I’m smiling here. All three of those novels are ones I heard about from you (and “James” from other friends), and read, and love love loved. They are standouts, for sure. Just finished Charlotte McConaghy’s “Wild Dark Shore,” and can’t recommend enthusiastically enough. Agree — “Orbital” was a treat. 😊
Julie! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. I really am a broken record with the books I love 🤣 I’m still waiting on Wild Dark Shore from the library but can’t wait to chat with you once I’m done. I started Orbital last night and am stunned. That writing is unbelievable!
I can relate to this. Before I met my wife I wasn’t an avid reader, but now I usually finish at least one book per month. Blue Sisters sounds like a great read. My wife read James and loved it, so that will be my next novel. I prefer non fiction and just finished David Brooks’ The Second Mountain, which is excellent.
That's wonderful! Blue Sisters really is a spectacular book. My husband absolutely loved it. Enjoy James! Do let me know what you think! I haven't read The Second Mountain but just looked it up. I might recommend it to my husband!
Returning to report, I finished “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”. It is a good summer read. Mostly what I’m taking away is how she kept me reading — dropping little hints to string along the mystery. I noted my response to the reveal, which was equal parts “huh, clever” and “yeah, predictable”. I’m glad I read it but would give it a 6 out of 10. Funny thing, I’ve been binging “Hacks,” so in my mind, Evelyn is Deborah Vance. 😂
Four Thousand Weeks came to me at the right time like this. I was so burnt out and finally in a head space where I was ready to hear and internalize what it was saying
Ahhhh I love that! It’s such a brilliant book, and would be even more brilliant coming at a time like that. We have so little time in this life! So little really matters. That book is just so good.
When I saw it on your recommendation list for grads, I bought it! Did I tell you? I can’t remember. As much as I want to keep it for myself (I read a library copy) I’m giving it to our neighbor who’s graduating. Thank you for that amazing idea! 💜
I’m reeling because I’ve had some similar experiences with my husband!! He is now four years sober and been reading more. The joy I felt at recommending books and him loving them… whew!! He loves mob stuff so I recommended Don Winslow novels and then we even got to meet him together.
Also can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Orbital 🖤
For real?! Wow, I had no idea we (and our husbands) had this in common. How cool you got to meet Don Winslow! I’ve never read anything by him. Do I need to? I also love mob stuff (as a Cicero I think it runs in my blood!)
I’ll get back to you after I finish Orbital! It’s such a tiny book but somehow I’m only halfway through.
If you like mob stuff you should definitely read his City on Fire trilogy, its so old school Goodfellas vibes.
I just finished Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin which is also a short tiny book like Orbital that I think people either love or hate. trippy weird and super cool
Okay fantastic, looking into the trilogy asap. And I've seen Fever Dream all over but haven't read it. Requesting from the library now! Thanks for your reccs!
Kolina, I love reading this issue. Love it when a non-fiction reader becomes a fiction reader. My husband is the same, only reading non-fiction. One day he asked me for a fiction reco and I gave him Circe and Piranesi. He loved them both!
GREAT recommendations! I'm really impressed he loved them. Piranesi is especially weird but so, so good! I, too, love when a non-fiction reader becomes a fiction reader. It's like the have to realize for themselves how equally valuable fiction can be!
Kolina, thank you for recommending your Habit Tracker! I love that idea.
I just finished Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. I love, love, love the book. The New York Times review was lukewarm. I can’t wait to write about the book. Dalton covers everything relevant and kind in her book. It’s kinship at the highest and most practical level.📘🩵👍🏽
Last night I started The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Wung. Oh my word, I am in heaven.📘🩵👍🏽
Thank you for giving me a place to put my enthusiasm for Chloe and Ocean.🌱🌿💚
Habit tracking is LIFE-CHANGING! I could talk about it all day. If you decide you want to try it out, do let me know! I haven't read Raising Hare or The Emperor of Gladness but I've heard of both! Did you read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous? I listened to the audiobook and Ocean narrates it. It's a spectacular listening experience (though, naturally, I've heard people totally hate on it!) It's all about taste of course.
Thank YOU for sharing your enthusiasm for Chloe and Ocean!
Do you really?! How long have you been doing it? I typically just track the same habits and sometimes I'm like, I need a new habit to track! But it just keeps me in check!
A long time. I track my walking and sleep habits. My workouts. My word counts. My reading. My spending. :) I'm not obsessed with it, and I forget sometimes. But it's a great way to stay organized and accountable.
I actually make my tracker on graph paper each month! It’s in the Clear Habit Journal but i long ago finished the habit tracking pages and have just been using the plain pages since. Anything will work! Honestly, the simpler the better.
