So interesting! I also loved James and liked but didn't love The God of the Woods. (I haven't read Our Evenings yet but I plan to.) The other small handful in the top 20 that I've read either didn't particularly work for me or, in one case, was something I put down after only ~20 pages. I'm reading Small Rain now--have you read it?
Watching the Questlove video when it was going around just reminded me of how hot the guy from Fine Young Cannibals was (maybe is, who knows, I'm not googling) and how I wanted him to play the lizard man in the film adaptation of Mrs. Caliban. To relate that to your post, my boyfriend bought 17-year old me that book (he inscribed it so now I always think of him when I think of that, which means I think of him when I see FYC). I wanted to read it because it was an it book of which I was somehow aware (how? Where on earth would I have read a review of that book? my parents were not book review readers). That made me think about how when I was young I read EVERYTHING without any discernment and so I read so much and so widely and finished EVERYTHING. But now I give things up fast. I mean FAST. I will even skip to the end. I will go read the wikipedia post. Like you,sometimes it's not because the book is bad but just because I'm not in the mood and given current events my mood (attention) is very picky and unpredictable.
Fine Young Cannibals was an absolute highlight! Every time I see them, I wonder why I never listen to them. I guess it was a long time ago, but I loved them so. In fact, heading to Spotify...
You can skip Brain on Fire. I've read a lot of brain memoirs (one of many abandoned projects), and it's not that good. I have recs if you want them. I listened to one of Questlove's audio books, and a bunch of his music pods. The "good but too long" seems to be a hallmark: he must be a completist, and not have a brave/strong enough editor. Anyway thanks for the heads up on the SNL doc, it's just what I need. Although, when I want to banish thinking about the Musketo, the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells are working amazingly well considering I am not a sci fi person. Peace.
As always such a good window. And my theory is that Trump keeps Musk because his primary ambition in being president is to get rich and Musk is the key and Musk stays around because of the access to power (duh). I'm totally interested in the big novels you rejected and assume the final three titles were the three you liked--all of which I loved. (And you've kept me from reading Safekeeping so I can return it to the library.
hey, I am an influencer! (Of one, but still...) Also, since I have never aspired to be a fiction arbiter I completely endorse your plan here. There are so many good old books!
So interesting! I also loved James and liked but didn't love The God of the Woods. (I haven't read Our Evenings yet but I plan to.) The other small handful in the top 20 that I've read either didn't particularly work for me or, in one case, was something I put down after only ~20 pages. I'm reading Small Rain now--have you read it?
I agree with you on the Gaza front.
Watching the Questlove video when it was going around just reminded me of how hot the guy from Fine Young Cannibals was (maybe is, who knows, I'm not googling) and how I wanted him to play the lizard man in the film adaptation of Mrs. Caliban. To relate that to your post, my boyfriend bought 17-year old me that book (he inscribed it so now I always think of him when I think of that, which means I think of him when I see FYC). I wanted to read it because it was an it book of which I was somehow aware (how? Where on earth would I have read a review of that book? my parents were not book review readers). That made me think about how when I was young I read EVERYTHING without any discernment and so I read so much and so widely and finished EVERYTHING. But now I give things up fast. I mean FAST. I will even skip to the end. I will go read the wikipedia post. Like you,sometimes it's not because the book is bad but just because I'm not in the mood and given current events my mood (attention) is very picky and unpredictable.
Fine Young Cannibals was an absolute highlight! Every time I see them, I wonder why I never listen to them. I guess it was a long time ago, but I loved them so. In fact, heading to Spotify...
You can skip Brain on Fire. I've read a lot of brain memoirs (one of many abandoned projects), and it's not that good. I have recs if you want them. I listened to one of Questlove's audio books, and a bunch of his music pods. The "good but too long" seems to be a hallmark: he must be a completist, and not have a brave/strong enough editor. Anyway thanks for the heads up on the SNL doc, it's just what I need. Although, when I want to banish thinking about the Musketo, the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells are working amazingly well considering I am not a sci fi person. Peace.
As always such a good window. And my theory is that Trump keeps Musk because his primary ambition in being president is to get rich and Musk is the key and Musk stays around because of the access to power (duh). I'm totally interested in the big novels you rejected and assume the final three titles were the three you liked--all of which I loved. (And you've kept me from reading Safekeeping so I can return it to the library.
Creation Lake and Long Island Compromise (shh, don't tell anyone)
Long Island Compromise is the one I didn't finish. Barely even started, actually. It was clear to me I wasn't going to like it.
Oh and I just saw your stack. So many great books-- especially go, went, gone!
hey, I am an influencer! (Of one, but still...) Also, since I have never aspired to be a fiction arbiter I completely endorse your plan here. There are so many good old books!
But you can bask in your success with your one influencee!