this post is basically me constantly adding books on my tbr list based on tiktok and instagram recommendations. thank you for this! this definitely helps take the pressure off to not wanting to read a writer i dont connect with
I feel compelled to read it even though I'm an avid non-fiction reader! And I hate that I feel this way but it's hard to ignore all the posts and notes promoting it.
Enjoyed reading this, as well as checking out your summer reads. I'm a cynical old grouch who is very good at resisting any public pressure, and I generally read more non-fiction than fiction anyway. I would be curious to hear your opinions on some of the Booker or other prize winners, or the highly acclaimed books you found overrated. There were a couple on your summer reading list, I think you mentioned the Dolly Alderton book.
I'm also very eager to hear your take on Master and Margarita, one of my all-time favourite books and I've read it 3 times. I shall await patiently :)
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed these posts! I like reading current books because they give me an insight into what people care about now and what affects society, including non-fiction books, but I might just resist the Intermezzo hype!
I read much of the Booker and International Booker books last year. Some I enjoyed, others less so! I'll definitely review them soon. Yes, I wasn't such a big fan of some of the more popular books, and Good Material was a bit of a disappointment for me, as was Blue Sisters (though perhaps that was more a result of the comparison with Hello Beautiful).
I might have to re-read The Master and look forward to sharing when I do! What do you enjoy about it?
First off, I would say, and you'd agree I'm sure, that life is too short to read or re-read a book that you didn't enjoy. So it may not be any better the second time.
I've always been into Russian and Ukrainian literature. Besides Bulgakov: Gogol, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Teffi, Lermontov. I'm trying to pivot away from Russian literature and am reading more contemporary Ukrainian books, but that's another story altogether (I lived in Ukraine for 12 years and in Ukraine there has been a move out of Russian literature and a big push for more Ukrainian stuff).
The mystery and intrigue around Master and Margarita is what first appealed to me - the fact that it was censored and only discovered outside of the Soviet Union in the late 80s (I believe), and so reading it with that knowledge added to its mystique, as well as knowing it was a satire on Russian society and it was so rich in symbolism. Though I never got into Faust, the idea of a Faustian pact with the Devil, his sidekick being a vodka-swilling black cat with a pince nez was just too bizarre for me to not like it (if that makes sense). The historical parallels and Pontius Pilate retelling was also what I loved, and one thing that enriched it for me was the Diana Burgin translation with its extensive footnotes which really helped make sense of the story. I've different translations but this is one that I enjoyed the most (I have a 4th translation, Michael Glenny's, for my next re-read).
I could also get into the imagery and descriptions, especially Satan's Ball, which interestingly (if you remember) was somewhat based on true events. The American ambassador in the 20s or 30s was William Bullitt, and he used to host lavish parties similar to Satan's Ball, with wild animals and whatnot.
Ah, you're quite an expert then! I appreciated The Master conceptually, and I found the back story about publication quite interesting as well—that's why I was hoping so much to like it. However, do the different storylines were a bit hard to follow, especially when the same characters have multiple names.
Do you have any suggestions for a gentler (not necessarily in terms of themes, but the reading experience) book by a Ukrainian author? Would also like to know if you have particular Russian books to recommend!
Funnily I didn’t mesh well with hello beautiful or blue sisters BUT I did really enjoy this. I liked how Rooney still feels like she is exploring who she is as a writer and doing new(ish) things with her writing
Yes, writers who try new things are so admirable! That’s one of the things I love about Dolly Alderton, even though I wasn’t the biggest fan of her latest book.
Interesting too—I wonder if, since I loved those two, that means I won’t get along with Intermezzo!
It's okay - on chapter 4 so early doors but, it's enjoyable so far. So far it's been alternative chapters for each brother and what's happening in their life.
I admit that I fell for the hype and bought the hardback of Intermezzo. I love the cover but the story was hard for me to embrace. I’m sure I’ll go back to it and love it but for now, lesson learned.
Oh this is soooo refreshing to read!! I too want to read Intermezzo because I’m a huge Sally Rooney fan and a total sucker for Normal People, BUT my personal favourite way to read is to simply grab something that sings to me in a local charity shop! Some of my best reads have come from this (my most recent purchase cost £1), and often when I mention these books to people, they haven’t heard of the author or the story. It’s nice to be led by what simply takes our fancy in the moment, or what we’ve always longed to read, instead of always following trends! Beautifully written piece. I’ll have to check out more of your writing 🫶🏻
I'm sure it's good and her other books are pretty good (I really liked Normal People, though wasn't the biggest fan of Beautiful World, Where Are You), but it's also partly cultural hype!
That's exactly how I feel. I do want to read Intermezzo, but it's just not a priority at the moment.
Yes exactly—I love book suggestions and finding things for my TBR (including buying books!), but I don't necessarily want to read them exactly when I am sent them or when they are trendy. I do run a small book club with friends, which is a bit different as we all have a say in the books we read.
this post is basically me constantly adding books on my tbr list based on tiktok and instagram recommendations. thank you for this! this definitely helps take the pressure off to not wanting to read a writer i dont connect with
I’m glad my post helped you. <3
Sometimes it’s best to wait until the hype dies down so you’re not so disappointed by all the raving reviews! 💛
Yes I think I might do that!
Oh man this resonated with me. I always felt that i read not because its the cool new thing but because I genuinely want to find out what its about!