Thanks for the recommendations. James is already on my list. In my early sobriety I started going to used book stores instead of bars and restaurants when I traveled for work. I started reading all of the Pulitzer Prize winners in the novel/ fiction categories. I still have a couple of older ones to find and the only two I couldn’t finish were Faulkner’s two books. Best wishes to Doug!
Great post, and so inspiring. It's always interesting to read wildly different takes. For every review I've read trashing 'Atomic Habits', there's another one (like this one) praising it (I shall also read your old post about it). I hardly know who to believe, so I suppose I ought to read it for myself (confession: I attempted it once but couldn't get past the introduction). 'James' has also been on the end of crazily mixed reviews, as has 'Orbital'. One friend told me not to bother, another said it was magical!
I'm a huge Oliver Burkeman fan, and I'd recommend 'The Antidote' if you haven't read it already. That was refreshing the first time I read it years ago.
There've been so many books that came at the right time for me. A few years ago 'Stoner' by John Williams was perfect. It reflected my current mental state at the time, which was gloomy, but I find the most cathartic reads aren't pick me ups, but those that almost compound the negative feelings, if that makes sense. Martin Amis's 'Inside Story' was the right read at the right time a few years ago because it was right when I started writing my first book and the mixture of autofiction and notes on the craft of writing were timely.
On the topic of sobriety and alcoholism, Olivia Laing's 'The Trip to Echo Spring' is terrific, I think I'm due a reread of it soon.
Daniel, so much to say! I just requested The Trip to Echo Spring from the library. My husband isn't a writer but he might enjoy it, and I'm not sober but I think I'd enjoy it as well.
I love what you're saying about the different takes. That's so funny to me that you've heard such mixed reviews of Atomic Habits. I can totally see not getting past the intro. Give it another shot! Or, what if you just went straight to trying to track habits? It's not for everybody but, as mentioned, it's an absolute game-changer. I started Orbital last night and am astonished by the prose. It's incredible. I've also read bad reviews of James, which I don't understand at all, but everyone gets their own opinion! Beyond the super clever conceit of the book, the writing is just so clean. Have you read anything else by Percival Everett? I have The Trees on my nightstand but haven't gotten to it yet.
I have only read one Oliver Burkeman and I have no excuses. I LOVED Four Thousand Weeks. Just also requested The Antidote on audio. You're expanding my TBR! Thank you so much for all of this!
Wow, glad I could have such an impact on your TBR- I'm flattered! Mine is ever expanding too, and I'll definitely give Orbital a shot at some point. I'm not sober either - far from it, but Echo Spring is just a great book, and such an insight into 6 writers' lives (all of them alcoholic).
My habits are generally okay (I think), so maybe that's why I didn't click with it. It was also the style - I love Burkeman and the way he's so self-deprecating in comparison to James Clear and his...overconfidence (?) But one of these days I'll revisit it just to see. There's a great podcast I enjoy called 'If Books Could Kill', where the hosts critically review (to put it mildly - they can be savage in their attacks) what they call airport bestsellers, but this includes a lot of popular pop culture books, including Atomic Habits. It's very amusing in general and it's worth listening to an episode or two, either on a book you've read or are just curious to hear about.
I haven't read any Percival Everett. My sister just started reading James, I might borrow it when she's done. She's also on at me to read 'A Little Life', but that looks like quite a time investment.
You're so right, there is a bit of an overconfidence thing, whereas Oliver is hilarious and down-to-earth. I'll definitely check out If Books Could Kill, thank you for yet another recc!
I agree with your sister. A Little Life is iconic. Yes, it's a time commitment, but it's brilliant. The hate on that book is also very widespread, but I think it's great. Let me know if you read James, even if you hate it!
I’m smiling here. All three of those novels are ones I heard about from you (and “James” from other friends), and read, and love love loved. They are standouts, for sure. Just finished Charlotte McConaghy’s “Wild Dark Shore,” and can’t recommend enthusiastically enough. Agree — “Orbital” was a treat. 😊
Julie! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. I really am a broken record with the books I love 🤣 I’m still waiting on Wild Dark Shore from the library but can’t wait to chat with you once I’m done. I started Orbital last night and am stunned. That writing is unbelievable!
Always great to hear from you ❤️
Love this, Kolina. I want to share it with my husband now!
Aww! Please do! Thank you for reading, Alyson!
nice and interesting.
I can relate to this. Before I met my wife I wasn’t an avid reader, but now I usually finish at least one book per month. Blue Sisters sounds like a great read. My wife read James and loved it, so that will be my next novel. I prefer non fiction and just finished David Brooks’ The Second Mountain, which is excellent.
