What are you reading for February?

[Anonymous]

Halfway through Family Meal, by Bryan Washington. So far have mixed feelings on it. The subject matter is heavy (addiction, promiscuity, coping with grief) and there are some beautifully written insights and quotes on love, death, and loss. The book trades perspectives between three gay men who are friends/lovers, and is set between two different locales (Houston and LA). But overall the story feels disjointed. The characters' dialogue (which comprises the majority of the book; there isn't much narrative other than back-and-forth conversation between the characters) is stilted and unrealistic. They sound like first-year theater students trying their hand at writing a play, rather than two people having an actual conversation. Also the book contains lots and lots and lots of very graphic sex. I don't mind a good sex scene, but in this book it's everywhere and all the time. It's excessive.

I'll finish it because it's a quick read, and I appreciate having read something outside of my comfort zone and for which I'm not the target audience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished listening to Naomi Klein's Doppelganger (re: the confusion between her and Naomi Wolf, particularly online). It seemed to encompass many subjects I personally would be primed to like--the influence of social media, conspiracy culture, two authors I had read--but I was underwhelmed. It was pretty good, but there was not much meat on the bones, and probably would have been better as e.g. a long-form article in the New Yorker.

Close to finishing Nathan Hill's Wellness. It is well done and just bitingly funny in parts, but the genre of "marriage falling apart" is one of my least favorites and it is always a bit dreary IMHO. We'll see if it turns it around in the last 75 pages...!

And about to start Empire of Gold. Feeling excited and bittersweet. It is the third book of SA Chakraborty's City of Brass trilogy, which has been so good, and fun, and immersive. But it's the last one... and then I'll be bereft and turning to DCUM I guess for my next great rec!

Did you end up finishing Wellness? I was thinking about starting it but it is LONG.

DP. I wanted to like Wellness so much, but didn't. I actually like the "long term marriage is hard" genre, but this was so slow, too much backstory, too many pages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished listening to Naomi Klein's Doppelganger (re: the confusion between her and Naomi Wolf, particularly online). It seemed to encompass many subjects I personally would be primed to like--the influence of social media, conspiracy culture, two authors I had read--but I was underwhelmed. It was pretty good, but there was not much meat on the bones, and probably would have been better as e.g. a long-form article in the New Yorker.

Close to finishing Nathan Hill's Wellness. It is well done and just bitingly funny in parts, but the genre of "marriage falling apart" is one of my least favorites and it is always a bit dreary IMHO. We'll see if it turns it around in the last 75 pages...!

And about to start Empire of Gold. Feeling excited and bittersweet. It is the third book of SA Chakraborty's City of Brass trilogy, which has been so good, and fun, and immersive. But it's the last one... and then I'll be bereft and turning to DCUM I guess for my next great rec!

Did you end up finishing Wellness? I was thinking about starting it but it is LONG.

DP. I wanted to like Wellness so much, but didn't. I actually like the "long term marriage is hard" genre, but this was so slow, too much backstory, too many pages.

Thanks. I’ll pass then, it seemed like my kind of book but The Nix wasn’t remarkable to me so I had some qualms in addition to the length. That’s Demon Copperhead length!

[Anonymous]

Doing Harm by Maya Dusenbary — about women’s health care and the existing biases in the American medical system. Just started but so far interesting (albeit depressing)!

[Anonymous]

Reading "In Memoriam" by Alice Win. it's really good but very sad. About two young men who fall in love during WWI.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been hearing about Anita Demonte Laughs Last but I see it isn’t out yet. So I’m going to try Come and Get It instead even though it does seem as interesting to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading "In Memoriam" by Alice Win. it's really good but very sad. About two young men who fall in love during WWI.

I read this in January. I thought it was excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been hearing about Anita Demonte Laughs Last but I see it isn’t out yet. So I’m going to try Come and Get It instead even though it does seem as interesting to me.

I was just looking at Come and Get It yesterday - will you come back to say what you think? I liked Such A Fun Age - but also sort of didn't like it.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I wanted a campus story and I think the author is funny but the characters aren’t grabbing me just yet. Will report back when I finish!

[Anonymous]

Reading Better Living through Birding - about the Central Park Birder. I love birdwatching so i love it -

it's a bit self-indulgent and academic but good solid expository writing and keeps me interested. Especially the parts about birdwatching.

Next is Heaven and Earth Grocery . Both for a book club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished More after getting it from the library and based on this NYT article

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/26/books/review/podcast-open-marriage-molly-winter.html

I am considering starting a new thread about it I’m so disappointed and have too many comments to keep to myself (but don’t want to admit to my book friends I read this to begin with)

Going back to my Taylor Jenkins Reid marathon

Tell me more pls!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading Ripe, by Sarah Rose Etter. It's sucked me right in.

Thanks! Just pre-ordered the paperback 😊

[Anonymous]

Anyone else reading The Bee Sting this month?

[Anonymous]

Fever In The HeartLand.
A woman infultraites the KKK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else reading The Bee Sting this month?

I plan to read it but when all the hype and press has died down and people are no longer talking about how "great" it is. I find that builds too much expectation and ends in disappointment.