Perhaps the key to reading is visiting Greece in August? I will keep that in mind when planning my next summer. And to think that I was a fanatic of Pink Ladies! Little I knew I was supposed to pay attention to the origin of their farms. I'm deeply embarrassed. Thank you for sharing your tips.
Totally agree on the cover of the correspondent. Does not suit the story at all! Loved the book, cried at the end. So true to life in a way. And yes, very jarring.
Oh Jesus Ruth 7 hours in Santorini airport I would have died. Did 3 and that was MORE than enough and also the only place I’ve ever seen a woman try and put a cat through the baggage X-ray machine. Even that story didn’t make up for it. Adored look what you made me do and you’ve got me to get the correspondent for my holiday so I’ll send my husband your way if it makes me have my annual cry. 10/10 as ever x
Have you read Maria Semple (of “where did you go, Bernadette” fame) “Go Gentle”? I loved it much more than “Bernadette” (which i did enjoy), and it has stayed with me for months. I even researched stoic philosophy a little because of it. Yes, the protagonist is a stoic philosopher who is also a divorced, single mom of a 15 year old girl, and the novel manages to be a mini-treatise on stoicism while being incredibly entertaining, funny, a little gut-wrenching, and then just life affirming.
I love your book reviews! I tend to read books written in the nineteenth century or first half of the twentieth. I really don't know why but I like my fiction to not be too real to my own times. Cowardice? You make me realize I could branch out a little. Thank you.
The weird UK cover of The Correspondent has been my biggest bugbear this year for exactly the reasons you detailed, the US one is much better. Adding the John L to my towering TBR now!
The paperback cover is very different, and I think much more appropriate! It reminds me of Lessons in Chemistry, where the U.S. cover was so tonally wrong
This made me laugh so much because I also spend summers on a Greek island but with grandchildren while their parents slog at home. We had to almost take out a mortgage to fund Watersports because the water is the only place to be while the sand takes on all the qualities of lava! They both swim competitively now so we take all credit for that as compensation for the mornings spent leaving the house like packhorses with ALL the mad things PLUS six zillion snorkels of all shapes and sizes.
Newly retired and spending all summer on this island I have now filled my kindle list with all of the above plus those in the comments, sun, sea and TIME is the secret.
I also laughed at the comment from the person on the Northern line, this was my work, in a control room controlling the trains on the underground, those trains everybody loves and hates in equal measure, sometimes not at all equal and I’m relieved to not be receiving texts from friends and family on platforms all over London asking me WTF???!!!! every morning!
Thanks for all these books, thanks for all the writing, love to you and all your followers.
John Lanchester is reliably good. Did you ever read The Wall? Very different from his recent output but it’s stuck in my head as a very good read several years after reading it. Theo of Golden sounds like that sappy Five People You Meet in Heaven that was popular a few years ago, I shall avoid it as I detest sentimentality. Can I plead with you to read My Name is Mackenzie Bly? Made me laugh uncontrollably on the Northern line today. It is utter perfection and I have just bought the audiobook so I can make my husband listen to it when we go on holiday. I must get North Woods.
I also did not finish Theo of Golden and share your opinion about the first couple. What were they so afraid of?? Made no sense. So glad to hear someone else agrees bc my book club loved it and I really couldn’t understand why.
I am a committed dnf’er if I feel like it, there are so very many books and I have only the one pair of eyes. Also the Envy apples at M&S seem very delightful at present.
Thank you Ruth!🩷🩷
Perhaps the key to reading is visiting Greece in August? I will keep that in mind when planning my next summer. And to think that I was a fanatic of Pink Ladies! Little I knew I was supposed to pay attention to the origin of their farms. I'm deeply embarrassed. Thank you for sharing your tips.
Totally agree on the cover of the correspondent. Does not suit the story at all! Loved the book, cried at the end. So true to life in a way. And yes, very jarring.
