19 Comments

Thanks for another high-energy and reader-inspiring edition. I can’t keep up with you, but thanks to your earlier discussion of Demon Copperhead I decide I had to read it. Half way through. It is great!

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I can’t keep up with myself Brian! I hope you love it I’ll be waiting for your thoughts

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I just read Station Eleven for the first time in April and loved it. You're making me more curious about the rollercoaster story, I've read some reviews that mention that too

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That story will stay with me forever - you could honestly read just that chapter if you wanted since they are more like short stories than a novel

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Oh your opening paragraph, same 🙋🏼‍♀️

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We’re a special breed 😵‍💫☺️

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Welcome back! How was your big day? (My phone just tried to autocorrect that to “you big fat” 🤭😆).

I’ve never read Mandel, and now I feel a little embarrassed about that. I keep serially reading non-fiction, but I need to stop. Actually I just started Crying in H Mart on my kindle. Have you read that one?

The Morning Show was SO GOOD this week. I also finished both seasons of Somebody, Somewhere (on HBO Max), which I was undecided about for many episodes, but wound up being really endearing. I’m also psyched to start the new season of The Gilded Age.

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The wedding was everything I hoped - simple with the best people. It was big fat!! 😂. I own crying in H mart but I haven’t read it yet. I usually reserve non fiction for audio but I’ve only heard good things on that one. Have you read Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow? It’s got similar Morning Show vibes and was high quality reporting. Not to add to your non fiction TBR or anything… and Mandel is wonderful but nothing to be ashamed about. I’ve never read a Russian! (ok wait maybe Anna Karenina but still that’s it).

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Yes to Catch and Kill! I could not put it down. I knew I liked you 🤓

“I’ve never read a Russian” - 😂

Crime and Punishment was a slog, yet also brilliant, IMO. Anna Karenina? More like Anna Ka-MEH-nina. Luckily I read that during a two-month period where I had to ride the bus to/from work, so I don’t feel like I really lost time.

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It took me an entire year to finish 😂

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Happy Honeymoon! I’m glad you *eventually* managed to relax. It sounds really really lovely. It’s hard to relax from life post covid honestly I hear you! And I LOVED Sea of Tranquility earlier this year too, absolutely no notes Mandel is such a wonderful wonderful writer. How High We Got In The Dark has been on my radar for a while and this review has pushed it up the priority list! And I have to know - who are your favourite bake off contestants?!?!! That show is getting me through Autumn honestly. It is my favourite show on TV maybe ever 🎂

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She is so wonderful!! ok favorite contestants for this year thats so hard but Christy with her imposter syndrome issues just really speaks to me. Mark is rooting for Dan. 😃

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Haha Christy and her imposter syndrome is so stressful to watch, I wish she’d believe in herself more! I’m with Mark, I am also rooting for Dan and Tasha! I also think Josh is quite good despite not being very entertaining or personable to watch (sorry josh)

I hope the adjustment back to reality isn’t too harsh! I saw a comment to Amy that your wedding was everything you’d hoped - SO happy and thrilled for you ❤️❤️ I love love x

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Sea of Tranquility was terrific. I find that loving the same book is a more accurate mark of taste compatibility than TV shows.

Have you read Emma Cline's The Guest?

I'm reading the new translation of Brothers Karamazov, recommended by a substack writer whose name I can't recall. It's very funny and quick-moving vs. my memory of reading a prior translation a long time ago.

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Ah I haven't read that, somehow I escaped the Russians almost completely during my time in college, and never really got into it. Sounds like something I should try. and The Guest is on my TBR I have yet to get to!

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I liked the Guest a lot. It's short, and it's rare to have a protagonist you really can't decide whether to root for or against.

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reading TWO pandemic books while on vacation is wild — you're stronger than me hahaha. but also loved both of those! i've been struggling using books as my usual anxiety crutch lately, and have been listening to funny podcasts instead. highly recommend normal gossip and hello from the magic tavern!

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I'm seriously demented sometimes lol but I was just in the zone! funny podcasts sounds like the way to go, I usually rely on My Favorite Murder or The Ringer/The Rewatchables but both of those sound A++.

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November 3, 2023
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I mean that is why I have failed at almost every book club I've ever signed up for - I'm never in the mood for the thing they pick by the time it rolls around!! Thats why internet friends are great you can talk about any book anytime 😂. I hpoe you get that vacation ASAP!

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