definitely had some head-tilt moments!
the number of times I've thought to myself "well I have a book" when encountering a situation that might be less than ideal... a book can get us through quite a lot.
It is so true! And we can have them with us at almost all times, which is a total bonus.
My book club read Prose’s ‘The Maid’ several months back and overall the group enjoyed it for the light, cozy read that it was. As you mention though, I did have a few head-tilt moments of question regarding the neurodivergent characteristics of the main character. As I recall, my biggest sticking point was the arc of her transformation throughout the book. I found her initial presentation endearing and relatable with her anxious, quiet, detail-oriented, rigid and conversationally awkward traits. As the story progressed however, the character radically altered her persona, in a sense she OVERCAME those perceived weaknesses and emerged at the end as a confident, sometimes confrontational, savvy, quick-thinking and even quicker-acting problem solver. I would have liked to see the character remain true to her initially established traits while amplifying the strength of those traits throughout the story instead of undergoing a complete flip as if those deeply ingrained characteristics were things to be ‘fixed.’ That being said, we all very much enjoyed the book and I may have been the outlier who was analyzing the psychological ramifications of the character transformation when we met to review.
I loved this Kolina! Books can get us through anything, as Natalie says. I love the book space on Substack, it’s such a lovely place to be! When a day passes and I don’t get a chance to read, I really feel out of sorts!
A day I don't read honestly throws me off the rails! Reading is centering, so when I don't make time for it (those days are rare at this point), I feel very disoriented.
I loved Natalie's note, too, about books getting us through anything. Waiting while your face numbs so you can get a root canal? Thankfully you have a book. 🤣
I also feel so disoriented when I don’t read in a day!! It’s just such a part of my routine, it feels alien when it doesn’t happen - like I haven’t had time to imagine?
Hahahah books at the dentist are SO key, I was just at mine reading last week!!! Any waiting room experience is made sweeter with a book!
Exactly. I don’t even mind doctors taking forever because I get some reading time in!
I love this piece so much. I really felt the part where you said: "Reading closes the gap between our mismatched energy levels, allowing us to focus on something outside ourselves. So now, rather than it being my son versus me, it’s us two and a jungle and a superhero." Whenever my kids (who are 3 and almost 2) are unsettled, I love sitting down on the floor and reading to them. I can see the way it instantly calms them and brings us all back to the same level 🤎
Yeah they are kind of magic in that way! And it’s incredible that someone as young as 2 can be entranced by them!
Another spot on issue, Kolina.
Totally agree about "The Maid". Not going to read the sequel.
Thanks Peggy! I read The Maid in like 2 days, I didn’t dislike it per se. I just think she could have handled it differently and it would have been more powerful. I’m not going to read the sequel either unfortunately.
Reading your post brought back my own childhood memories of my mother and her books. She worked in a bookstore, she volunteered at the library so books were always a big part of my world. My own love of books came from watching her total absorption in whatever book she was reading, and my natural curiosity of something I wasn’t privy to. :)
Reading In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas.
Nancy, I love this so much! What a gift your mother gave you. I haven’t read that yet. Are you enjoying it?
I’m only 1/4 through, and feel a little ambivalent right now. But the bar is high, I’ve had the BEST reading summer so far - Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan, The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin, Piglet by Lottie Hazell, We All want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman. Seriously, I’ve been spoiled.
What a list!!! I’ve not read a single one of them but have heard gobs about them all. So happy for you and your summer reading! 🫶🏽
Kolina, as always, this is spot on and I wholeheartedly agree! Books are a balm, and I love what you say at the end about them being best used daily ◡̈
I read Trust Exercise a few years ago and felt similarly to you; it took a lot of 'studying' afterward to make sense of what I read. I haven't felt drawn to try any of Choi's other books since but I see them recommended often.
Yes! Best used daily!! Thanks so much Michelle. Also, I’m very glad to hear I wasn’t the only one needing to do some post-book studying! 🤣
Yes Nicole you said it perfectly! Why did she need to overcome those “flaws?” They weren’t flaws to begin with! They were just her idiosyncrasies that made her endearing to us. I think she just said something about how she’s different one too many times too. It’s great that she’s different, I loved that, but pointing it out in such an on-the-nose way made her seem like “other,” but really she’s just another person like the rest of us!
I breezed through it and thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it, but yes, definitely had some head-tilt moments!