Enjoy your break!! It's important to have them (to remember why we like the things we like lol) and you very much deserve it. I hope its restorative and full of good books xx
1) Where are you on the shame to self-acceptance continuum with your reading of the great books?
I was thinking intensely about the classics and their role to writers and readers today. I was actually thinking especially about Thomas Mann. Last night, I finished reading Lázár by Nelio Biedermann. It is a historical family saga, and I was blown away by the depth and emotional power of the writing from this 22 year old author. I read the translated English version, but apparently the book is now very BIG in the German literary world. And one check on Internet will tell you that there is a "camp" says he is “the new Thomas Mann,” while the other says, “he can’t even hold a candle to Thomas Mann.”
And I wonder: we already have Thomas Mann, do we really need another Thomas Mann? The young author has obviously read Mann, has been inspired by him, and is still finding his own voice. That voice may, to some extent, remind readers of Thomas Mann, but isn’t that one of the greatest gifts of the classics to inspire new generations of authors? Food for thought.
2) Do you have a lifetime reading plan?
I dont...sorry
3) What are you current reading hyper-fixations? Any overlap with mine?
I would say “translated” (non English) literature. It was not intentional, but as it happens, I started reading some of the International Booker nominees and loved "She Who Remains" (I read it both in Bulgarian and in English). Then I read The Director by Daniel Kehlmann (I liked it, but didn’t love it). I also tried The Witch by Marie NDiaye, but couldn’t finish it. And, as I said, last night I finished Lázár by Nelio Biedermann and am still a bit numb...
As it happens, I am traveling to Bulgaria in a few weeks too and am planning to look for books by Maria Laleva. She was warmly recommended to me by a friend, and I am really looking forward to discovering her work.
As for psychological dystopia, I was thinking about The Power by Naomi Alderman , if you have not read it yet. It is a feminist dystopian novel with strong psychological elements. It is very unsettling, but I would definitely give it a go.
Thank you for such a thoughtful note. I have not read Lázár yet (or Mann, for that matter) but I find it super exciting that a 22 year old author is writing so well that the comparison even comes up. I also find it curious that one of the reasons for the praise is the historic nature of the novel. I think so many of us are overwhelmed by realist novels set in our exact time and space. I personally have such a hard time with books that explicitly reference any type of contemporary technology or make use of texting/social media to drive narrative. I know it’s not entirely fair but I honestly find it so distracting and annoying.
I primarily read in English these days but have been feeling a strong pull towards exploring more Bulgarian / Eastern European work — contemporary, but theory as well — I am feeling somewhat unrooted recently and have been wondering which authors could help. Have you read Julia Kristeva?
I will look into Maria Laleva. Also, there will be a book by Iana Boukova out later this fall from NYRB that my friend translated and I am super interested in it.
I think Kristeva writes mainly non fiction and mainly in French, I haven't read any of her books. There is apparently a lot of contemporary Bulgarian fiction, eg. Georgi Gospodinov, Rene Karabash (aka Irena Ivanova), who wrote She Who Remians..Kapka Kasabova, Laleva...but since I am also living abroad, I can't follow it all. If you happen to be in Sofia, check this book store, it is wonderful, https://www.umbertoandco.com/ they have the best "Pavlova dessert" ever ;-)
Yes, Kristeva is a literary theorist. I don't read French but she has been widely translated into English and other languages. I hope we make it to this bookstore, it looks so great!
I love the approach you've taken to answering these questions, Lilia. I would say my hyper-fixation is actually reading novels for evidence of writers inspiring writers, so the question you pose about Biedermann and Mann makes me want to track down Lázár immediately, even though I never quite finished The Magic Mountain on my first attempt, and my copy of Tóibín's The Magician is still unread!
Thank you Juliet, I think Lazar is closer to Buddenbrooks. I haven't read The Magic Mountain and can't give first hand opinion. But for me the big inspiration is the young age of the author and I will be very curious how his carrier will develop. I hope however that he will cope with the high expectations and pressure that are put on his shoulders.
I was nervous to see what you'd think of Permanence and The Water Cure because I love Sophie Mackintosh's books! the way she does quiet dystopia just scratches an itch in my brain. and also enjoy your break!!
I still have not given in to Ferrante Fever… all of this is making me want to read her again. The Palm House has all these qualities you are admiring, but focusing on mentor/work friend relationships. I think you will also love it, though it is not quite as intimate.
Gwendoline Riley sounds amazing! I haven't read her before, and my library tells me they have 4 of her novels!!
