I still need to read Egan! Whether I will start with Candy House or Goon Squad, idk! I am also very intrigued by Blind Assassin!! Aside from Handmaids, I've never read any other Atwood!
For whatever it’s worth, I am a near completionist with Egan, and for me, Goon Squad is her masterpiece. Her first novel is not very good, but persistence can lead to brilliance. C
Love this. I have been thinking about hopping on the injectable appetite control bandwagon but making an appointment would cut into reading time. How fun to see No One on this list— and A Visit From the Goon Squad. I do not re-read often but I want to read that one again someday. A more recent book I’d add is Biography of X. Someday I will shut up about it… but not today!
So many thoughts! First: I must pick up The Children’s Bible stat. Second, I love love your review style! It always makes me want to read the books and I love that you capture how you feel while reading rather than just a description.
And! Long Bright River!!!! I am so so glad this book is finally getting a wider readership because it’s absolutely incredible!
I just re-read Julia Alverez's How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents... and loved it even more than the first time. I read this in high school and had fond memories of it but couldn't really remember the plot. Wow!!! this is amazing. Alverez use perspective and tense is a very interesting. I'm moving on to In the Time of Butterflys... another favorite from high school.
omg I almost hit bingo with this list! my only miss is Blind Assassin...which made me realize...have I ever read an Atwood novel? I guess not? maybe the world feels too Handmaid's Tale that I've felt like I've read it already 🤪 loved all these books, Children's Bible came and went with the pandemic tides I'm happy to see you reviving it
That is actually another topic I've been drafting - when a book is so zeitgeist-y it feels like you've already read it, and Handmaids Tale is a prime example!
Your story is a fine one and so well told. You are so fricking funny! Your footnotes are better than David Foster Wallace’s. Much punchier. Were you missed? Can stories be your savior? Rhetorical questions! I got to read Blind Assassin.
1) watched The Fellowship of the Ring for the second time,
2) watched The Two Towers for the second time, because
3) had tickets to see Return of the King for the second time, but this time at Radio City Music Hall, set to live orchestra and a 100-person choir. It was MAGICAL and OTHERWORLDLY 🌟🎻❤️🔥
(Have you read the books? EXCELLENT storytelling and gorgeous writing).
I haven’t read the books I’ve always struggled (or assumed I would struggle) with high fantasy and I don’t know why that is. Worth to read even if I already know the story??
That live performance sounds spectacular and life changing !!! I saw Danny Elfman in concert doing his various soundtracks live and I would love to see it all over again
DEFINITELY worth reading. First, because the writing is so damn good. Second, because Peter Jackson took some liberties with certain parts of the movies, so although the basic story is the same, there are some differences between them. Baldy is a Tolkien and LOTR fanatic and purist, so he has a lot of problems with the movies. I was never into fantasy or sci-fi myself, but I read the books in our early courtship because they were so important to my new love, and I did not at all regret it.
I LOVE No One is Talking About This, but like... no one is ever talking about it? 😅 Ok, but seriously, that book does not get the love it deserves.
I really need to read Goon Squad.
I really liked God of the Woods, but I liked Long Bright River better, looking forward to watching the adaptation! Also... not too long ago I read The Unseen World and it might be my favorite Moore?!
I’m totally in my “moving on from classics to contemporary and in need of plot and intrigue era” having been reading books in the same vein like Rogue and The Empusium so I will take your recommendation of The Blind Assassin. Also because I’ve only read The Handmaid’s Tale and I want to read more of Atwood. I’ve also added similar-ish books in my TBR around that theme that’s also centered around women taking power like Such a Pretty Smile and The Eyes Are The Best Part. Really creepy but pretty titles.
feeling kinship because i like-to-love every book on this list except for the atwood, which i haven’t read. i did once have lunch next to margaret atwood, but i have nothing to share from this experience other than that my mother and i both recognized her immediately. celebrity sighting.
Thank you for the wonderful recommendations! Immediately ran to add these to my upcoming reads… ESPECIALLY Long Bright River (I absolutely loved The God of the Woods and I am an absolute sucker for plot)!
I still need to read Egan! Whether I will start with Candy House or Goon Squad, idk! I am also very intrigued by Blind Assassin!! Aside from Handmaids, I've never read any other Atwood!
For whatever it’s worth, I am a near completionist with Egan, and for me, Goon Squad is her masterpiece. Her first novel is not very good, but persistence can lead to brilliance. C
Ok let’s trust Brian on this one!! 😃
I want to say Goon Squad so you can get the full effect but I honestly don’t know how well it holds up at this point. I need a reread!!
Love this. I have been thinking about hopping on the injectable appetite control bandwagon but making an appointment would cut into reading time. How fun to see No One on this list— and A Visit From the Goon Squad. I do not re-read often but I want to read that one again someday. A more recent book I’d add is Biography of X. Someday I will shut up about it… but not today!
I really need to read biography of x!!! It felt intimidating when I read the opening in the bookstore but I trust you
True— it is not exactly a friendly book. I found it so surprising.
