Lots of travel this month meant lots of reading time, which I'm very happy about! See below for what I thought of each book:
Very Nice by Marcy Dermansky (3/5)
A college student sleeps with her professor, who ends up moving into her mother's home during summer break. Essentially, he starts an affair with her mother, and chaos ensues. The plot is extreme and ridiculous, but creates an addictive read. The protagonist is similar to the one in My Year of Rest and Relaxation - privileged, self-aware, which basically meant I struggled to care about her all that much...
My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (3/5)
In this, a sister helps cover up the murders her sister commits (out of questionable self-defence). Things becomes difficult when her sister starts a relationship with a man she also has feelings for. Braithwaite creates realistic characters and an accurate portrayal of sibling relationships.
Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth (5/5)
Caitlin Moran called this 'Withnail with girls', which pretty much trumps any praise I could bestow on this book. It perfectly portrays how some friendships can feel like your entire world, until - spoiler alert - suddenly, they don't. These two women look after each other with questionable advice and endless glasses of wine. They are each-others best-worst influences. Unsworth writes wittily and honestly and her narrator is so relatable. I can't rave about this enough.
My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff (5/5)
This follows 23-year-old Rakoff's year working for the literary agency which represented J.D. Salinger (Catcher in The Rye). She replies to fan mail, becomes immersed in the publishing world and navigates the difficult waters of early adulthood. Drifting friendships, graduate jobs, toxic relationships are all topics explored. Heartwarming stuff.
Daddy Issues by Katherine Angel (4/5)
This is an essay exploring the role of fathers in contemporary society - referencing politics, popular culture and a wide range of literature. It's pocket-sized and has a great cover, making it a good option for (early) stocking fillers, I reckon.
Devotion by Madeline Stevens (4/5)
Mixed feelings about this one. It's about a young woman who becomes obsessed with her new employer when she is hired as a nanny. This reminds me of Conversations with Friends in a sense, as the protagonist gets swept into the lifestyles of the older, wealthier members of society. There are a few scenes which seem unfathomable, like when both women decide to leave a toddler unattended in a cabin in the woods late at night... The ending was also a little deflating, but the entire novel was very absorbing.
The Offing by Benjamin Myers (5/5)
Hands-down, one of my favourite reads - perhaps ever. Myers writes similarly to Robert MacFarlane, describing all the tiny details which immerse you in an environment. Sixteen year old Robert heads into the countryside, escaping his life so far. He meets a wise, older woman who feeds him and teaches him the joys of poetry and getting lost. The pacing is perfect, and it's a lovely, memorable tale.
'Travel is a search for the self, trust me. And sometimes just to search is enough.'
'Poetry is a stepladder between centuries, from Ancient Greece to tomorrow afternoon.'
'I began to live (...) And to love too. And that is what you must do. Live and love as many mouths, hands and clammy holes as you can cram yourself into, and then, when you find someone who satisfies your soul too, you give yourself to them entirely.'
'Poetry is a stepladder between centuries, from Ancient Greece to tomorrow afternoon.'
'I began to live (...) And to love too. And that is what you must do. Live and love as many mouths, hands and clammy holes as you can cram yourself into, and then, when you find someone who satisfies your soul too, you give yourself to them entirely.'
The Forward Book of Poetry 2019 by various poets (2/5)
I was drawn to this as I know Jen Campbell is one of the judges who contributes to these collections (I love her writing and book-tube videos). Unfortunately, although this includes a wide range of voices and styles, I didn't connect with most of them.
Big fan of Ben Wilkinson, though...
Extract from The Door:
'Forgetting ourselves, it seemed a trick
when the city gave way to fields, empty
as all we weren't saying, but thinking.'
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays by Alexander Chee (5/5)
This is an incredible essay collection, on how we create our identities and feed our experiences into our writing. Chee shares advice on what I definitely felt university failed to teach - how to actually write, and how to find motivation when the climate you're in gives you every reason to stop doing so.
'Writing one (a novel) is like remembering a song you've never heard before'
~
Articles I liked:
On showing up and trying: The most powerful success strategy of all.
On the simplest productivity method: 25 minute bursts.
On the joys of not knowing where you're heading: Humble possibilities.
