One of the best things about the Looking Sideways community is realising just how many people who are as geeky about reading and books as I am are out there.
As regular listeners/readers will know, I share every book I read on an ongoing Instagram thread here, and there’s a fun Chat thread people occasionally add recommendations to here. Plus, this blog I published back in March was one of my most popular ever:
With all that in mind, I thought it’d be nice to do a Thread where we share reads we’ve enjoyed so far this year, swap recommendations and inspirations, and generally carry on the geek out.
Pop your reads and recommendations in the thread below 🤙
"What We Owe the Future" ; "Regenesis" ; "Humankind" ; "The Brilliant Abyss" ; "The Insect Crisis" ; "Psychonauts" ; "The Lost Rainforests of Britain".
American Mermaid. The new J Ryan Stradal did not disappoint. Beth Macy's follow-up to her remarkable Dopesick, Raising Lazarus. Discovered Claire Keegan's spare, haunting, gorgeous novellas. Working my way through Karin Slaughter's Will Trent novels because I like to have a mystery going at all times. And I fully admit to a total Jenny Colgan addiction for those nights when I just want a cozy novel and a cup of tea. I have Barbara Butcher's What the Dead Know up next because apparently watching twenty year old episodes of CSI isn't nerdy enough.
All are new authors to me. Two are first timers (Sewell and Hessian) with light optimistic stories ,possibly one of the hardest things to pull off. Patrick Gale is an astonishingly accomplished story teller and writer though I suspect much of his stuff is little metrosexual for my tastes.
I found The Handmaid's Tale to be overrated because she's basically describing what Black and indigenous women experienced throughout American history (and present day). It probably did not help that a lot of Americans kept referencing it while Trump was President.
Blind Assassin is BRILLIANT. I'd recc that one for sure.
I read Handmaid's Tale in the early 2000s. It was extremely impactful, but Jen is NOT wrong re: the experiences of minority women AND the rather kneejerk references during the Trump admin. I have not read the sequels for that reason.
The MaddAddam trilogy is decent — Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood and MaddAddam. Dystopian speculative fiction rather than sci-fi. The corporations have taken over and there is massive disparity in the world, then a world-ending event — you know the drill.
I started re-reading Cormac McCarthy's books after his death, and Blood Meridian is as harrowing and beautiful as I remember. Overwhelming violence and weirdness, it takes a few goes to get through it without having waking nightmares.
Yeah I wept many times reading that. I think I'll give that a go next. The Border Trilogy is also very good — All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. The first one was made into a terrible film with Matt Damon.
Serena, by Ron Rash, « the lady macbeth of the Appalachian mountains, set to cut as much wood as possible with her husband Pemberton in North Carolina late XIX century »
Richard Wagamese, Medecine Walk, « a teenage son and his drunk father on a quest for identity and redemption in the backcountry of british columbia »
Romain Gary, Les Racines du Ciel, « one of the first true ecological novels, set in early 50s Africa, following Morel who vows to save the elephants, great prose by one of the great masters »
Diane Cook, the New Wilderness « in a future where all land is taken for human ressources, a small group of humans is allowed to wander in the last wild place, surveilled by rangers and living off the land. »
I've just finished All The Beauty in the world (A museum guard's adventures in life, loss and art.) By Patrick Bringley. It's probably better if you Google it and read the reviews...and then buy it! It's wonderful.
I've read a lot of books about music and musicians and I'll say, cautiously, that The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives by Jude Rogers, is one of the best.
