The Family Stone is the BEST I wish more people talked about it. Fantastic Christmas movie.
I generally do not care about lists or awards - it feels a lot like the Oscars in that I'm sure these books are very good and if I picked them up I could learn a lot and enjoy quite a few of them, but also a lot of the end of year lists do not line up with my specific taste so it's not really worth looking at. Also I have a wild enough TBR I do not need to add anything more unless the books on those lists are like personally recommended by someone.
Right now I need to finish The Terror by Dan Simmons (an oldie but soooo good)! Since I've read so much this year I'm kind of in this weird limbo where I don't really wanna start a lot of new stuff so I'm uhhhh rereading a series I read a few months ago...I have to remind myself I don't need to do productive reading all the time but man there are some great books on my TBR for the new year.
It is hard to start new books at this time of year, right?? I love the idea of rereading something you already know you love. I will probably pick one chunky book to read for the holiday vacation like I did last year. And I am realizing these lists are also not so much my taste but I still love looking at them!
I agree #3!! I think I’m a pretty organised person but when it comes to books, I do plan but I won’t force myself to read but turns out the books I’ve read are all not from my original plan, that’s why I call myself a ‘mood reader’! It’s okay to procrastinate if you don’t feel like reading a book, or if you wanna stay awake til 4am to finish the book that you cannot put down! Just keep reading, as long as you are happy♥️📖
I can’t wait for you to read My Friends! And I LOVE the reframing of the book situation in response to your husband loosing his job (boooo). The only best of lists I honestly enjoy or even pay attention to are those shared by newsletters / my friends! I care what THEY thought the best of their year was. Publications just do best of lists based on what’s been published that year which I always find boring and limiting. I also don’t know their tastes so.
The Vegetarian is so kooky but I’d be interested to hear what you think! Less food descriptions and more descriptions of a woman just loosing her sanity. Also seen so much commentary on the book of love but I’ve had no interest - but maybe that’ll change if you love it!!! Look forward to the thoughts xxx
I finally rewatched The Family Stone and I did enjoy it a few outdated jokes aside. Thank you for the tip that My Friends comes out in pb soon. I have the HC for free but now I want to wait for a library copy 😂 i love booklist mania (especially unique twists like the Millions and Electric Lit) and rarely feel pressure but I would like to finish James
paperback lovers unite! I love the millions and electric lit I forgot to include those two - you should have seen my open tabs trying to write this piece lol
I live in a small town with a very small library, but next to a city with a big library. We visit the big library every week, and I request all my holds from there. Since I'm not a resident of the city, I can't request new books, so I am perpetually a year behind!
I have a somewhat big city library and the new ebooks always have MONTHS waits!! Sometimes I get lucky (like with The Book of Love) in physical form, but lugging around a hardback is not my jam
I mostly ignore best-of book lists. I only trust a handful of newsletters--yours included, of course--to help add to my TBR. I also find those lists generic and not attuned to my tastes. (Martyr! for instance did not sound like something I would enjoy reading) I'm a classics lover, and if I'm going to stray from my biggest love for contemporary lit, I need it to be at best--GREAT, at worst--GOOD. If the book is just okay, I'll stop reading.
I've heard such mixed things about The Book Of Love that I keep moving it down on my list. Can't wait to hear what you think!
The Family Stone is one of the coziest Christmas movies ever. We watch it every year.
Cheering you on with your Crime and Punishment read!!! ❤️🔥
Contemporary lit is SUCH a gamble. Like some of the stories with heaping praise seem very fluffy which is ok but I've realized not what I am after (i like my lighter mental load reads to be dark and ominous and sometimes involve murder). so I feel you 100%!
the vegetarian!!!!!!! I read & loved it a few years ago-- this is the first time I'm seeing that stunning Blackwell's cover 🤩 almost making me want to reread?! Han Kang's an author that i've always wanted to read more of, but of course the Nobel has been a big nudge to read more of her asap! I think the white book is next on my mental tbr when it comes to her work
Mild hot(ter) take: The Family Stone is a movie my mother loved and used to mildly traumatize my brother and I. I do agree that it's actually a good holiday movie - and much more realistic depiction of people's insanity around the holidays. I just don't ever want to rewatch it cause I lived it too much 🤣
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the Book of Love - I started it earlier this year and had to put it aside because it was due at the library and I wasn't going to finish it in time. I also thought it was about ~100 pages too long and needed better editing. Bur I can't be too hard on ti because it takes place in fictional Massachusetts.
I have had an idea on the back burner of essays for each major holiday or each month centered around my family so….maybe I bump that up a notch on the list.
The Family Stone is the BEST I wish more people talked about it. Fantastic Christmas movie.
I generally do not care about lists or awards - it feels a lot like the Oscars in that I'm sure these books are very good and if I picked them up I could learn a lot and enjoy quite a few of them, but also a lot of the end of year lists do not line up with my specific taste so it's not really worth looking at. Also I have a wild enough TBR I do not need to add anything more unless the books on those lists are like personally recommended by someone.
Right now I need to finish The Terror by Dan Simmons (an oldie but soooo good)! Since I've read so much this year I'm kind of in this weird limbo where I don't really wanna start a lot of new stuff so I'm uhhhh rereading a series I read a few months ago...I have to remind myself I don't need to do productive reading all the time but man there are some great books on my TBR for the new year.
Excited to see a favorites list from you soon!!
