I'm really loving your links to further reading with a couple of your reviews!! And I am also yearning for some Bradbury (what a beauuutiful Everyman Edition) and Great British Baking Show this time of year <3 simply can't wait for fall. Thanks for linking to my translator completionism newsletter!! I'm currently working on a part two to that very post (in which I am actually reading/reviewing books from the syllabi I've created)
I lovedddd reading this. I am *also* helping my beloved brother with his upcoming wedding and going back to Rachel Maddow rants on repeat and I already miss Dorothea Brooke something fierce. Oh; and don’t get me started on new GBBO. My soul needs it!!!! Our collective aching souls need this!!!
I started reading Stephen Graham Jones’s Final Girl trilogy and I love it so far. I keep trying to get back into The Stand but I lose the threads and have to start over lol. Sooooo ready for spooky season…!
Firstly, I would encourage you to lay low as long as you need to whenever you need to in order to stay strong. This too shall end. Secondly, on the books part, this post is just what I needed (Cars reference). Your reading of Smilla’s Sense of Snow brought back wonderful memories. You articulate so well for me the reasons Middlemarch is a peak literary experience. Thank you! Re: the nightmare we’re living in, we just got out of DC for a few days—it has become like living in an episode of Twilight Zone directed not by Rod Serling but by the mad king his own self.
thank you, the guilt got to me a little bit but I hoped my readers wouldn't mind a lighter inbox for a few weeks! Glad to be of service... and glad I am not alone in these feelings 😵💫
Long live Charmed! That show is a level of early 2000s insane that is utterly iconic and I fear might have inspired an entire lady generation to fall in love with demons. (RIP Julian McMahon.) I am deeply empathetic to the pant-leg-in-treadmill mess that is life and hope you’re doing a bit better slash have your pant let out of the treadmill. Like you told me a few months ago, Substack will always be here. (Also long live sending out really late monthly reading recaps.)
A book I revisited in July after reading it about 15 years ago (listening to it this time) was Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai’s Garden set in the late 1930s while Japan was gobbling up big parts of China. Journal format. Much about recovering from illness (or not). Young love. Chance events. Family matters. Tragedy and perseverance. It hit me intensely because of the comparison between those characters at that time and in that place and what many of us are going through now.
😍 at Smilla’s Sense of Snow. Adding immediately to my TBR.
THANK SWEET BEBE JESUS for GBBO 😭🥹 I feel an overwhelming sense of cozy just thinking about it.
Yes, I most definitely feel the difference. I haven’t been reading as much. I usually read slower in August, but this feels like a different lull. Acclimating to this bizarro energy has been a tiiiiime.
I’ve been buying a lot of stickers and craft things to junk journal with to keep my spirits high. Arranging the layouts feels like meditating. I’ve been meditating too. It works. I started with 10 minutes daily. Meditating is one of those things that you always hear is sooooo great for you and you’re like yea, I should try it but never do. Well, I did and it’s fucking awesome.
I took a break from writing to recalibrate myself and the way I move in the world/summer depressions have been jumping me in dark alleys. I can feel it lifting tho!!! ❤️🔥 sending you so much love 💕
your notes have been inspiring me to get a little funky with my journaling i need some serious stickers in my life! i feel it lifting a little too, they say fall is the descent into the underworld but i say its actually August
Thanks for the mention sweetie 😘 Also, there's so many interesting things in this article that I need to further explore, and you had a great reading month, such powerful books! 😉📚
HAHAHA - first of all, I deeply relate to almost everything in this- but I especially cackled at Dexter, because I, too, am somehow compelling myself to see this through (but they just ordered a 2nd season of Resurrection?? oh no) and yet, sometimes find myself literally leaving the room and not even worrying about pausing?? Why am I doing this, is this also a side effect I can blame on authoritarianism?
so late to seeing this but thank you for mentioning my post! always makes me smile to find other people who have a book that is for the treadmill only🏃♀️
I can't believe it is bake off time again. The THIRD year of us watching it and mentioning our fav bakers in each others comments for the next few weeks is about to commence. I have a grip that it is starting SO EARLY in September (its airing on the 2nd here - it is usually late sep. I love autumn but what does this mean? It feels a bit wrong to have it so close to September).
Life is so hard thank god for books. I love your review of Middlemarch and I am pleased that you had the company of those characters all summer (does this sound weird about a book I have never read?). Really looking forward to your Hurricane Season review - I am in a 'have been meaning to read for forever, keep failing to buy it' cycle w that book.
I'm really loving your links to further reading with a couple of your reviews!! And I am also yearning for some Bradbury (what a beauuutiful Everyman Edition) and Great British Baking Show this time of year <3 simply can't wait for fall. Thanks for linking to my translator completionism newsletter!! I'm currently working on a part two to that very post (in which I am actually reading/reviewing books from the syllabi I've created)
the further reading are quickly becoming my new favorite too, glad you like it! very much looking forward to more translator completionism 👀
I was waiting for someone to read Sour Cherry first and report back! Putting on my next to read list
It is worth your time!!!
I lovedddd reading this. I am *also* helping my beloved brother with his upcoming wedding and going back to Rachel Maddow rants on repeat and I already miss Dorothea Brooke something fierce. Oh; and don’t get me started on new GBBO. My soul needs it!!!! Our collective aching souls need this!!!