I’ve loved Fred Fordham’s reimagining of To Kill a Mockingbird; Evelyn Araluen’s debut poetry collection Drop Bear, it’s a personal commentary on the impact of colonialism on normal people as powerful as anything Seamus Heaney wrote. Index Australia captures us perfectly. I’ve reread Shardlake series as I’m a sucker for crime and historical novels. I found Antii Tuomainen’s first two books in the Rabbit Factor series charming and intriguing and I enjoyed the latest in the Thursday Murder Club. I found Demon Copperhead a bit too stereotypical from Barbara Kingsolver and I can’t remember David Copperfield well enough to feel clever enough to work out the “Easter eggs”. But it’s grown on me and I have wanted to watch the latest film version of DC and so I’ll probably do that to make the connections. I’m really enjoying The Golden Thread - how fabric changed history but I definitely need to read in random with something that is easier to take in.
Molokai by Alan Brennert - my aunt who lives in the US sent it to me, I’d never heard of it before but holy smokes it’s good. The story of a 7 year old Hawaiian girl who is sent to Molokai back in the late 1800’s when it was a leprosy settlement. Heartbreaking, beautifully written and really well researched. Incredible stories of how people were facing death but found ways to embrace life.
“The language of business does not speak to the larger territory ahead”. A Heart Aroused, by David Whyte. More of a companion than a book, I beautifully curated book of poetry.
As a bit of a brand geek, I enjoy a founders and brand story. Shoe Dog is one of those stories. I didn’t enjoy this the first time around, but having revisited it, found some gems, especially about the emergence of jogging in the US, and how it was an outsider’s endeavour.
I'm such a slow reader of books, but I think that's because even if I set aside time to read, I end up reading a lot of things on-line. For example, right now I'm reading fan translations of an anime/manga/light novel franchise called K (or K Project). The anime seemed like a typical action series where you have people who developed powers fighting each other, but I was drawn to the little moments showing characters' relationships and the novels really dive into that. For example, the people with the most power are called "kings" and they can bestow abilities onto others, and the novels go into the mental toll of being a leader and an idol. The creators, who are a team of female manga artist/writers, do a really good job of depicting isolation and depression.
Oh boy, loving this thread... a few of my favorites so far this year. The Patriarchs by Angela Saini was phenomenal! Vital reading. The Edge of the Plain by James Crawford is all about our relationship with borders. I reread the Snow Leopard Project as a nostalgic look at Afghanistan through a truly positive project with conservation that reflected my own experience and time there. Sci fi fiction - A Psalm for the Wild Built is first of a beautiful triolgy with a non-binary protagonist which is the most sweet and humane books I’ve read / and hopeful vision of future.
I've been on a major rereading kick recently including both carrot Quinn's books the sunset route and thru hiking will break your heart which I'd recommend to everybody tired of the usual narratives about relationship with wildness and at the mo I'm bouncing through the voyage of the cormarrant by Christian beamish again.
"What We Owe the Future" ; "Regenesis" ; "Humankind" ; "The Brilliant Abyss" ; "The Insect Crisis" ; "Psychonauts" ; "The Lost Rainforests of Britain".
ah how’s that Lost Rainforests of Britain? Is that the Guy Shrubsole one?
I liked it, but then I don't have the same problem with "middle-class white man communing alone in the wilderness" as you seem to ; )
Oh God make it stop 😂
American Mermaid. The new J Ryan Stradal did not disappoint. Beth Macy's follow-up to her remarkable Dopesick, Raising Lazarus. Discovered Claire Keegan's spare, haunting, gorgeous novellas. Working my way through Karin Slaughter's Will Trent novels because I like to have a mystery going at all times. And I fully admit to a total Jenny Colgan addiction for those nights when I just want a cozy novel and a cup of tea. I have Barbara Butcher's What the Dead Know up next because apparently watching twenty year old episodes of CSI isn't nerdy enough.
Ok I’m gonna get on those Beth Macy ones 🤙
Recent reads include :-
The White Umbrella-Brian Sewell
Rough Music -Patrick Gale
Hag-seed-Margret Atwood
Leonard and Hungry Paul-Ronan Hession
All are new authors to me. Two are first timers (Sewell and Hessian) with light optimistic stories ,possibly one of the hardest things to pull off. Patrick Gale is an astonishingly accomplished story teller and writer though I suspect much of his stuff is little metrosexual for my tastes.