On your question around shame and classic books, I come at this from a different slant. As a former undergrad- and then post-grad lit student, I read so many classics, I was relieved when I could just enjoy contemporary fiction again!! 😆 And yet...I know I was deeply changed through reading such wide literature and the supporting criticism, and of course, it directly led me here! Everything I read now feels informed by my deep reading then, if that makes sense? My "shame" now stems from the difficulties I find in attempting hard reading and finding myself so easily distracted 😔
Kate... you will love and appreciate her on a whole different level, I think. Lots of commentary on Manchester and Liverpool that I am like... wait... this means SOMETHING but I can't tell what it means?!!! 😂
1. Read a lot of classics early in my life and now makes sure I’ve always got something in the mix (unlike you, I read multiple books at once, in part to have a classic, a new book, poetry, drama, non-fiction, long read, short read, etc all happening at any one time. People ask how I keep track, but remember how we used to watch 15 different TV series at any given time in installments of 1 episode a week? Like that).
2. Lifetime is not a meaningful or plannable time period imo as we have no idea how much longer we have, so no. I don’t think like that.
3. Riley is an author I adore and in a group of writers where I like to have multiple copies of each book—hardback, paper, US cover, UK cover. Also love Laing and hadn’t heard of that book so may look out for it. Other authors I collect as books not just to read but to have are Sebald and Claire-Louise Bennett. I bought an artist’s print of the image cropped for the cover of the US edition of Big Kiss Bye Bye.
After the review and the comments ...I am going to look for Riley too :-) As for the classics, similarly to you I used to read a lot when I was jong, it was a phase I guess, now I read ( or re-read) few a year. I am patricianly partial to Jane Austen and Henry James.
So many questions!!! Do you push all these books along simultaneously and then find yourself finishing a bunch of stuff within the same week?
I think, like you, I prefer having a classic title in the mix than binging on classics. But I do wish I had done more of that type obsessive reading early on in life when I had the time to do so more freely.
I feel so excited to have met a fellow Riley AND Bennett fan!!! I am so glad you are here!!! And will be keeping everyone posted on my journey with Laing. You will love this book!!!
I loved Grief Is The Thing With Feathers so much! Glad to see it in here. For “psychologically disturbing dystopian novels,” I’d recommend a couple of Antipodean books:
Thank you so much for these fantastic recommendations. I just realized that The Animals in That Country is also the title of a Margaret Atwood poem! How cool?!
Obsessão literária atual: Truman Capote, Elena Ferrante pois vou para Itália em setembro e autoras contemporâneas nacionais do meu Brasil: Mariana Carrara, Socorro Acioli, Aline Bei entre outras.
“That gap between knowing and changing is where I find myself a lot recently and Riley has given me a lot of material to push against as I ponder my own patterns.” THIS! Welcome to midlife.
My reading plan is just to get to as many books on my shelves as I do from the library and also more of the NYRB editions. Two all time favorites came via those and I want more. (Stoner & A Month in the Country)
I was already familiar with NYRB because of the modern classics collection, I was not aware that they were publishing contemporary titles until I read Loved and Missed. I just love a publishing team with a strong point of view!!!
Oooh I was so excited to read what you thought about First Love! I also thought there was something SO precise about Neve, where she was situated in her relationships, especially her relationship with herself—brilliant but so so so stuck. I found it extremely relatable and wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her at the same time! I just loved it. I didn't realize Riley has another mother-daughter novel...I know what I'm doing this weekend!
And I'm so excited you're doing a Laing deep dive. The Lonely City was enormously important to me when I was trying to write my own lonely version of the city. Not to add to your enormous stack of books, but her fiction is quite good too—have you read Crudo? I think I heard somewhere that she wrote it in one draft, and it's novella length, like 100 pages long. Fun vacation read :) Wishing you lots of rest and good reading! xoxox
My Phantoms is more focused on the mother-daughter relationship, it is so fucking good. Please remember to tell me if you read it!
The Lonely City is one of these books that have meant so much to so many people, especially writers... I am really looking forward to reading it!!! And I almost added Crudo to my cart when I was placing my order, will correct that right away.
my partner got me the chantal joffe / olivia liang a few weeks ago as a gift and the first time i opened the book, without knowing the cover of loved and missed was joffe’s work, i opened it directly to that painting. i felt stunned, pleasantly!
oh wow!!! given how much we've talked about it, what a truly stunning surprise!!! i love her work so much and you will absolutely love the essays. i am such a sucker for literary / creative friendships... and it seems from what i have been able to cobble together from the internet that olivia laing is a truly great friend to many - chantal joffe, charlie porter, maggie nelson...
