My own best of the year was nine books: The Inheritance Games, The Sun-Down Motel, The Project, Last Call, Blacktop Wasteland, The Only Good Indians, Bitterblue, The Fire Keeper's Daughter, and The Turnout. Of my list, I think you would be interested in The Only Good Indians. Of your list, I've only read The House of Mirth, which I read a very long time ago. I also rarely read anything super old and wonder if I've lost the hang of it, but to be fair I didn't love reading very old stuff even in school. My favorite "old" author was Willa Cather, and I don't know how I'd feel about My Antonia and O Pioneers now, and I don't know if I'll ever re-read them. I might rather keep my memory of enjoying them in college!
I loved Can't we talk about something more pleasant too! - read it in 2020 and it was a revelation, I bought it for my parents this year. The Copenhagen trilogy is on my list to read, but I don't remember where I got that recommendation so I must be part of the people convinced by the publicity campaign :)
Of your top 5 I have only read your #1 choice, one of my most favorite books! Love Edith Wharton precisely because her notions of people’s dynamics, motives, and feelings are timeless and on target. Thanks as always for new reading ideas and your wonderfully thoughtful analysis and recommendations.
This write-up was worth the wait, Megin! I appreciated not only your thoughts on the books, but also your thoughts on other people's thoughts on the books. Absolutely agree about Franzen and his chauvinistic, nihilistic world view (which rankled me in The Corrections); he makes me want to give up reading books by heterosexual men. Also makes me want to re-read House of Mirth, thank you! My favorite books I read this year were The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (I think you would find this interesting...it's conceptual but also emotional, and it's very gentle and lovely for a dystopian nightmare), and Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (which I resisted but really was kind of the perfect novel, as engaging as everyone said).
My own best of the year was nine books: The Inheritance Games, The Sun-Down Motel, The Project, Last Call, Blacktop Wasteland, The Only Good Indians, Bitterblue, The Fire Keeper's Daughter, and The Turnout. Of my list, I think you would be interested in The Only Good Indians. Of your list, I've only read The House of Mirth, which I read a very long time ago. I also rarely read anything super old and wonder if I've lost the hang of it, but to be fair I didn't love reading very old stuff even in school. My favorite "old" author was Willa Cather, and I don't know how I'd feel about My Antonia and O Pioneers now, and I don't know if I'll ever re-read them. I might rather keep my memory of enjoying them in college!
I loved Can't we talk about something more pleasant too! - read it in 2020 and it was a revelation, I bought it for my parents this year. The Copenhagen trilogy is on my list to read, but I don't remember where I got that recommendation so I must be part of the people convinced by the publicity campaign :)
Love you too💓. Picking up Wharton today to reread 😌 just read Hell of a Book and appreciated it. Stay well beautiful friend
Of your top 5 I have only read your #1 choice, one of my most favorite books! Love Edith Wharton precisely because her notions of people’s dynamics, motives, and feelings are timeless and on target. Thanks as always for new reading ideas and your wonderfully thoughtful analysis and recommendations.
This write-up was worth the wait, Megin! I appreciated not only your thoughts on the books, but also your thoughts on other people's thoughts on the books. Absolutely agree about Franzen and his chauvinistic, nihilistic world view (which rankled me in The Corrections); he makes me want to give up reading books by heterosexual men. Also makes me want to re-read House of Mirth, thank you! My favorite books I read this year were The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (I think you would find this interesting...it's conceptual but also emotional, and it's very gentle and lovely for a dystopian nightmare), and Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell (which I resisted but really was kind of the perfect novel, as engaging as everyone said).