What a fun coincidence. I have had these books on my radar for ages but for some reason I resisted them because I thought I was "not a series person". Which, of course, is total nonsense if the series is GOOD. I hope you love them!
So glad!!! I have one more of Claire Keegan's little novels that I am saving for when I am in a terrible rut and need to read something I know I would love!!!
All Fours changed my brain chemistry. It's been such a polarizing book but I thought it was a masterpiece. I wrote a full thing about it here:
As someone who’s only read one or two Didion books, I appreciate hearing your thoughts on her work. I love the idea of focusing on one writer. I’d like to do something similar with James Baldwin someday. You’ve also inspired me to pick up the Ali Smith books that have been sitting on shelves unread for too long. 🙂
i also love giving myself a reading project because i thrive with (self prescribed) homework - interminable teacher’s pet behaviour. the next one might be ali smith’s seasons quartet, tbh!
Oh how I love that! I think there is something so fulfilling about self-assigned homework. As a A+ student, I have spent so much of my adult life trying to undo the harm of always seeking external validation. I think the reason why this project felt so good was that it was giving me all the work satisfaction, minus the anxiety associated with people pleasing because I was reading what I assigned to myself!! I will need to talk to my therapist about this!!!
Team Babitz here 🙈 (I always feel like I need to duck and cover after saying that; I do immensely appreciate the work of both writers.) Maybe you can do a deep dive on her next?
I remember you saying that. You know, I now realize that Joan Didion really worked on her personal brand before anybody talked about that and I am getting the impression that Eve was a lot less calculated....
I picked up Slow Days, Fast Company which I hope to read before Didion vs. Babitz comes out later this month. I am not committing to a deep dive but will let you know after I read at least that first book! Which of Eve's books would you recommend I read first?
That’s the one I’d recommend starting with, or Eve’s Hollywood. Her style was very different from Didion’s—and yes, a lot less polished and less concerned with reputation. I love that she wasn’t taken seriously as a writer in her day, but did it anyway. I will say I prefer her non-fiction.
I was coming to ask which Babitz you got. I just finished LA Woman and it was fun but I think I'm more interested in her non-fiction. Slow Days was great!
Sorry I have been so slow to respond this week. I think my brain has become mush. Curious which non-fiction you would recommend!! I am really trying to push myself and read more non-fiction!
Great reflections on your month long project, Petya. I think it would have been so easy to just praise Didion's work, but your honesty in your struggles is refreshing.
Re Ali Smith, I actually haven't read the quartet yet, but have read several others (I went through a phase...) and recommend The Accidental, Girl Meets Boy and her short story collections Free Love & Other Stories and Other Stories & Other Stories, but have found some of her work (eg, Hotel World) a bit too surreal. She also wrote a fantastic lecture about Muriel Spark, (which is available in book form) for which I always love her ❤️
I love the contrast you draw between Didion and Ali Smith. Didion when she’s good is like really f-ing good, but she’s a frustrating product of her times as well for sure.
You are making me want to do an Ali Smith deep dive. But, I just got back from Paris and am also kind of wanting to read a bunch of French authors in translation next as well.
I am super intrigued by your French authors project! Do you have titles/authors in mind already? My biggest obsession from this past year is Constance Debre and I highly recommend her Trilogie. Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding is a very french book, too. Elkin is an expat that spent many years in France, her novel is amazing. And I am super interested in the new Virginie Despentes, Dear Dickhead.
Well, I am going to going to first read ‘The Madwomen’s Ball’ by Victoria Mas because I have it in my to-read pile already. But then not sure where I want to go next. I have never read any Francoise Sagan, so perhaps one of hers next?
Absolutely loved your take on this reading project. It's smart and straightforward, and I love how you share your state of mind in the process.
I am a french Belgian, a lover of American literature, and I always wanted to start reading some Didion. Now I know what to start with (The White Album)! And also downloaded Ali Smith's Autumn and Baldwin's Giovanni's room. Great recos here, thank you!
I LOVE the idea of a reading project! It would help me get to books that have been on my shelves for years and that I tend to avoid because I know they need a bit more attention and focus. I'm thinking Jane Austen or Virginia Woolf? Reading several of their books along with pieces about their work sounds so perfect. I also want to read Autumn this month and then get Winter to I can start that in January.
I am so glad! I think that's exactly right... it can feel intimidating to just casually pick up a challenging author. But if you make it a PROJECT, you are building in the expectation that it will feel a little bit like work but they pay off at the end will be tremendous!
I have some enjoyed this month diving into one writer's works. In fact, I haven't stopped yet. I am reading Slouching Towards Bethlehem right now with The White Album next in line. Something about her writing/thinking process draws me in. I want to do this type of reading again soon! Thank you for planning this!
I am so glad this has been a good experience for you. I don't read a lot of non-fiction and felt like I was reading with the mentality to finish the collection beginning to end... in the future, I may just allow myself to read individual essays here and there and just let the book rest while I think about what I'd read.