I started reading Stephen Graham Jones’s Final Girl trilogy and I love it so far. I keep trying to get back into The Stand but I lose the threads and have to start over lol. Sooooo ready for spooky season…!
which SGJ book did you start with??
I’m reading *The Angel of Indian Lake* and it’s very pulpy and fun!
Ok i have been meaning to try SGJ for so long, if it has your stamp of approval then i am IN FOR SPOOKY SEASON!!!!
I think you mentioned Sour Cherry one other time, right? I’m very intrigued now.
One week left of Women in Translation Month — let’s read alll the books! Thanks for including my read-along. It’s been so enriching for my own life 😭
Yes and it was so different from anything I've read, I loved it!
Firstly, I would encourage you to lay low as long as you need to whenever you need to in order to stay strong. This too shall end. Secondly, on the books part, this post is just what I needed (Cars reference). Your reading of Smilla’s Sense of Snow brought back wonderful memories. You articulate so well for me the reasons Middlemarch is a peak literary experience. Thank you! Re: the nightmare we’re living in, we just got out of DC for a few days—it has become like living in an episode of Twilight Zone directed not by Rod Serling but by the mad king his own self.
thank you, the guilt got to me a little bit but I hoped my readers wouldn't mind a lighter inbox for a few weeks! Glad to be of service... and glad I am not alone in these feelings 😵💫
I have also dipped back into Charmed recently, and now I am ready for autumn. You may have convinced me to read Middlemarch!
Yes to Charmed and yes to Middlemarch!! 🖤
Long live Charmed! That show is a level of early 2000s insane that is utterly iconic and I fear might have inspired an entire lady generation to fall in love with demons. (RIP Julian McMahon.) I am deeply empathetic to the pant-leg-in-treadmill mess that is life and hope you’re doing a bit better slash have your pant let out of the treadmill. Like you told me a few months ago, Substack will always be here. (Also long live sending out really late monthly reading recaps.)
hear hear!! just cheers all around friend 🎃
A book I revisited in July after reading it about 15 years ago (listening to it this time) was Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai’s Garden set in the late 1930s while Japan was gobbling up big parts of China. Journal format. Much about recovering from illness (or not). Young love. Chance events. Family matters. Tragedy and perseverance. It hit me intensely because of the comparison between those characters at that time and in that place and what many of us are going through now.
I have never heard of this book but i am deeply intrigued now.... !
Quick read on one hand (224 pages) but also good to slow down and savor. Hope you enjoy it whenever you get to it, Natalie.
LOLZ at “brestage” 😂
😍 at Smilla’s Sense of Snow. Adding immediately to my TBR.
THANK SWEET BEBE JESUS for GBBO 😭🥹 I feel an overwhelming sense of cozy just thinking about it.
Yes, I most definitely feel the difference. I haven’t been reading as much. I usually read slower in August, but this feels like a different lull. Acclimating to this bizarro energy has been a tiiiiime.
I’ve been buying a lot of stickers and craft things to junk journal with to keep my spirits high. Arranging the layouts feels like meditating. I’ve been meditating too. It works. I started with 10 minutes daily. Meditating is one of those things that you always hear is sooooo great for you and you’re like yea, I should try it but never do. Well, I did and it’s fucking awesome.
I took a break from writing to recalibrate myself and the way I move in the world/summer depressions have been jumping me in dark alleys. I can feel it lifting tho!!! ❤️🔥 sending you so much love 💕
your notes have been inspiring me to get a little funky with my journaling i need some serious stickers in my life! i feel it lifting a little too, they say fall is the descent into the underworld but i say its actually August
Also!!! Gotta get my ish together for espooky season! I know you feel me 🧛🏻♀️🪦⚰️🧟♂️🥀🔮🦇
👻🦇🎃🐈⬛🖤
Thanks for the mention sweetie 😘 Also, there's so many interesting things in this article that I need to further explore, and you had a great reading month, such powerful books! 😉📚
I really did, cheers to that!
HAHAHA - first of all, I deeply relate to almost everything in this- but I especially cackled at Dexter, because I, too, am somehow compelling myself to see this through (but they just ordered a 2nd season of Resurrection?? oh no) and yet, sometimes find myself literally leaving the room and not even worrying about pausing?? Why am I doing this, is this also a side effect I can blame on authoritarianism?
We are currently allowed to blame any personal or political failure on authoritarianism duh!! 🤣
so late to seeing this but thank you for mentioning my post! always makes me smile to find other people who have a book that is for the treadmill only🏃♀️
I can't believe it is bake off time again. The THIRD year of us watching it and mentioning our fav bakers in each others comments for the next few weeks is about to commence. I have a grip that it is starting SO EARLY in September (its airing on the 2nd here - it is usually late sep. I love autumn but what does this mean? It feels a bit wrong to have it so close to September).
Life is so hard thank god for books. I love your review of Middlemarch and I am pleased that you had the company of those characters all summer (does this sound weird about a book I have never read?). Really looking forward to your Hurricane Season review - I am in a 'have been meaning to read for forever, keep failing to buy it' cycle w that book.