Natalie! First it must be said that you have superb taste in books 🤓. Second — you included ME amongst all these incredible book people?! I am delighted. Thank you!
Happy New Year Natalie! Thank you for always sprinkling some wit and humor in my inbox every Friday! I always look forward to it. If on a winter’s night a traveler is also on my must read this year. Hoping to get to it soon!
So many of these books I trusted from your reviews lfg. I wouldn’t have found “the bee sting” without that review and that was my fave book of 2024. Also I cannot BELIEVE I made the cut on your list with such a strong list of other publications I love~ I’m gobsmacked. To another year of books to uncover!!!
AHHH NATALIE!!! soooooo many books on here I have not read or heard of which I LOVE! Thank youf or for broadening my reading horizons! Immediately adding Wanderers, The Historian, and Piranesi to the list. Also thank you SO so much for including me on your best-of list. Truly an honor, can't thank you enough. Loved this post!
thank you for being you!! I am honored you are honored is that weird glad you found something new to love because I feel the same way about you and all the others listed here 🖤
I read Say Nothing a few years ago and was completely riveted. I read a lot about The Troubles, trying to understand it all. I still don't, but Say Nothing helped. It's a great book, beautifully written about a horrifying subject. From this year, Bee Sting and James are stand outs, both excellent in their own way. And, pro tip, I never read Huck Finn, and don't think I needed it to enjoy or understand James. Great essay, BTW.
thank you!! I knew basically nothing about the Troubles as well other than some brief history in a past English lecture but that book made history so interesting - not many can pull that off.
Every time you mention The Historian, I get a warm glow in my heart. One of my all-time favorite books. Every six months or so, I google 'Elizabeth Kostova' to see if there's news of her working on anything else. There is not!
Her novel The Shadow Land is also an adventure through Eastern Europe with ties to the past, found family, secrets, her gorgeous travelogue-y writing, and emotional impact. It's not The Historian — what could be?! — but I love it, too. The audio is excellent.
I just read a couple of comics to start the year, and now am at a loss to read. It's more an ennui thing than an actual lack of options as my overflowing library attests. Decisions, decisions.
Yes I feel that VERY much. the only thing I could manage this winter break were two nordic noir crime novels, mostly pure entertainment. its ok to take a break from the hard stuff!
Yes!! I'm still in the process of writing down all the books I have yet to read in my house, so I'm not ready to have big reading plans for the year yet. (This is something I do every year. It'd be easier with an Excel but I am who I am and I like crossing things off lists.)
Natalie! First it must be said that you have superb taste in books 🤓. Second — you included ME amongst all these incredible book people?! I am delighted. Thank you!
of course I did - It's been lovely to read your writing this year 😊and thank you I like to think I do hah!
Also wasn’t Piranesi a TRIP?!
the trippyest. i will read anything Clarke writes!
It’s all I’ve read by her but I would need no convincing to read more!
Happy New Year Natalie! Thank you for always sprinkling some wit and humor in my inbox every Friday! I always look forward to it. If on a winter’s night a traveler is also on my must read this year. Hoping to get to it soon!
happy new year Jam!! i return the sentiment heartily
Orbital was the post-election book I needed, too. It didn’t have much of a plot but the beauty and perspective felt healing.
it was weirdly healing right?? perhaps because nothing really "happened"
The bee sting was my favorite book this year!!
Honored to be mentioned alongside such lovely writers 🥰🙏
Honored to read books with you!
Thank you for including me!!! I really need to read Piranesi, especially since I want to do a Women's Prize reading project this year.
So many of these books I trusted from your reviews lfg. I wouldn’t have found “the bee sting” without that review and that was my fave book of 2024. Also I cannot BELIEVE I made the cut on your list with such a strong list of other publications I love~ I’m gobsmacked. To another year of books to uncover!!!
UM AMAZING. and of course you did! there is amazing writing on this platform but I really went for the people I felt a kinship towards. 🖤
AHHH NATALIE!!! soooooo many books on here I have not read or heard of which I LOVE! Thank youf or for broadening my reading horizons! Immediately adding Wanderers, The Historian, and Piranesi to the list. Also thank you SO so much for including me on your best-of list. Truly an honor, can't thank you enough. Loved this post!
thank you for being you!! I am honored you are honored is that weird glad you found something new to love because I feel the same way about you and all the others listed here 🖤
Ummm the most amazing people are on this list...thank you for including me!! I'm so grateful and excited!!!
I got James for my dad. I should have grabbed a second copy!!
just take it from him next time you visit parents never notice those things 😂and cheers to you and some great writing this year!!
Thank you so much for including me among your favorites!
you give a lot of us hope for the future my friend!! 🖤
Thanks for more newsletter rec's. I found a few more bookish newsletters that I wasn't subscribed to.
I love The Historian! You've inspired me to reread at some point this year!
it was just so so lovely! I am sure I will reread sometime when I have forgotten it enough to rediscover 🖤
I read Say Nothing a few years ago and was completely riveted. I read a lot about The Troubles, trying to understand it all. I still don't, but Say Nothing helped. It's a great book, beautifully written about a horrifying subject. From this year, Bee Sting and James are stand outs, both excellent in their own way. And, pro tip, I never read Huck Finn, and don't think I needed it to enjoy or understand James. Great essay, BTW.
thank you!! I knew basically nothing about the Troubles as well other than some brief history in a past English lecture but that book made history so interesting - not many can pull that off.
Oooh I just posted a reflection on Orbital. Gosh, it was everything
brb going to check that one out...
😂😂
Every time you mention The Historian, I get a warm glow in my heart. One of my all-time favorite books. Every six months or so, I google 'Elizabeth Kostova' to see if there's news of her working on anything else. There is not!
Her novel The Shadow Land is also an adventure through Eastern Europe with ties to the past, found family, secrets, her gorgeous travelogue-y writing, and emotional impact. It's not The Historian — what could be?! — but I love it, too. The audio is excellent.
ok great to know because I wasnt sure her others were worth the time! I am going to save that for fall perhaps
I just read a couple of comics to start the year, and now am at a loss to read. It's more an ennui thing than an actual lack of options as my overflowing library attests. Decisions, decisions.
Yes I feel that VERY much. the only thing I could manage this winter break were two nordic noir crime novels, mostly pure entertainment. its ok to take a break from the hard stuff!
Yes!! I'm still in the process of writing down all the books I have yet to read in my house, so I'm not ready to have big reading plans for the year yet. (This is something I do every year. It'd be easier with an Excel but I am who I am and I like crossing things off lists.)