Is it bad that all the Didion talk (my post included) made me want to read less of Didion? I love that you shared some not-so-flattering takes on her. She was amazing but she was not perfect!
I'm so glad you shared your reflections on running the Reading Project. I enjoyed reading about your experiences and how you feel on the other side of it. It also made me feel a bit better that I ultimately DNF'ed Didion's A Book of Common Prayer (😬). I'm a huge fan of her nonfiction, but I found her fiction so difficult and disorienting. It was hard to get a foothold in her story and ultimately I just found myself dreading it. It may have been a question of wrong book at the wrong time, but I'm glad that I moved on!
A book of common prayer was one of my library books I had checked out and planned to read but after that disastrous experience, I just couldn't do it. I think I will try again more fiction by her in a few years... so much of reading is about meeting the right book at the right time.
I think my newsletter is a sort of extended reading project devoted to Virginia Woolf (albeit a very SLOW reading project). So I definitely approve of the format - for all the reasons you mentioned.
I love your substack for that reason. And I think it's probably a more sustainable way to keep writing. I get a lot of pleasure and fulfillment from writing weekly but it feels like a second job sometimes.
I’ve been wanting to read Joan Didion and always felt intimidated? I never knew where to start and this is a really encouraging post about where to go first. 😊
I tried an Ali Smith once and couldn't get on with it - I think it might have been called The Accidental, about a young woman who appears at a family's home. (It was a long time ago so forgive me if I'm wrong!) I love Slouching Towards Bethlehem, and am currently reading her nephew Griffin Dunne's book, The Friday Afternoon Club. He's a natural writer too, and she's featured prominently thus far. I MUST read my copies of Small Things Like These and Stoner, and try James Baldwin - any suggestions where to start, people?
Wow I is it ordered the first two books of the seasonal quartet. This makes me so excited to read them
What a fun coincidence. I have had these books on my radar for ages but for some reason I resisted them because I thought I was "not a series person". Which, of course, is total nonsense if the series is GOOD. I hope you love them!
I love this! Small Things Like These and All Fours are also top reads of mine for this year ♥️🍂
So glad!!! I have one more of Claire Keegan's little novels that I am saving for when I am in a terrible rut and need to read something I know I would love!!!
All Fours changed my brain chemistry. It's been such a polarizing book but I thought it was a masterpiece. I wrote a full thing about it here:
https://petya.substack.com/p/issue-69-all-fours-and-the-demands
As someone who’s only read one or two Didion books, I appreciate hearing your thoughts on her work. I love the idea of focusing on one writer. I’d like to do something similar with James Baldwin someday. You’ve also inspired me to pick up the Ali Smith books that have been sitting on shelves unread for too long. 🙂
Ooohhh! Baldwin would be so good for a deep dive!!!
Ali Smith has such a cult following but still flies under the radar, in the States anyway. I will be reading Spring and Summer soon!
i also love giving myself a reading project because i thrive with (self prescribed) homework - interminable teacher’s pet behaviour. the next one might be ali smith’s seasons quartet, tbh!
Oh how I love that! I think there is something so fulfilling about self-assigned homework. As a A+ student, I have spent so much of my adult life trying to undo the harm of always seeking external validation. I think the reason why this project felt so good was that it was giving me all the work satisfaction, minus the anxiety associated with people pleasing because I was reading what I assigned to myself!! I will need to talk to my therapist about this!!!
Team Babitz here 🙈 (I always feel like I need to duck and cover after saying that; I do immensely appreciate the work of both writers.) Maybe you can do a deep dive on her next?
I remember you saying that. You know, I now realize that Joan Didion really worked on her personal brand before anybody talked about that and I am getting the impression that Eve was a lot less calculated....
I picked up Slow Days, Fast Company which I hope to read before Didion vs. Babitz comes out later this month. I am not committing to a deep dive but will let you know after I read at least that first book! Which of Eve's books would you recommend I read first?
That’s the one I’d recommend starting with, or Eve’s Hollywood. Her style was very different from Didion’s—and yes, a lot less polished and less concerned with reputation. I love that she wasn’t taken seriously as a writer in her day, but did it anyway. I will say I prefer her non-fiction.
I was coming to ask which Babitz you got. I just finished LA Woman and it was fun but I think I'm more interested in her non-fiction. Slow Days was great!
Sorry I have been so slow to respond this week. I think my brain has become mush. Curious which non-fiction you would recommend!! I am really trying to push myself and read more non-fiction!
Great reflections on your month long project, Petya. I think it would have been so easy to just praise Didion's work, but your honesty in your struggles is refreshing.