That's wonderful! Blue Sisters really is a spectacular book. My husband absolutely loved it. Enjoy James! Do let me know what you think! I haven't read The Second Mountain but just looked it up. I might recommend it to my husband!
Returning to report, I finished “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”. It is a good summer read. Mostly what I’m taking away is how she kept me reading — dropping little hints to string along the mystery. I noted my response to the reveal, which was equal parts “huh, clever” and “yeah, predictable”. I’m glad I read it but would give it a 6 out of 10. Funny thing, I’ve been binging “Hacks,” so in my mind, Evelyn is Deborah Vance. 😂
HAHAH love that. Yeah it's not my favorite book in the whole world, but it's a good story! I love that you updated me -- thank you!!
I read all of these except Open Throat and I am intrigued. Putting it on my summer reading list. Ty.
Yes!! Let me know if you read it!
Since we seem to have similar tastes in books, here is my memoir list!
https://open.substack.com/pub/reganmichaels/p/musings-about-memoirs?r=g9mmb&utm_medium=ios
Four Thousand Weeks came to me at the right time like this. I was so burnt out and finally in a head space where I was ready to hear and internalize what it was saying
Ahhhh I love that! It’s such a brilliant book, and would be even more brilliant coming at a time like that. We have so little time in this life! So little really matters. That book is just so good.
When I saw it on your recommendation list for grads, I bought it! Did I tell you? I can’t remember. As much as I want to keep it for myself (I read a library copy) I’m giving it to our neighbor who’s graduating. Thank you for that amazing idea! 💜
I loved Blue Sisters!
So beautiful right?! Her prose is just 🤯
I’m reeling because I’ve had some similar experiences with my husband!! He is now four years sober and been reading more. The joy I felt at recommending books and him loving them… whew!! He loves mob stuff so I recommended Don Winslow novels and then we even got to meet him together.
Also can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Orbital 🖤
For real?! Wow, I had no idea we (and our husbands) had this in common. How cool you got to meet Don Winslow! I’ve never read anything by him. Do I need to? I also love mob stuff (as a Cicero I think it runs in my blood!)
I’ll get back to you after I finish Orbital! It’s such a tiny book but somehow I’m only halfway through.
What are you reading right now?
If you like mob stuff you should definitely read his City on Fire trilogy, its so old school Goodfellas vibes.
I just finished Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin which is also a short tiny book like Orbital that I think people either love or hate. trippy weird and super cool
Okay fantastic, looking into the trilogy asap. And I've seen Fever Dream all over but haven't read it. Requesting from the library now! Thanks for your reccs!
I love Atomic Habits! So insightful. :)
Kolina, I love reading this issue. Love it when a non-fiction reader becomes a fiction reader. My husband is the same, only reading non-fiction. One day he asked me for a fiction reco and I gave him Circe and Piranesi. He loved them both!
GREAT recommendations! I'm really impressed he loved them. Piranesi is especially weird but so, so good! I, too, love when a non-fiction reader becomes a fiction reader. It's like the have to realize for themselves how equally valuable fiction can be!
Kolina, thank you for recommending your Habit Tracker! I love that idea.
I just finished Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. I love, love, love the book. The New York Times review was lukewarm. I can’t wait to write about the book. Dalton covers everything relevant and kind in her book. It’s kinship at the highest and most practical level.📘🩵👍🏽
Last night I started The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Wung. Oh my word, I am in heaven.📘🩵👍🏽
Thank you for giving me a place to put my enthusiasm for Chloe and Ocean.🌱🌿💚
Habit tracking is LIFE-CHANGING! I could talk about it all day. If you decide you want to try it out, do let me know! I haven't read Raising Hare or The Emperor of Gladness but I've heard of both! Did you read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous? I listened to the audiobook and Ocean narrates it. It's a spectacular listening experience (though, naturally, I've heard people totally hate on it!) It's all about taste of course.
Thank YOU for sharing your enthusiasm for Chloe and Ocean!
I track everything! Almost. 🤗
Do you really?! How long have you been doing it? I typically just track the same habits and sometimes I'm like, I need a new habit to track! But it just keeps me in check!
A long time. I track my walking and sleep habits. My workouts. My word counts. My reading. My spending. :) I'm not obsessed with it, and I forget sometimes. But it's a great way to stay organized and accountable.
I love love love your dedication to it! I’d argue you’re the better for your tracking. So impressive!
Have you tracked what you would do if you could do anything???
Not yet, but I'll give it a try.😃
I am excited to track again.
Thanks for your reminder about the book.