It is hard to start new books at this time of year, right?? I love the idea of rereading something you already know you love. I will probably pick one chunky book to read for the holiday vacation like I did last year. And I am realizing these lists are also not so much my taste but I still love looking at them!
I agree #3!! I think I’m a pretty organised person but when it comes to books, I do plan but I won’t force myself to read but turns out the books I’ve read are all not from my original plan, that’s why I call myself a ‘mood reader’! It’s okay to procrastinate if you don’t feel like reading a book, or if you wanna stay awake til 4am to finish the book that you cannot put down! Just keep reading, as long as you are happy♥️📖
Hi Natalie Anne I am also a Natalie Ann 😊👻
I try to plan and then its almost like I completely revolt from that plan so I feel you - this newsletter is for moody readers, I like to think!!
I can’t wait for you to read My Friends! And I LOVE the reframing of the book situation in response to your husband loosing his job (boooo). The only best of lists I honestly enjoy or even pay attention to are those shared by newsletters / my friends! I care what THEY thought the best of their year was. Publications just do best of lists based on what’s been published that year which I always find boring and limiting. I also don’t know their tastes so.
The Vegetarian is so kooky but I’d be interested to hear what you think! Less food descriptions and more descriptions of a woman just loosing her sanity. Also seen so much commentary on the book of love but I’ve had no interest - but maybe that’ll change if you love it!!! Look forward to the thoughts xxx
Agreed so much agreed!! New releases get so much buzz (obviously) but backlist deserve our love more
Kooky I can handle!! And I will report back - right now its feeling a little silly but I do want to see what happens...
I finally rewatched The Family Stone and I did enjoy it a few outdated jokes aside. Thank you for the tip that My Friends comes out in pb soon. I have the HC for free but now I want to wait for a library copy 😂 i love booklist mania (especially unique twists like the Millions and Electric Lit) and rarely feel pressure but I would like to finish James
paperback lovers unite! I love the millions and electric lit I forgot to include those two - you should have seen my open tabs trying to write this piece lol
Not that you asked for movie recs but if open to black and white films HOLIDAY is a fantastic new years eve movie (next to Harry met sally)
YES! my husband and I have been itching to expand our holiday movie palate so this is a great rec
I live in a small town with a very small library, but next to a city with a big library. We visit the big library every week, and I request all my holds from there. Since I'm not a resident of the city, I can't request new books, so I am perpetually a year behind!
I have a somewhat big city library and the new ebooks always have MONTHS waits!! Sometimes I get lucky (like with The Book of Love) in physical form, but lugging around a hardback is not my jam
I'm here for the cat photos.
I will make sure not to fail you!!!
I mostly ignore best-of book lists. I only trust a handful of newsletters--yours included, of course--to help add to my TBR. I also find those lists generic and not attuned to my tastes. (Martyr! for instance did not sound like something I would enjoy reading) I'm a classics lover, and if I'm going to stray from my biggest love for contemporary lit, I need it to be at best--GREAT, at worst--GOOD. If the book is just okay, I'll stop reading.
I've heard such mixed things about The Book Of Love that I keep moving it down on my list. Can't wait to hear what you think!
The Family Stone is one of the coziest Christmas movies ever. We watch it every year.
Cheering you on with your Crime and Punishment read!!! ❤️🔥
Contemporary lit is SUCH a gamble. Like some of the stories with heaping praise seem very fluffy which is ok but I've realized not what I am after (i like my lighter mental load reads to be dark and ominous and sometimes involve murder). so I feel you 100%!
I am eager to report back on BOL
🖤🤍
"I was simply stockpiling before winter." Saving and using this! 😂👏
Good Material was so good!!!! So funny.
right??? haha
Ok I am very excited then to read it when i need that uplift!
the vegetarian!!!!!!! I read & loved it a few years ago-- this is the first time I'm seeing that stunning Blackwell's cover 🤩 almost making me want to reread?! Han Kang's an author that i've always wanted to read more of, but of course the Nobel has been a big nudge to read more of her asap! I think the white book is next on my mental tbr when it comes to her work
I knew I had to have that cover - us cover snobs lol the vegetarian is short so i have confidence I might be able to get to a second of hers as well
I tend to stay away from the top books on the list until the clapping dies down January or February and see if I’m still interested
that's a very solid strategy! the clapping is the perfect descriptor
Mild hot(ter) take: The Family Stone is a movie my mother loved and used to mildly traumatize my brother and I. I do agree that it's actually a good holiday movie - and much more realistic depiction of people's insanity around the holidays. I just don't ever want to rewatch it cause I lived it too much 🤣
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the Book of Love - I started it earlier this year and had to put it aside because it was due at the library and I wasn't going to finish it in time. I also thought it was about ~100 pages too long and needed better editing. Bur I can't be too hard on ti because it takes place in fictional Massachusetts.
I am sorry to hear you lived the insanity lol that movie makes me want a big immediate family for the first (and only) time 😂
I have heard its a bit long - I can sense that already but I am committed
Previous hits include:
Someone dying at my uncle’s wedding!
A fist fight breaking out and the police being called at Christmas Eve dinner!
An hour long line at my grandfather’s wake! (Actually that one was kind of nice and very moving)
And so on etc lol
ok so when does the memoir come out??
I have had an idea on the back burner of essays for each major holiday or each month centered around my family so….maybe I bump that up a notch on the list.