I feel compelled to read it even though I'm an avid non-fiction reader! And I hate that I feel this way but it's hard to ignore all the posts and notes promoting it.
Perhaps this is a good prompt for you to read a piece of fiction! :) Following a trend is perfectly fine if it’s something you want to do. :)
I feel the same way, Alicia! I only hit a few of the NYT 100 too.
this was a great read! i agree 1000% with literally everything you said 💛😅
I’m so glad it resonates with you! <3
Enjoyed reading this, as well as checking out your summer reads. I'm a cynical old grouch who is very good at resisting any public pressure, and I generally read more non-fiction than fiction anyway. I would be curious to hear your opinions on some of the Booker or other prize winners, or the highly acclaimed books you found overrated. There were a couple on your summer reading list, I think you mentioned the Dolly Alderton book.
I'm also very eager to hear your take on Master and Margarita, one of my all-time favourite books and I've read it 3 times. I shall await patiently :)
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed these posts! I like reading current books because they give me an insight into what people care about now and what affects society, including non-fiction books, but I might just resist the Intermezzo hype!
I read much of the Booker and International Booker books last year. Some I enjoyed, others less so! I'll definitely review them soon. Yes, I wasn't such a big fan of some of the more popular books, and Good Material was a bit of a disappointment for me, as was Blue Sisters (though perhaps that was more a result of the comparison with Hello Beautiful).
I might have to re-read The Master and look forward to sharing when I do! What do you enjoy about it?
First off, I would say, and you'd agree I'm sure, that life is too short to read or re-read a book that you didn't enjoy. So it may not be any better the second time.
I've always been into Russian and Ukrainian literature. Besides Bulgakov: Gogol, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Teffi, Lermontov. I'm trying to pivot away from Russian literature and am reading more contemporary Ukrainian books, but that's another story altogether (I lived in Ukraine for 12 years and in Ukraine there has been a move out of Russian literature and a big push for more Ukrainian stuff).
The mystery and intrigue around Master and Margarita is what first appealed to me - the fact that it was censored and only discovered outside of the Soviet Union in the late 80s (I believe), and so reading it with that knowledge added to its mystique, as well as knowing it was a satire on Russian society and it was so rich in symbolism. Though I never got into Faust, the idea of a Faustian pact with the Devil, his sidekick being a vodka-swilling black cat with a pince nez was just too bizarre for me to not like it (if that makes sense). The historical parallels and Pontius Pilate retelling was also what I loved, and one thing that enriched it for me was the Diana Burgin translation with its extensive footnotes which really helped make sense of the story. I've different translations but this is one that I enjoyed the most (I have a 4th translation, Michael Glenny's, for my next re-read).
I could also get into the imagery and descriptions, especially Satan's Ball, which interestingly (if you remember) was somewhat based on true events. The American ambassador in the 20s or 30s was William Bullitt, and he used to host lavish parties similar to Satan's Ball, with wild animals and whatnot.
Ah, you're quite an expert then! I appreciated The Master conceptually, and I found the back story about publication quite interesting as well—that's why I was hoping so much to like it. However, do the different storylines were a bit hard to follow, especially when the same characters have multiple names.
Do you have any suggestions for a gentler (not necessarily in terms of themes, but the reading experience) book by a Ukrainian author? Would also like to know if you have particular Russian books to recommend!
Funnily I didn’t mesh well with hello beautiful or blue sisters BUT I did really enjoy this. I liked how Rooney still feels like she is exploring who she is as a writer and doing new(ish) things with her writing
Yes, writers who try new things are so admirable! That’s one of the things I love about Dolly Alderton, even though I wasn’t the biggest fan of her latest book.
Interesting too—I wonder if, since I loved those two, that means I won’t get along with Intermezzo!
I'm currently listening to this, Intermezzo, on audio. I held off for a while then decided audio rather than physical book!
How is it going with Intermezzo? I would listen to audiobooks too, but also have my fill of podcasts!
It's okay - on chapter 4 so early doors but, it's enjoyable so far. So far it's been alternative chapters for each brother and what's happening in their life.
Oooh I hope the rest of it goes well too!
Excellently put :)
Thanks for reading. <3
I admit that I fell for the hype and bought the hardback of Intermezzo. I love the cover but the story was hard for me to embrace. I’m sure I’ll go back to it and love it but for now, lesson learned.
Oh this is soooo refreshing to read!! I too want to read Intermezzo because I’m a huge Sally Rooney fan and a total sucker for Normal People, BUT my personal favourite way to read is to simply grab something that sings to me in a local charity shop! Some of my best reads have come from this (my most recent purchase cost £1), and often when I mention these books to people, they haven’t heard of the author or the story. It’s nice to be led by what simply takes our fancy in the moment, or what we’ve always longed to read, instead of always following trends! Beautifully written piece. I’ll have to check out more of your writing 🫶🏻
I'm sure it's good and her other books are pretty good (I really liked Normal People, though wasn't the biggest fan of Beautiful World, Where Are You), but it's also partly cultural hype!
That's exactly how I feel. I do want to read Intermezzo, but it's just not a priority at the moment.
Yes exactly—I love book suggestions and finding things for my TBR (including buying books!), but I don't necessarily want to read them exactly when I am sent them or when they are trendy. I do run a small book club with friends, which is a bit different as we all have a say in the books we read.