Sadly, the product is unavailable yet I can create a notebook. The discipline of checking the box leads to so many dreams becoming possible. 🌱🌿💚
I actually make my tracker on graph paper each month! It’s in the Clear Habit Journal but i long ago finished the habit tracking pages and have just been using the plain pages since. Anything will work! Honestly, the simpler the better.
I agree.
The intention makes a strong foundation. 🌱
Thanks for the recommendations. James is already on my list. In my early sobriety I started going to used book stores instead of bars and restaurants when I traveled for work. I started reading all of the Pulitzer Prize winners in the novel/ fiction categories. I still have a couple of older ones to find and the only two I couldn’t finish were Faulkner’s two books. Best wishes to Doug!
Please do let me know if you read James. The reviews are many and you never quite know what someone will think of it, but I enjoyed it so much.
I love that you went to used bookstores instead of bars. That is genius! I’ve never read Faulkner, I think I’d quit too.
I will pass your wishes on, thank you!
Your book recommendations always give me life :) Thank you for these, always. I couldn't purchase "Open Throat" faster, BTW.
Brittany omg. I couldn’t be more serious or enthusiastic when I say I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOUR THOUGHTS on it!
Thank you for reading and for taking me up on my reccs. It’s the world’s biggest honor!
Great post, and so inspiring. It's always interesting to read wildly different takes. For every review I've read trashing 'Atomic Habits', there's another one (like this one) praising it (I shall also read your old post about it). I hardly know who to believe, so I suppose I ought to read it for myself (confession: I attempted it once but couldn't get past the introduction). 'James' has also been on the end of crazily mixed reviews, as has 'Orbital'. One friend told me not to bother, another said it was magical!
I'm a huge Oliver Burkeman fan, and I'd recommend 'The Antidote' if you haven't read it already. That was refreshing the first time I read it years ago.
There've been so many books that came at the right time for me. A few years ago 'Stoner' by John Williams was perfect. It reflected my current mental state at the time, which was gloomy, but I find the most cathartic reads aren't pick me ups, but those that almost compound the negative feelings, if that makes sense. Martin Amis's 'Inside Story' was the right read at the right time a few years ago because it was right when I started writing my first book and the mixture of autofiction and notes on the craft of writing were timely.
On the topic of sobriety and alcoholism, Olivia Laing's 'The Trip to Echo Spring' is terrific, I think I'm due a reread of it soon.
Daniel, so much to say! I just requested The Trip to Echo Spring from the library. My husband isn't a writer but he might enjoy it, and I'm not sober but I think I'd enjoy it as well.
I love what you're saying about the different takes. That's so funny to me that you've heard such mixed reviews of Atomic Habits. I can totally see not getting past the intro. Give it another shot! Or, what if you just went straight to trying to track habits? It's not for everybody but, as mentioned, it's an absolute game-changer. I started Orbital last night and am astonished by the prose. It's incredible. I've also read bad reviews of James, which I don't understand at all, but everyone gets their own opinion! Beyond the super clever conceit of the book, the writing is just so clean. Have you read anything else by Percival Everett? I have The Trees on my nightstand but haven't gotten to it yet.
I have only read one Oliver Burkeman and I have no excuses. I LOVED Four Thousand Weeks. Just also requested The Antidote on audio. You're expanding my TBR! Thank you so much for all of this!
Wow, glad I could have such an impact on your TBR- I'm flattered! Mine is ever expanding too, and I'll definitely give Orbital a shot at some point. I'm not sober either - far from it, but Echo Spring is just a great book, and such an insight into 6 writers' lives (all of them alcoholic).
My habits are generally okay (I think), so maybe that's why I didn't click with it. It was also the style - I love Burkeman and the way he's so self-deprecating in comparison to James Clear and his...overconfidence (?) But one of these days I'll revisit it just to see. There's a great podcast I enjoy called 'If Books Could Kill', where the hosts critically review (to put it mildly - they can be savage in their attacks) what they call airport bestsellers, but this includes a lot of popular pop culture books, including Atomic Habits. It's very amusing in general and it's worth listening to an episode or two, either on a book you've read or are just curious to hear about.
I haven't read any Percival Everett. My sister just started reading James, I might borrow it when she's done. She's also on at me to read 'A Little Life', but that looks like quite a time investment.
You're so right, there is a bit of an overconfidence thing, whereas Oliver is hilarious and down-to-earth. I'll definitely check out If Books Could Kill, thank you for yet another recc!
I agree with your sister. A Little Life is iconic. Yes, it's a time commitment, but it's brilliant. The hate on that book is also very widespread, but I think it's great. Let me know if you read James, even if you hate it!