Totally agree with Remarkably Bright Creatures! One of the best! Cannot read any book about octopuses (i.e. children's books) without thinking of it! Tonight I read Leo and the Octopus to my kids. Another fave!
Marcellus is also one of my favorites of all time! He’s so grumpy but he’s loving and sweet as well. On Earth is very literary and so beautiful, The Rachel Incident is propulsive and fun!
Been curious to read the Ocean Vuong book and just bought it with my audiobook credit 💛 I’m in conversation with someone for the podcast next week and I believe they’ve just interviewed him, so I’ll try and listen before we speak!
I recently finished Forgotten on Sunday by Valerie Perrin. I couldn’t/can’t stop thinking about it - intergenerational friendship, story-within-a-story, long-buried secrets twisted up SO tight that unravel in the most satisfying way. It’s from 2020, but just came out in English in June.
Also Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino was just dazzling. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel smart reading it because the narrator is so endearing, so observant, so droll. Adina is a girl in Philadelphia who doesn’t quite fit in, buuut lucky for her she communicates with her alien relatives via a broken fax machine.
Okay, last ones are Jen Beagin’s three novels. Big Swiss kept popping up, but I went back and read Pretend I’m Dead and Vacuuming in the Dark. All three were dark(ish), weird, and right up my alley.
I’m about to start Turtle House by Amanda Churchill.
I haven’t read a single one of these but several have been on my radar recently, and you just completely sold them to me! I’ve never heard of Forgotten on Sunday but that sounds fantastic! Thank you for the recommendation!!
August is peak Rich People Problems reading time for me. I just finished A Strange Eventful History, which, novels with neurotic Catholic family vibes are catnip for me, and the book delivered that in spades. And I dutifully tore through God of the Woods because I'm going to the Adirondacks in the fall, it was getting so much buzz as a Book of the Summer, and it was part of my BOTM subscription--I mainly recommend because it's dishy enough, but I'm still deciding how I feel about it, and really want to hear others' thoughts.
💚☘️💚
YOU are said charming Irish person!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is one of my favorite novels. A paradigm of fearlessness. I teach it every year in my AP Lit class.
The best books I've read so far this year are The Torqued Man by Peter Mann and When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut.
A paradigm of fearlessness -- what a stunning way to put it!
I haven't read either of those but I just looked them both up and wow, they sound amazing. Thank you for bringing them to my attention!
You're welcome! I hope you enjoy. And I subscribed to your Pub - it's a great read!
Thank you! I subscribed to yours as well. Excited to check it out!
Wonderful! Thanks!
Currently reading Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan! The new Claire Lombardo is high on my TBR!
Summer Romance was so fun! Loved it. And definitely move Same As It Ever Was up! 🫶🏽
I love seeing your favorites, Kolina! What a good year so far.
Honestly! I don’t know how I can beat that. However, Same As It Ever Was was a 🔥🔥🔥 book to start out the second half!
Totally agree with Remarkably Bright Creatures! One of the best! Cannot read any book about octopuses (i.e. children's books) without thinking of it! Tonight I read Leo and the Octopus to my kids. Another fave!
I haven’t read that one! I will check it out!
Remarkably Bright Creatures definitely hits the top of my list too! I think Marcellus will be one of my favourite narrators for a long time!
Have heard of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, and the Rachel Incident but now they're definitely on my tbr!!
Marcellus is also one of my favorites of all time! He’s so grumpy but he’s loving and sweet as well. On Earth is very literary and so beautiful, The Rachel Incident is propulsive and fun!
Been curious to read the Ocean Vuong book and just bought it with my audiobook credit 💛 I’m in conversation with someone for the podcast next week and I believe they’ve just interviewed him, so I’ll try and listen before we speak!
WHOA! An interview with Ocean Vuong would be magical. I am *so* excited to hear what you think about the audiobook!
Vladimir is on my list of best I’ve read this year, too. I also really enjoyed James and All Fours.
James and All Fours are high on my list! I have heard nothing but raves about both.
I recently finished Forgotten on Sunday by Valerie Perrin. I couldn’t/can’t stop thinking about it - intergenerational friendship, story-within-a-story, long-buried secrets twisted up SO tight that unravel in the most satisfying way. It’s from 2020, but just came out in English in June.
Also Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino was just dazzling. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel smart reading it because the narrator is so endearing, so observant, so droll. Adina is a girl in Philadelphia who doesn’t quite fit in, buuut lucky for her she communicates with her alien relatives via a broken fax machine.
Okay, last ones are Jen Beagin’s three novels. Big Swiss kept popping up, but I went back and read Pretend I’m Dead and Vacuuming in the Dark. All three were dark(ish), weird, and right up my alley.
I’m about to start Turtle House by Amanda Churchill.
I haven’t read a single one of these but several have been on my radar recently, and you just completely sold them to me! I’ve never heard of Forgotten on Sunday but that sounds fantastic! Thank you for the recommendation!!
Read On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous a bit ago. Highly recommended and the style of prose didn’t bother me one iota! Great read!
It’s incredible. I want to get a physical copy so I can experience it that way. I think I’d underline every other sentence 🥴
What a great list! I haven’t read any but quite a few on the tbr - Lahiri is a special kind of writing angel
Lahiri really is the most special. I hope you get around to some of these books this year so I can hear what you think!
Thanks Kolina!
Of course! Loved the book. And I’m excited about your gothic TT one 😜
August is peak Rich People Problems reading time for me. I just finished A Strange Eventful History, which, novels with neurotic Catholic family vibes are catnip for me, and the book delivered that in spades. And I dutifully tore through God of the Woods because I'm going to the Adirondacks in the fall, it was getting so much buzz as a Book of the Summer, and it was part of my BOTM subscription--I mainly recommend because it's dishy enough, but I'm still deciding how I feel about it, and really want to hear others' thoughts.
Yes Madeline you will love it!
You’re in for a treat with The Rachel Incident. I LOVED it.
Agreed!!