I love all those writers, and should have included them on the list! I reread Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist and Breathing Lessons recently, and was a little surprised at the darkness in them; I had only remembered that they were funny and sweet.
Elizabeth Strout is in conversation with Colm Toibin in a few weeks for his paperback book tour, and I’m so bummed to miss it! (Speaking of favorite writers, Toibin being one of mine)
Saving this list! I started reading Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King this weekend and the essays feel like just what I need right now. I'm having a hard time sticking with books lately and I've started many recently and just moved on.
Thanks, Paige! I love Lily King--really admire her range. Did you read Writers & Lovers? It's a novel about a young struggling writer. Usually I don't like writers as subjects of novels, but this one won me over.
Great idea. Just finished the historical novel The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton. 1790s midwife. Fighting the patriarchy and has a few wins. Plus a bit of a murder mystery. Nice pace, interesting details about colonial America and about midwifery.
I’ve only read about half of The Frozen River and need to get back to it! I loved the historical work it was (somewhat) based on, “A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard,” by historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. That book made me want to go to history grad school!
I am such a fan of Secret Lives of Church Ladies. I don't know if I have any comfort reads lately but Salt Slow by Julia Armfield is the first book in months to really transport me outside of day-to-day life.
Thank you, Sarah! What a great list. I recently found great comfort in 4000 Weeks, by Oliver Burkeman. A non productivity productivity book. Such comfort in jettisoning tasks!
Thanks for this, Sarah. Oh, the reading miles you do! I know about those Church Ladies all right...will re-visit. Meanwhile, I have to say that I've just finished the quartet of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels, and I'm still walking around in a kind of daze, stunned by this achievement.
Any Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett or Ann Tyler book. I know their books usually have complexity but that gives me comfort.
I love all those writers, and should have included them on the list! I reread Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist and Breathing Lessons recently, and was a little surprised at the darkness in them; I had only remembered that they were funny and sweet.
That's the complexity in her writing. All three writers have a big following here in Ireland.
In Portland, Maine, not too far from here.
A long way from Ireland unfortunately. Colm appears over here pretty regularly though.
As he should! I think Strout and Toibin will have a lot to say to one another—writing about small towns, secrets, etc.
Perfect topic for both of them.
Elizabeth Strout is in conversation with Colm Toibin in a few weeks for his paperback book tour, and I’m so bummed to miss it! (Speaking of favorite writers, Toibin being one of mine)
Where is that happening?
YES
Yes, anything by Niall Williams. If he read me his grocery list, I'd be entranced 🥰
He is entrancing, that’s exactly it! You can tell how much he loves his characters.
And the very manner in which he crafts and reveals his stories! I am just in awe when I listen to them.
Just started The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife and it's totally what I need right now!
This one is new to me, not sure how I missed it! Sounds like it has some Harold Fry and Man Called Ove vices.
Yes, I agree - on both counts!
Vibes not vices!
Saving this list! I started reading Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King this weekend and the essays feel like just what I need right now. I'm having a hard time sticking with books lately and I've started many recently and just moved on.
Thanks, Paige! I love Lily King--really admire her range. Did you read Writers & Lovers? It's a novel about a young struggling writer. Usually I don't like writers as subjects of novels, but this one won me over.
Writers and Lovers is one of my favorites! I'm not a big reader of short stories, but I should have known these would be great.
Great idea. Just finished the historical novel The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton. 1790s midwife. Fighting the patriarchy and has a few wins. Plus a bit of a murder mystery. Nice pace, interesting details about colonial America and about midwifery.
I’ve only read about half of The Frozen River and need to get back to it! I loved the historical work it was (somewhat) based on, “A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard,” by historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. That book made me want to go to history grad school!
Yes. Much of it is fiction, especially the end (but it sounds like you aren’t there yet).
Right! I had to put it aside for some book-review books. But will get back to it soon.
I am such a fan of Secret Lives of Church Ladies. I don't know if I have any comfort reads lately but Salt Slow by Julia Armfield is the first book in months to really transport me outside of day-to-day life.
I’m a fan too! And I haven’t read Salt Slow but just looked it up—beautiful cover! Adding to the list.
Thank you, Sarah! What a great list. I recently found great comfort in 4000 Weeks, by Oliver Burkeman. A non productivity productivity book. Such comfort in jettisoning tasks!
And I started listening to 4000 Weeks this afternoon. I love his premise. Now thinking about medieval farmers and their lives….
Plus his voice is so charming! Let me know what you think! 🤔
Thanks, Natalie! I need to read 4000 weeks! I’m sure it’s full of good reminders.
Thanks for this, Sarah. Oh, the reading miles you do! I know about those Church Ladies all right...will re-visit. Meanwhile, I have to say that I've just finished the quartet of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels, and I'm still walking around in a kind of daze, stunned by this achievement.
I know you know about the church ladies! Can you believe I’ve never read Elena Ferrante?
Well, you read so much else, Sarah...I can believe it. But once you do start, I wonder if you'll be as enthralled as I was.