Yes Heartburn!!!! Lots to add to my TBR here!
Also yes there’s a co-op in Oldfield Park! Shaftesbury Road. Scene of many a shop on my student days
Oh Jesus Ruth 7 hours in Santorini airport I would have died. Did 3 and that was MORE than enough and also the only place I’ve ever seen a woman try and put a cat through the baggage X-ray machine. Even that story didn’t make up for it. Adored look what you made me do and you’ve got me to get the correspondent for my holiday so I’ll send my husband your way if it makes me have my annual cry. 10/10 as ever x
You reminded me that I love Heartburn very much, and I am overdue a re-read.
I ploughed through Theo . Dull. Gosh, The Calamity Club was insanely brilliant . Should be on curriculum for American schools . X
Have you read Maria Semple (of “where did you go, Bernadette” fame) “Go Gentle”? I loved it much more than “Bernadette” (which i did enjoy), and it has stayed with me for months. I even researched stoic philosophy a little because of it. Yes, the protagonist is a stoic philosopher who is also a divorced, single mom of a 15 year old girl, and the novel manages to be a mini-treatise on stoicism while being incredibly entertaining, funny, a little gut-wrenching, and then just life affirming.
Oh, and I added the Lanchester novel to my library list.
I love your book reviews! I tend to read books written in the nineteenth century or first half of the twentieth. I really don't know why but I like my fiction to not be too real to my own times. Cowardice? You make me realize I could branch out a little. Thank you.
The weird UK cover of The Correspondent has been my biggest bugbear this year for exactly the reasons you detailed, the US one is much better. Adding the John L to my towering TBR now!
The paperback cover is very different, and I think much more appropriate! It reminds me of Lessons in Chemistry, where the U.S. cover was so tonally wrong
This made me laugh so much because I also spend summers on a Greek island but with grandchildren while their parents slog at home. We had to almost take out a mortgage to fund Watersports because the water is the only place to be while the sand takes on all the qualities of lava! They both swim competitively now so we take all credit for that as compensation for the mornings spent leaving the house like packhorses with ALL the mad things PLUS six zillion snorkels of all shapes and sizes.
Newly retired and spending all summer on this island I have now filled my kindle list with all of the above plus those in the comments, sun, sea and TIME is the secret.
I also laughed at the comment from the person on the Northern line, this was my work, in a control room controlling the trains on the underground, those trains everybody loves and hates in equal measure, sometimes not at all equal and I’m relieved to not be receiving texts from friends and family on platforms all over London asking me WTF???!!!! every morning!
Thanks for all these books, thanks for all the writing, love to you and all your followers.
Look What You Made Me Do was excellent!
John Lanchester is reliably good. Did you ever read The Wall? Very different from his recent output but it’s stuck in my head as a very good read several years after reading it. Theo of Golden sounds like that sappy Five People You Meet in Heaven that was popular a few years ago, I shall avoid it as I detest sentimentality. Can I plead with you to read My Name is Mackenzie Bly? Made me laugh uncontrollably on the Northern line today. It is utter perfection and I have just bought the audiobook so I can make my husband listen to it when we go on holiday. I must get North Woods.
Right, adding to the list!! Both of them.
North Woods was brilliant and so different I thought, really enjoyed. I have The Correspondent and Nesting lined up
Yes, I feel as though the new Maggie O’Farrell, Land, has some similarities with it in many ways!
Ooh yes that’s another one I’m keen to read!
I also did not finish Theo of Golden and share your opinion about the first couple. What were they so afraid of?? Made no sense. So glad to hear someone else agrees bc my book club loved it and I really couldn’t understand why.
Did it get less sickly as it went on?
It was awful all the way through.
Good to know!
I don’t know - I opted out at the point where they meet him at the bench!
I am a committed dnf’er if I feel like it, there are so very many books and I have only the one pair of eyes. Also the Envy apples at M&S seem very delightful at present.
Will try tomorrow!