Re Ali Smith, I actually haven't read the quartet yet, but have read several others (I went through a phase...) and recommend The Accidental, Girl Meets Boy and her short story collections Free Love & Other Stories and Other Stories & Other Stories, but have found some of her work (eg, Hotel World) a bit too surreal. She also wrote a fantastic lecture about Muriel Spark, (which is available in book form) for which I always love her ❤️
Honestly, I expected it to be all praise 🤦🏻♀️😂😂
And thank you for reading my mind and sharing your favorite Ali Smith titles with me. You knew I was going to ask, didn't you? 😂😂
Haha, I had a feeling it was coming…and you’re welcome :)
I love the contrast you draw between Didion and Ali Smith. Didion when she’s good is like really f-ing good, but she’s a frustrating product of her times as well for sure.
You are making me want to do an Ali Smith deep dive. But, I just got back from Paris and am also kind of wanting to read a bunch of French authors in translation next as well.
I am super intrigued by your French authors project! Do you have titles/authors in mind already? My biggest obsession from this past year is Constance Debre and I highly recommend her Trilogie. Lauren Elkin's Scaffolding is a very french book, too. Elkin is an expat that spent many years in France, her novel is amazing. And I am super interested in the new Virginie Despentes, Dear Dickhead.
Well, I am going to going to first read ‘The Madwomen’s Ball’ by Victoria Mas because I have it in my to-read pile already. But then not sure where I want to go next. I have never read any Francoise Sagan, so perhaps one of hers next?
I haven't read any Sagan either and Bonjour Tristesse has been sitting in my shopping cart for a while. Let's read it soon!
Absolutely loved your take on this reading project. It's smart and straightforward, and I love how you share your state of mind in the process.
I am a french Belgian, a lover of American literature, and I always wanted to start reading some Didion. Now I know what to start with (The White Album)! And also downloaded Ali Smith's Autumn and Baldwin's Giovanni's room. Great recos here, thank you!
I am so glad that this resonated! You have some real reading treats ahead of you, based on the titles you have picked!
I LOVE the idea of a reading project! It would help me get to books that have been on my shelves for years and that I tend to avoid because I know they need a bit more attention and focus. I'm thinking Jane Austen or Virginia Woolf? Reading several of their books along with pieces about their work sounds so perfect. I also want to read Autumn this month and then get Winter to I can start that in January.
I am so glad! I think that's exactly right... it can feel intimidating to just casually pick up a challenging author. But if you make it a PROJECT, you are building in the expectation that it will feel a little bit like work but they pay off at the end will be tremendous!
I have some enjoyed this month diving into one writer's works. In fact, I haven't stopped yet. I am reading Slouching Towards Bethlehem right now with The White Album next in line. Something about her writing/thinking process draws me in. I want to do this type of reading again soon! Thank you for planning this!
I am so glad this has been a good experience for you. I don't read a lot of non-fiction and felt like I was reading with the mentality to finish the collection beginning to end... in the future, I may just allow myself to read individual essays here and there and just let the book rest while I think about what I'd read.
Is it bad that all the Didion talk (my post included) made me want to read less of Didion? I love that you shared some not-so-flattering takes on her. She was amazing but she was not perfect!
OMG. Same.... Joanie, I love you, but you are bringing me DOWN. 😂😂😂
Honestly!!
I have yet to read Ali Smith but I want to! I'm glad you were able to get so immersed in her work this month, it's the best isn't it?
Truly! And it was so unexpected which somehow felt like a double-win.
I'm so glad you shared your reflections on running the Reading Project. I enjoyed reading about your experiences and how you feel on the other side of it. It also made me feel a bit better that I ultimately DNF'ed Didion's A Book of Common Prayer (😬). I'm a huge fan of her nonfiction, but I found her fiction so difficult and disorienting. It was hard to get a foothold in her story and ultimately I just found myself dreading it. It may have been a question of wrong book at the wrong time, but I'm glad that I moved on!
A book of common prayer was one of my library books I had checked out and planned to read but after that disastrous experience, I just couldn't do it. I think I will try again more fiction by her in a few years... so much of reading is about meeting the right book at the right time.
I think my newsletter is a sort of extended reading project devoted to Virginia Woolf (albeit a very SLOW reading project). So I definitely approve of the format - for all the reasons you mentioned.
I love your substack for that reason. And I think it's probably a more sustainable way to keep writing. I get a lot of pleasure and fulfillment from writing weekly but it feels like a second job sometimes.
I’ve been wanting to read Joan Didion and always felt intimidated? I never knew where to start and this is a really encouraging post about where to go first. 😊
Yay!!! I feel very strongly that she may not be everyone's cup of tea but I love encouraging people to read her at least once.
I tried an Ali Smith once and couldn't get on with it - I think it might have been called The Accidental, about a young woman who appears at a family's home. (It was a long time ago so forgive me if I'm wrong!) I love Slouching Towards Bethlehem, and am currently reading her nephew Griffin Dunne's book, The Friday Afternoon Club. He's a natural writer too, and she's featured prominently thus far. I MUST read my copies of Small Things Like These and Stoner, and try James Baldwin - any suggestions where to start, people?
I think Stoner is my most favorite book I read this past year. PLEASE READ IT!!!