You know what I’ve never read any Margaret Attwood. Where to start?
?!
I found The Handmaid's Tale to be overrated because she's basically describing what Black and indigenous women experienced throughout American history (and present day). It probably did not help that a lot of Americans kept referencing it while Trump was President.
Blind Assassin is BRILLIANT. I'd recc that one for sure.
I read Handmaid's Tale in the early 2000s. It was extremely impactful, but Jen is NOT wrong re: the experiences of minority women AND the rather kneejerk references during the Trump admin. I have not read the sequels for that reason.
The MaddAddam trilogy is decent — Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood and MaddAddam. Dystopian speculative fiction rather than sci-fi. The corporations have taken over and there is massive disparity in the world, then a world-ending event — you know the drill.
The island of sea women - Lisa see
Lampedusa: gateway to Europe - pietro bartolo
Dreamland - Rosa rankin-gee
Under water: how holding my breath taught me how to live - Claire Walsh
Border - kassabova kapka
Ah how’s the Claire Walsh book? I follow her ok Insta
I did not know her before, loved it. It’s very honest. Slightly triggering when talking about covid… Inspired me to really get into freediving!
Viper's Dream by Jake Lamar was such a page turner- a jazz noir. Also comes with a recommended jazz playlist to listen to whilst you're reading it.
Rory Stewart's the Places In Between
Monique Roffey-Archipelago is a lovely tear jerking story
Just started Say Nothing By Patrick Radden Keefe and v impressed so far- hard to put down
As you may know I bang on about Patrick Radden Keefe a lot 😂
with good reason. Say Nothing was terrific.
I started re-reading Cormac McCarthy's books after his death, and Blood Meridian is as harrowing and beautiful as I remember. Overwhelming violence and weirdness, it takes a few goes to get through it without having waking nightmares.
I’m gonna read Blood Meridian again. It’s been a while
Not sure my anxiety could handle this Blood Meridian craic. 😛
The Road destroyed me. I recall sitting in public (at the ref desk in library) reading it and SOBBING
Yeah I wept many times reading that. I think I'll give that a go next. The Border Trilogy is also very good — All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain. The first one was made into a terrible film with Matt Damon.
I've also recently read Kingsley Amis's 'Ending Up', which is a hilarious take on getting old.
The Summer Book by Tove Jansen is this years surprise discovery. Its short but slow and beautiful, I think I'll keep coming back to it.
a few I read lately :
Serena, by Ron Rash, « the lady macbeth of the Appalachian mountains, set to cut as much wood as possible with her husband Pemberton in North Carolina late XIX century »
Richard Wagamese, Medecine Walk, « a teenage son and his drunk father on a quest for identity and redemption in the backcountry of british columbia »
Romain Gary, Les Racines du Ciel, « one of the first true ecological novels, set in early 50s Africa, following Morel who vows to save the elephants, great prose by one of the great masters »
Diane Cook, the New Wilderness « in a future where all land is taken for human ressources, a small group of humans is allowed to wander in the last wild place, surveilled by rangers and living off the land. »
Serena sounds right up my boulevard mon ami
They also made a pretty decent movie of Serena, shockingly
I've just finished All The Beauty in the world (A museum guard's adventures in life, loss and art.) By Patrick Bringley. It's probably better if you Google it and read the reviews...and then buy it! It's wonderful.
🤙
I've read a lot of books about music and musicians and I'll say, cautiously, that The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives by Jude Rogers, is one of the best.
I’m sure you’ve read David Byrne How Music Works obvs?
Yes - that's right up there too!