I so love these posts, Petya! I do not feel guilt over the classics, I feel guilt over being someone who can love and devour books and then forget all major plot points, key characters, instantly, but remember how they made me feel. It feels so narcissistic...it's all about how I feel! I'm hungry for books about women in midlife - looking backward and forward. Longings, unrealized paths, new paths, gained perspective, failures and triumphs. If anyone has a favorite that touches on those themes, I'd love to hear about it!
I only discovered Sophie Mackintosh this year (feeling many emotions deeply that it took me this long!!!) and I’ve devoured her books. Blue Ticket was definitely my favourite, but the others follow closely. I can’t stop thinking about the women from each book, what a talent she is!! So glad you’ve loved her work so far.
Riley & Mackintosh have both been very on my radar recently, so it was fun to see your write-ups here-- and Painting Writing Texting looks fascinating! Enjoy your time traveling & recharging, and I'll look forward to seeing you in my inbox when you're back (going to brainstorm some psychological dystopians in the meantime) --last note: hoping you love Grief is The Thing with Feathers!! one of my favorites I read right at the end of last yr
Enjoy your break!! It's important to have them (to remember why we like the things we like lol) and you very much deserve it. I hope its restorative and full of good books xx
Thank you! Us working parents in America are hanging on by a thread… 🤭🫠🫠
And because I like to mess with my own head, I will spend days and days agonizing over what the summer reading plan should be!!!
And also the small thing of finally working on my own book.
have so much fun in bulgaria which i know is a much needed break!
Thank you, friend!!! It will be exhausting but our hearts will be full!
1) Where are you on the shame to self-acceptance continuum with your reading of the great books?
I was thinking intensely about the classics and their role to writers and readers today. I was actually thinking especially about Thomas Mann. Last night, I finished reading Lázár by Nelio Biedermann. It is a historical family saga, and I was blown away by the depth and emotional power of the writing from this 22 year old author. I read the translated English version, but apparently the book is now very BIG in the German literary world. And one check on Internet will tell you that there is a "camp" says he is “the new Thomas Mann,” while the other says, “he can’t even hold a candle to Thomas Mann.”
And I wonder: we already have Thomas Mann, do we really need another Thomas Mann? The young author has obviously read Mann, has been inspired by him, and is still finding his own voice. That voice may, to some extent, remind readers of Thomas Mann, but isn’t that one of the greatest gifts of the classics to inspire new generations of authors? Food for thought.
2) Do you have a lifetime reading plan?
I dont...sorry
3) What are you current reading hyper-fixations? Any overlap with mine?
I would say “translated” (non English) literature. It was not intentional, but as it happens, I started reading some of the International Booker nominees and loved "She Who Remains" (I read it both in Bulgarian and in English). Then I read The Director by Daniel Kehlmann (I liked it, but didn’t love it). I also tried The Witch by Marie NDiaye, but couldn’t finish it. And, as I said, last night I finished Lázár by Nelio Biedermann and am still a bit numb...
As it happens, I am traveling to Bulgaria in a few weeks too and am planning to look for books by Maria Laleva. She was warmly recommended to me by a friend, and I am really looking forward to discovering her work.
As for psychological dystopia, I was thinking about The Power by Naomi Alderman , if you have not read it yet. It is a feminist dystopian novel with strong psychological elements. It is very unsettling, but I would definitely give it a go.
Thank you for such a thoughtful note. I have not read Lázár yet (or Mann, for that matter) but I find it super exciting that a 22 year old author is writing so well that the comparison even comes up. I also find it curious that one of the reasons for the praise is the historic nature of the novel. I think so many of us are overwhelmed by realist novels set in our exact time and space. I personally have such a hard time with books that explicitly reference any type of contemporary technology or make use of texting/social media to drive narrative. I know it’s not entirely fair but I honestly find it so distracting and annoying.
I primarily read in English these days but have been feeling a strong pull towards exploring more Bulgarian / Eastern European work — contemporary, but theory as well — I am feeling somewhat unrooted recently and have been wondering which authors could help. Have you read Julia Kristeva?
I will look into Maria Laleva. Also, there will be a book by Iana Boukova out later this fall from NYRB that my friend translated and I am super interested in it.