I totally agree with you on this assessment: The Handmaid’s Tale gets all the Atwood love, but The Blind Assassin is a superior book.
Im so very glad I am not alone in that feeling!!
The Blind Assassin is one of my all time favorites! Such a brilliant book.
just paging through it for this piece made me want to start all over and read it again!!
So many thoughts! First: I must pick up The Children’s Bible stat. Second, I love love your review style! It always makes me want to read the books and I love that you capture how you feel while reading rather than just a description.
And! Long Bright River!!!! I am so so glad this book is finally getting a wider readership because it’s absolutely incredible!
thank you so much!!! thats exactly what I am to do so the biggest compliment ever seriously.
Long Bright River is what I'm now recommending to everyone into infinity🖤
I just re-read Julia Alverez's How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents... and loved it even more than the first time. I read this in high school and had fond memories of it but couldn't really remember the plot. Wow!!! this is amazing. Alverez use perspective and tense is a very interesting. I'm moving on to In the Time of Butterflys... another favorite from high school.
I've never heard of Alvarez but she sounds like a very interesting writer I will have to check her out!!
omg I almost hit bingo with this list! my only miss is Blind Assassin...which made me realize...have I ever read an Atwood novel? I guess not? maybe the world feels too Handmaid's Tale that I've felt like I've read it already 🤪 loved all these books, Children's Bible came and went with the pandemic tides I'm happy to see you reviving it
That is actually another topic I've been drafting - when a book is so zeitgeist-y it feels like you've already read it, and Handmaids Tale is a prime example!
Your story is a fine one and so well told. You are so fricking funny! Your footnotes are better than David Foster Wallace’s. Much punchier. Were you missed? Can stories be your savior? Rhetorical questions! I got to read Blind Assassin.
BETTER THAN DFW??? I can die happy now thank you
I love these recommendations! I'm super intrigued by The Blind Assassin. Also, your cat is adorable.
She says thank you where is my treat 🙃
I enjoyed reading this! I've never read Atwood but have had The Blind Assassin on my tbr forever
It’s truly a marvelous book!
Three of the things I’ve done this month:
1) watched The Fellowship of the Ring for the second time,
2) watched The Two Towers for the second time, because
3) had tickets to see Return of the King for the second time, but this time at Radio City Music Hall, set to live orchestra and a 100-person choir. It was MAGICAL and OTHERWORLDLY 🌟🎻❤️🔥
(Have you read the books? EXCELLENT storytelling and gorgeous writing).
I haven’t read the books I’ve always struggled (or assumed I would struggle) with high fantasy and I don’t know why that is. Worth to read even if I already know the story??
That live performance sounds spectacular and life changing !!! I saw Danny Elfman in concert doing his various soundtracks live and I would love to see it all over again
Ooh, that must have been awesome!
DEFINITELY worth reading. First, because the writing is so damn good. Second, because Peter Jackson took some liberties with certain parts of the movies, so although the basic story is the same, there are some differences between them. Baldy is a Tolkien and LOTR fanatic and purist, so he has a lot of problems with the movies. I was never into fantasy or sci-fi myself, but I read the books in our early courtship because they were so important to my new love, and I did not at all regret it.
aaaaand…you were missed, my friend! Always love your posts 🫶🏻
I LOVE No One is Talking About This, but like... no one is ever talking about it? 😅 Ok, but seriously, that book does not get the love it deserves.
I really need to read Goon Squad.
I really liked God of the Woods, but I liked Long Bright River better, looking forward to watching the adaptation! Also... not too long ago I read The Unseen World and it might be my favorite Moore?!
Annnnd I've never seen LOTR 😬
Hey can I say you have great taste 🤣 really No One doesn’t get enough love I agree!!
I had noticed you weren't in my inbox as of late, so glad to see you're back!! ♥️
That is an honor thank you for that!! Just drinking out of my fancy mugs and thinking about ya back
Yasssss fully supportive of fancy mugs.
I’m totally in my “moving on from classics to contemporary and in need of plot and intrigue era” having been reading books in the same vein like Rogue and The Empusium so I will take your recommendation of The Blind Assassin. Also because I’ve only read The Handmaid’s Tale and I want to read more of Atwood. I’ve also added similar-ish books in my TBR around that theme that’s also centered around women taking power like Such a Pretty Smile and The Eyes Are The Best Part. Really creepy but pretty titles.
We are living the same reading life then!!! I love experimental fiction but also been craving one of those plots that makes you want to skip school
haha but our age it’s “calls in sick”
True but I work at a university so it keeps me young hahaha
ahhh so skip school is apt for you then!
feeling kinship because i like-to-love every book on this list except for the atwood, which i haven’t read. i did once have lunch next to margaret atwood, but i have nothing to share from this experience other than that my mother and i both recognized her immediately. celebrity sighting.
Read an Atwood then you basically have to
Thank you for the wonderful recommendations! Immediately ran to add these to my upcoming reads… ESPECIALLY Long Bright River (I absolutely loved The God of the Woods and I am an absolute sucker for plot)!
You will LOVE bright river for sure