I’ve loved Fred Fordham’s reimagining of To Kill a Mockingbird; Evelyn Araluen’s debut poetry collection Drop Bear, it’s a personal commentary on the impact of colonialism on normal people as powerful as anything Seamus Heaney wrote. Index Australia captures us perfectly. I’ve reread Shardlake series as I’m a sucker for crime and historical novels. I found Antii Tuomainen’s first two books in the Rabbit Factor series charming and intriguing and I enjoyed the latest in the Thursday Murder Club. I found Demon Copperhead a bit too stereotypical from Barbara Kingsolver and I can’t remember David Copperfield well enough to feel clever enough to work out the “Easter eggs”. But it’s grown on me and I have wanted to watch the latest film version of DC and so I’ll probably do that to make the connections. I’m really enjoying The Golden Thread - how fabric changed history but I definitely need to read in random with something that is easier to take in.
Demon Copperhead is on the pile!
I've been reading a lot of contemporary poetry lately so I'll have to check out Drop Bear.
Molokai by Alan Brennert - my aunt who lives in the US sent it to me, I’d never heard of it before but holy smokes it’s good. The story of a 7 year old Hawaiian girl who is sent to Molokai back in the late 1800’s when it was a leprosy settlement. Heartbreaking, beautifully written and really well researched. Incredible stories of how people were facing death but found ways to embrace life.
Ah amazing. Jack London also write a series of short stories about this I think. Well worth checking out
“The language of business does not speak to the larger territory ahead”. A Heart Aroused, by David Whyte. More of a companion than a book, I beautifully curated book of poetry.
As a bit of a brand geek, I enjoy a founders and brand story. Shoe Dog is one of those stories. I didn’t enjoy this the first time around, but having revisited it, found some gems, especially about the emergence of jogging in the US, and how it was an outsider’s endeavour.
Yeah I enjoyed Shoe Dog more than I thought I would tbh
Vaclac Smil - How the world really works
Ronald Blythe - Next to Nature
Nan Shepherd - The Living Mountain
Recently started A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Nan Shepherd comes up a lot, I really need to read it eh?
I'm such a slow reader of books, but I think that's because even if I set aside time to read, I end up reading a lot of things on-line. For example, right now I'm reading fan translations of an anime/manga/light novel franchise called K (or K Project). The anime seemed like a typical action series where you have people who developed powers fighting each other, but I was drawn to the little moments showing characters' relationships and the novels really dive into that. For example, the people with the most power are called "kings" and they can bestow abilities onto others, and the novels go into the mental toll of being a leader and an idol. The creators, who are a team of female manga artist/writers, do a really good job of depicting isolation and depression.
Oh boy, loving this thread... a few of my favorites so far this year. The Patriarchs by Angela Saini was phenomenal! Vital reading. The Edge of the Plain by James Crawford is all about our relationship with borders. I reread the Snow Leopard Project as a nostalgic look at Afghanistan through a truly positive project with conservation that reflected my own experience and time there. Sci fi fiction - A Psalm for the Wild Built is first of a beautiful triolgy with a non-binary protagonist which is the most sweet and humane books I’ve read / and hopeful vision of future.
A psalm for the wild built is a gorgeous wee read 🙂
I like the sound of The Edge of the Plain
I've been on a major rereading kick recently including both carrot Quinn's books the sunset route and thru hiking will break your heart which I'd recommend to everybody tired of the usual narratives about relationship with wildness and at the mo I'm bouncing through the voyage of the cormarrant by Christian beamish again.
I'd never actually heard of the Christian Beamish book. Going to check it out
I love it 🙂
Reading Lanark atm... Scottish magic realism / sci fi cult classic published in '81... Worth a go if cult faves are your thing x
One of a close friend's favourite books! Is it readable? I've never got on too well with Magical Realism
Hmm... It is, but it's also 600 pages. I'm new to the genre tbh! Obviously Master & Margarita is a must!
Recent books include
Satori in Paris - Kerouac
A river runs through it - Norman MacLean
Ebb & Flow - Dr Easkey Britton
New York stories - Paolo Cognetti
And much more https://yannickschutz.com/books
I realised that I have a harder time to read this year