Adding The Power to my TBR! 😘
I think Kristeva writes mainly non fiction and mainly in French, I haven't read any of her books. There is apparently a lot of contemporary Bulgarian fiction, eg. Georgi Gospodinov, Rene Karabash (aka Irena Ivanova), who wrote She Who Remians..Kapka Kasabova, Laleva...but since I am also living abroad, I can't follow it all. If you happen to be in Sofia, check this book store, it is wonderful, https://www.umbertoandco.com/ they have the best "Pavlova dessert" ever ;-)
Yes, Kristeva is a literary theorist. I don't read French but she has been widely translated into English and other languages. I hope we make it to this bookstore, it looks so great!
I love the approach you've taken to answering these questions, Lilia. I would say my hyper-fixation is actually reading novels for evidence of writers inspiring writers, so the question you pose about Biedermann and Mann makes me want to track down Lázár immediately, even though I never quite finished The Magic Mountain on my first attempt, and my copy of Tóibín's The Magician is still unread!
Thank you Juliet, I think Lazar is closer to Buddenbrooks. I haven't read The Magic Mountain and can't give first hand opinion. But for me the big inspiration is the young age of the author and I will be very curious how his carrier will develop. I hope however that he will cope with the high expectations and pressure that are put on his shoulders.
I was nervous to see what you'd think of Permanence and The Water Cure because I love Sophie Mackintosh's books! the way she does quiet dystopia just scratches an itch in my brain. and also enjoy your break!!
Oh god… I know the feeling of … everyone is entitled to their opinions but if you can’t like this one, I don’t think I can ever trust you 🤭🤭🤭
Cursed Bread next, right?
yes, cursed bread!!! hopefully the streak will continue 😅
I am so glad you discovered Riley and love her, too! I may be adding The Water Cure to my summer reading now. Enjoy your time away!
OMG.. . LOVE is not strong enough. Also… is she so funny to you too??? Or is that a messed up thing to say about these books? And the dialogue?!
The Water Cure is great to fill a Jacqueline Harpman shaped hole in your heart, if you’ve grown one.
She is funny, yes, hugely. You got that right!
When she gets annoyed with her mother about not being able to keep track of all the characters and can't get on board in Ferrante Fever.... 😂 😂 😂
I still have not given in to Ferrante Fever… all of this is making me want to read her again. The Palm House has all these qualities you are admiring, but focusing on mentor/work friend relationships. I think you will also love it, though it is not quite as intimate.
Gwendoline Riley sounds amazing! I haven't read her before, and my library tells me they have 4 of her novels!!
On your question around shame and classic books, I come at this from a different slant. As a former undergrad- and then post-grad lit student, I read so many classics, I was relieved when I could just enjoy contemporary fiction again!! 😆 And yet...I know I was deeply changed through reading such wide literature and the supporting criticism, and of course, it directly led me here! Everything I read now feels informed by my deep reading then, if that makes sense? My "shame" now stems from the difficulties I find in attempting hard reading and finding myself so easily distracted 😔
Kate... you will love and appreciate her on a whole different level, I think. Lots of commentary on Manchester and Liverpool that I am like... wait... this means SOMETHING but I can't tell what it means?!!! 😂
Lol! 😆😂 This is funny! But yes, Manchester is around an hour from where I live!
1. Read a lot of classics early in my life and now makes sure I’ve always got something in the mix (unlike you, I read multiple books at once, in part to have a classic, a new book, poetry, drama, non-fiction, long read, short read, etc all happening at any one time. People ask how I keep track, but remember how we used to watch 15 different TV series at any given time in installments of 1 episode a week? Like that).
2. Lifetime is not a meaningful or plannable time period imo as we have no idea how much longer we have, so no. I don’t think like that.
3. Riley is an author I adore and in a group of writers where I like to have multiple copies of each book—hardback, paper, US cover, UK cover. Also love Laing and hadn’t heard of that book so may look out for it. Other authors I collect as books not just to read but to have are Sebald and Claire-Louise Bennett. I bought an artist’s print of the image cropped for the cover of the US edition of Big Kiss Bye Bye.
Have a great break!
After the review and the comments ...I am going to look for Riley too :-) As for the classics, similarly to you I used to read a lot when I was jong, it was a phase I guess, now I read ( or re-read) few a year. I am patricianly partial to Jane Austen and Henry James.
Am re-reading Austen atm (always great) but filling in some James gaps too (The Other House is up next—not one I’ve read yet!)
So many questions!!! Do you push all these books along simultaneously and then find yourself finishing a bunch of stuff within the same week?
I think, like you, I prefer having a classic title in the mix than binging on classics. But I do wish I had done more of that type obsessive reading early on in life when I had the time to do so more freely.
I feel so excited to have met a fellow Riley AND Bennett fan!!! I am so glad you are here!!! And will be keeping everyone posted on my journey with Laing. You will love this book!!!
I loved Grief Is The Thing With Feathers so much! Glad to see it in here. For “psychologically disturbing dystopian novels,” I’d recommend a couple of Antipodean books:
1. The Animals In That Country
-Laura Jean Mackay (Scribe 2020).
2. The Glad Shout
-Alice Robinson (Affirm Press, 2019).
Thank you so much for these fantastic recommendations. I just realized that The Animals in That Country is also the title of a Margaret Atwood poem! How cool?!
Thank you for reading!! I loved doing that interview with brilliant Elvia so much.
Permanence is amazing and I am so glad that it opened up your writing for me.
Obsessão literária atual: Truman Capote, Elena Ferrante pois vou para Itália em setembro e autoras contemporâneas nacionais do meu Brasil: Mariana Carrara, Socorro Acioli, Aline Bei entre outras.
“That gap between knowing and changing is where I find myself a lot recently and Riley has given me a lot of material to push against as I ponder my own patterns.” THIS! Welcome to midlife.
My reading plan is just to get to as many books on my shelves as I do from the library and also more of the NYRB editions. Two all time favorites came via those and I want more. (Stoner & A Month in the Country)
Ain't that the truth! Re: midlife.
I was already familiar with NYRB because of the modern classics collection, I was not aware that they were publishing contemporary titles until I read Loved and Missed. I just love a publishing team with a strong point of view!!!
Oooh I was so excited to read what you thought about First Love! I also thought there was something SO precise about Neve, where she was situated in her relationships, especially her relationship with herself—brilliant but so so so stuck. I found it extremely relatable and wanted to take her by the shoulders and shake her at the same time! I just loved it. I didn't realize Riley has another mother-daughter novel...I know what I'm doing this weekend!
And I'm so excited you're doing a Laing deep dive. The Lonely City was enormously important to me when I was trying to write my own lonely version of the city. Not to add to your enormous stack of books, but her fiction is quite good too—have you read Crudo? I think I heard somewhere that she wrote it in one draft, and it's novella length, like 100 pages long. Fun vacation read :) Wishing you lots of rest and good reading! xoxox
My Phantoms is more focused on the mother-daughter relationship, it is so fucking good. Please remember to tell me if you read it!
The Lonely City is one of these books that have meant so much to so many people, especially writers... I am really looking forward to reading it!!! And I almost added Crudo to my cart when I was placing my order, will correct that right away.
Will report back!!! And back at you on Crudo!
my partner got me the chantal joffe / olivia liang a few weeks ago as a gift and the first time i opened the book, without knowing the cover of loved and missed was joffe’s work, i opened it directly to that painting. i felt stunned, pleasantly!
oh wow!!! given how much we've talked about it, what a truly stunning surprise!!! i love her work so much and you will absolutely love the essays. i am such a sucker for literary / creative friendships... and it seems from what i have been able to cobble together from the internet that olivia laing is a truly great friend to many - chantal joffe, charlie porter, maggie nelson...
I so love these posts, Petya! I do not feel guilt over the classics, I feel guilt over being someone who can love and devour books and then forget all major plot points, key characters, instantly, but remember how they made me feel. It feels so narcissistic...it's all about how I feel! I'm hungry for books about women in midlife - looking backward and forward. Longings, unrealized paths, new paths, gained perspective, failures and triumphs. If anyone has a favorite that touches on those themes, I'd love to hear about it!
I only discovered Sophie Mackintosh this year (feeling many emotions deeply that it took me this long!!!) and I’ve devoured her books. Blue Ticket was definitely my favourite, but the others follow closely. I can’t stop thinking about the women from each book, what a talent she is!! So glad you’ve loved her work so far.
Incredible line-up this month!! Don't know if you've seen it, but Madelaine Lucas is on substack & wrote a wonderful newsletter on Gwendoline Riley earlier this month! https://plainpleasures.substack.com/p/women-in-a-mans-world
Riley & Mackintosh have both been very on my radar recently, so it was fun to see your write-ups here-- and Painting Writing Texting looks fascinating! Enjoy your time traveling & recharging, and I'll look forward to seeing you in my inbox when you're back (going to brainstorm some psychological dystopians in the meantime) --last note: hoping you love Grief is The Thing with Feathers!! one of my favorites I read right at the end of last yr